No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

A study of the epidermal structures of the buccal cavity and the tongue of two passerine birds, the brahminy myna (Sturnus pagodarum Gmelin) which feeds on insects, fruits etc. and the grey‐headed yellow wagtil (Motacilla flava thunbergi Billberg) which is solely an insectivorous bird was conducted with the help of light and scanning electron microscopes. The studies revealed the presence of spines and scales on the buccal roof and the tongue of both the birds. However, the brahminy myna carried spinelets over the spines and ultra fine hairy structures on the inner margins of the bifid region of the tongue. There were no spinelets over the spines of the wagtail but the surface was covered with numerous scales.

Exposure of a fresh water fish, Channa punctatus, in a medium containing as low as 0.01 ppm of cadmium nitrate, resulted in the necrosis of hepatic cells. A temporary recovery of these cells was however observed when the animals were exposed to lower concentrations.