336 U)N(}-I.K<JGKI> SANDPIPER.
from flexure 5J ; tail 2,V; bill along tie ridge 1A, along the edge of
lower mandible, 1,72 ; bare part of tibia I ; tarsus 1 ,"s ; hind toe and
claw H ; middle tot.' ft, its «law
The roof of the mouth is flat,-frith three rows of papilla!. The
tongùcuj 1 inch 5 twelfth.« long, emarginate and papillate at the basé,
very Slender, concave above, taperihg to a point. . The oesophagns is
i inches long, very narrow, its diameter 2 twelfths. The provimtrienlus
is oblong, 7 twelfths in length, 3J twelfths in diameter. The
stomach is a strong gizzard of a roundish form, compressed, 8 twelfths
long, 7è twelfths broad ; its lateral muscîeà large, its epithelium wry
ièhsi, thick, longitudinally rugous, and of à reddish-brown colour.
The intestine is 12J incheè IbHg, its anterior part 2f twelfths in diameter
i till! hind part I j twelfth; The rectum is 4 inch long ; the cceca
11 twelfths long, 1 twelfth in diameter, obtuse.
The trachea is 3 inches long, • slender, its diameter at the upper
part 1J twelfths, gradually diminishing to th» lower part, where- it is
1 twelfth. The rings, about 110 in number, are slender and unossi -
fled, the two last divided; ' The bronchi have about If) hull'rings. The
contractor muscles are thin, the stcmo-trai-.hcal slender ; and there is a
pair of inferior laryngeal muscles going to the first bronchial rings.
In another individual, the intestine was 13f inches long, the rectum
14 inch, the coeca 1 inch.
The contents of the gizzard in both were fragments of: shells, small
black seeds, and much sand and gravel.
( 337 .. )
A M E R I C A N W I D G E O N .
ANAS AMERICANA, G me i . .
P1ATB COCXLV. MiiiE inn FEMAIE.'
This lively and v#y handsome Duck is abundant during winter at
New Orleans, where it is much esteemed on account of the juiciness of
its fleshj, and is best known by the mime of Zlnzin. In the Western
Country, and in most parts of the Eastern and Middle States, it is
called the liald Pate. Early in September it enters the United States
by their northern extremities, as well as from the Texas; and in both
these regions it is now well known to breed in nearly equal numbers.
Those which retreat south westward remain along the coast and in the
interior of the. Florida.«, as well: as all that portion of the Gulf of
Mexico extending to the mouths of the Mississippi, where they remain
until the latter part of April, sometimes,even until ¡tfemiddle of Mays
as they have but a comparatively short' journey to perform in order to
arrive in Mexico in time to breed. On the coast, of the Atlantic they
keep in the marshes in company with variousspecies of the same family,
being in a manner indifferent as to their associates. During early
spring, in Louisiana, they are often seen alighted on extensive plains
that have very little water on them.
While advancing along the shores of the Bay of Mexico, in April
1837, 1 and my party observed tMs species in considerable numbers ;
and during the whole of our stay in tbe Texas, we daily saw and very
frequently procured WidgeonsS| There they were found in ponds of
brackish water, as well as in the fresh-water streams. Before we left
that country they were all paired, and I was informed by the Honourable
M. 1'ishkr, Secretary to the Texian Navy, that a good number of
them breed in the maritime districts;? along with several other Ducks;
and that he annually received many of the young birds. Their manners
at this time fully proved the correctness of the statements of all
those- who spoke to me on this subject. Indeed my opinion is that
some of these birds also propagate in certain portions of the most southern
districts of the Floridas, and in the Island of Cuba, as I have seen
Widgeons in the peninsula in single pairs, in the beginning of May.
vol . IV;. V" 1'. v y