Birds. 



8557 



entirely clothed with cellular tissues in a most remarkable manner ; they were very 

 delicate, and so close to the skin that even when we grazed the roots of the feathers 

 we occasionally cut them. On the blowpipe being inserted into one of the apertures 

 thus made, a small bubble was immediately raised, which increased on greater power 

 being applied, so as to form a considerable bag, perhaps three inches long. This 

 peculiarity we found in every part of the neck ; but it was plain, after one or two 

 trials, that none of these bags existed of themselves, but were the result of the mem- 

 branes being forcibly ruptured by the pressure of the air. Once or twice, on inflating 

 the tissues, a sort of hour-glass form, such as is mentioned by Naumann, was appa- 

 rent, but generally the bags were wider at the top than at the bottom. The examina- 

 tion took us between three and four hours, but at last the membranes became so dry 

 that we had some difficulty in inflating a small cluster of bubbles to preserve as 

 a specimen, which Mr. Bartlett still keeps. I can most honestly assert that if I had 

 any prepossession beyond the wish of arriving at the truth, it was in favour of the 

 existence of the pouch ; and 1 am sure Mr. Bartlett took all possible pains to find it. 

 I had told him of much that had been written and of much that I had heard on the 

 subject ; among other things a communication I have not before mentioned here, 

 made to me by my friend Mr. John Scales, to the effect that many years ago, when 

 residing in Norfolk, he obtained a very large male bustard, now one of the glories of 

 the xMuseum at Norwich, from which he " dissected out the pouch." Mr. Bartlett, as 

 my readers are no doubt aware, now holds the situation of Superintendent at the 

 Gardens of the Zoological Society, and, knowing that he has since had other oppor- 

 tunities of observation, I lately applied to him to furnish me with the results. His 

 answer, containing, as I think, a most valuable suggestion, is as follows : — " The inte- 

 rest I have felt with reference to the existence or otherwise of the pouch in the throat 

 of the great bustard has naturally led me to examine with great care all the birds of 

 that species that have come within my reach. Notwithstanding my want of success, 

 and, T must add, my disappointment, I am of opinion that it would be unwise and 

 unfair to deny that something differing from what I have found does occasionally 

 exist. The fine large adult male obtained by you in March, 1858, and in which we 

 failed to find any opening under the tongue, or any natural pouch, on examination 

 exhibited a structure capable of being easily converted into an appearance of that 

 which is so carefully described by older authors. Since that opportunity I have dis- 

 sected two other males; one on February 14, 1861. Dr. Albert Gunther, Dr. Sclater 

 and Mr. E. W. H. Holdsworth were present on this occasion. The bird was a large 

 male, not an old one, but probably in the second year, the whiskers being somewhat 

 developed. The most careful examination, made by myself and the above-named 

 gentlemen, failed to discover any opening under the tongue. Being perfectly satis- 

 fied on this point, an incision was made in the skin, beginning at the corner of the 

 mouth ; and, as in the specimen which you and I formerly examined, we found the 

 same abundance of delicate membranes spread over the fore part of the neck and 

 throat. By inserting the end of a blowpipe any number of cells could be inflated, the 

 walls of which, on the application of a little force, would give way, and thus form one 

 or more large cavities or bags. During the examination a discussion took place with 

 reference to the means whereby these membranes were distended in life, — whether by 

 muscular dilatation or by inflation ; and I must admit that this part of the subject has 

 since appeared to me to require more consideration than I at first thought it deserved. 

 On February 21st, 1861, another fine male great bustard, of about the same age as the 



