212 
THE PIED-BILLED DOBCHIOK. 
The coeca are only 3 twelfths long, and 1 twelfth broad. The cloaca is 
globular, and of moderate size. 
The trachea is 5 inches 10 twelfths long, much flattened ; 12 twelfths in 
breadth, toward the lower parts 2 twelfths, and lastly contracted to 1J 
twelfths ; the rings 150. The bronchi differ in this species from the rest in 
being composed of distinctly separated cartilaginous half rings, 15 in 
number. The muscles as in the other species. 
In another individual, a female, the stomach is of a regularly elliptical 1 
form, 1 inch 9 twelfths long, lh inches in breadth ; the muscular coat of 
moderate thickness, composed of strong fasciculi ; the epithelium thinner 
and more corrugated. The stomach contains a great quantity of feathers, 
scales of fishes, numerous elytra of aquatic coleoptera, and a fish 3 inches 
long, and 11 twelfths in depth. 
It is very remarkable, and equally singular, that all the Grebes should 
have the stomach distended with feathers. These bodies being indigestible, 
and not the remains of objects devoured, for none of these birds prey upon 
birds, must be swallowed for the purpose of aiding digestion ; but in what 
manner they accomplish this object is not easily determinable. They may 
keep the stomach distended by their elasticity, but why should that organ 
require to be more so than that of the Divers, which live on the same sort 
of food? 
