472 DR. J. MURIE ON THE GULAR POUCH OF OTIS. [JuilC 25, 



18()7, when I had the opportunity of ascertaining the presence of a 

 distinct but small-sized gular pouch. 



It may not be inappropriate to describe this in situ, referring at 

 the same time to the accompanying drawing (fig. 1), as illustrating 

 the ap])earance and relative position of the parts on their removal 

 from the body. 



On examining the mouth when distended, an opening could be 

 seen beneath the tongue, which in size and general relative appearance 

 corresponded very well with the descriptions of the several authors 

 who have found such an entrance into a pouch. It agreed with 

 Mr. Flower's precise anatomical verbal delineation (loc. cit. p. 748). 



Without any apparent contraction, the aperture above mentioned 

 led into a thin-walled empty sac, which differed from the hitherto 

 recorded cases of gular pouch in Otis tarda in being only three 

 inches in length and about an inch in transverse diameter. 



In the recent undisturbed state the sac or bag was of nearly equal 

 width above and below, exhibiting no contraction and additional 

 terminal sacculus, as figured and described by Dr. CuUen (o/j. cit. 

 p. 144). Superficially («'. e. inferiorly) its walls were in close con- 

 tact with the delicate skin of the throat ; and deeply {i. e. superiorly) 

 the sac lay on the trachea (see fig. 1, infra). 



Lateral view sliomng the position of the gular pouch and surrounding parts in 

 Otis Jcori, the skin and subjacent tissue being thrown back so as to cover it. 



G.p. G.p.* Grular pouch included within the dotted line; a, the aperture be- 

 neath. To, the tongue, which is raised above/, floor of mouth. B.ff. Bima 

 glotfklis, or laryngeal fissure. Tr. Trachea. Oe. Oesophagus. P. 7n. The 

 superficial muscular fibres o{ the pJatysma mt/oidcs, or the so-called sphincter 

 of the gular pouch. M. G. h. The niylo- and genio-hyoidei muscles, cut 

 tlirough towards their mandibular origin. 



The structural elements of this small gular pouch were composed 

 of material very similar to what Mr. Flower mentions, namely, mem- 

 branous tissue and a minute quantity of elastic fibres interwoven with 

 the areolar tissue. Its lining membrane was apparently a con- 

 tinuation of the mucous coat of the mouth and general faucial aper- 



