106 Dr. Latham'* EJfay on the Trachea: or Windpipes of Birds. 



Cygne fauvagc, Buf. Oif. ix. p. 3. 

 Der Singchwan, Beckfl. Vog. Deutfch. ii. p. 581. 

 Wild or Whirling Swan, Gen, Syn. vi. p. 433. — Br. Zool. ii. 

 No. 264. — Edw. t. 150. — Phil. Tranf.Wu pi. x. p. 215. f. 1. 2. 



The Wild Swan is a bird much lefs known than the jteitif fpecies, 

 which is every where domeflicated, for it only vifits this king- 

 dom in very fevere feafons ; — it differs from the laft, firftly, in the 

 bill, which may be feen by comparison ; and fecondly, in fize, being 

 fmaller. The plumage likewife is by no means of that dazzling 

 fnovvy whitenefs which characlerifes the tame fpecies ; but the ef- 

 fential and Specific mark of diftin&ion is that of the trachea, iri 

 which, as well as in the conformation of the breaft-bone itfelf, it is 

 fo particularly different as to prove at once that there can be no 

 relation whatever between the two. 



The windpipe in the Wild Swan, meant in this place to be treated 

 of, paffes down the neck the whole of its length, after which it 

 enters the keel of the Sternum, pafling backwards therein nearly the 

 whole of its length, when it bends upwards and forwards, and 

 then enters the cavity of the breaft, to communicate with the 

 lungs. It is not necefTary to mention further particulars, as the 

 figure of the breaft-bone and trachea in fitu will fufficiently point 

 out the circumftance -, nor is it necefTary to fay more in this place, 

 than that the above Structure of parts is obfervable in both fexes 

 indifcriminately. 



To obviate every poflibility of miftake between the two fpecies, I 

 have thought right to exhibit a front view of the breaft-bone of 

 both, in which a large cavity may be feen in that of the wild 

 fpecies, fufficient to admit of the entrance and exit of the trachea, as 

 well as its doubling therein ; whilft in that of the tame Swan 

 (Tab. xii. fig. 3.) no other Structure is obfervable than in the com- 

 mon goofe> 



X. ARDEA 



