CHAPTER XXXVI 



The Digestive Organs and Ailments in connection 



therewith 



The digestive organs of the Pheasant are similar in most 

 respects to those of other birds, there being no teeth, the 

 beak acting as an organ of prehension — in other words, 

 for picking up the food. As the food cannot be broken 

 up in the mouth, it is necessary for the bird to have a 

 receptacle into which the food can pass, and such provision 

 is made in the form of a pouch or dilation at the lower 

 end of the gullet, which thus acts as a store-house and 

 hopper for the food. Immediately below the crop the 

 gullet passes into the so-called chemical stomach or Proven- 

 TRicuLUS, an organ that is richly supplied with gastric and 

 peptic glands, imbedded in the mucous membrane. These 

 glands secrete true digestive fluids, and pour them into the 

 second compartment of the stomach, which is the gizzard, 

 into which the true digestive stomach [proventriculus) 

 directly opens. The gizzard is lined with tough, cuticular 

 membrane, and has very thick muscular walls, whilst its 

 form is that of an ovoid body, slightly flattened from side 

 to side. With the aid of grit it is able to exercise a 

 grinding action, so that its contents are very often of a 

 dry nature, but whole grain, beans, etc., are commonly 

 found in this organ. The necessity for a liberal supply of 

 grit thus becomes obvious, and if Pheasants are unable to 

 obtain such they will never thrive, grit being as essential 

 for their welfare as food. The small intestine follows 



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