ON THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM OF BIRDS. 163 



lower portion of the dilated O3sophagus protruded downwards considerably 

 in front of the symphysis furculce, and formed the depending portion of 

 the sac which was so conspicuous in the living animal " (Garrod, P. Z. S. 

 1874, p. 473). 



30. REMARKS ON DR. GADOW'S PAPERS ON THE ibis, 1880, 



p. 234. 

 DIGESTIVE SYSTEM OP BIRDS.* 



DR. HANS GADOW, who is already known as a worker at the anatomy 

 of birds from his papers in the ' Journal fur Ornithologie/ has lately 

 published in the ' Jenaische Zeitschrift ' an elaborate article on the 

 anatomy of the digestive organs of birds t. This paper, in two parts, 

 extends over more than 140 pages, and is illustrated with nine plates. 



In the first part Dr. Gadow gives a descriptive account (without 

 histological details) of the alimentary canal and its appendages tongue, 

 liver, pancreas, cseca, &c., as well as of the kidneys, which he strangely 

 includes with these organs in the various orders of birds, in large part 

 based upon his own investigations. I cannot always agree with Dr. 

 Gadow in his grouping of the various forms together, as, e. g., including 

 such different forms as Auks, Penguins, and Grebes in the same order, 

 " Pygopodes." 



For this part of his work Dr. Gadow seems to have examined a large 

 number of birds ; but it is to be regretted that he has apparently had no 

 opportunity of investigating some of the most interesting forms, such as 

 the Tinamidae and Turnicidse. Had Dr. Gadow been acquainted with 

 the structure of the former group, he would not, I think, have insisted ^ a > 1880, 

 so strongly on the absolute isolation of the " Ratitaa " from all other 

 living birds +. 



Dr. Gadow justly regrets the small amount of attention that has been 

 paid of late years to the anatomy of birds, and particularly, as he says, 

 to the digestive system. But he seems to be unacquainted with the 

 work done lately in this country by Prof. Garrod, as in the list of 

 papers quoted by him but two of that anatomist's are mentioned. Hence 

 no account is given of some of the most peculiar variations that are 



* Ibis, 1880, pp. 234-237. 



t " Versuch einer vergleichenden .Anatomie des Verdauungssystemes der Vogel," 

 I. TheH, Jen. Zeitschr. f. Wissenschaft., Band xiii. Heft 1, pp. 92-171 (1879) ; II. Theil, 

 torn. cit. Heft 3, p. 339 &c. (1879). 



\ "Dass aber .... Uebergange der 4 noch lebenden Ratitenfamilien unter 

 einander und auch gu den Carinaten gdnzlich feklen" torn. cit. p. 107. 



M 2 



