248 
NOTE ON MB. BARTtETT's Cf>MMtJN1CATlON. [Feb. 1, 
separate genera of birds, induces me to believe, tlint the hfibit may 
exist in many other birds anil have hitherto been unobserved. In 
many cases the substance would sink to tbe bottom of the water, 
vrherc it would soon decompose ; and this may accouut for its not 
having been previously noticed. 
I feel particularly anxious to call the attention of persons keeping 
Cormorants, and of those persona visiting the haunts of Cormorants, 
to this habit, as it is highly probable that this bird does the same 
thing. 
7, Note on Mr, Bartlett's Communication on the Habita 
of tbe Darter. By W. A. Poebes, B,A,, Prosector to 
the Society. 
[Eoceived February 1, 18SL] 
The specimen put into my hands by Mr. Bartiett is a somewhat 
broken bag-like sac, which is nndoubtediy the shed epithelial " coat 
of the gizzard of the Darter, Where the "epithelium" ' is thickest and 
best dcvelopeff, at the bottom of the gistzard, the walls have remained 
intact ; but above, where it thins off towards the pyloric and ccsophageal 
openings, • they have become broken, so that the sac is widely open 
here. A small patch of the characteristic hairs (c/. Garrod, P, Z. S. 
18/ 6, J). 343, pi. xsviii. fig. 2) of the pyloric part of the gizzard 
has come away with the epithelium ; these alone would suffice to 
indicate the bird whence it was derived. Tbe hard epithelium does 
not extend above the limits of the gizzard ; hence none of the mucous 
coverings of the proven tricnlar gland or ocaopbagus has been preserved 
in the ejected specimen. The outer surface of the cast epithelium is 
smooth and velvety, and exactly similar in appearance to epithehum 
that has been pcefed off the muscular walls of the gizzard artificially. 
A microscopical examination of a part of the cast epithelium shows 
that it IS quite identical in structure witli that of the unshed epithelium 
of the stomach, 
I may add that in the stomach of a lately dead example of the 
species — though not that of the individual which " moulted its 
stomach, which is still (February I ) alive and in good health — there 
is some appcarauce of a similar moult " being about to take place, 
the epithelial layer being easily detached from the subjacent ones, 
whilst beneath it there is apparently a new, though still very thin, 
coat of epithelium in course of formation. This appearance is con- 
firmed by sections of the epithelium. 
' 1 use liiifl term in the same sense an many proviouft writers ha™ done, aa a 
oonrontent term for the object in question, without cocnraitting roj'sclf to aivy 
opinioQ fti to it« true natufe,— W. JL F. 
