248 



DE. P. CHALMERS MITCHELL ON THE 



were no caeca, and the rectum was long, wide, and partly convoluted. la Rhytidoceros 

 plicatus (26. fig. 23), and other Hornbills resemble it, the duodenum is extremely wide. 

 Meckel's tract is thrown into three distinct long loops, of which the last is a well-formed 

 supra-duodenal loop with " bridging " rein. The two anterior loops possibly correspond 

 to the two loops of Dacelo and other Coracii ; but the second, which is much the longer, 

 bears a distinct diverticulum near the apex on its distal limb. There are no ca3ca, and 

 the rectum is rather wide and straight. It is clear that the character of the gut does 



O O 



not unite the Hoopoes and Hornbills closely. 



STEIGES. 



(1) STRIGIN^E. Of these I have examined only Strix flammea. The conformation of 

 the intestinal tract in this is remarkably archecentric (fig. 66). The duodenum is a large 



Fig. 66. 



Intestinal Tract of Strix jlammea. 



but simple loop. Meckel's tract is fairly symmetrical about the middle mesenteric vein 

 which runs out towards a diverticulum. It is produced into first one definite loop (marked 

 "a" in the figure), and then has a circular expanse with a rather narrow neck, uniting 

 it above to loop "a," and distally to a definite supra-duodenal loop. This expanse is 

 partly produced into indefinite minor loops. There are two long csera attached to the 

 supra-duodenal loop, and the rectum is straight and of moderate length. 



(2) BTJBONIN.E. Of these I have examined species of Bubo, Asia, Athene, Syrnium, 

 Speo-yto, and Gymnoglaux. Of these Bubo maximus, which I have already figured 

 (26. fig. 22), Asio, and Speotyto do not dilfer in any important respect from Strix; the 



