OX THE ANATOMY OF THE TOUCANS AND BAEBETS. 323 



55. NOTE ON THE GALL-BLADDER, AND SOME OTHER * z. a 1882, 

 POINTS IN THE ANATOMY OF THE TOUCANS AND 

 BARBETS (CAPITONID^)* 



THE statement has been made, and copied t, that a gall-bladder is 

 absent in the Toucans. The latest writer on the visceral anatomy of 

 birds, Dr. Hans Gadow J, describing the gall-bladder of the " Coccy- 

 gomorphae," says : " RhampTiastus compensirt das Fehlen der Blase 

 durch einen sehr langen (9 cm.) und weiten Ductus Choledochus " 

 (1. c. p. 70). 



On dissecting, therefore, some months ago a fresh specimen of 

 Pteroglosms wiedi, I was considerably surprised to find a peculiarly long 

 and tubular gall-bladder, which lay superficially, covering the other 

 abdominal viscera and extending far down in the abdominal cavity, its 

 fundus nearly reaching the cloacal region of the intestine. 



My attention having been thus called to the point, I have since, 

 whenever opportunity has offered, always looked for this viscus, and 

 have now ascertained its presence in specimens of Wiamphastos carinatus, 

 vitellinus, and dicolorus, Pteroglossus wiedi (3), Selenidera maculirostris, 

 and AulacorTiamphus prasinus. The annexed drawing (fig., p. 324) will 

 show its general form and relations, as seen in a fresh specimen of 

 Khamphastos dicolorus. In the specimen figured the total length of the 

 gall-bladder was not less than 4-15 inches. The cystic duct originated 

 85 inch from the liver, and was 1/7 inch long. In other cases the duct 

 arises much nearer the portal fissure. Its presence, therefore, in all 

 Toucans is nearly certain . 



It is also present, of exactly the same general form, and with the same 

 relations, in all the Capitoninse I have examined as regards this point, 

 namely Meyalcema virens (a fresh specimen), M. franklin*, and Xaniholcema 

 rosea. Its presence in Indicator in a similar form is almost certain, from 



* Proc. Zool. Soc. 1882, pp. 94-96. Bead Jan. 3, 1882. 



t Owen, Anat. Vert. ii. p. 177 ; Macalister, Morph. Vert. p. 194 ; Crisp, P. Z. S. 

 1862, p. 137. 



J " Versuch ein. vergleich. Anatomie des Verdauungssystemes d. Vogel," Jen. Zeitsehr. 

 xiii. n. F. vi. 



It is but due to the late Prof. Garrod to say that he also had noted this peculiar 

 gall-bladder, aptly characterized by him as " intestiniform," in several Toucans dissected 

 by hitn, including R. cuvieri and carinatus and P. wiedi. It is also, I find, correctly 

 described by Meckel (' Traite 1 general,' &c., Paris, 1838, t. viii. p. 289), as follows : 

 " La conformation de la ve'sicule est extremement curieuse chez le toucan (Ramphastos). 

 Elle y est d'une longueur si enorme, qu'elle occupe la cavite" abdominale toute entiere : 

 elle est tres retrecie, et ressemble plutot a un caecum qua une vesicule." I made my 

 first observations unaware of either of the above facts. 



Y2 



