368 ME. J. BESWICK PEERIN ON THE 



and their farinaceous pulp. A few short hair-like steins were intermingled with the 

 mass, probably fibres from the same plants from which the seeds or beans were obtained. 

 I obtained a few specimens of almost perfect beans ; they are somewhat smaller than 

 the smallest specimens of the English bean. Their envelopes are hard, and of a pale 

 brownish red colour. 



On opening the crop, the mucous lining was found to be exceedingly strong. In 

 the oesophagus it was plicated longitudinally, as in higher animals. The plicae traverse 

 both segments of the crop in an arcuate fashion, becoming larger, more numerous, and 

 more corrugated. The terminal point between the two segments is marked off by a 

 strong vertical stem or modiolus, over which the mucous membrane is perfectly smooth. 

 The total number of corrugations opposite the modiolus, and in the second segment, is 

 twenty-seven. The plicae are marked by transverse ridges. About eight of the plica- 

 tions spring independently from the modiolus, and converge towards the pylorus of the 

 crop. 



The mucous membrane is strong and thick. 



The whole conformation of the crop, especially on its posterior aspect, resembles the 

 gizzard more than a crop. That the food undergoes rapid and powerful digestion in 

 this alimentary cavity there can be no doubt, from the appearance which the contents 

 presented. There is a slight constriction simulating a pyloric valve at the distal end of 

 the crop. 



DESCRIPTION OF THE PLATES. 



PLATE LXIII. 



Figs. 1 & 2. Feather-tracts of Opisthocomus cristatus, after Nitzsch and Sclater. 

 Fig. 3. Crop, large pectoral muscles, &c. 



tr. Trachea. 



0. CEsophagus. 



cp'. Upper segment of crop. 



cp". Lower segment of crop. 



pc mg. Pectoralis magnus muscle 



th. Sternal tubercle. 



PLATE LXIV. 



Fig. 1. a. Concave surface of pectoralis magnus for reception of crop. 

 h. Anterior and outer surface of pectoralis magnus. 

 1, 2, 8. Factors of the extensor longus alaris. 



