AMERICAN OYSTER-CATCHER. 



581 



mity, forms several folds or convolutions, then curves up over the sto- 

 mach, and passes directly to the anus. Its average width is 4 twelfths. 

 The coeca, 1 1, are 4;^ inches 

 in length, their greatest 

 width 3 twelfths, their 

 distance from the anus 3 

 inches ; the cloaca, ]c, glo- 

 bular. This bird was 

 nearly ready to lay eggs. 

 One of them has a dia- 

 meter of 1 inch, which is 

 the full size of the yolk, 

 the albumen not being add- 

 ed until it has entered the 

 oviduct. 



The trachea, which is 

 5g inches long, gradually 

 tapers from the width of 

 41 twelfths to that of 2| 

 twelfths. Its rings are un- 

 ossified, 115 in number. 

 The bronchi are of mode- 

 rate length, wide, of about 

 20 very thin cartilaginous 

 half rings. The lateral 

 muscles are strong ; the 

 sterno-tracheal slips come 

 off close to the inferior la- 

 rynx, which has no pecu- 

 liar muscles. 



In a male, the oesopha- 

 gus is 8 inches long, its 

 greatest width near the 

 lower part of the neck 1\ inch. The stomach is small, being 1| inch 

 long, and 1 inch in breadth. The intestine measures 4 feet 4 inches 

 in length ; its average width 4 twelfths. The coeca 4 inches long. 



