u o LONG-TAILED DUCK.
In a male' bird, the tongue is 1 inch ami 5 twelfths long, papillate
at .the.base, llcshv,' with two rows' of bristles along #he-edge%> Tlusro
are 35 lamella; on each side of the tipper, and about 40 on the lower
mandible.. The «SOphagus is 7 j imehes long, 7 twelfths in diameter
at'-lhc upper part, towards the lower parts of the neck dilated to 1 inch,
and continuing so to ike end, The proventriculus is 1 inch 3 twelfths
long, its glandules tiylindrical and 2 twelfths long. The stomach is a
very powerful gizzard, of a roundish form, I f inch in length, 2 inches
and 2 twelfths in breadth ; its'tendon.« large ; the right muioflw 10
twelfths, the left I I twelfths in thickness. The cutieillar lining is
thick, and slightly rugous; the grinding plates thicker and denser.
The contents of tho stomach an; small muscles and particles of quartz,
some of which,•»(•. 3 twelfths in diameter. The intestine is 5 feet 6
inches long, its diameter nearly uniform, about 4 twelfths; the rectum
enlarged to "> twelfths, its length inches:.« Ccieca 4 | inches, long, •'!
twelfths in diameter, their extremity rounded; the cloaca globular,
Uaixftil 0 twelfths in diameter.
The trachea, moderately extended, nfoasuivs f inches in length, its
Breadth at the top S: twelfths, about tin; middle '3? twelfths, 'l'lie
number of ordinary rings is 72; at the lower part there are 0 expanded
rings which arc; broad posteriorly and on tlt'e."siil('s,' but extremely narrow
before ; beyond this- ts-fe «olid bi®SK-c:"xparision of 7 united rings,
forming anteriorly a- transversely oblong' case, ha-ving, a membrane
in frani"' The contractor mliMes are vpryi'large, for two: inches "at
the top expanded over th» fore part, sending off two clWdo-tntclioals,
then passing down along tho edges of the six enlarged rings,-SW' terminating
on the drum, where the stern o-trachoals coin«; off.
I i r - . I )
i n - L K - W I N C K I ) TEAL.
ANAS VISCOHS, I.INN.
PLSTB c c o x r i l . Mai.k ash 1'kmai.r.
Is it.no.i.strange, Reader, that birds which are known to he abundant
on the Saskatchewan River .during . the breeding season, and
vvhic.lv-havii'b^i.'pbseiweil as faruorth as the. 571h.parallol, should also
be found breeding a f g e a j f the same period in Texas? Stranger still
it is thatspeoies fhould proceed from certain points, or winter quarters,
to. ¡both of the: above-mentioned regions, without ;paying.any regard to
the linteemeciiate districts, which yet,.seejn to be as well adapted for
breeding m, as ftey affiorf thousands of convenient and seciuied Itoca*
Mies for that purpose. Yet, t h e f a c t s , and n,»y others connected
with Nature's wonderful arrangements, w.o i»ay:Jlook upon a* intended
4o increase.:the innate »desfce^hieh .every true lover of Nature has to
4lS|j! her beautiful and marvellous woelStl
Having-tfor some years exhibited the Blue-
Wngedf#eal an<l other birds, 1 havo,l>e.;n. induced to believe in.ihe
oxisteii.e};,,of >hat I would' term a ihuble Seng0 <'f migration in^nany
species,.««'ted. upon both in spring and in autumn, and giving t6 them
,at tin; latter period, the power as> well a.s the .desire'of removing
> o m the .Higher latitudes, to pjposite or meridional parts, thus: to enter
¡„to, the. formation of the J'auna of different;.countries-, from which
again they an; instigate«! to .return to the,pace of their nativity, and
them*» diverge toward now sections of the glob© equally adapted to
their wants. If the^e observations should prove, not »Mounded, we
need no longer be surprised to. moot in different portions of the world
with species,which hitherto were supposed to be inhabitants only of far
distant, shores:.
• The mouths of the Mississippi, surrounded by extensive flat marshes,
whifet arc muddy, and in some degree periodically inundated by the
overflowings of that great stream, or by the tides of the Mexican Gulf,
and having in the winter mj.nths a mildness of temperature favourable
to almost ail our species of Waders and Swimmers, maybe looked upon
as the great rendezvous of the Blue-winged Teals, which are seen ar