134 On the Digestive Organs of the 



tirely destitute of mucous crypts. When the crop, stomach; and 

 intermediate space are found filled, the solvent action is first per- 

 ceived in the proventricular space ; hut it is doubtful if the secre- 

 tion from its glandules effects the solution ; for, on examining the 

 parts, we find the fluid of the glands uniformly diffused over its 

 surface, and covering the interior of the stomach, sometimes in its 

 whole extent, but generally in its upper part. In this state, the 

 proventricular fluid, coagulated as it were, might, on a superficial 

 examination, be considered as the inner coat of the stomach dissolv- 

 ed by the gastric juice. When the soluble part of the contents of 

 the stomach has been reduced to a pulpy state, it passes through 

 the pylorus, which rejects the hair and feathers. These, with un- 

 dissolved bones, cuticular linings of gizzards, seeds and other vege- 

 table substances, are, by the contraction of the muscular fibres, thrust 

 into the oesophagus, and vomited in dense pellets. In the duode- 

 num, the pulpy mass is farther diluted, has a light-red colour, and 

 seems to undergo a farther digestion. On being mixed with the bile 

 it assumes a light-greenish tint, and deposits the chyle on the sur- 

 face of the intestine, whence it is absorbed. Towards the lower 

 part of the small intestine, it becomes darker and thickens, and the 

 refuse enters the rectum in a cylindrical rather concrete form. There 

 it is diluted with mucus and urine, and is finally ejected at once in 

 a semifluid state, of a dark-green colour, mixed with flakes of white. 



The intestinal canal of the Common Buzzard, Buleo vulgaris, is 

 so remarkably similar to that of the golden eagle, that the same de- 

 scription might answer for both, unless with respect to the actual 

 dimensions. 



The bill is proportionally much smaller, less deep, and having 

 the outline of the upper mandible more sloped ; but in other re- 

 spects it bears a great resemblance to that of the eagle. The mouth 

 is wide, measuring 1 T 5 S across; the palate, flat anteriorly, having a 

 broad soft ridge, from the posterior part of which proceed back- 

 wards two very prominent, nearly parallel soft ridges, bearing small 

 pointed papilla?. Between them is the depression which corresponds 

 to the tongue. A transverse papillate edge proceeds inwards from 

 the middle of these ridges, and they terminate in a similar curved 

 edge behind. The posterior aperture of the nares is narrow-ellip- 

 tical behind, linear before, with papillate margins. The tongue and 

 other parts of the mouth are as in the Golden Eagle. 



In Plate V. is represented the intestinal canal of a male indivi- 

 dual of this species. Fig. 1 exhibits a lateral view of the organs 

 in their natural position, diminished to half their size, the parts 



