!

order; the columns, &c., being of Portland stone, and the
body of the building of cut granite. To the east of the
Custom-house are docks and stores, the latter on a very
extensive scale, surrounded by a lofty wall. The business
of the customs duties department is however so trifling,
that half the accommodation here provided would be amply
sufficient.

Between Gardiner and Sackville streets runs Marl-
borough-street, parallel to each. On the western side of
Marlborough-street, about midway between its extremities,
stands the Roman Catholic Metropolitan Church, founded
in 1816. St. George's Church, the beautiful spire of which
is conspicuous from the bay and many parts of the city,
occupies the highest ground in this district. It is the most
sumptuous of the modern churches of Dublin, from a design
by Johnstone, and cost 70,0007.

The western division of the city, north of the river, is not intersected by any street of large proportions, and is almost exclusively occupied by dealers, tradesmen, and labourers. The portion of it which lies along the quays and towards the Blue Coat Hospital is however well built and respectably inhabited. The Four Courts, situated on King's Inn Quay in this district, was commenced in 1786, and is a building of great extent and splendour. Westward from the courts of law, the Royal Barracks occupy an elevated site over the river, at the extremity of the city on this side. On the outskirts of this division of the city, from the Royal Barracks north-east, are the Blue Coat Hospital, founded in 1773; the Richmond Bridewell and Penitentiary, and the House of Industry and hospitals attached; the Linen Hall, opened in 1728; and the King's Inns. In the eastern part of the district, near Capel-street, are Newgate, the Sheriffs' prison, and the Sessions House for the county of the city.

West of the Royal Barracks is the entrance into the Phoenix Park, a finely-wooded demesne of 1089 Irish or 1759 English acres, containing the vice-regal lodge, and the lodges of the chief and under secretary; the Zoological Society's gardens and establishment; the Royal Military Infirmary; the Hibernian Society's school for the education of the children of soldiers; a powder magazine and artillery station; and a grand obelisk, erected in commemoration of the victories of the Duke of Wellington. The park was first enclosed and laid down for the recreation of the citizens in the reign of Charles II., and was completed by the Earl of Chesterfield while Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. The greater portion of the lands belonged to the dissolved priory of Kilmainham.

number of persons totally destitute is estimated at 25,000; of labouring persons who, getting only occasional employment, are frequently in a destitute state, at 25,000; and of poor tradesmen, frequently in the same condition from want of employment and other causes, at 18,000. The principal charitable institutions of Dublin are the following:-Association for the suppression of Mendicity; Society for the relief of Sick and Indigent Room-keepers; the Strangers' Friend Society; the Benevolent Strangers' Friend Society; the Charitable Association; Society for the Relief of the Industrious Poor; Sir Patrick Dunn's Hospital, Meath Hospital and County Infirmary, Jervisstreet Infirmary, Mercers' Hospital, Maison de Santé (these five are general hospitals for the poor); Simpson's Hospital (for lame and gouty poor); Lying-in Hospital, Stephens's Hospital (general), Cork-street Fever Hospital, Whitworth Fever Hospital, City of Dublin Hospital (general), United Hospital of St. Mark and St. Ann (general), Hospital for Incurables, Westmoreland Lock Hospital, Hospital of the House of Industry, Lunatic Asylum of the House of Industry, Swift's Hospital (for lunatics). For these charities the total amount of vested estates is 13,2627. 19s. 4d., and the parliamentary and grand jury grants are 30,2007.

In addition to these institutions there are six minor lying-in hospitals in the city, numerous houses of relief, and female penitentiaries, and about twelve dispensaries supported by voluntary contributions and local assessment. The number of out-door patients so relieved is very great, probably not less than 50,000 per annum.

The total number of charitable schools in the city of Dublin is 199. Of these 132 are day-schools, 34 are schools where the scholars are lodged, boarded, clothed, &c., 27 are schools for orphans, or in connexion with orphan societies, 4 are schools belonging to societies, and 2 are daily model-schools of the National Board of Education. The total number receiving instruction at these schools is 15,797; the total annual expenditure is about 37,100%.

The trade of Dublin consists chiefly in the supply of the midland districts with articles of import. The silk manufacture has long been carried on with considerable success in the production of a superior article, but the trade has latterly declined, and is now very languid. The woollen manufacture was also carried on with good success, but has likewise fallen off of late years. The firm of Messrs. Willans continue to manufacture broadcloths, but this is almost the only house in the trade. The printing of calicoes and muslins has been brought to great perfection by Mr. David Henry, of Island-bridge.

The division of Dublin which lies west from the Castle, on the south side of the Liffey, is the oldest part of the city, That part of the trade of Dublin which is carried on and is now almost exclusively occupied by persons in trade, with the ports of Great Britain has greatly increased since small dealers, and the labouring classes. The Castle of the general adoption of steam-vessels, but there are no Dublin, at the north-eastern extremity of this district, con- means for distinguishing its amount, the intercourse between sists of two handsome quadrangles, surrounded, except on the two islands having been placed upon the footing of a one side, by the apartments of state and the offices of go-coasting-trade. The vessels that entered the port from yernment. foreign countries during each of the five years from 1832 to 1836, and the amount of their tonnage were as follows:

West of the Castle stands Christ's Church Cathedral, a venerable cruciform structure, part of which is of a date anterior to the coming of the English. South from Christ Church, at a distance of rather more than a quarter of a mile, is the Cathedral of St. Patrick, situated at the foot of the declivity, the ridge of which is occupied by the castle and older cathedral. St. Patrick's is an imposing pile, consisting of nave, transepts, and choir, with a chapter-house at the east end. Attached is the antient archiepiscopal palace, now converted to a police barrack, and the deanery house, a commodious residence built in the last century. At the back of the old palace is the library founded by Archbishop Marsh in 1694. On the south of this division are a penitentiary, the Portobello barracks, and several hospitals; and on the west, towards Island Bridge, these extensive establishments, the Royal Hospital of Kilmainham, built at the cost of the army in 1684; the Foundling Hospital; Swift's hospital for lunatics; Stephens's hospital; Kilmain ham gaol and the county court-house, and the artillery barracks at Island Bridge.

1836

£654,754

768,632

918,801
898,630

The tonnage of commodities conveyed upon the Grand Canal and the Royal Canal to and from Dublin exceeds 380,000 tons per annum. The greater part of that which is conveyed to Dublin consists of agricultural produce, cattle, and turf. From Dublin are sent building materials, coals, salt, manure, and general merchandise.

The Liffey is quayed in throughout its entire length, and crossed by eight bridges, five of which are executed in cut stone, and two in metal. These quays give a great air of magnificence to the views up and down the river. The intercourse between England and Dublin has been much encouraged by the establishment of steam-packets. The condition of the poorer classes in Dublin is wretched The number of passengers conveyed by the post-office, in the extreme; yet there are few cities in which charitable packets alone, between Dublin and Holyhead and Liverpool, institutions are more numerous or better supported. The in each of the three years, 1833 to 1835, was as follows:

Z 2

through Normandy, described in a Letter to a Friend,' published in 1754, in 4to., enlarged and republished in folio in 1767, under the title of Anglo-Norman Antiquities, considered in a Tour through part of Normandy, by Dr. Ducarel, illustrated with twenty-seven plates.' His second publication was 'A Series of above two.hundred Anglo-Gallic, or Norman and Aquitain Coins of the antient Kings of England, exhibited in sixteen copper-plates, and illustrated in twelve Letters, addressed to the Society of Antiquaries of London and several of its Members,' 4to., London, 1757. His portrait, engraved by Perry from a painting by A. Soldi, 1746, was first prefixed to this work, which was the result of his acquaintance with M. de Boze, keeper of the French king's medals. In 1760 he printed for private distribution, in 4to., an account of his friend Browne Willis, read at the Society of Antiquaries that year. In 1763 he published A Repertory of the Endowments of Vicarages in the diocese of Canterbury,' in 4to., which was reprinted with large additions, in 8vo., in 1782, with the further addition of a repertory of endowments of vicarages in the diocese of Rochester. Dr. Ducarel gave a manuscript abstract of the large history of the Benedictine Abbey of Bec, in Normandy, drawn up by Dom John Bourget, a monk of that house, to Mr. John Nichols, who printed it in 1779, in 8vo., with an appendix of original deeds; and who likewise printed in the same year, in 2 vols. 8vo., Some Account of the Alien Priories, and of such lands as they are known to have possessed in England and Wales,' the chief materials of which were also collected by Dr. Ducarel. The greater part of the materials of the Collection of Royal and Noble Wills,' from the Conqueror to Henry VII., printed by Mr. Nichols in 1780, were likewise furnished by Dr. Ducarel. In 1782 he published The History of the Collegiate Church of St. Katharine, near the Tower of London, from its Foundation in 1273.' This work had been compiled by the doctor for the use of Queen Charlotte, this church being the only ecclesiastical preferment in the gift of the queen consort of England. An appendix to this work was published in 1790, in No. LII. of Mr. Nichols's Bibliotheca Topographica Britannica.'

·

In 1783 he published, as No. XII. of the Bibliotheca Topographica Britannica,' Some Account of the Town, Church, and Archiepiscopal Palace of Croydon, in the County of Surrey, from its Foundation to 1783,' 4to., originally drawn up by him in 1754 at the request of Archbishop Herring. He also drew up in the Bibliotheca Topographica Britannica,' No. XXVII., The History and Antiquities of the Archiepiscopal Palace of Lambeth, from its Foundation to the Present Time,' 1785, 4to. dedicated to Archbishop Moore.

Dr. Ducarel's life was one of indefatigable industry. Exclusive of the works already mentioned, the publication of Snelling's plates of English medals originated with him. He wrote in the 'Philosophical Transactions' upon the subject of trees indigenous to Great Britain, followed by an account of the early cultivation of botany in England. His letter to Gerard Meerman, grand pensionary at the Hague, on the dispute concerning Corsellis as the first printer in England, translated into Latin by Dr. Musgrave, with Meerman's answer, was published in the second volume of Meerman's Origines Typographica' in 1765. He entered deeply into the Rowleian controversy, of which he enter tained what is now the general opinion. He completed a list of various editions of the Bible and parts thereof, in English, from 1526 to 1776, an improved edition of which was published in 1778 at the expense of Archbishop Cornwallis. His memoirs of Archbishop Hutton and his family, fairly written, were purchased, at the sale of his library, by Dr. Lort for the Hutton family. He perfected the catalogues of the different portions of the Lambeth library, and made a general index to all the archiepiscopal registers at Lambeth, from Pecham to Herring, in forty-eight volumes in folio, his own duplicate of which was bought at the sale of the late Mr. Gough's library, for the MS. department of the British Museum. In addition to all these literary labours, his official attendance to the duties of Doctors' Commons was unremitting.

Dr. Ducarel died at his house at South Lambeth, May 29th, 1785. The immediate cause of the disorder which carried him off was a sudden surprise, on receiving, whilst at Canterbury, a letter informing him that Mrs. Ducarel was at the point of death. He was buried in his favourite church of St. Katharine, near the altar, in a vault which

he had long before selected for that purpose. (Nichols's Literary Anecdotes, vol. vi. p. 380-404; Chalmers's Biogr. Dict. vol. xii. p. 375-385.)

DUCAT, DUCATOON. [MONEY.]

DUCIS, JEAN FRANCOIS, was born at Versailles in 1732, and became a dramatic writer somewhat late in life. His first pieces made but little impression, and it was not until he had produced a version of Shakspeare's 'Hamlet' that his name began to acquire some celebrity. 'Romeo and Juliet,' the second tragedy from Shakspeare, had great success. But Ducis has so altered the works of our great author, that were it not for the name we should with difficulty discover any connexion between the original and the version. He subsequently tried to imitate the Greek drama in a tragedy called 'Edipus with Admetus;' but he soon returned to Shakspeare, and wrote, among other pieces, 'Macbeth,' Othello, and Lear.' In 1778 he was called to the Académie to fill the vacancy left by Voltaire. He afterwards became secretary to Louis XVIII., and was ever most devotedly attached to him. Even when almost starving, he refused a pension of 40,000 francs and the cross of the legion of honour, which were offered him by Napoleon. The restoration of his beloved king rendered his old age happy. At his first audience the king recited to him some of his own verses: 'I am more fortunate,' cried the old poet in ecstacy, than Boileau or Racine; they recited their verses to Louis XIV., but my king recites my verses to me.' He died in 1816.

DUCKBILL. [ORNITHORHYNCHUS.]

DUCKS, ANATI'NÆ, a subfamily of the Anatidæ, including the true ducks of Swainson only.

The third book of Belon is entitled De la Nature des Oyseaux vivants le long des rivières, ayants le pied plat, nommés en Latin Palmipedes Aves, and comprehends all the web-footed birds known to him.

Willughby distinguishes the whole-footed birds with shorter legs into such as want the back-toe and such as have it; these latter into such as have all four toes webbed together, and such as have the back-toe loose or separate from the rest; these latter again' he subdivides into narrow-billed and broad-billed; the narrow-billed have their bills either hooked at the end, or straighter and sharppointed. The hook-billed have their bills either even'or toothed on the sides. Those that have straighter and sharp. pointed bills are either short-winged and divers, called Douckers and Loons, or long-winged and much upon the wing, called Gulls. The broad-billed are divided into the Goose kind and the Duck kind. The Duck kind are either Sea-ducks or Pond-ducks.' He afterwards, in his section on the Broad-billed Birds of the Duck kind, thus treats (chap. i.):-Of the Duck in general. 'The Duck kind have shorter necks and larger feet in proportion to their bodies than Geese: lesser bodies. Howbeit, the biggest in this kind do equal if not exceed the least in that. They have shorter legs than Geese, and situate more backward, so that they go waddling; a broader and flatter back, and so a more compressed body; and lastly, a broader and flatter bill. Their tongue is pectinated or toothed on each side, which is common to them with Geese.'

'These are of two sorts, either wild or tame. The wild again are of two sorts-1. Sea-ducks, which feed mostwhat in salt water, dive much in feeding, have a broader bill (especially the upper part) and bending upwards (to work in the slem), a large hind-toe, and thin (likely for a rudder), a long train, not sharp-pointed. 2. Pond ducks, which haunt plashes, have a streight and narrower bill, a very little hind-toe, a sharp-pointed train, white belly, speckled feathers, black with glittering green in the middle wing, with a white transverse line on either side. For this distinction of Sea-ducks and Pond-ducks we are beholden to Mr. Johnson!'

Brisson's

Ray divides his Palmipedes latirostræ minores, seu Anatínum genus' into Anates Marina and Anates fluviatiles, aquas dulces præcipuè frequentantes, Anates exotica Brasilienses, and Anates Domestica. twenty-fourth order, consisting of birds with four toes, the three anterior being joined together by membranes, the posterior separated, and with a dentilated bill, includes the genera Harle, Oie, and Canard (Goosanders, Geese, and Ducks). This order is placed between that order of birds the arrangement and connexion of whose toes is similar to the modifications of those parts in the twenty-fourth order, but which have a bill without dentilations (Puffins, Petrels,

Gulls, Terns, &c.), and the twenty-fifth order, which is distinguished by the birds arranged under it having all the toes joined by membranes (the Darters, Boobies, Pelicans, &c.) Linnæus, under his third class of birds, Anseres, included the genera Anas, Mergus, Alca, Procellaria, Diomedea, Pelecanus, Plotus, Phaeton, Colymbus, Larus, Sterna, and Rynchops; in short, all those birds which possess a rather blunt bill, covered with an epidermis, gibbous at the base, dilated at the apex, and with denticulated fauces, a fleshy tongue, and palmated natatorial feet. The class stands between the Pica and the Gralla. The genus Anas comprehends the swans, the geese, and all the ducks, in the general acceptation of the term.

Pennant's twenty-fourth genus, Duck, is placed between the genus Merganser (Goosander) and the genus Corvo rant and it comprehends the swans, the geese, and all the ducks, like the Linnean genus Anas.

Latham, who divides the birds into terrestrial and aquatic, makes his ninth order, Pulmipedes, consist of two great sections: the first consisting of those with long feet Avoset and Flamingo for example, and the second of those with short feet, comprehending all the short-limbed aquatic birds with webbed feet.

Lacépède's second subclass of birds consists of those the lower part of whose legs is denuded of feathers, or have many toes united by a membrane. The first division of this subclass consists of those which have three anterior toes and one posterior toe, or none. The first subdivision consists of the Water Birds, Oiseaux d'Eau; and the twentythird order of Lacépède comprehends those genera which have a dentilated bill, viz., Canard, Anas; Harle, Mergus; Prion, Prion. The genus Anas consists of all the birds which combine with the characters above stated a wide bill, rounded at its extremity, and furnished around the mandibles with small vertical laminæ.

Duméril (Zoologie Analytique, 1806) divided the birds into six orders. The last of these is formed by the Palmipèdes; and the first family of that order, the Serrirostres or Prionoramphes, contains the genera Canard, Harle, and Flammant (Flamingo).

Meyer's ninth and last order, Natatores, contains three sub-orders; the second of these, Lamelloso-dentati, includes Cygnus, Anas, Anser, and Mergus (1810).

Illiger (1811) made the Natatores his seventh and last order, and the Lamelloso-dentati, the third section, comprehends the genera Anas, Anser (Brisson), and Mergus. Cuvier's sixth and last order is the Palmipèdes; and the last family of that order, Lamellirostres, contains the great genus Des Canards (Anas, Linn.). Cuvier remarks that they are commonly divided into three subgenera, the limits of each of which are not very precise, viz., the swans (Cygnus, Meyer), the geese (Anser, Brisson), and the ducks, in the general acceptation of the term (Anas, Meyer). The other great genus of Cuvier's Lamellirostres is Mergus, Linn.

Cuvier separates the genus Anas into two divisions. The first consists of those whose 'hind toe is bordered by a membrane, whose head is larger and neck shorter in comparison, and which have also the feet placed more backwards, the wings smaller, the tail stiffer, the tarsi more compressed, the toes longer, and the webs more entire. They walk badly, live more exclusively upon fishes and insects, and dive more frequently. (Platypus, Brehm; Hydrobates, Temminck; Fuligula, Charles Bonaparte.) This first division contains the following subdivisions: Les Macreuses (Oidemia Fleming, Anas nigra, A. fusca, Linn., &c.); Les Garrots (Clangula, Leach; Anas glacialis, A. histrionica, Linn., &c.); Les Eiders, Eider ducks, Somateria, Leach, Anas mollissima, Linn.; Les Millouins, Fuligula, Leach.

The second division is formed by those ducks which are without the membranous border on the hind toe, and have the head smaller, the feet less, the neck longer, the bill more equal, and the body less clumsy (épais). These walk better, and seek aquatic plants and their seeds as much as fish and other animals. It would seem, adds Cuvier, that the swellings of their trachea are of a homogeneous bony and cartilaginous substance. It is to this division that Charles Lucian Bonaparte, prince of Musignano, confines the appellation Anas. The following are the subdivisions: Les Souchets, Rhynchaspis, Leach; Les Tadornes, Anas tadorna, Linn., &c.; those which have naked parts about the head, and often a boss or convexity on the base of the

bill, as the Muscovy duck; those with a pointed tail, Anas acuta, Linn., for instance; those whose male has curled feathers in the tail, as the wild duck, Boschas, Anas Boschas, Linn.; those which have a tuft on the head and the bill rather narrower anteriorly, as the Summer duck, Anas sponsa, Linn., and the Mandarin duck, Anas galericulata, Linn., Dendronessa, Swainson; those which have the bills of ducks, but legs even longer than those of the geese, and which perch and nestle in trees, Anas arborea, Linn., &c. One of these Cuvier observes has the feet only semipalmated, Anas semipalmata, Latham. Finally, Cuvier goes on to state that we possess, especially in winter, among those which have nothing remarkable about them, Anas strepera, Linn, A. Penelope, Linn. ; and many small species which are distinguished by the name of Sarcelles, Teals, Anas querquedula, Linn., the common Teal, for example. Vieillot's fifth and last order is again denominated Natatores: it consists of three tribes, viz., the Téléopodes, the Atéléopodes, and the Ptiloptères (Ptilopteri). The third family of the Téléopodes, the Dermorhynques, contains the genera Harle, Oie, Cygne, and Canard; and this family is placed between the Divers (Plongeurs) and the Pélagiens, consisting of the gulls, terns, &c.

The Pulmipèdes form M. Temminck's fifteenth order, which contains the whole of the true web-footed birds. The genera are numerous, and, among them, the duck (Canard) and the goosander (Mergus) are placed between the albatros and the pelican (1815 and 1820).

M. de Blainville (1815, 1821, 1822) divides Natatores or Swimmers into the Macroptères (Mouettes), Syphonorhiniens (Petrels), Cryptorhyniens (Pelicans), and Colymbiens. The latter he subdivides into the Ailés (Canards); Sub-Ailés (Plongeons); and In-Ailés (Manchots, Penguins). Mr. Vigors, in his paper 'On the natural Affinities that connect the Orders and Families of Birds,' read before the Linnean Society, December 3, 1823 (Trans. Linn. Soc., vol. xiv., p. 395), makes his fifth order Natatores consist of the families stated in the article DIVERS (vol. ix., p. 36). 1he family of Anatidae (Leach), to which he leads his readers from the preceding order (Grallatores) by means of the connexion between the Rallide and Cereopsis, consists, he observes, of the groups which compose the Linnean genera Anas and Mergus, and, with respect to the affinities that prevail throughout the families of the order, he remarks that the more extensive subdivisions of the Linnean Anas which have been acknowledged by all systematic writers, either under the name of sections or genera, display in conjunction with Mergus a regular series of affinities conformable to the principles advanced by him as regulating the order. The first group, he observes, upon which we enter in this first aberrant family of the order, has been formed into a sectional subdivision by M. Temminck, under the denomination of Les Oies; and with equal signification and more effect has been made into a genus, under the title of Anser, by M. Illiger, who therein followed the older naturalists that preceded Linnæus. These birds retain much of the manners of the Waders. They are endowed with considerable facility in walking, are found to swim but seldom, and do not dive at all. In these characters, as well as in other particulars, they correspond with the family of Laride, which meets them at the other extremity of the circle of Natatores.

·

To this division succeeds Cereopsis, Lath., strongly allied to the preceding Anseres by its general structure, but still more typical in the family in consequence of the length and nakedness of the tarsi above the knee: characters which indicate a greater power of walking, and a greater deficiency in swimming. It joins the third division, or the genuine Anates, by means of a group of which Anas arborea, Linn., is the representative. This third and most typical group of the family, which accords with M. Temminck's first section of Canards proprement dits,' still approaches more closely to the land birds than the birds which follow: the species swim with ease, and even dive, but the latter faculty they seldom exercise unless when pursued. Their food is also less exclusively marine than that of the succeeding groups, being composed of vegetables, grains, and insects, in addition to fish. This division, consisting of many prominent forms, of which Anas arborea before mentioned, A. tadorna, boschas, clypeata, penelope, and querquedula, may be considered types, is distinguished from the remainder of the

Canards proprements dits' of M. Temminck by the hind toe being entire, or free from the lobated membrane which

Sub-fam. Anatina.

Tadorna, Leach; Cairina, Flem.; Anas, Auct.; Dafila,
Leach; Mareca, Steph.; Querquedula, Ray; Rhynchaspis,
Leach.

Sub-fam.

?

Clangula, Flem.; Harelda, Ray; Mergus, Linn. (Merganser, Briss.); Somateria, Leach; Oidemia, Flem.; Biziura, Leach.

Cygnus, Meyer.

Sub-fam. Cygnina.

The other four families are-2. Colymbidæ, Leach; 3.
Alcada; 4. Pelecanida, Leach; 5. Larida, Leach.
Mr. Yarrell in his 'Observations on the Trachea of Birds,'

is attached to the hind toe of these last. Mr. Vigors pro-
ceeds to state that this character of the lobated membrane,
which is of considerable importance as pointing out the ap-
proach of the birds in which it is found to the more typical
oceanic families, prevails in all the remaining groups of the
present family. It is strongly conspicuous in Mergus, Linn.,
the next division that appears to follow: and we conse-
quently find that the species of that genus carry the powers
of swimming and diving to the greatest extent, making use
of their wings also in their progress through the water;
and at the same time exhibiting a constrained, and em-
barassed mode of walking, in consequence of the backward
position of the legs. It thus forms the passage to the suc-
ceeding family of Colymbidæ. In the shape of its bill,
which is slender and partially compressed, it exhibits a dis-
tinct form in its own family: but still, by means of the bill
of an intervening species, M. albellus, Linn., which is inter-read before the Linnean Society, February 6, 1827 (Linn,
mediate in its breadth and depression, it preserves its con-
nexion with the Anates. 'We hence,' continues Mr. Vigors,
pass to the fifth and last group of the family which, with
the bill of the Anates, retains most of the characters conspi-
cuous in Mergus. The forms most prominent in it, repre-
sented by the different Linnæan species A. ferina, clangula,
histrionica, and mollissima, possess a strongly lobated hind
toe; they frequent the ocean for the most part, where they
dive with the greatest facility and for a length of time; and
they live chiefly on marine animals. Their legs are also
thrown behind the equilibrium of their body; and thus
also they evince their contiguity to the typical Natatores.
By means of the group which contains A. mollissima, our
well known Eider Duck and its congeners, where the bill,
with an elevated protuberance at the base, approaches that
of the Anas olor, Linn., we find ourselves brought round
to the Cygnus of the present day, which forms part of the
first division. That genus in like manner deviates partially
The first division of true ducks,' says Mr. Yarrell, 'will
from the conterminous genus Anser, in its legs being thrown contain the Shielduck, Muscovy, Wild Duck, Gadwall,
more backward, and its consequently greater awkwardness Shoveler, Pintail, Wigeon, Bimaculated Duck, Garganey,
in walking. Here then the affinities are evident which thus and Teal, all of which will be found to have the following
establish the perfect return of the series of the Anatidae characters in common. Externally they exhibit considerable
into itself. Before we leave the family, I must indulge my-length of neck: the wings are also long, reaching to the
self in observing a most conspicuous peculiarity which end of the tail; the tarsi somewhat round; the hind toe
marks the series of affinities among these groups. The long free or having no pendent lobe. In habits they may be
and slender neck observable in the Grallatores is preserved stated generally as frequenting fresh water, but passing
in such groups of the Anatidae as are most conterminous to much of their time on land, feeding in ditches and about
that order, such as Cygnus, Anser, Bernicla and Cereopsis, the shallow edges of pools on aquatic plants, insects, worms,
until it is superseded by the short necks of the more oceanic and occasionally fish, taking their food at or near the sur-
Anatidae, which exhibit all the expansion and capacious-face; possessing great powers of flight, but seldom diving
ness of throat observable in the typical Natatores.'
unless pursued. Of their internal soft paris, the stomach
is in the greatest degree muscular, forming a true gizzard;
the intestines long, the cæcal appendages from six to nine
inches in length in the larger birds, and decreasing only in
proportion to the size of the species. Of the bones it may
be observed that the ribs are short, extending but little
beyond the line of the posterior edge of the sternum; the
keel of the breast-bone deep, affording great extent of sur-
face for the insertion of large and powerful pectoral mus-
cles; the enlargement at the bottom of the trachea in all
of them is of bone only. The wild duck may be considered
the type of this division.'

Trans., vol. xv., p. 378), after speaking of the form of the
windpipe, among others of the black swan of New Holland,
Anas atrata, Linn., and of that of the semipalmated goose,
Anas semipalmata of Dr. Latham, goes on to remark that
the different species of geese considered British present
nothing remarkable in their trachea, the Egyptian goose
alone excepted, the male of which species possesses a bony
enlargement at the bottom of its windpipe; and he notices
the circumstance that systematic authors seem to agree in
placing this bird at the bottom of the list of the geese, where
it appears to occupy its proper situation; and observes that,
combining as it does some of the characters common to those
birds and the true ducks, it becomes a very natural link
between them, and he closes his interesting paper with an
arrangement of the British species of the latter portion of
this family founded upon internal as well as external con-
formation.

M. Latreille, in his Method (1825), makes the Palmipèdes his seventh and last order; and the Lamellirostres, the first of its four families, consist of the genera Cygne, Oie, Anatique, Canard, Harle.

The method proposed by M. de Blainville in 1815 and 1821, and developed by M. Lherminier in 1827, places the ducks (Canards, Anas) between Pelecanus and Podiceps, in the first sub-class, or that of the Normal Birds.

In the Zoological Journal (vol. ii., p. 404, 1825-6), Mr.
Vigors gives a disposition of the Anatidae which, as he says,
exhibits a slight deviation from that drawn out in his paper
on the Affinities of Birds,' and adopted by Mr. Stephens in Mr. Yarrell then proceeds to state that the Eider Duck,
the 'General Zoology. Mr. Vigors states, in making this King Duck, Velvet Duck, and Scoter, possessing some cha-
second disposition, that he does not think, upon considera-racters common to the preceding class, and others belong-
tion, that the two sub-families of the Canards proprementing to that next in succession, appear to supply the link
dits' of M. Temminck can be said to be so far separated between these two divisions; and he regrets that the ex-
from each other as by the intervention of another sub-treme rarity of the last-named species had prevented him
family: while Cygnus appears to hold a separate station of
equal rank with the other sub-families. The series of affi-
nity, however, according to Mr. Vigors, remains unaltered:
a partial change only taking place in the mode of selecting
the types of each sub-family. Mergus seems to belong to
the fourth sub-family, in his opinion, but to be at the ex-
tremity of it; in fact to be osculant between the families of
Anatide and Colymbide. The following is the arrange-
ment proposed by Mr. Vigors in the Zoological Journal.

ORDO V. NATATORES, Ill. (Anseres, Linn.)

1. FAM. ANATIDE, Leach. (Gen. Anas Mergus, Linn.) Sub-fam. Anserina.

*

Anser. Briss.; Bernicla, Steph.; Cheniscus, Brookes's
M.M.S.; Chenoplex, Steph.; Plectropterus, Leach.
Sub-fam.*Cereopsina.

Cereopsis, Lath.

from making any examination beyond that afforded by the
external parts of preserved specimens in collections.

The next division of true ducks, according to Mr. Yarrell,
includes in the following order the Red-crested, the Pochard,
Ferruginous, Scaup, Tufted, Harlequin, Long-tailed, and
Golden-eye; and their general distinctions, he remarks, in-
ternal as well as external, compared with those of the birds of
the first division, will be found of an opposite character. Ex-
ternally, they exhibit the neck and wings short, the latter
only reaching to the origin of the tail-feathers; the tarsi
short and compressed; the hind toe lobated, and an extend-
ed web to the inner toe. They frequent the sea, or the
deep parts of the fresh-water lakes, and have been called
oceanic ducks; they are seldom seen on land, their walk is
embarrassed from the backward position of the.r legs, but
they dive constantly and with great facility, taking their prey
at various depths below the surface; their food consists
of finned and shell-fish, and marine insects, but of little or no