238 COMMON GANNET. 
the humerus; and behind the wings four others, extending to the last 
rib. Branches from these pass between the muscles, which present 
the appearance of having been as it were dissected. A cell of enormous 
size covers the side of the abdomen, and another pair run down the 
middle of it, separated by a partition in the median line. That part of 
the cellular tissue which adheres to the bases of the feathers is also 
remarkably loose ; and, close to each of them, is a roundish aperture of 
large size, communicating with the great cavities mentioned above. 
Between the pectoralis major and the subjacent muscles is a large in- 
terspace formed by a great cell. The internal thoracic and abdominal 
cells are also.very large. 
On the roof of the mouth are five sharp ridges. The nasal aper- 
ture is 1 inch and 5 twelfths long, linear, with a soft longitudinal flap 
on each side. The tongue is extremely small, being only 7 twelfths 
long, 1 twelfth broad, blunt at the extremity, and with two papille at 
the base. The bare skin between the crura of the mandibles is of the 
same structure as. that of the Pelicans and Cormorants, but of small 
extent, its posterior acute extremity not extending farther than that at 
the base of the bill. The aperture of the glottis is 7} twelfths long. 
The thyroid bone has an anterior curved prolongation, which projects 
forwards, and from the extremity of which comes the elastic ligament 
by which it is connected with the hyoid bone. The cesophagus, a, b, is 15 
inches long, measured to the commencement of the proventriculus, ex- 
tremely dilated, its diameter 25 inches at the top, contracting to 2 
inches as it enters the thorax, its narrowest part 1 inch 4 twelfths ; its 
transverse muscular fibres moderately strong. The proventriculus, c, d,is 
excessively large, 31 inches long, its greatest diameter 2} inches. The 
glandules are cylindrical, 3 twelfths long, forming a very broad belt, 
separated however at its narrowest part by a longitudinal interval of 5 
twelfths of an inch, and having three partial divisions on its lower 
edge. The greatest length of the proventriculus, or breadth of the 
belt of glanduies, is 2; inches. The mucous coat of the cesophagus is 
smooth, but thrown into longitudinal plice when contracted; that of 
the proventriculus is continuous, and of the same nature, being marked 
with extremely minute reticulated lines, of which the more prominent 
have a longitudinal direction. The stomach, properly so called, de, is ex- 
tremely small, being only 1 inch 9 twelfths long, and about the same 
breadth. Its inner coat is similar to that of the cesophagus and pro- 
