442 DISSECTION OF THE PIGEON 



dorsal border, and rather to the left side ; while the 

 duodenum leaves it a little to the right side of the 

 same spot. 



Split open the gizzard along its ventral edge, and wash out 

 the contents. Note the following features : 



a. The great thickness of the muscular walls. 



b. The thick cuticular lining to the cavity of the 



gizzard, in which small stones are usually found 

 imbedded. 



c. The openings of the proVentriculus and duodenum, 



placed side by side at the dorsal edge. 



5. The duodenum is a U-shaped loop formed by the first 



part of the intestine. The pancreas lies between the 

 two limbs of the loop, the further dissection of which 

 will be postponed until the liver and pancreas are 

 examined. 



6. The small intestine is a much-convoluted tube, of nearly 



uniform diameter, and about two feet and a half in 

 length. 



7. The rectum, or terminal portion of the intestine, is about 



an inch and a half long. Its commencement is 

 marked by a pair of small csecal processes, the rectal 

 diverticula. Posteriorly, the rectum opens into the 

 cloaca, the examination of which should be deferred 

 until the kidneys have been dissected. 



D. The Liver. 



The liver is divided into a larger right, and a smaller left 

 lobe, the surfaces of which are hollowed and grooved to 

 receive the heart, duodenum, and gizzard. 



The bile-ducts are two in number, and open into the 

 duodenum. 



1. The left bile-duct is a wide tube, about an inch long, 

 which, emerging from the notch between the right 

 and left lobes of the liver, runs backwards to open 



