326 Sir W. Jardine on the Habits of Prionites. 
sions for exertion or rapid flight; the skeleton, with the ex- 
ception of the bones of the head and neck, is likewise as 
weakly formed. ‘The stomach is small and oval; the pro- 
ventriculus gradually narrowing into the cesophagus, which 
is wide and dilated; when distended the stomach appears 
muscular without, but the walls when cut through show a 
moderate thickness only. The inner coating is rather co- 
riaceous, and separates easily and cleanly from that next to it. 
The intestinal canal is narrow, but was too much spoiled to 
be distinctly made out. The ceeca appeared long, and to be 
given off nearly at the extreme end, and the cloaca is very 
large. The tongue is lengthened, bifid for half an inch, and is 
slightly feathered on the sides; the muscles of the inferior 
larynx, so far as observed, resemble in number and position 
those of the Corvide. 
In placing Prionites among the Fissirostres and near to the 
Rollers, we believe that Mr. Swainson will ultimately be found 
to be correct ; their weak formation and the internal structure, 
the wide gape and partially bristled rictus, together with their 
habits, all tend to this place ; at the same time their analogies 
towards the Crows are extremely strong. The elongated form 
and short wings of Pica and Crypsirina remind us of Prionites, 
and it is remarkable that in both of these there is a narrowing 
of the centre tail-feathers, where they are spatulate in the last. 
In the typical crows the bill is often ragged on the edges; 
they are carnivorous and insectivorous, and many feed eagerly 
on fruits and grain, while reptiles are often seized by the 
stronger species; the tongue is slightly bifid, and is fim- 
briated on its edges,—the commencement of that pencilled 
or feathered form which more particularly belongs to those 
species which live much on sweet or pulpy fruits. One other 
remarkable analogy we would notice, and one perhaps by 
which it has not yet struck ornithologists to trace the alliance 
between the various groups. The birds in spirits afforded 
