364 Miscellaneous. 



them of various breeds. The finest cargo I ever saw came from 

 Boston, U.S. They vrere almost all from high-bred mares, and 

 many of them showed as much blood as thorough-bred horses, and 

 they were as active as deer. I do not remember whether I men- 

 tioned them to you in my last ; but, if I did not, I shall be very happy 

 to give you a description of the various breeds of mules and asses 

 employed in this colony. About three years ago the murrain cut off 

 about nine-tenths of our horned cattle. In the herds attacked, not 

 above one per cent, escaped, and they were generally old ones. A few 

 months since it broke out again, and has cut off several fine herds 

 without leaving a single head. It is said, I believe with truth, that it 

 arose from the removal of a dung- heap in which some had been buried 

 three years ago. It is stated that pigs are subject to it, but that it 

 is much less fatal among them than with oxen, but I am not at all 

 satisfied of the identity of the disease. It is also asserted that goats, 

 sheep and deer are liable to its attacks, but having examined several 

 goats said to have died of it when it was so prevalent here, I found no 

 case in which the murrain was the cause of death, there being other 

 evident causes. 



" I do not know if you are aware that ipecacuanha, of which we 

 have a wild variety very plentiful here, is a deadly and speedy poison 

 to ruminating animals. It often happens that foreign cows, goats and 

 sheep perish from eating it, but the natives very rarely touch it. A 

 few leaves of it are sufficient to kill a goat in four or five hours." * * * 



A Comparison between Sterna Cantiaca, Gm.y of Europe, and Sterna 

 acuflavida, nobis, hitherto considered identical with ^. Cantiaca, and 

 a description of a new species of Wren. By Dr. Cabot. 



The following measurements from adult, full-plumaged specimens 

 were given : 



American. Millimetres. European. 



Bill along ridge 49 57 



„ » gape 64 75 



From the nostril to the point of the bill 36 41 



Length of nostril 6 9 



Length of lower mandible along the centre (measuring 



to the feathers) 41 47 



Length of do. do. along the side, do. do 51 62 



Width of bill at commencement of feathers 8 7^ 



Depth of do. do. do 11^ 12| 



Length of wing from flexure 290 317 



Length of tail to tips of lateral feathers 136 149 



Length of tarsus 25 28 



Middle toe without the claw 18 21 



Middle claw 7^ 9 



Inner toe with claw 17 20 



Outer do. do 21 26 



Thumb 6^ 8§ 



Besides these differences in the measurement of parts not subject 

 to change from improper stuffing, &c., we find that the colouring 

 differs in some very important particulars. In the American bird 

 the yellow is strictly confined to the tip of the bill, and the line of union 

 of the yellow and black is perpendicular and unbroken, whereas in 



