238 Bibliographical Notices. 



from the former birds :" and although it is obvious that the Bustards 

 (Otince) resemble both the Rasores and Grallatores, "their internal 

 structure," which the author had no means of investigating, "alone 

 can settle the question :" for the same reason, the position of that in- 

 teresting bird, the Pratincole, cannot be accurately determined : the 

 value of such evidence is pleasingly illustrated in treating of the affi- 

 nities of the Spoonbill and other birds. The trachea in many of the 

 Ducks {FuligulincE) and Mergansers is generally characterized by an 

 enlargement, and "the voice of the male is more hoarse and less 

 loud than that of the female ;" still, the physiologist will be puzzled 

 to account for the use of the great enlargement of the trachea in the 

 male of the Golden Eye {Clangula chrysophthalmciis) . The trachea in 

 the male of the Black Scoter {Oidemia nigra) differs from the simple 

 apparatus of the female only in having the bronchi larger, and resembles 

 that of the female Ducks in general, whereas the tracheae of the 

 males of O. perspicillata and O.fusca, its close allies, have a decided 

 enlargement. The differences in the structure of the trachea which 

 occur in some genera are carefully noted in the description of the 

 eight species of Swans which have been found in Britain : in some 

 species it follows the usual course, whilst in others it first enters the 

 sternum, forming a loop in the same manner as in the Crane. The 

 American and European Spoonbills present equally striking differences, 

 and yet the author admits that it would be " injudicious to subdivide 

 these into distinct genera, as the species otherwise agree in all essen- 

 tial respects ;" and in many instances points out the danger of taking 

 some artificial, isolated, and often insignificant character in the con- 

 struction of genera. 



The orders into which the Water-birds have been grouped are 

 mainly constructed with reference to their natural habits : we have 

 Cursores or Runners, Cranes and Bustards ; Tentatores or Probers, 

 Plovers, Sandpipers, Snipes ; Aucitpatores or Stalkers, Herons, 

 Egrets ; Latitores or Skulkers, Rails, Crakes, Gallinules ; Cribra- 

 tores or Shifters, Geese, Swans, Ducks ; Urinatores or Divers, Grebes, 

 Loons, Auks, and Cormorants ; Mersatores or Plungers, Petrels, Gulls, 

 Terns. Perhaps we cannot do belter than transcribe the account of the 

 habits of the typical species belonging to the last-mentioned order: — 



" The Mersatores are birds of less compact form, lightness and 

 even buoyancy, as well as strength, being essential to their nature. 

 Their plumage is of looser texture and more bulky. Their long wings 

 are fitted for a light, gliding, bounding flight, very unlike the straight- 

 forward, laboured, though quick aerial progression of the Urinatores. 

 They sit lightly on the water, swim, though not rapidly, but are in- 

 capable of diving, and never enter into the deep otherwise than mo- 

 mentarily by plunging or dipping. The larger species are in a measure 

 omnivorous, in so far as regards animal food ; the smaller feed chiefly 

 on small fishes and Crustacea. They usually nestle on the ground, 

 laying from three to five spotted eggs ; but some which lay in holes 

 or crevices have white eggs. The young, at first densely covered 

 with down, can walk and run, as well as swim, from the first ; but 

 usually remam for some time in or about the nest, or conceal them- 



