The gizzard ends below, as we have already mentioned, in a narrow cylindrical tube which is protruded into the chylific stomach for about one-third of an inch. Folds project from the wall of this tube, and reduce its central cavity to an irregular star-like figure. Below it ends in free processes slightly different from each other in size and shape. The chitinous lining and the chitinogenous layer beneath pass to the end of the tube and are then reflected upon its outer wall, ascending till they meet the lining epithelium of the cæcal tubes. Between the wall of the gizzard-tube and its external reflected layer, tracheal tubes, fat-cells, and longitudinal muscles are enclosed. [Illustration: Fig. 64.--Longitudinal section through Gizzard and fore-part of Chylific Stomach. _G_, gizzard; _Tu_, cæcal tube; _St_, stomach; _Ep_, its lining epithelium. _A_ and _B_ are enlarged in the side figures. × 35. _A._--The Reflected Chitinogenous Layer of the Tubular Gizzard. _Tr_, tracheal tube. × 400. _B._--One of the Tubular Extensions of the same, enclosing muscles and tracheæ. × 400.] [Illustration: Fig. 65.--Transverse section of tubular prolongation of Gizzard, within the Chylific Stomach, part of which is shown at its proper distance. _R C_, reflected chitinogenous layer; _Tr_, tracheal tube; _M_, cross section of muscle; _Ep_, epithelium of chylific stomach. × 100.] The chylific stomach is a simple cylindrical tube, provided at its anterior end with eight (sometimes fewer) cæcal tubes, and opening behind into the intestine. Its muscular coat consists of a loose layer of longitudinal fibres, enclosing annular fibres. Internal to these is a basement membrane, which supports an epithelium consisting of elongate cells which are often clustered into regular eminences, and separated by deep cavities. The epithelium forms no chitinous lining in the chylific stomach or cæcal tubes; and this peculiarity, no doubt, promotes absorption of soluble food in this part of the alimentary canal. Short processes are given off from the free ends of the epithelial cells, as in the intestines of many Mammalia and other animals. [Illustration: Fig. 66.--Epithelium of Chylific Stomach. In the upper figure the digestive surface is indented, while in the lower figure it is flat. Both arrangements are common, and may be seen in a single section. The epithelial buds are shown below, and again below these the annular and longitudinal muscles. × 220.]