132 On the Digestive Organs of the 



little inclined to the right side. It is closed by a kind of valvular 

 apparatus, there being on the side next the oesophagus two promi- 

 nent longitudinal ruga?, Fig. J, a, b, and opposite them on the other 

 side a small prominence, c. 



The intestine, which is 50 inches long, first curves to the left, 

 /, m, along or anterior to the edge of the stomach, until it nearly 

 reaches the sacrum, and is then bent back in a parallel direction, 

 curving forwards to pass under the right lobe of the liver at n. This 

 fold, which may be named the duodenum, is connected by a reflec- 

 tion of the peritoneum, on which lies the pancreas, o. After re- 

 ceiving the two pancreatic and two biliary ducts, it becomes attach- 

 ed to the mesentery, makes a sweep backwards along the right side 

 of the abdomen, is curved upwards and convoluted in the mesente- 

 ry, then becomes attached to the lower edge of the stomach, forms 

 a small fold similar to the duodenum, ascends along the back of the 

 stomach, in coming off forms another fold, and then terminates in 

 the rectum, which curves along the sacrum, supported by the nar- 

 row meso- rectum. 



At its commencement, the duodenum is narrow, but suddenly 

 enlarges to T 7 5 , of which diameter it continues. Beyond the en- 

 trance of the biliary ducts, the small intestine gradually but irre- 

 gularly diminishes to a diameter of 2^-12ths, its narrowest part be- 

 ing at the end. There is no appearance of colon therefore ; a cir- 

 cumstance common to all birds examined by me. 



In Fig. 4<, q, r, indicate the extremity of the rectum, the rest 

 being concealed. Fig. 8 represents that portion of the intestinal ca- 

 nal. At the termination of the small intestine, a, are two very small 

 ccecal appendages, b b, which are cylindrical, rounded at the extre- 

 mity, directed forwards, adherent, -^ of a inch long, fa in diameter, 

 with a very narrow mucous cavity. They come off on opposite sides, 

 one generally a little below the other. 



The rectum, b, c, is at once enlarged to T 5 ^, continues to widen, 

 and terminates in an elliptical or subglobular dilatation, d, beyond 

 which is a short space separated from the rectum by a sort of ring 

 or contraction, and which is named the cloaca, e. 



Besides the peritoneal covering, the intestine has a muscular and 

 an inner or mucous coat. The former is thickest in the duode- 

 nal portion, the inner surface of which is smooth, with scarcely 

 any villosity, and even, without rugae, being at first similar to that 

 of the stomach. On the rest of the small intestine are long, ex- 

 tremely slender villi, which toward its lower part become more 

 sparse. The inner surface of the coeca has a cellular appearance 



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