Miscellanies. 193 
fourth and fifth remiges the longest of all. The first like that of the 
Hoopoes, is extremely short, and nearly useless in flight. The tail 
is square, and composed of twelve pens; the externals of which have 
their stems prolonged, in a very slight degree, beyond the barbs. 
The feet have three toes, directed forwards, and a fourth backwards, 
All are long, thick, and furnished with curved talons, enlarged at 
the base by a thick membrane, which has some affinity with that of 
the Gralle. The only species now known has the head, the neck, 
and the under part of the body white; the back, wings, and tail, of 
a greenish black, with metallic lights. M. Isidore Geoffroy has 
named it Falculia palliata. It lives on the borders of streams, feeds 
on small aquatic insects, and the organic remains found in mud.— 
Atheneum 
18. The tongues of ducks, 1 learned to-day, are among the dain- 
ties of Chinese epicures. In one of the lanes running westward 
from Leuenhing keae, there is a shop containing a great variety of 
live fowls, besides several species of dried ones, for sale. One 
article puzzled me much; and by inquiry I found it to be nothing 
more nor less than a string of dried tongues, obtained from ducks, 
They were stretched out to the utmost length, resembling awls in 
shape, and hardened almost to the firmness of iron.— Thursday, 
Nov. 12th.— Chinese Repository. 
19. Locusts—The Egyptian plague of locusts made their appear- 
ance in Kwangse, and the western departments of Kwantung, about 
the 20th of July, 1835. A small advance guard having come as far 
as Canton, orders were issued to the military and people to exterminate 
them, as was done when they made their appearance here in Octo- 
ber, 1833. As this was much easier said than done, the next resort 
was to the more rational mode of offering a bounty of twelve or fifteen 
cash per catty for the locusts. But during the late strong winds, the 
locusts are said to have been driven before it in such quantities and 
into such places, that the catchers of them seemed likely to realize 
some profit from the bounty. But true to Chinese prudence, the 
officers then immediately lowered the bounty, and would give but 
five or six cash per catty. The damage occasioned by these insects 
is very great, and the Chinese always dread their approach. A 
swarm will destroy a field of Rice in a short time, leaving the former 
green prospect an neni marsh. oa Chinese affirm that the 
Vou. XXXI.—No. 
