INTERNAL STRUCTURE. 
51 
The gullet ( oesophagus ) a, opens into the crop 
( ingluvies ) b, which forms a sort of hag; on quit- 
ting this, it extends to what is called the second 
stomach, c, {infundibulum , or ventriculus succintu- 
riatus ,) usually funnel shaped, from whence it opens 
into the third stomach or gizzard, D, {ventriculus 
callosus ,) communicating with the intestinal canal 
or bowels, e, which vary very much in length, in 
different birds, though, on the whole, they are 
shorter than in the class of four-footed animals. 
The annexed plate is merely intended to convey a 
general idea of the stomachs of birds, and must by 
no means be depended upon as an accurate represen- 
tation, applicable to any particular family, since, in 
each, there is a marked variation with respect to the 
size, form, and other internal arrangements ; a full 
explanation of which, though extremely interesting, 
from the beautiful adaptation to the habits of the 
bird, cannot, in this little work, be attempted ; a few, 
however, may be briefly, pointed out. 
Thus, in what are called the carnivorous birds, 
feeding on flesh or fish, containing hair, feathers, or 
bony substances, which are of difficult digestion, the 
gullet is of a vast size and capacity compared with 
the other parts, often exceeding in width the stomach 
itself. In some of the water birds it is large enough 
to contain even a whole fish, till the proper stomach 
is ready to receive it. In watching Cormorants, at a 
distance, with a telescope, they may be sometimes 
seen quietly reposing, with their mouths half open, 
and the tail of a fish hanging out, the remainder 
gorged in this capacious gullet ; and Sea-Gulls will 
swallow bones of three or four inches in length ; the 
