THE IVORY-BILLED WOODPECKER, 
221 
elliptical form, directed a little towards the right, somewhat compressed, 1 
inch 2 twelfths long, and of about the same breadth. The muscular fasciculi 
on the proventriculus are extremely large. On the stomach also they are of 
great size, and the greatest thickness of its muscular coat is 1 h twelfths. 
This organ is completely filled with very hard seeds of different kinds, and 
some pulpy matter, but without any insects or larvae. Its inner coat is thin, 
dense, very tough, nearly smooth, and of a dusky brown colour. The pro- 
ventricular glandules, which are very small, form a belt 1 inch in breadth. 
The intestine, defg A, is of moderate length and very wide. The duodenum 
curves at the distance of 3J inches. The pylorus is about two-twelfths in 
width, with an elevated margin, and allows the untriturated seeds and other 
refuse to pass into the intestine, which in some parts is turgid with them. 
The intestine measures 24 inches in length; its width in the duodenal portion 
is 3i twelfths, and so continues to the length of 12 inches, when it gradually 
enlarges, so as at the commencement of the rectum to be 6 twelfths. The 
rectum itself, e g h, continues of that width, and is enlarged into a globular 
cloaca, A, li inches in diameter. The whole intestine is more or less filled 
with pulpy matter, together with avast number of grape seeds and others of 
a much larger size, but all having a strong shell. Hence it appears that the 
stomach of this "Woodpecker is not adapted for pounding very hard sub- 
stances, and that the seeds of berries and pulpy fruits pass undigested through 
its intestinal canal. The same remark applies to all the other species 
examined. There are no traces of cceca. 
The apparatus, by means of which the tongue of this and other Wood- 
peckers is protruded and retracted, is so beautiful a specimen of mechanism, 
aDd at the same time so perfectly simple, although by bungling describers it 
has been rendered almost unintelligible, that it may be expedient to present 
it here in detail, the more especially that this species, although not that in 
which it is exhibited in the highest degree of development or extension, is 
yet, as being one of the largest known, peculiarly well adapted for such an 
examination. Two figures, therefore, are here introduced. 
In Fig. 1 are seen : — The upper and lower mandibles a b, the tongue c d, 
the terminal barbed portion c, the fleshy part d, the orbit and eye e, the 
salivary gland f the hyoid bones g g, the neck A A, the furcula i i, the 
oesophagus j j, the trachea k, its lateral muscles 1 1, cleido-tracheal m m. 
In Fig. 2 are seen : — The lower mandible b, the salivary glands ff the 
hyoid bones g g, the oesophagus j j j, the trachea 1c, the lateral muscles 1 1, 
the cleido-tracheal m m, the glosso-laryngeal n n, the muscles by which the 
tongue is exserted o o. 
The bill of this species, Fig. 1, a b, measures 3 inches and 2 twelfths from 
the angle of the mouth ; and the tongue c d, which lies in the broad groove 
