144 The Zoologist — March, 1866. 



January. It was feeding with some sparrows on a manure heap at Almondbury Bank. 

 — James Vurley ; Almondhury Bank, HmUhrsJield, February ly, 1S66. 



The villous Coaling of the Cuckoo's Stomach. — Perusing Dr. Boulton's remarks on 

 the villous coaling of a cuckoo's stomach (Zool. 9782), it reminded me of a similar 

 instance that passed under my notice during the latter part of May, 18(54, and which 

 I mentioned at page 147 of ' Voung England ' for that year. My specimen, like Dr. 

 Boulton's, was also a liird of the year. Its stomach contained a few larva;, including 

 those of the " tiger moth," and a few remains of Coleopiera ; part of the hairy covering 

 of the former, being loose, was scattered over the inner membrane : these, when I had 

 cleared the stomach, I found quite distinct from those that lined, and were firmly 

 attaclied to the membrane itself; these latter were short and of a light reddish hue, 

 while those of the ti^yermoth were long and brown. Summer is now fast approaching, 

 and I tiust we shall have further oppoitiinilies of investigating this important matter. 

 —J". E. Gunn ; West Potlcrt/ale, Norwich. 



The Gular Pouch of the Uustard. — In a scientific point of view, the great bustard 

 is of much interest, from the dispute which exists respecting the presence or absence 

 of a large pouch or bladder bcneaih the skin of the fore part of the neck. In respect 

 to this matter a most interesting con>niuniealion was made to the Zoological Society, 

 on Tuesday evening last, by Mr. Flower, the curator of the museum of the College of 

 Surgeons. Some naturalists have from time to time described this animal as possess- 

 ing a very large sac or bag, situated under the skin of the throat, with an opening 

 beneath the tongue. On the other hand, many of our most distinguished ornitho- 

 logists liave stated that the adult birds of both sexes which they have dissected showed 

 not the slightest vestige of this singular formation. Mr. Flower, having recently 

 received the carcase of a bustard from Kustendjie, carefully sought for the existence 

 of this structure, and he exhibited the results of his investigation to the members of 

 the Society. The dissection showed that beneath the tongue of this bird was an 

 opening, into which the tip of the little finger mi-iht be passed. This led into a large 

 sac, or bladder, capable of containing, without being distended, three or four pints of 

 water. Two distinct issues are opened up by this interesting discovery, or perhaps I 

 had better say re-discovery— firstly, what is the use of the pouch ? secondly, how 

 could il have escaped the notice of such men as Mitchell, Newton, &c., when they 

 were especially looking for it.? I do not believe any satisfactory answer can be given 

 to the first question. The pouch does not communicate with the gullet, and what its 

 use may be I am at a loss to conceive, although il has been su^-gested that the bird 

 infiates it with air, and another theory is that it is a water-bag for the males to carry 

 water to the females during incubation ; but as the males altogether desert the females 

 during this period, there can be but litile foundation for this theory. The second 

 question is almost as puzzling. Mr. Gould suggested that it might be developed 

 only in particular seasons; but it seems almost impossible that an organ of such size 

 could sbrink so as to be invisible to the eyes of skilled observers. Dr. Gray expressed 

 his opinion that perhaps two distinct species exist— one with and the other without a 

 pouch, and that thej had been confounded together under the same name. I know 

 myself far too little about the fads to offer an opinion in the case; all that I can say 

 is this, that mv old friend, Mr. YarrcU, along witli other naturalists many years ago, 

 denied the existence of this structure, and that I have now seen il with my own eyes. 

 It is precisely one of those cases where sportsmen can do good service to science. 



