AMERICAN BiTTERN. 301 
end 41 twelfths. The rings are osseous, in number 180; the five lower 
divided in front and behind, and much 
arched, the last measuring half an inch in a 
direct line between its extremities. The 
bronchi are in consequence very broad at 
their commencement, but gradually taper, 
and are composed of about 18 half rings. 
The contractor muscles are inconspicuous, the 
sterno-tracheal slender ; and there is a single 
pair of inferior laryngeal, going to the first 
bronchial ring. The aperture of the glottis 
is 8 twelfths long, without any papillz, but a | 
with a deep groove behind, and two thin- — f ay aH 
edged flaps. | | 
In the digestive organs of this bird, there 
is nothing remarkably different from that of 
other Herons. The stomach contained re- 
mains of fishes and large coleopterous in- 
sects. The examination of the trachea, bron- 
chi, and lungs, would not lead us to suppose 
that its cry is of the curious character re- 
presented, although it certainly would in- 
duce us to believe it different from that of or- 
dinary Herons, which have the trachea nar- 
rower, round, and with broader and more 
bony rings. 
Although in external appearance and ha- 
bits it exhibits some affinity to the Rails, 
its digestive organs have no resemblance to 
theirs. 
An egg presented by Dr Brewer of Boston measures two inches in 
length by one inch and a half, and is of a broadly oval shape, rather 
pointed at the smaller end, and of a uniform dull olivaceous tint. 
