File:The birds of America - from drawings made in the United States and their territories (1840) (14565144849).jpg

Identifier: birdsofamericafr06audu (find matches)
Title: The birds of America : from drawings made in the United States and their territories
Year: 1840 (1840s)
Authors: Audubon, John James, 1785-1851 Bowen, John T., ca. 1801-1856?, lithographer
Subjects: Birds Birds
Publisher: New York : Published by J.J. Audubon Philadelphia : J.B. Chevalier
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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a perspicillata and F. fusca.The bronchi, however, are of very large size, being 1 inch 4 twelfths long,their greatest breadth ^ inch. The inferior larynx is very small, being only3; twelfths in breadth, in which respect it differs from that of most othermale Ducks. It is indeed very remarkable that this species, so nearly alliedto the Velvet and Surf Ducks, should present no dilatations, either at theupper larynx, or in the course of the trachea, as are seen in them. Thisfact is one of many tending to shew that the strictest affinity in some pointsof structure is not always accompanied with a strict resemblance in some ofthe organs supposed to exhibit generic peculiarities. The trachea of themale of this species merely resembles that of the female of the other species.Its rings are about 100; those of the bronchi 30. The contractor musclesare strong, and terminate at the commencement of the lower larynx. Thereare cleido-tracheal and sterno-tracheal muscles, but no inferior laryngeal.
Text Appearing After Image:
347 THE KING DUCK. -HFuligula spectabilis, Linn. PLATE CCCCIV.—Male and Female. This beautiful species rarely advances farther south along our easterncoast than the neighbourhood of the Bay of Boston. I have, however, beenassured by old and trustworthy gunners that the King Duck, about thirtyyears ago, was by no means of rare occurrence there during winter, andthat a few had been known to breed in company with the Eider along thecoast. At the period of my arrival at Labrador, the greater number of theKing Ducks had proceeded farther north; and although some were seenthere, we found none of their nests. I can say nothing of the habits of thisbird, which, although they may be similar to those of the Eider, must yetdiffer in many particulars, as is the case with all birds that are nearly alliedin form. The eggs of the King Duck collected by Captain James ClarkRoss, R. N., measure two inches and five-eighths by one inch and three-fourths, and have a smooth shell, of a uniform dull green

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