56 INTRODUCTION. 



dules which are longer in the middle, and shorter towards the 

 two extremities of the organ, being interposed between them. 

 These glandules, of which four are represented of the natural 

 size by Fig. 9, are of a cylindrical form, and have a central 

 cavity, with thick walls, and a spongy or villous inner surface. 

 Their inner extremity is narrower, and they open on the mu- 

 cous membrane, ^, by an inconspicuous aperture, placed in the 

 centre of a small rounded eminence. The intervals between 

 these orifices on the mucous surface are minutely granulate. 

 Fig. 7. represents the proventriculus in its whole length, laid 

 open. There is an entire belt, an inch in length, composed of 

 the glandules, which are placed close together, and open by 

 minute orifices, for the most part irregularly disposed, but in 

 many places arranged in lines. This belt becomes thinner 

 toward the two extremities, a, 5, and is longitudinally furrowed 

 by four broad gi-ooves, but not separated, the glandules being 

 merely shortened. The fluid secreted by these glandules, and 

 copiously poured out so as to cover the entire surface of the pro- 

 ventriculus, as well as part of that of the stomach, is of a greyish- 

 white colour, clammy, and when cold having the consistence 

 of slightly coagulated albumen. 



The stomach, w, o. Figs. 4. and 5, which may be considered as 

 commencing at the lower edge of the proventriculus, is of a 

 roundish or broadly elliptical form, two inches in length, an inch 

 and three-fourths in breadth, and an inch and a quarter in depth. 

 Under its peritoneal covering, which has been removed, is a Jarge 

 quantity of fat. Its muscular coat is thin, compared with that 

 of birds of other families, but yet of considerable thickness, and 

 is composed of fibres arranged in fasciculi, which are broader in 

 their middle, or along the edges of the organ, and are inserted 

 into two thin tendinous spaces, o, one on each side. At the 

 upper or anterior part, these fibres diverging, leave an angular 

 space on each side, in and above which the fibres are circular. 

 Within the muscular coat is the second, or cellular, thin and 

 composed of a whitish interlaced fibrous tissue. The inner coat. 

 Fig. 10, is of a softish homogeneous texture, elevated into strong 

 rugae running in various directions. That part of it nearest 

 the proventriculus is generally in birds of prey found dissolved 



