Zoological Society. 4237 



gastric juice. Dr. Crisp thought the fact worthy of notice, that the bones should be 

 expelled from the mouth of the bird and the worms be retained. 



(Esophagus and Stomach of the Heron. 

 The oesophagus and stomach of the common heron (Ardea cinerea), distended with 

 air for the purpose of showing the large size of the former, the diameter of which 

 (when distended) measured 2 inches. The stomach contained the skin, tail, and 

 other bones of a large rat. The preparation afforded a beautiful example of the power 

 of the gastric juice, which had by its chemical action alone removed the flesh from 

 the bones. The bird in question was a very large specimen. It weighed 4 lbs. I oz., 

 and measured from the tip of each wing 6 feet. The weight of two others dissected 

 was 3 lbs. 13 oz., and 3 lbs. 8 oz. 



The following communications from Dr. Edwards Crisp, illustrated by drawings 

 and preparations, were read : — 



Anatomy of the Great Bustard. 

 " On some points relating to the Anatomy of the Great Bustard (Otis tarda), more 

 especially on the (so-called) Neck-pouch." 



During the last eighteen months I have had an opportunity of examining three of 

 these birds, two females about eighteen months old, and a male aged about two years 

 and six months. The weight of the male bird was 12 lbs. ; of the females 6 lbs., and 

 7 lbs. 12 oz. I select the two last birds dissected (male and female), for the purpose 

 of elucidating such parts of the visceral anatomy as, I believe, have not been before 

 described, in the same manner. I may premise that the male bird (in the Society's 

 collection) died during the recent cold weather from a broken leg (December, 1853), 

 and was excessively fat, more so than any gallinaceous bird I have before examined. 

 The fat in the pelvis was hard, white, and solid, containing a good deal of stearine, 

 and weighed 3 oz. 320 grs. The morbid appearances in the female were very remark- 

 able, and as far as I know, unique. The abdomen was enormously distended with a 

 hard tumor, which I found to be the gizzard immensely enlarged. On cutting into it, 

 it was seen to be distended with tough grass, dry and in the form of a ball. The pari- 

 etes of the gizzard were thin, and the muscular character of the organ nearly lost. In 

 fact, it was a gizzard converted into a stomach, by stretching. The contrast between 

 the gizzards of these two birds (before the Society) was very remarkable. The 

 viscera weighed as follows : — 



Male. Female. 



Heart 2 oz. 21 grs. 1 oz. 208 grs. 



Lungs ] „ 240 „ 420 „ 



Liver 4 „ 340 „ 6 „ 400 „ 



Spleen 24 „ 52 „ 



Pancreas 31 „ 84 „ 



Kidney 380 „ 400 „ 



Length of Alimentary Canal 7 feet 3 inches. 8 feet 7 inches. 



The difference in the weight of the viscera may readily be accounted for by the 

 mode of death. 



In the measurement of the alimentary canal the appendices are included ; in the 

 male bird the two were 24 inches long ; in the female 30 inches. The brain of the 

 XIT. M 



