OF NATURAL HISTORY. 12V 



Mr. Hunter afterwards informs us, that the lungs, at thq 

 anterior part, open into a number of membranous cells, 

 which lie upon the fides of the pericardium, and communi- 

 cate with thofe of the fternum. At the fuperior part, th^ 

 lungs open into the large cells of a loofe net-work, through 

 which the wind-pipe, gullet, and large vefTels, pafs as they 

 proceed to and from the heart. Thefe cells, when diftend- 

 ed with air, augment confiderably the part where they are 

 fituated ; and this augmentation, or fwelling, is generally a 

 mark either of anger or of love. This tumefaction is remark- 

 able in the turkey-cock, in the pouting pigeon, and in the 

 breaft of a goofe when fhe cackles. Thefe cells communi- 

 cate with others in the axilla, under the large perioral muf- 

 cle. In moft birds, the axillary cells communicate with the 

 cavity of the os humeri by fmall openings in the hollow fur- 

 face near the head of that bone. In fome birds, thele cells 

 are continued down the wing, and communicate with the ul- 

 na and radius ; in others, they extend even to the pinions. 

 The pofterior edges of the lungs open into the cells of the 

 vertebrae, into thofe of the ribs, the canal of the fplnal mar- 

 row, the facrum, and other bones of the pelvis ; from thefe 

 parts the air finds a paflage into the thigh-bone. * Thus,' 

 continues our learned and indefatigable author, < the cells of 

 *the abdomen, thofe furrounding the pericardium, thofe 



< fituated at the lower and forepart of the neck, and in the 

 axilla, thofe in the cellular membrane ueder the pectoral 

 mufcles, as well as in that which unites the fkin to the body, 

 * all communicate with the lungs, and are capable of being 

 •« filled with air ; and again from thefe the cells of the fler- 



< num, ribs, vertebra of the back and loins, bones of the pel" 



< vis, the humeri, the ulna and radius, with the pinions and 

 ' thigh-bones, can in many birds be furnifhed vylth air*.' 



• Kunter*$ Obfcrvatlons on c<^rtain parts of the Animal Oqzonomy, page 8 1 



