INTESTINAL TRACT OF BIRDS, 



205 



FALCON IFORMES. 



C A T H A R T J^. 



CATHARTTn.i=:. — Of these I have been able to examine only Cathartes aura (fig. 26). 

 The duodenum is long and is coiled into an ii-regular spiral. McckeTs tract presents first 

 one very Avide loop and then a nearly circular expansion symmetrical about a Meckel's 

 diverticulum and thrown into short irregular folds. Then follows a very large but 



Fig. 2fi. 



f 



llite.'itinal Tract of CatJinrlcs aura. 

 Lettpriiip; :is before. 



typical supra-duodenal loop with "bridging" vein. The cieca are totally absent, but 

 immediately above their normal position lies the kink sup])lied by the rectal vein. I 

 have already shown that this peculiar little loop is a recurring f(;ature among the 

 Carinates we have been considering. It occurs without exception in all tlie J'alconiform 

 birds. 



SECOND SERIES. — ZOOI.OGV, VOL. VHI. 



32 



