522 Something about Fowls. 
" The Potato plant affords, for the labor and space required for 
its cultivation, more alimentary naatter than any other plant what- 
ever, and on that account is a valuable source of food for man- 
kind." Page 138. 
" It yields carbon for the lungs, nitrogen for the muscles, phos- 
phorus and iron for the blood, lime for the bones; and in fact a 
human being might live on Potatoes alone." Smee, p. 139. 
Such a plant is the bounty of God to his rational creation; its 
more perfect cultivation is a benefaction to the nation; practical 
protection from diseases and remedies for them are at once an 
obligation and a blessing to the human family. 
SOMETHING ABOUT FOWLS. 
JVew Duck. — There has been read to the Zoological Society 
the description of a new species of Duck, [Fuligula ferinoides,) 
by Mr. A. D. Bartlett. Three examples having passed through 
the hands of Mr. Bartlett, which appeared to resemble rather too 
closely to admit of their being hybrids, as was supposed of the 
first which occurred, the author was induced to examine all the 
species of this genus which are known to inhabit Europe and 
America. The result has been his conviction that the birds ex- 
hibited are not only new to Britain, but have hitherto escaped the 
knowledge of naturalists altogether. The capture of a female 
will complete the evidence ingeniously adduced by Mr. Bartlett; 
and his discovery will be a subject of interest to the students of 
British and northern ornithology, to whom a new species is now 
a thing scarcely to be hoped for. — Book of Facts. 
Ways for Distinguishing the Age of Poultry. — There are va- 
rious ways of deciding the age of poultry. If the bottom 
of the breast bone, w^hich extends down between the legs, is soft 
and gives easily, it is a sign of youth; if stiff, the poultry is old. 
If young, the legs are lighter, and the feet do not look so hard, 
stiff, and worn. 
There is more deception in geese than in any other kind of 
poultry. The above remarks are applied to them; but there are 
other signs more infallible. In a young goose, the cavity under 
the wings is very tender; it is a bad sign, if you cannot, with 
very little trouble, push your finger directly into the flesh. There 
is another means by \vhich you may decide whether a goose be 
tender, if it be frozen or not. Pass the head of a pin along the 
breast or sides, and if the goose be young, the skin will rip like 
