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Sir W. Jardine on the Habits of Prionites. 



sions for exertion or rapid flight ; the skeleton, with the ex- 

 ception of the bones of the head and neck, is likewise as 

 weakly formed. The stomach is small and oval; the pro- 

 ventriculus gradually narrowing into the oesophagus, which 

 is wide and dilated; when distended the stomach appears 

 muscular without, but the walls when cut through show a 

 moderate thickness only. The inner coating is rather co- 

 riaceous, and separates easily arid cleanly from that next to it. 

 The intestinal canal is narrow, but was too much spoiled to 

 be distinctly made out. The caeca appeared long, and to be 

 given off nearly at the extreme end, and the cloaca is very 

 large. The tongue is lengthened, bifid for half an inch, and is 

 slightly feathered on the sides ; the muscles of the inferior 

 larynx, so far as observed, resemble in number and position 

 those of the Corvidae. 



In placing Prionites among the Fissirostres and near to the 

 Rollers, we believe that Mr. Swainson will ultimately be found 

 to be correct ; their weak formation and the internal structure, 

 the wide gape and partially bristled rictus, together with their 

 habits, all tend to this place ; at the same time their analogies 

 towards the Crows are extremely strong. The elongated form 

 and short wings of Pica and Crypsirina remind us of Prionites, 

 and it is remarkable that in both of these there is a narrowing 

 of the centre tail-feathers, where they are spatulate in the last. 

 In the typical crows the bill is often ragged on the edges ; 

 they are carnivorous and insectivorous, and many feed eagerly 

 on fruits and grain, while reptiles are often seized by the 

 stronger species ; the tongue is slightly bifid, and is fim- 

 briated on its edges, — the commencement of that pencilled 

 or feathered form which more particularly belongs to those 

 species which live much on sweet or pulpy fruits. One other 

 remarkable analogy we would notice, and one perhaps by 

 which it has not yet struck ornithologists to trace the alliance 

 between the various groups. The birds in spirits afforded 



