532 THE GANNET 



In his description Professor Macgillivray says : "It 

 [the oesophagus] is extremely wide, nearly uniform in 

 diameter, dilatable to four inches, but when moderately 

 inflated about two inches wide, and half an inch less at 

 its entrance into the thorax. Its inner coat is smooth 

 and even, but when contracted forms strong longitudinal 

 plaits. The proventriculus two and a half inches in width, 

 but dilatable to four and a half ; its glandules oblong — 

 cylindrical, three-twelfths long, disposed in two roundish 

 masses, separated by one interval of about five-twelfths. 

 The stomach is, comparatively very small, being only an 

 inch and three-fourths in length, and nearly of the same 

 breadth ; its muscular coat very thin, with two small roundish 

 tendons, about three-twelfths in diameter. The mucous coat 

 is very soft and smooth, with several large gastric crypts."* 



The Intestines. — As regards the intestines which, with 

 the oesophagus and stomach, complete a bird's alimentary 

 system, and sometimes show considerable variation, 

 Mr. F. E. Beddardf gives a useful table of comparative 



* Anofclier description of the Gannet's stomach by Mr. C. J. Maynard, 

 is in " Contributions to Science" (Newtonville), 1889, p. 151. 



t" Structure and Classification of Birds," p. 403 ; it will be sufficient 

 to quote four of the species named by him. 



Small Large 



intestine. intestine. Caecum. 



Phalacrocorax carho . . .. Ill inches. 4 inches .2 inches 



Sula hassana . . . . 57 ,, 2 „ .25 ,, 



Pelecamis onocrotalus . . 93 ,, 3 ,, 1.75 ,, 



Plotus unhinga . . . . 54 „ 6 „ 



