248 



DR. P. CHALMERS MITCHELL OX THE 



were no caeca, and the rectum was long, wide, and partly convoluted. la Rhytldoceros 

 plicatus (26. fig. 23), and other Horabills resemble it, the duodenum is extremely wide. 

 Meckel's tract is thrown into three distinct long loops, of which the last is a well-formed 

 supra-duodenal loop with " bridging" vein. The two anterior loops possibly correspond 

 to the two loops of Bacelo and other Coracii ; but the second, which is much the longer, 

 bears a distinct diverticulum near the apex on its distal limb. There are no cieca, and 

 the rectum is rather wide and straight. It is clear that the character of the gut does 

 not unite the Hoopoes and Hornbills closely. 



Stbiges. 



(1) Strigin.^. — Of these I have examined only Strix flammea. The conformation of 

 the intestinal tract in this is remarkably archecentric (fig. QQ). The duodeuum is a large 



Fig. 66. 



rn 



Intestinal Tract of Stri.r Jhinmnut. 



but simple loop. Meckel's tract is fairly symmetrical about the middle mesenteric vein 

 A\hich runs out towards a diverticulum. It is produced into first one definite loop (marked 

 "«" in the figure), and tlien has a circular expanse with a ratlier narrow neck, uniting 

 it above to loop 'Wr," and distally to a definite supra-duodenal loop. This expanse is 

 partly produced into indelinite minor loops. 'I'here are two long cteca attached to tlie 

 supra-duodenal loop, and the rectum is straight and of moderate length. 



(2) BuBONiN^. — Of these I have examined species of Biiho, Asia, Athene, Syrnmm, 

 Speoiyto, and Gymnoglaux. Of these Bubo nmxlmus, which I have already figured 

 (26. fig. 22), Aslo, and Speolt/to do not dilfer in any important respect from Str'uv: the 



