134 



S 9 



.*Depthofbill 0077 .007 



*Breadth of bill 006 .0055 



Length of nostril 003 .002 



Breadth of nostril 0017 .0015 



Dissection. Tongue triangular, fleshy, with fleshy barbs on 

 the sides. Oesophagus, .395 in length By .036 in breadth when 

 opened and spread out ; proventrieulus very large ; it is folded 

 on itself at an acute angle at the posterior extremity, and meas- 

 ures .075 in length by .045 in breadth. The gizzard is small, 

 measuring .015 by .011 and .008 in its three principal diameters. 

 The epidermis is thick and horny. The stomachs of all those^ 

 examined, nine in number, contained a pultaceous mass highly 

 nacreous, as if composed of the scales of a small fish, and the 

 mandibles of a squid or cuttle-fish of much smaller size than 

 those found in the stomach of the tropic-bird. Pancreas large, 

 forming two or three distinct lobes. Spleen small. Liver with 

 the right lobe measuring .04 by .02 by .009, and the left .029 by 

 .012 by .008. On the anterior extremity of the external border 

 of the right lobe is a prolongation in the shape of a leg of mutton, 

 by which the renal veins enter its substance. Intestine very 

 small, .590 in length, with two small globular cceca, .022 from 

 the anus. 



Larus atriciUa. Abundant, resident, and breeding. 



Sterna regia. The lower surface of the foot is orange, bor- 

 dered with black ; the edge not distinctly defined. 



Sterna acujiavida. 



Sterna fuliginosa. 



Sterna Wilso?ii. 



Anoils stolidus. All these species of terns are abundant, and 

 breed on most of the unfrequented kays. The S. fuliginosa and 

 A. stolidus in immense numbers, as at the Tortugas. 



The Secretary read extracts from a letter from Mr. H. 

 M. Lyman, of Royalton, Vt., to Dr. C. F. Winslow, in 

 relation to the recent volcanic eruption in the Sandwich 

 Islands. 



* The depth and height of bill are taken immediately in front of the nostril. 



