10 
BIRD-LIFE. 
somewhat contracted, and then widens again gradually 
till it reaches the fore stomach (pro ventriculus), which 
with birds that have no crop is scarcely enlarged at all. 
This is sometimes called the glandular stomach, on 
account of its being abundantly supplied with juices 
secreted from the glands imbedded in its walls; 
following this, lower down it reaches the second stomach 
or gizzard, where it abruptly terminates. These various 
modifications occur according to the nature of the 
food. In the carnivorous birds the gullet is large 
and of a fine texture; among granivorous birds it is, 
on the contrary, small, and is surrounded by two 
strong muscles and sinews, which allow the distended 
coatings of the stomach to rub against one another 
like mill-stones. The intestinal canal is divided into 
the small and great intestines, and is comparatively 
short. Liver, gall-bladder, spleen, pancreas and kidneys 
are to be found in almost all birds; the secretions 
from the latter discharge themselves into the rectum, 
where the urine mingles with the excrement, which 
is then evacuated. Among the secreting organs there 
still remains a gland worthy of notice, which secretes 
an oleaginous fluid, used for the purpose of greasing 
the feathers. This gland is situated above the 
caudal vertebrae, and has several canals, through 
which the fluid is passed by repeated pressure from 
the beak. 
According to the different construction of the digestive 
organs we are enabled at once to determine the class 
of food, and, indirectly, the ways and means of 
digestion, as well as the time required for its com¬ 
pletion. It may generally be asserted with truth, that a 
bird can digest quicker and more easily than any other 
