281 
builds in the hollows of trees and preys on 
shell-fish, mice, fish and frogs." 
They do not congregate in large flocks, 
nor are they numerous on the British shores, 
or on the lakes of the interior. They are 
late in taking their departure northward in 
the spring, remaining in this country some- 
times till the latter part of April. In Nor- 
folk from the whistling noise they make in 
the air, (occasioned by the quick and vi- 
gorous motion of their wings whilst flying) 
they are distinguished from the other wild 
Fowl by the name of Rattle-wing. They 
are excellent divers, and seldom set foot 
on the shore, upon which it is said, they 
walk with great apparent difficulty, and 
except in the breeding season, only repair 
to it for the purpose of taking their repose. 
The attempts hitherto made, to domes- 
ticate these birds have failed of success. 
The trachea of this species is of a cu- 
rious and wonderful structure, for the 
labyrinth is not only of a different and 
much more complicated form than any 
other, but a singular enlargement takes 
place about the middle of the trachea it- 
