34 Shufeldt, Anatomy of the Passenger Pigeon. Ljan. 



pectoralis tertius muscles in a similar manner. Following this 

 operation, I disarticulated the four right costal ribs at the costal 

 border of the sternum, and also the right coracoid at its sternal 

 extremity. This allowed, in part, a turning of the sternum to 

 one side, and permitted a better view of the interior of the thoracic 

 and abdominal cavities. 



There was no evidence whatever of the presence of the intestine 

 in any part of its continuity save a piece about 8 mm. in length, 

 where it emerged from the gizzard and the ragged margin surround- 

 ing the abdominal boundary of the vent. All the portion referred 

 to was not in the abdominal cavity. 



The entire right lobe of the rather large liver was in a disintegrated 

 condition, showing its internal structure, and exposing the organs 

 usually concealed by it to view. 



The heart was in its normal position, while the gizzard was 

 rotated to the left side. I discovered no blood clots or parasites of 

 any kind in the abdominal cavity. 



Without making very complete dissections, it was nevertheless 

 evident that the three pectoral muscles and the superficial muscles 

 of the back made origins and insertions similar to those in existing 

 Columbidce generally. 



Os furculum was next disarticulated at its right coracoidal ar- 

 ticulation, and the usual muscles and ligaments in the vicinity 

 divided at different points. This admitted of a far more extended 

 view of the organs and structures within the thoracic and abdominal 

 cavities. This view I at once made a five by eight negative of, 

 the reproduction of a photograph of which is here seen in Plate V. 



Extremely simple in its network of nerves, the brachial plexus is 

 primarily formed by the union of the last two cervical nerves and 

 the first two dorsal ones. They soon unite as a single faciculus, 

 from which, as usual, the branches are derived to supply the wing. 



Passing for the moment to the pelvic basin, I found the kidneys 

 occupying their usual sites, and neither one appeared to present 

 any atrophy or other evidences of disease; they are of equal size 

 and each tri-lobed. 



On the other hand, a certain degree of atrophy characterizes the 

 left ovary and its duct, — a condition we might naturally expect in a 

 bird of this age, and one which had lived so long in confinement. 



