LEAST PETREL. 315 
bird ; but why it should be so, and moreover be curved in this manner, 
is not very obvious. Conjectures are easily made, and might run in 
this form. This little bird, which wanders over the face of the ocean, 
subsisting upon garbage, oily and fatty substances, small fishes, and 
even sea-weeds, requires alarge stomach for the reception of its hetero- 
geneous fare, which not being always very nutritious or easily digesti- 
ple, must be very plentifully intermixed with the gastric juices, and 
detained a considerable time ; which conditions are accordingly provided 
for by the very great number and extensive dispersion of the proven- 
tricular glandules, and the curve of the organ. Should any hard sub- 
stances, as crustacea, be introduced, they are pounded by the gizzard ; 
but as the bird is little addicted to feeding on such substances, that 
organ is reduced to a very small size. 
The aperture of the glottis is 14 twelfth long. The trachea is 1 
inch 7 twelfths in length, wide, flattened, its diameter from 2 twelfths 
to 13 twelfth; its rings unossified, 82 in number. The bronchi are 
short, wide, of about 12 half rings. 
