164 THE PROCEEDINGS OP TBE LINNEAN SOCIETY 



Explanation of Plate 14. 

 Pig. 1. — Upper surface of borer. 

 Fig, 2. — Under surface of borer. 

 Fig. 3 and 4. — Side views of same. 

 Fig. 5. — Arrangement of spines. 

 Figs. 1, 3, 4, X 85. Fig., 2 x 60. 



Note on the tracheae of certain Australian Ducks. 

 By E. P. Ramsay, F.L.S. 



In our Proceedings for the year 1877, I made some remarks 

 on the Anas castanea of Eyton, our common Australian Teal, and 

 referred to Professor Newton's remarks on the tracheae of this 

 species, see P. Z. S. 1871, p. 649. I was not a little surprised 

 at the statement that a bzilla ossea was found in the tracheae 

 of both sexes, having some years ago examined a considerable 

 number of the same species without finding any bulla ossea in the 

 female, but in the males it was well developed. I have recently 

 examined six females with the same results, finding no trace of 

 this organ in any of them, I believe therefore that Professor 

 Newton must have been misled by the carelessness of his 

 taxidermist. 



In Myroca australis the bulla ossea, found in the males only, 

 is of large size ; in the Freckled Duck, Stictoneita ncsvosa, it is not 

 found, either in the male or female, but the tracheae of the male 

 has a slight swelling about | of its length from the root of the 

 tongue, and in this enlargement the rings are divided, by a 

 narrow slit, of which however more hereafter, when I hope to be 

 able to offer the Society some remarks on this and other species of 

 Australian Ducks. For the present I wish merely to correct an 

 error into which my friend, Professor Newton, has fallen, and 

 which I quoted in the above mentioned paper on Australian 

 Birds. 



