54 



many parts of England. lu several lambs examined by Dr. Crisp 

 millions of these eutozoa and their ova were found in the bronchial 

 tubes and in tbe intestinal canal, and he believed tbat many of 

 the ova of these worms had been mistaken for Cysticerci ; but the 

 various stages of development could be readily traced nuder the 

 microseope. Dr. Crisp had tried many expenments on the hving 

 worms as to the eflFect of poisons and other agents, and he beheved 

 that salt or sulphur given \vith the food, and the inhalation of sul- 

 phurous gas, under proper superintendence, would be the most 

 Ūkely means of destroymg these parasites. 



Dr. Crisp also placed on the table some parts of the anatomy of 

 the Common Bittern {Botaurus steUaris), two of which birds (no\v 

 comparativcly rare) had recently been shot on the eastem coast of 

 SufFolk. The bird from which the speeimens were taken was a fine 

 malė, measuring from the tip of each wing 4 feet 1 inch, and from 

 the point of the beak (\vhen extended) to the lower part of the 

 tarsus 3 feet. Among the peculiarities alhuied to, tvas the smallness 

 of the sternum, which measured only 3 inches longitudinally ; the 

 depth of keel only į of an inch, and the lateral margius the šame. 

 The trachea nieasured twelve inches in length, and consisted of 198 

 imperfect rings ; the bronchi of 20 semicircular elastic cartilages, 

 readily approximated, and hence the production of the peculiar 

 šound from which the bird takes its name. The stomach which was 

 exhibited was large, and contained near its cardiac orifice a circle of 

 gastric glands. A roach, weighing abont four onnces, Avas digested 

 at this part, but the tail, which was in the oesophagus, was intact. 

 To show the voracity and capacity of swallow of this bird, Dr. Crisp 

 said, that Sir W. Jardine and ?Jr. Yarrell had both taken a Water 

 Rail from the stomach and oesophagus, and in ^Ir. Yarrell's speci- 

 men there were six small fish in addition. The pectiuated claw was 

 also exhibited, Dr. Crisp believing that it served for the purpose of 

 cleanine; the beak and mouth of the bird. 



April 8, 18.56. 

 Dr. Gray, F.R.S., in the Chair. 

 The follovving papers were read : — 

 1. On Dinornis (Part YII.) : containing a Description of 



THK BONES OF THE LeG AND FoOT OF THE DiNORNIS ELE- 



PHANTOPUS, Owen. By Prof. 0\ven, F.E.S., V. P. Z. S., &c. 



Mr. "VValter Mantell having, on his recent return from New Zea- 

 land, provisionally deposited his very extensive collection of remains 

 of Dinornithic and other birds in the British Museum, I have gladly 



