INTESTINES OF BIRDS. 171 



an inch in length in the Eagles and Vultures, but are occa- 

 sionally wanting in the latter. Cuvier states that the coeca are 

 deficient in the greater part of the Diurnal Kaptores, but we have 

 observed them in the Halicetus Alhicilla, Aquila Chryscttos, Astur 

 paluinharius, and Buteo nisus. They seldom exceed the length 

 above mentioned, fig. 78, g, and in the Secretary Vulture they 

 form mere tubercles. In the Barn Owl the coeca severally 

 measure nearly two inches in length, and are dilated at their 

 blind extremities ; they are proportionally developed in the 

 larger Strif/idce. 



In the Cantores they are invariably very short where present- 

 Among the Scansorial genera which possess the coeca, these parts 

 are found to vary in length, measuring in the Cuckoo and Wattle- 

 bird ( GlaiLcojns), each half an inch ; while in the Scythrops, or 

 New Holland Toucan, the coeca are each tAvo inches long, and 

 moderately wide. 



In the Rasores the coeca present considerable varieties. In the 

 Pigeons, fig. 85, ^, they are as short as in the Insessorial order, 

 and are sometimes wanting altogether as in the Crown-Pigeon. 

 In the Guan {Penelope cristatci) each coecum is about three 

 inches in length : while in the Grouse each coecum measures a 

 yard long, being thus upwards of three times the length of the 

 entire body. The internal surface of these extraordinary ap- 

 pendages to the alimentary canal is further increased in the 

 Grouse by being disposed in eight longitudinal folds, which extend 

 from their blind extremities to within five inches of their termi- 

 nation in the rectum. We have always found the coeca in this 

 species filled with a homogeneous pultaceous matter mthout any 

 trace of the heather buds, the remains of which are abundant in 

 the faecal matter contained in the ordinary tract of the intes- 

 tines. 



In the Peacock the coeca measure each about one foot in 

 length ; in the Partridge about four inches ; in the Common FoavI 

 and other Pliusicmidce the coeca are each about one-third the 

 length of the body ; they commence by a narrow pedicle, which 

 extends about ]ialf their length, and then they begin to dilate into 

 reservoirs for the chyme, fig. 79, g. 



In the Cursores the coeca again present very different degrees 

 of developement. In the Apteryx the coeca are each five inches 

 in length. In the Emeu they are narrow and sliort. In the 

 Cassowary they arc wholly deficient; while in the Ostrich they 

 are wide, upwards of two feet each in length, and their secreting 

 and absorbing parietes are further increased by being produced 



