A systeme of anatomy, treating of the body of man, beasts, birds, fish, insects, and plants illustrated with many schemes, consisting of variety of elegant figures, drawn from the life, and engraven in seventy four folio copper-plates. And after every part of man's body hath been anatomically described, its diseases, cases, and cures are concisely exhibited. The first volume containing the parts of the lowest apartiments of the body of man and other animals, etc. / by Samuel Collins ...

CHAP. XIX. Of the Stomachs of Birds.

BIrds of Prey, and Hawks, that feed upon Flesh, have not Muscular (as those that eat Corn) but Membranous and small narrow Ventri∣cles: by reason, a little proportion of Flesh, being of great Nourishment, supplieth the defects of Nature.

An Eagle, in reference to the Magnitude of Body, is furnished with a little Stomach, much different from that of Beasts, as ending in an obtuse Cone, and is divided into two Regions, the upper taking its rise from the left Orifice, is covered with a white Membrane, interlaced with many pa∣rallel folds descending downward, and pinked with numerous Holes, which are the terminations of divers Excretory Vessels, appertaining to many Glands lodged under the inward Membrane of the Ventricle, into whose Cavity these Ducts discharge a Fermentative Liquor: The inferior Region of the Stomach is rougher, as dressed with more Furrows, seated in the inmost Membrane, under which is lodged not a Glandulous, as in the upper part of the Ventricle, but a fleshy Coat.

About the partition of the upper from the lower part of the Stomach, are seated four pointed Protuberances, endued with a grisly substance, and accompanied with divers Glands, which are accommodated with Vessels, perforating the inward Coat of the Stomach, and transmitting a whitish Juice into its Cavity, to prepare the Aliment for Concoction.

A Castrel, a kind of Hawk, hath also a round Membranous Stomach, not fleshy as in Hens, Turkeys, Peacocks, and most Birds, except those of Prey. A Castrel differeth also from Granivorous Fowl, in reference to its plain Membrane, covering the inside of the Stomach, which is destitute of folds.

A Heron, as Blasius affirmeth, hath three Stomachs: The first commonly called a Crop, or Craw, resembleth a Poke in Figure, and is a continua∣tion of the Gulet, as being of the same substance with it; and differeth in shape and magnitude, and is composed of many Membranous Coats, inter∣lined with fleshy, long, and circular Fibres, as conducive to expel the Con∣cocted Aliment and its Recrements, into the lower part of the Gulet, and afterward into the Orifice of the Stomach.

The second Stomach of a Heron, is of a round Figure, and less then the first in Dimensions, and is shaded with numerous Ramulets of Blood Vessels in its outward surface, and is furnished with a Valve, seated in the Orifice of the Ventricle, to give a check to the return of Aliment into the Gulet and first Stomach.

A third Cavity, may be reckoned also into the number of Stomachs, and is the least of all, beautified with an Orbicular Figure, and is affixed to the side of the second Stomach, as an out-let to convey the digested Ali∣ment into the Intestines.

Between the Coats of the Stomach, relating to this Bird and others, are lodged numerous Minute Glands, attended with many Ducts, piercing the white and hard Membranes of the Ventricle, into which is conveyed a whi∣tish Liquor derived from the Glands, interlining the coverings of the Sto∣mach.

The main Stomach of a Turkey, Hen, Pheasant, Partridg, Duck, Goose, and of most Birds, is lodged near a transverse Membrane, which is substi∣tuted in the place of a Midriff, as parting the lower from the middle Apar∣timent, and is of a thick and solid substance; whereupon it doth much dif∣fer from the Ventricle of an Eagle, Owl, Cuckow, and of all Hawks, both in Colour, Magnitude, and Consistence, which have a peculiar way of digesting Aliment, by reason their Stomachs are cumposed of divers delicate thin Coverings, invested outwardly with a white Robe, and within with a soft slippery Matter; but the Ventricle of a Goose, and the like, is framed of a solid red substance, whose inward Recesses are incrusted with a hard Cartilaginous Matter.

The fleshy Stomach consisteth of several Dimensions, in various Birds of different Magnitudes; its length runneth cross the lower Apartiment, and its Breadth passeth downward from the Margent, of one side to the other; and its greatness is not to be valued from the largeness of its Cavity, but from the thickness of its Walls.

The whole Fabrick of Muscular Stomachs of Birds, seemeth outwardly to be adorned with a kind of Oval Figure, somewhat flattish in the upper, and lower Region, whose middle is rendred unequal, by reason of some Asperities; and its Extreamities are Semicircular, fringed with red Mar∣gents: And if these Stomachs be dispoiled of their yellow fat habit, the thick Compage seemeth for the most part, to be a Muscular Composition, decked with white coverings (shining like Silver) integrated of Tendinous Fibres, arising out of a fleshy Circumference; and being carried in nume∣rous long Lines, do meet in the middle of the upper and lower Surfaces, as in Centers, and do constitute strong white Tendons †, intersecting each other.

The Gizard of a Goose (and many other Birds) is garnished with three pair of Muscles: The first, as I conceive, by reason they most readily ac∣coast our view, and present themselves, and are narrow long Muscles †, beautifying the Margents of the Gizard (with a red Fringe) to which they are affixed, and are endued with a kind of Semilunary Figure, as be∣ing segments of a Circle; and have fleshy crooked Fibres †, passing the whole length of the Muscles, from one Extreamity to the other.

The Semicircular Muscles, have numerous Tendinous Fibres, sprouting out of their Extreamities, and sides, in right Lines, like so many Rays di∣splayed †, and meet in the Center of the Gizard, and make two thick white Tendons †, consisting of many Fibres (decussating each other) which are so closely conjoyned, that they cannot be parted, and are the Centers, upon which the Muscles of the Gizard, do raise their Motions

The second pair of Muscles appertaining to the Gizard, may be stiled Lateral, by reason they make the greatest part of both its sides, and are covered with two Integuments; the first is very thin and Membranous, the second is more thick and Tendinous, as composed of many small Fibres, so curiously united to each other, that they cannot be distinguished by a care∣less Eye, and do end in two thick white Tendons, seated in the middle of the Gizard.

These Muscles begin in both Extreamities of the Gizard, and terminate near the Transverse Muscles, and are the most substantial parts of this thick and fleshy Ventricle.

These great Lateral Muscles, are composed of divers thin fleshy Laminae, or Flakes †, (which I humbly conceive, may be called so many fine arched

Muscles, curiously joyned to each other, by the interposition of Fibres) by reason every one of these fleshy Expansions, is invested with a proper Mem∣brane, dividing it from the adjoyning Muscles, and all of them have many Fibres, passing down the depth of them, which being contracted, do draw the Laminae closer to each other, and lessen their Arches, and at last lessen the Cavity of the Gizard, and dash the Aliment against the sides of the Car∣tilages.

The third pair of Muscles may be named Transverse, (in reference to their situation) which take their Origen near the Margents of the Gizard, and take their progress crossways, and end near the Tendons, seated in the middle of the Gizard.

The first pair of these Muscles † is much the larger, and encompasseth the upper Orifice, and hath Semicircular Fibres †, passing the length of this Muscle, which contracting themselves gently, do protrude the Corn, or other Aliment, into the Cavity of the Gizard: These Fibres, if they do briskly move, do so far lessen the entrance of the Stomach, that the Ali∣ment cannot return into the Gulet, when it is thrown against the hard inward Walls of the Gizard.

The second Transverse Muscle † is much less, and standeth opposite to the other, and is of a kind of flat Oval Figure, and hath many Semicircular fleshy Fibres †, (reaching from one Extreamity to the other) which mo∣ving gently, do transmit the broken Aliment out of the Gizard into the In∣testines; and if the fleshy Fibres be more strongly contracted, they shut up the Pylorus, and stop Nourishment when broken against the hard enclo∣sures of the Stomach, from slipping out of it.

These Transverse Muscles, do emit many Tendinous Fibres, which be∣ing united, do make a strong Tendon †, creeping under the other above, which proceedeth from the Semicircular and Lateral Muscles.

These upper and lower Tendons intersecting each other, and seated above and below in the middle of the Gizard, are the Centers of Motions, as they keep all the Muscles from starting out of their proper places, in their opposite Motions.

These Transverse Muscles, in their joynt Motions, may (as I apprehen•• by the mutual contractions of their Semicircular Fibres, lessen the breadth of the Cavity of the Gizard, and thereby relax the Semicircular and Lateral Mus∣cles, which narrow the Cavity of the Stomach long-ways; whereupon these various Muscles may be called Antagonists to each other, as having opposite Motions, by which they relax each other, by reason the Transverse Muscles in their contractions, do lessen the breadth by pulling the sides nearer, and the Semicircular and Lateral, the length of the cavity of the Gizard, by drawing its Extreamities more toward the middle.

The first pair of Muscles being of a Semicircular Figure †, are conjoyned to the Extreamities, and other Margents of the opposite Lateral Muscles, and are furnished with many Fibres (full of various Flexures and Mean∣ders †) which being contracted, do shorten the length of the Lateral Mus∣cles, by compressing their several Laminae (into a narrow compass) which being fastned to each other by fleshy Fibres, and by tendinous coverings to the outward surfaces of the Cartilaginous Plates, do bring them nearer to each other, and render them fit for crushing the Aliment against their hard sides; which is chiefly performed by various Laminae, or Muscular Expan∣sions (closely joyned to each other) accommodated with different Fibres, which being contracted after various postures, do lift up and pull down the

Cartilaginous Enclosures, which do make repeated gratings upon the adja∣cent Corn (frequently associated with little Stones, and other hard sub∣stances) whereby the Aliment is broken into small Particles, as being first mollified with a Liquor destilling out of the Glands, in its passage through the Echinus.

The great Parent of all things, out of His admirable Wisdom and Provi∣dence, hath graciously ordered His Creatures, as so many Rays of his Essence, to be sustained by a proper nourishment, and to that end, hath contrived fit Instru∣ments, in reference to the extraction of an Alimentary Liquor, and hath most prudently constituted as many different Stomachs, as kinds of Animals. An In∣stance may be given in the great variety of Fowl, some of which are endued with an appetite to Corn, whose nourishing parts are immured with a tough Husk, and Membranes; whereupon Nature hath wisely instituted a fit Appara∣tus of Organs, to grind the Corn in the Gizard (as in a kind of Mill) which is furnished with variety of Muscles, which have different contractions and resemble Wheels, whereby the Gizard incrusted with Cartilaginous Plates (as with two Milstones) is moved up and down, and assisted with many small Stones, whereupon the Corn being tumbled several ways, and dashed against the hard sides of the Cavity of the Stomach, is at last broken into a pulpy substance; which is first prepared in the Crop, and the Bulbous sub∣stance of the Gulet surrounded with numerous Glands, which send out a whitish Liquor into the Cavity of Echinus, to moisten and intenerate the hard Corn in order to Attrition, accomplished by the various agitations of the Stomach, effected by divers Muscles, annexed by Tendinous Fibres to the Plates of the Gizard. The chief actors in this Scene of Motion, are the Lateral Muscles, consisting of many arched fleshy Expansions, dressed with various Fibres, acting in opposite motions of Elevating and Depressing, the hard Incrustations of the Stomach, parted by divers Fissures; whereupon the Aliment is ground into small pieces, which is much furthered by the Transverse Muscles, lessening the Breath of the Stomach, and thereby ma∣king a Comminution of the Aliment, first broken by the various contracti∣ons of the laminated, arched, fleshy Expansions of the Lateral Muscles.

The Scuta, or Cartilaginous Plates, being of a Circular Figure †, are lodged in the inward Recesses of the Gizard, and are endued with various Fissures †; and the Scutum of the right side hath a Semicircular Ridg, or Prominence, seated near the top of it †; but the Scutum of the left side, is adorned with a Semilunary Ridg, set in opposite manner to that of the right side, as being placed in the bottom of the Scutum †.

These Cartilaginous Ridges of the Scuta, being seated opposite to each other, the one in the top, and the other in the bottom of the Cartilaginous Plates, have the advantage to insinuate themselves into the Cavities † of the Scuta, whereby they enclose the Corn, and dash it against the sides of the Cartilaginous Plates, to break it into small Particles.

Notes

• Hawks have Membranous Stomachs.
• The Stomach of an Eagle consisteth of two regions, interspersed with many pa∣rallel folds.
• A Castrel hath a Membranous Ventricle.
• A Heron hath three Sto∣machs. The first is like a Poke.
• The second is of a round Figure.
• The third is of an Orbicular Figure.
• The Stomach of Fowl that eat Corn, have Muscular Sto∣machs.
• The Gizards of Birds are incrusted in their inward Recesses, with a Cartilagi∣nous substance.
• The Gizard lieth cross∣ways in the lower Aparti∣ment of the Body.
• The Figure of a Gizard is Oval.
• †

  T. 19. F. 1. l l.
• †

  T. 91. F. 1. gggg.
• †

  T. 19. F. 1. iiii.
• †

  T. 19. F. 1. kkkk.
• †

  T. 19. F. 1. l l.
• †

  Ta. 19. Fig. 2, bbbb.
• †

  T. 19. F. 1. m m.
• †

  T. 19. F. 1. n n.
• †

  T. 19. F. 1. o o.
• †

  T. 19. F. 1. p p.
• †

  T. 19. F. 2. g g.
• †

  Ta. 19. F. 1. g g g g.
• †

  Ta. 19. F. 1. iiii.
• The manner of grinding of Corn in the Gizard, as in a Mill.
• The Gizard is furnished with fit organs to grind Corn.
• The Corn is prepared first in the Crop and Echinus, with a Milky Humour.
• The Glands be setting the Echinus, do emit a white Liquor to in∣tenerate the Corn before it is ground in the Cavity of the Gizard by Cartilaginous Plates.
• †

  Ta. 19. Fi. 3. a a a a.
• †

  Ta. 19. Fi. 3. b b b b.
• †

  Ta. 19. Fi. 3. e e e e.
• †

  Ta. 19. Fi. 3. f f f f.
• †

  Ta. 19. Fi. 3. g g g g.