ANSER FERUS. 321 



trachea which is separated into two pipes, crossing each other, that on 

 the left hand passing into the right side of the lungs, and that of the 

 right into the left portion of them ; but this may be common to other 

 fowls." 



The Goose [Anser palustris, Cuv.] . 



A goose has no crop ; but the oesophagus is pretty large, the size 

 being increased at the entrance into the thorax, and continuing so to 

 the stomach : in all this passage lies the food, which seems as if it 

 passed into the stomach gradually. The stomach is like that of all 

 graminivorous birds. The duodenum is the same. The jejunum first 

 makes a fold on itself for about 8 inches in length, which fold is turned 

 in upon itself one whole circle and a half, like a snail-shell. The ileum 

 makes four folds on itself with one central mesentery to the whole ; 

 and to the last of these the caeca are attached, and at the termination 

 of the last fold the rectum begins, which is about 6 inches long. 



The liver is as in other birds. The gall-bladder is the same. The 

 ducts enter the last turn o: the duodenum separately, but pretty close. 

 There are two pancreases, one on each side of the mesoduodenum : the 

 anterior sends^a duct to the posterior one, near the lower end; and 

 each sends a duct from the anterior end to the duodenum which enters 

 near the ducts of the gall-bladder, but separately from them and from 

 each other. 



The ovarium is a long body, with the upper end placed on the 

 capsula renalis. The oviduct enters [the cloaca] as usual ; and on the 

 other side there is a smaller opening which leads up in the same 

 manner for about 4 inches : it is rugous on the inside, and as if there 

 were some hydatids upon it. The opening above the rectum is very 

 short. 



The bird expanded its membrana nictitans when I put its head 

 into water. 



The Wild Goose [Anser ferus, Lister] ? 



" Oundle, Dec. 30th, 1790. 



" Sie, — By the assistance of the servant to whom the care of our 

 poultry is consigned, I am now enabled to give you a more particular 

 account of the parentage of the geese I some time since sent to you, 

 and which I have had the satisfaction to hear were acceptable. To the 

 best of my recollection, it was in the summer of 1773 that I took the 

 original goose (now in my possession), with three others (then very 

 little goslings), in the fens between Cambridge and Ely. An old wild 



vol. it. v 



