. The Annals and magazine of natural history. Natural history; Zoology; Botany; Geology. 326 Sir W. Jardine on the Habits of Prionites. sions for exertion or rapid flight; the skeleton, with the ex- ception of the bones of the head and neck, is likewise as weakly formed. The stomach is small and oval; the pro- ventriculus gradually narrowing into the oesophagus, which is wide and dilated; when distended the stomach appears muscular without, but the walls when cut through show a moderate thickness only. The inner coating is rather co- riaceous, and separates easily arid cleanly from that next t
. The Annals and magazine of natural history. Natural history; Zoology; Botany; Geology. 326 Sir W. Jardine on the Habits of Prionites. sions for exertion or rapid flight; the skeleton, with the ex- ception of the bones of the head and neck, is likewise as weakly formed. The stomach is small and oval; the pro- ventriculus gradually narrowing into the oesophagus, which is wide and dilated; when distended the stomach appears muscular without, but the walls when cut through show a moderate thickness only. The inner coating is rather co- riaceous, and separates easily arid cleanly from that next to it. The intestinal canal is narrow, but was too much spoiled to be distinctly made out. The caeca appeared long, and to be given off nearly at the extreme end, and the cloaca is very large. The tongue is lengthened, bifid for half an inch, and is slightly feathered on the sides; the muscles of the inferior larynx, so far as observed, resemble in number and position those of the In placing Prionites among the Fissirostres and near to the Rollers, we believe that Mr. Swainson will ultimately be found to be correct; their weak formation and the internal structure, the wide gape and partially bristled rictus, together with their habits, all tend to this place; at the same time their analogies towards the Crows are extremely strong. The elongated form and short wings of Pica and Crypsirina remind us of Prionites, and it is remarkable that in both of these there is a narrowing of the centre tail-feathers, where they are spatulate in the last. In the typical crows the bill is often ragged on the edges; they are carnivorous and insectivorous, and many feed eagerly on fruits and grain, while reptiles are often seized by the stronger species ; the tongue is slightly bifid, and is fim- briated on its edges,—the commencement of that pencilled or feathered form which more particularly belongs to those species which live much on sweet or pulpy fruits. One other remarkable anal
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