WILD ANIMALS IN CAPTIVITY 



attentive watching for the purpose of detecting and ascer- 

 taining in what other animals this habit may be found. 

 The result of close observation has brought to light the 

 same habit in two species of birds belonging to a family 

 far removed from the Bucerotidm or hornbills, viz. in the 

 darter {Plotus anhinga) and the Brazilian cormorant 

 (Fhalacocoraojbrasilianus). I first found the ejected stomach- 

 lining from the darter, and in a short paper read at the 

 meeting of the Zoological Society, February 1, 1881, 1 com- 

 municated the fact. The cast epithelial lining of the 

 stomach was exhibited and described by the prosector of 

 the Society, Mr. Forbes. In my notice I called the atten, 

 tion of other observers to this singular discovery, as I 

 suspected the same might be met with in many other 

 birds. I since find the cormorants have the same habit 

 and power. 



REMARKS UPON THE HABITS OF THE DARTER. 



[PLOTUS ANniNGA.) 



At a meeting of this Society, 1867 (see Proceedings of 

 the Zoological Society, 1867, p. 142), I read a paper upon 

 habits of the hornbill, and called attention to the fact 

 that, from time to, time, these birds cast up a substance 

 that is found, upon examination, to be the epithelial 

 lining of the gizzard. I now bring before the Society's 

 notice another instance of this remarkable habit, in a 

 very different group of birds. A darter {Flatus anhinga), 

 the bird I now speak of, was received on July 18, 1880 

 and since that time has appeared to be in 'perfect health, 

 and has fed regularly. It has thrown up the lining 

 of its stomach on three or four occasions during this 

 period ; but unfortunately the keeper, not being aware of 



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