INTESTINAL TRACT OF BIEDS. 



205 



FALCON1FORMES. 



C ATH ART^E. 



CATHARTID^E. Of these I have been able to examine only Cathartes aura (fig. 26). 

 The duodenum is long and is coiled into an irregular spiral. Meckel's tract presents first 

 one very wide loop and then a nearly circular expansion symmetrical about a Meckel's 

 diverticuluni and thrown into short irregular folds. Then follows a very large but 



Fig. 26. 



Intestinal Tract of Cathartes aura. 

 Lettering as before. 



typical supra-duodenal loop with "bridging" vein. The caeca are totally absent, but 

 immediately above their normal position lies the kink supplied by the rectal vein. I 

 have already shown that this peculiar little loop is a recurring feature among the 



It occurs without exception in all the Palconiforrn 



Carinates we have been considering, 

 birds. 



SECOND SERIES. ZOOLOGY, VOL. VIII. 



