CHAPTER XV. 



DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE ORGANS. 



1. The Digestive Organs. 



Fowls do not masticate their food, but swallow it whole. 

 It passes through the oesophagus or gullet into a sort of 

 bag situated in the upper portion of the breast. This is 

 called the crop. Here the food is moistened and passed 

 along the alimentary canal to the gizzard, receiving at the 

 same time the juices 

 necessary to digestion. 

 Here by the strong 

 muscles of its sides 

 the food is ground 

 against small stones, 

 pieces of grit or other 

 hard substances until 

 it is reduced to a soft, 

 pulpy mass, after which 

 •it passes into the in- 

 testines. These vary 

 much in length and 

 size according to the 

 size of the bird, rang- 

 ing in an ordinary barn- 

 yard fowl from four 

 feet to ten feet in length 

 and from one-tenth to 

 a half an inch in diam- 

 eter, being" smaller 

 nearest to the gizzard. 



572 



Fig. 109. 



Barred Plymouth Rock Cock- 

 Sketch from Life. 



Opening into the rectum or latter 



