22 
RED-HEADED DUCK. 
The trachea, when moderately extended, measures 10 inches in length, 
and is furnished with strong lateral or contractor muscles, a pair of cleido- 
tracheal, and a pair of more slender sterno-tracheal. Its diameter at the 
upper part is 4\ twelfths, it gradually contracts to 3J twelfths, enlarges to 
4J twelfths, and at the distance of 7i inches from the upper extremity, 
forms a dilatation about an inch in length, and T \ in its greatest diameter, 
but composed of distinct rings, then contracts to r \, and ends in a bony 
and membraneous expansion, forming on the left side an irregular thin 
disk, convex towards the right, and flattened towards the left, where it is 
membranous. The expansions of the trachea are thus similar to those of 
the Red-breasted Merganser, but of less extent; the rings are of equal 
breadth on both sides, but alternately overlap each other, one side being 
partially concealed by the corresponding sides of those above and below it, 
while the other stands exposed. The lower larynx is formed of ten united 
rings, together with the bony and membranous expansion described. The 
tracheal rings, rather broad and osseous, are 118 ; the half-rings of the 
bronchi about 16. 
EED-HEADED DUCK. 
Fuligula Ferina, Linn . 
PLATE COOXCYI. — Male and Female. 
At New Orleans, this bird is commonly known by the name of “ Dos 
Gris.” It arrives there in great flocks, about the first of November, and 
departs late in April, or in the beginning of May. On the lakes Borgne, 
St. John, and Ponchartrain, it is very abundant, keeping in large flocks, 
separate from the other species. In that part of the country its food con- 
sists of small fishes, in pursuit of which it is seen constantly diving. It is 
caught in different sorts of nets, and easily kept in confinement, feeding 
greedily on Indian corn, whether entire or crushed by the millstone. In 
1816, many thousands of these Ducks, as well as others of different species, 
were caught in nets by a Frenchman, who usually sent them alive to market 
in cages from the narrows of the Lakes, especially from those called “ La 
