ORGANS OF VOICE. 



57 



on the construction of the windpipe itself; and several, as the 

 Duck tribe, are very curiously formed. It usually consists 

 of a straight tube, of a stiff horny character, sometimes of 

 uniform diameter throughout, at other times gradually 

 swelling towards the middle, or with roundish enlarged 

 cavities, as in the tufted and golden-eyed Ducks, though 

 these enlargements are more frequently at the end of the 

 tube. The first of the annexed figures represents the tube, 

 the second the horny cavity, and the third, twisted windpipe, 

 is that of the Crane, which is singularly bent, as it enters 

 within the breast bone ; the cleft end is the internal termina- 

 tion ; the other, its junction with the mouth. 



It would be needless to dwell upon the infinite variety 

 of notes of birds, but a few of the most striking deserve 

 notice. 



In this country, 

 we find, indeed, 

 few peculiarities ; 

 but, nevertheless, 

 there are some. 

 Thus, everybody 

 knows that Jack- 

 daws, Starlings, 

 and Magpies, may 

 be taught to speak 

 words, like Par- 

 rots ; but near a 

 clergyman's house, 

 in Northampton- 

 shire, a blackbird 

 was in the habit of 



crowing constantly, as accurately as a common cock, and 

 nearly as loud. Perched upon the top bough of an ash4ree, 

 it might be seen crowing away; occasionally indulging in 

 its natural song, but this only for a second or two : for it soon 

 began again to crow ; and when the cocks from a neigh-, 

 bouring poultry-yard answered it, the little bird seemed de- 

 lighted, and seemed as if it was trying to rival them in the 



The Blackbird. 



