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Aim of the work: The present study aims to describe and compare between the different parts of the alimentary canal of Spur-winged lapwing Vanellus spinosus from the histological and histochemical reviews. Materials and methods: This animal was caught from its natural habitat (Nile Delta in Egypt); dissected and the alimentary canal was fixed in the suitable fixatives for histological and histochemical investigations. Results: Histological findings revealed that the alimentary canal wall in different parts under investigation is consisted of four main layers which are; serosa, muscularis, submucosa and mucosa. The serosa is composed of simple squamous epithelium. The muscularis is formed of outer circular and inner longitudinal muscle fibers. The submucosa is showing green colour with Masson's stain due to its content of connective tissue. The mucosal folds of oesophagus are characterized by stratified squamous epithelium. At the base of these folds, oesophageal glands which secrete acid mucopolysacchride are located. The stomach composed of two parts; cardiac (glandular) and pyloric (muscular). The gastric glands of glanular portion are differentiated into deep and superficial gastric glands. The deep gastric glands are of compound-branched alveolar and have neutral mucopolysacchride secrections. While, the superficial gastric glands are of compound tubular type and secreting acid and neutral mucopolysacchride since they give blue and red colours with Alcian PAS stain. The gastric glands in muscular portion of stomach, are compound tubular type and have acid and neutral mucopolysaccharides. The mucosal villi of duodenum and ileum are characterized by tubular glands (crypts of Leiberkhün), which contain acid and neutral mucopolysaccharides. The mucosal layer of rectum is covered by simple columnar epithelium containing goblet cells in addition to the rectal glands. This layer nature is acid and neutral mucopolysaccharides. The histochemical results showed differences in the stainability and distribution of polysaccharides, acid and neutral mucopolysaccharides in different parts of alimentary canal of investigated animal.

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Background: Avian tongue has a significant role in the feeding process. The current investigation was planned to study the histological and ultrastructural features of the tongue in two avians. Java sparrow (Lonchura oryzivora) and Hoopoe (Upupa epops). Methods: Fourteen birds were used including seven Java sparrows and seven Hoopoes during the current investigation. Careful procedures were used in the dissection process of the two avian species. Their heads were separated and four tongue samples (from each species) were taken to fixed in 10% buffered formalin for histological observations. Result: Histologically, the lingual glands in Lonchura oryzivora were simple-branched acinar and compound acinar. Whereas, the lingual glands in Upupa epops were simple acinar and simple-branched acinar. Three tongue samples (from each species) were taken to fixed in 2.5% of glutaraldehyde for the ultrastructural observations. The SEM findings in both species showed main three parts of the tongue; apex (anterior part), corpus (middle part) and radix (posterior part). Lonchura oryzivora‘s tongue has an elongated dart form with anterior terminal curved pointy conical papillae. Mid-dorsal trench (Sulcus medianus) extended from the apex to the anterior region of the radix. While the tongue of Upupa epops was triangular form with a convex tip and it has a V-form papillary crest. The observed findings of the histological and ultrastructural dissimilarities of Java Sparrow and Hoopoe emphasized more insight into the feeding behaviors and adaptation of the two avians.