| OCR Text |
Show 1895.] PEOVENTEICULAB CEYPTS OF PSEUDOTANTALUS IBIS. 271 5. On the Proventricular Crypts of Pseudotantalus By P. CHALMEES MITCHELL, M.A., F.Z.S. [Received March 19, 1895.] (Plate XVII.) While dissecting a specimen of Pseudotantalus ibis, the African Tantalus, kindly placed at m y disposal by the Society's Prosector, I found a set of peculiar structures in the proventriculus which were new to m e and of which I could find no description. The general shape of the stomach is similar to that of Leptoptilus crumeniferus and L. argala and of Garphibis spinicollis. The gizzard is capacious and thin-walled, although tendinous iu certain areas. The proventriculus is narrower than the gizzard. Upon opening it one sees that the horny lining of the gizzard ends abruptly in the proventriculus, the internal surface of the latter being smooth. In the four birds mentioned, the proventricular glands are not scattered all over the surface of the proventriculus, but are arranged over two very well-defined and nearly circular areas. The inner surface of these areas is studded with the large '"'-'•ffj&f'"' Proventricular Crypts of Pseudotantalus ibis. The upper figure represents the proventriculus and a small portion of the gizzard laid open, a is placed opposite the row of crypts, b opposite the glandular areas, c opposite the beginning of the gizzard, lined by the corrugated secreted membrane, d is an enlarged view of a single crypt. |
