252 DE. P. CHALMERS MITCHELL ON THE 



TBOGONES. 



In Trogon puella (fig. 70) the duodenum is a large loop expanded towards its apex, 

 Meckel's tract shows two loops anterior to the position where I infer the yolk-sac to 

 have been, although there was no diverticulum left as a vestige of it. The distal portion 

 of the Tract has the long caeca adherent to it, and these are drained by a "bridging" 

 vein. The rectum is short and straight. 



Pic i. 

 GALBULID^E. I have not seen any of this family. 



CAPITONIB^:. I have examined Tetragonops Frantzii and Megalcema asiatica. In 

 these the conformation of the gut is much alike. The duodenum (fig 71) is a short, wide 

 loop. Meckel's tract exhibits two short loops anterior to the diverticulum, and, distad 

 of that, forms a distinct supra-duodenal loop with " bridging " vein. There is no trace 

 of caeca, and the rectum is straight and wide. 



IYNGIB^E. In lynx torquilla the conformation of the gut is practically identical with 

 that in Megalcema. 



RHAMPHASTIDJE. I have examined Andigena Bailloni, Pteroglossus Wiedi, Rham- 

 phastos ariel, and R. vitellinus. In all the duodenum is very wide, and Meckel's tract 

 and the short rectum do not differ from the form found in Megalcema. 



PICIDJE. In Dendrocopus major, Geoinus viridis, and Leuconerpes candidus the con- 

 formation of the gut is in every important respect similar to that found in Megalcema. 



The Coraciiform birds tend generally towards the production of an extremely short, 

 wide, and simple gut. The small si/e and the frugivorous habit, so common among 

 them, are agencies that have comhined in producing this pseudocentric simplicity. 

 Certain forms, such as Nyctidromus, are readily comparable with the archeceutric type, 

 and present a simple duodenum, a Meckel's tract which is a circular expanse divided by 

 the diverticulum into an anterior portion and a distal portion to which the L ng caBca 

 are attached, and finally a straight, rather wide rectum. The changes from such a 

 condition depend, first, on a widening of the duodenum ; second, on a tendency for the 

 portion of Meckel's tract proximad of the diverticulum to appear in two loops; and, 

 third, for a supra-duodenal loop to become distinct in the distal portion of Meckel's 

 tract. From this condition, various more apocentric modifications of the conformation 

 are produced, chiefly by shortening and simplification of the tract and by reduction 

 of the caeca. 



PASSEBIFORMES. 



I have examined a very large number of P^sscres, belonging to the family Eurylaemida? 

 of the Subclair.atores ; to the families Tyrannidse, Pittidae, Pteroptochidae, Dendro- 

 colaptidee, Cotingidse, For mica riidse, and Pipridae of the Clamatores ; of the Suboscines I 

 have examined Menura, and of the Oscines members of the families Alaudidse, Time- 

 liidre, Pycnonotidae, Muscicapidse, Turdidse, Troglodytidae, HirundinidaB, Campephagidae, 



