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 Grallae. 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 FalcuUa jpalliata. It lives on the borders of streams, feeds 

 on small aquatic insects, and the organic remains found in mud. — 

 AthencBum. 



18. The tongues of ducks, I 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. I2th. — 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 unsightly marsh. The Chinese affirm that the 



Vol. XXXI.— No. 1. 25 



