64 THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 



CASE 21. 



Reptiles. ..Notice tbe Mexican Horned Frog. 



This curious animal will live for months without food. Quite recently there were two live specimens received 

 at the Smithsonian Institution, in a letter from Huntsville, Texas. When taken out of the envelope, they ap- 

 peared flattened and lifeless, but a few moments in the fresh air made them very lively, and they can now be 

 seen in the taxidermist's room. 



CASE 22. 



EAST SIDE. Upper Shelf. Sea Ducks. 



Middle Shelf. River Ducks. ..Mallard, or Green Head. ..Black Duck, the largest, and 

 finest for eating... Pintail, Sprigtail, English, Blue- winged, Green-winged, Red-breasted 

 Teals. ..Sora... Common Rail, or Ortolan. 



The most abundant and most universally known bird of its genus, inhabiting the United States, and every- 

 where known as the " Bail." The specimens from California are precisely identical with others from the banks 

 of the Delaware river. 

 Lower Shelf. Wild Turkeys... Mexican Turkeys. 



Among the most beautiful of known birds. The feathers exhibit reflections of metallic bronze, gold, green, 

 and blue. 



WEST SIDE Upper Shelf. Shoveller. ..Spoon-bill Bald-pate. ...American and English 



Widgeons. 



Middle Shelf. Teals. 



Lower Shelf. White Crane. ..Whooping Crane. 

 The White Crane is one of the rarest birds to be found in collections. 

 Sand-hill or Brown Crane, or Stork, from California. 



In the early settlement of that country, one of these cranes sold from $16 to $18 in the San Francisco market, 

 to take the place of the turkey at the Christmas dinner. 



CASE 23. 

 Frogs. 



Here are also the Hyla, or Tree-Frogs, which have the power of walking; on polished surfaces, and of attaching 

 themselves by their feet to, and walking with their bodies suspended on the under side of. the smoothest leaves. 



CASE 24. 



EAST SIDE Upper Shelf. The Gulls. ..The Laughing Gull... Franklin's Rosy Gull.... 

 Hooded, Bonaparte's, Kittiwake, and Yellow-billed Gu'ls. 



The most beautiful are known by the dark-colored hood or cowl which envelopes the head in summer. 



Middle Shelf. Fishing Ducks. ..Goosander... Sheldrake, or Fish Ducks. ..Red-breasted 

 Merganser... Smew. 



Lower Shelf. American Geese... Canada Goose... Hutchins' Goose... Brant. 



WEST SIDE Upper Shelf. The Terns. ..Marsh, Caspian, Royal, Elegant, Cabot's, Havell's, 

 Sooty, Arctic, Roseate, and other Terns, 



Mostly found on the sea-coast and bays, are much on the wing, and are remarkable for their easy and buoyant 

 flight. 



The Frigate Pelican, or Man-of-War Bird. 



Its power of flight is not excelled by any other bird . Very tyrannical. 



Middle' Shelf . Fishing Ducks. 



Lower Shelf. Rough-billed and Brown Pelicans. The American Swan, equally abund- 

 ant on all parts of the continent. The young bird is brown. ...Trumpeter Swan, very large 

 and powerful. ..Cormorants. 



PELICAN. "In the Gulf of California, a small black gall follows the pelican incessantly on its flight, and as 

 th< lat*er plunged into the sea after fish, the gull would immediately alight by its side. The pelican, emprging 

 from vufc water to discharge the fluid collected in the gular sac, would drop its bill, when the fish partially pro- 

 truding from between its mandibles, the gull would seize upon one and drag it out, as his share ol the booty. 

 Although this feat is of hourly occurrence, the pelican never offers the least resistance, or shows any anger or 

 impatience at the intrusion or impudence of his little neighbor, who, like a tax-gatherer, follows him through 

 life, an evil inevitable." 



CASE 25. 



Frogs. 



CASE 26. 



This case contains a number of interesting specimens. No. 67, Alligator from Florida... 

 68, Sea-cow from the Amazon river. ..69, 70, 71, 75, 79, Sea-Leopards, or Seals. 

 The brain of the seal is well-developed, and the degree of sagacity and attachment shown in domestication for 



