AMERICAN COOT. 569 



efghij, is long and very wide ; it first curves along the edge of the sto- 

 mach to the distance of ^\ inches, returns to the liver, runs along the 

 right side to the extremity of the abdomen, is convoluted in an ellip- 

 tical form, with 12 folds. Its length is 4 feet 8 inches, its width from 

 i inch to 3| twelfths, toward the rectum enlarging to ^ inch, and so 

 continuing to the end. The coeca are extremely elongated, being 11 

 inches in length, for 2 inches at the commencement only 2 twelfths in 

 width, afterwards 4 twelfths, and again contracting to 2 twelfths, to- 

 ward the end, which is obtuse ; their distance from the extremity 4 in- 

 ches. There is no cloacal dilatation. 



The extremely developed gizzard, with its large grinding surfaces, 

 the very long and wide intestine, and the extraordinarily large coeca, 

 together with the imiform undilated rectum, indicate the most direct 

 proximity to the Gallinaceous birds. The digestive organs, however, 

 differ from those of the Rasores in one essential respect, namely, in there 

 beuag no crop, or dilatation of the oesophagus. They are also very nearly 

 allied to those of the Ducks, differing only in having the coeca propor- 

 tionally larger. The Anatince in fact are in some respects aquatic Gal- 

 linacece. 



The trachea is Q\ inches long, from 4| twelfths to 2 twelfths in breadth, 

 flattened, with the rings feeble, until 1 inch from the lower extremity, 

 when it becomes laterally compressed, with the rings much narrower. 

 The number of these is 154. Bronchi very short, of 20 half rings, 

 which are not ossified as in the Grebes, but cartilaginous. The rings 

 of the trachea are narrowed in the middle in front and behind, so as to 

 be perfectly flexible there, as well as on either side. The lateral mus- 

 cles are moderate. There are no inferior laryngeal muscles, excepting 

 on each side a very thin slip going to the last ring. 



I foimd this species very abundant in the Texas, in May 1837. It 

 breeds in Maine and Massachusetts. 



