132 On the Digestive Organs of the 
little inclined to the right side. It is closed by a kind of valvular 
apparatus, there being on the side next the oesophagus two promi- 
nent longitudinal rugae, Fig. 7* a > b> and opposite them on the other 
side a small prominence, c. 
The intestine, which is 50 inches long, first curves to the left, 
/, TW, along or anterior to the edge of the stomach, until it nearly 
reaches the sacrum, and is then bent back in a parallel direction, 
curving forwards to pass under the right lobe of the liver at n. This 
fold, which may be named the duodenum, is connected by a reflec- 
tion of the peritoneum, on which lies the pancreas, o. After re- 
ceiving the two pancreatic and two biliary ducts, it becomes attach- 
ed to the mesentery, makes a sweep backwards along the right side 
of the abdomen, is curved upwards and convoluted in the mesente- 
ry, then becomes attached to the lower edge of the stomach, forms 
a small fold similar to the duodenum, ascends along the back of the 
stomach, in coming off forms another fold, and then terminates in 
the rectum, which curves along the sacrum, supported by the nar- 
row meso-rectum. 
At its commencement, the duodenum is narrow, but suddenly 
enlarges to T 7 5 , of which diameter it continues. Beyond the en- 
trance of the biliary ducts, the small intestine gradually but irre- 
gularly diminishes to a diameter of 2<|-12ths, its narrowest part be- 
ing at the end. There is no appearance of colon therefore ; a cir- 
cumstance common to all birds examined by me. 
In Fig. 4, q, r } indicate the extremity of the rectum, the rest 
being concealed. Fig. 8 represents that portion of the intestinal ca- 
nal. At the termination of the small intestine, a, are two very small 
coecal appendages, b b, which are cylindrical, rounded at the extre- 
mity, directed forwards, adherent, fa of a inch long, fa in diameter, 
with a very narrow mucous cavity. They come off on opposite sides, 
one generally a little below the other. 
The rectum, b, c, is at once enlarged to fa, continues to widen, 
and terminates in an elliptical or subglobular dilatation, d, beyond 
which is a short space separated from the rectum by a sort of ring 
or contraction, and which is named the cloaca, e. 
Besides the peritoneal covering, the intestine has a muscular and 
an inner or mucous coat. The former is thickest in the duode- 
nal portion, the inner surface of which is smooth, with scarcely 
any villosity, and even, without rugae, being at first similar to that 
of the stomach. On the rest of the small intestine are long, ex- 
tremely slender, villi, which toward its lower part become more 
parse. The inner surface of the cceca has a cellular appearance 
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