182 COLYMBIPiE. 



It will be seen, in the following pages, that the stomachs of 

 tlic rctl-neckecl, the Sclavonian, and the eared grebes that came 

 under my own examination, all contained feathers, but that those 

 of the little grebe never did so. Mr. Darragh has remarked to 

 me, with respect to the great-crested grebe (of which he has pre- 

 served a number of specimens), that at all seasons of the year 

 feathers are ready to drop out on the slightest touch ; a provision 

 wliich we may conceive made to supply the wants of the digestive 

 organs without any pain attendant on pulling the plumage from 

 its body. 



As I have never seen any satisfactory reason given for the in- 

 variable presence of feathers in the stomach of this species, the 

 bodies of the last tliree birds were submitted to the examination 

 of Dr. Gordon, Professor of Surgery, Queen's College, Belfast, in 

 the hope that he might be able to throw some light upon the 

 subject. He very kindly undertook the task, and examined a 

 red-necked grebe also, obtained on the 28rd of February, 1850. 

 His observations are as follow : — 



" The proventriculiis, or circle of glandules, occupying the lower end 

 of the oesophagus, when o])eued and measured, was, in the crested grebe 

 {Podlceps crisiatiis), one inch six lines in the vertical, and two inches 

 four lines in the ti'ausvcrse diameter ; whilst in the red-necked {Fodi- 

 ceps ruhicoUis) the vertical diameter was one inch and four lines, and 

 the transverse two inches. The glandules are larger in the former than 

 in the latter. 



" The muscular coat of the gizzard is not so thick as in the Rasores, 

 or gallinaceous birds, but exceeds that of the Eapiores, or birds of prey, 

 and is proportionably more largely developed in the crested than the 

 red-necked grebes. The inner membrane or epidermic coat in both is 

 nearly a line in thickness, and gradually becomes more dense and horny 

 as we approach the pylorus, where it resembles that of the GalUuacea;. 

 The general cavity of the gizzard does not open abruptly into the small 

 intesLiue, but forms a funnel, half an inch in length, with strong mus- 

 cular walls, much constricted at its termination, so much so, indeed, as 

 not to allow of the exit of at least the larger bones into the small in- 

 testines. It is therefore admirably adapted for retaining its contents 

 and crushing the bones and other substances which may enter it. In 



