of the Male Bustard. ' 119 



from an accidental injuiy. There is no notice of this paper in 

 the Society's publications^ but it will be found entire in Mr. 

 Newman's periodical for that year {' Zoologist/ xii. pp. 4237-9). 

 It is to be remarked that, at the time the communication was 

 written, its author was not aware of the conclusions at which 

 Mr. Yarrell had arrived. Dr. Crisp says : — 



" My object in bringing the anatomy of this bird before the 

 Society is in reference to the faucial pouch (so-called), figured in 

 Mr. Yarrell's 'British Birds,' 1843, and in Professor Owen's 

 article on " Birds," ' Cyclopaedia of Anatomy and Physiology.' 

 . . . On a careful dissection of the male bird, I find a thin mem- 

 brane covering the whole length of the trachea, attached to the 

 OS hyoides above, to the oesophagus and cervical vertebrse behind, 

 and to the clavicles and sternum below ; its attachment to the 

 trachea in front is very loose, and a probe can readily be passed 

 between it and the trachea, and probably if air or water were in- 

 troduced under it, a bag might easily be formed ; but it has no 

 connexion with the mouth or pharynx : nor can I conceive that it 

 could be used for the purpose assigned to it ; for if filled with 

 water, it would materially interfere with the functions of the 

 trachea and oesophagus. The presence of this membrane may 

 perhaps account for the statement that this male bird is provided 

 with a bag to contain water during the breeding-season. I do 

 not deny the existence of such a bag, but I think its presence, in 

 any case, is very doubtful. ... In my dissection of the females 

 I did not examine the neck, but it will be very interesting here- 

 after to ascertain whether the membrane I have described exists in 

 the female Bustards and in other species of birds." 



Dr. Crisp concludes by saying he had also examined Professor 

 Owen's preparation in Surgeons' Hall, '' which clearly shows that 

 there is no communication with the pharynx and this supposed 

 gular pouch ;" and he has since informed me that he has dissected 

 two or three other cock Bustards, and always with the same 

 result. 



Now thinking it quite possible, from my knowledge of the 

 various opinions I have here arrayed, that the belief in this mys- 

 terious organ might have been prematurely abandoned, I was very 

 anxious to investigate the matter for myself. I thought it highly 



