98 



Dr. Davy on the Bursa Fahricii, 



[Apr. 19, 



in diameter. It contained a good deal of turbid urinary fluid abounding in 

 lithate of ammonia. It had no air in any of its bones. 



In an old bird, the parent of the preceding, no bursa was found. 



X. Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus). — Of a young one shot on the 25th of 

 August, weight 1310 grs. (judging from its plumage, a bird of this season), 

 the bursa was very small. In another, a male*, an older bird, shot on the 

 6th of June, weight 1/68 grs., no traces could be found of a bursa. 



XI. Common Goose. — Of one hatched in the spring, examined when 

 about six months old, the bursa, of an ovoid form, measured 1*2 by '7 inch. 

 It was plicated, like that of the common fowl. Of two others, one four 

 months old, one of about eight months, the bursa was about the same size 

 as the preceding. 



XII. Common Buck. — Of one, a male hatched in March, the bursa was 

 of a cylindrical form, 1*6 inch long by '4 inch wide. Its lining membrane 

 was without plicae ; the apertures of the mucous follicles were conspicuous, 

 and arranged in parallel lines. It contained some dark fsecal matter 

 similar to that in -the intestine. 



Of another male, about three months old, the bursa was of a flask-like 

 form, 2-6 inches in length, '6 inch in width where widest; in structure 

 like the preceding. It contained a turbid greyish fluid, in which were 

 suspended granules and small globules. It was coagulated by nitric acid. 



Of a female, about a month older, of the same brood, the bursa resem- 

 bled the last< 



Of another female, a little more than a year old, the bursa was very 

 small ; its cavity was not quite obliterated, nor was its opening into the 

 cloaca closed. 



Of a male about two years old, no traces remained of a bursa. 



XIII. Water-hen (Gallinula chloropus) .— Of a male shot in November, 

 the bursa, of a flask-like form, was -6 inch by '4 ; its cavity was small and 

 without plicee. 



XIV. Common Coot (Fulica atra). — In a male shot on the 8th of March 

 no bursa was found. 



XV. Cotmnon Gull (Larus canus). — The same rem.ark applies to one 

 examined in January. 



XVI. Woodcock (Scolopax rusticola). — In two examined, one in De- 

 cember, the other in February, no traces of a bursa were found. 



XVII. Rook (Corvus frugilegus). — Of this bird thirteen specimens have 

 been examified. In eight no traces of a bursa were detected ; from their 

 appearance and the quality of their bones, it was inferred that they were a 

 year or more old. In the remaining five a bursa was met with ; three 

 were examined in May, two in August ; all had the marks of young birds. 

 Of one, which weighed 6132 grs., caught when not quite capable of flight, 



* One testis weighed '7 gr., aud measured -24 incliby '26 ; the other 1 gr., and mea- 

 sured "28 by '20 inch ; they were of a rich yellow colour, and contained sperm-cells^and 

 spermatozoa, the latter of uniform thickness,'about -002 inch in length, nowise spiral. 



