212 



DR. P. CHALMERS MITCHELL OX THE 



(jf the first and third loops of Meckel's tract and the great elongation of the axial and 

 supra-duodenal loops. Aramus is more difficult to place. It appears to be certainly 

 more archecentric tha,n other Gruiformes, and is to be derived either from tlie Charadrii- 

 forin-Gruiform metaccntre or, even more archecentrically still, from the metacentre 

 common to tlie Limicoli and Gruiformes. 



CUCULIFORMES. 



CUCUL I. 



CucuLiD.E. — I liave examined the intestiual tract of Cacoiiuuitls laiiceulalaa, Carpo- 

 coccyx racUalus, Centropus (species ?), Crotophaga ani, Gulra pirirUjua, and Scythrups 

 nov(B-hollandi(e, and find that it presents the same conformation in all. 'J'he duodenum 

 (fig. GO) is straight and narrow. Meckel's tract is not very definitely produced into 



Fi-. 60. 



Intestinal Tract of Carporocri/x radlnfvs. 



loops, l)ut on its periphery there are two loops anterior to the diverticulum, and, posterior 

 to it, one very long supra-duodenal loop to which the long coeca are attached. The 

 rectum is alvi^ays straight, but differs in length, being extremely short in some Cuckoos. 



