50 QUERQUEDULA CRECCA. 



The trachea is five inches long, moderately flattened, 

 about two-twelfths in breadth ; the inferior larynx Avith a 

 transversely elongated tympanum, projecting on the left side 

 in the form of a thin bony rounded prominence, its greatest 

 breadth eight-twelfths, its length three-twelfths. The bronchi 

 moderate, with about thirty half-rings. 



Nostrils small, elliptical, a twelfth and a half in length. 

 Eyes small. Legs short ; tibia bare for nearly three-twelfths ; 

 tarsus compressed, with eighteen small anterior scutella. 

 The first toe very small, with ten scutella ; the second scaly on 

 the first phalanx, and with fifteen scutella on the second ; 

 the third with twenty-eight, the fourth with thirty scutella ; 

 the interdigital membranes crenulate, the outer emarginate. 

 The claws are small, arched, compressed, acute ; that of the 

 hind toe more curved. 



The plumage is soft, dense, elastic, blended. The feathers 

 on the head and upper neck short and silky, on the hind part 

 of the head and nape linear, and considerably elongated, on 

 the upper parts oblong. The scapulars much elongated, 

 tapering, and pointed. The wing rather long, narrowed, 

 pointed, of twenty-six quills ; the first scarcely shorter than 

 the second, the rest quickly decreasing ; the outer secondaries 

 broad, obliquely rounded ; the inner long, narrow, tapering, 

 a little curved outwards. Tail short, rounded, of sixteen 

 acuminate feathers, of which the medial are eight-twelfths 

 longer than the lateral. 



The bill is black. The iris brown. The feet bluish-grey, 

 tinged with brown. The head and upper part of the neck are 

 chestnut-brown. From the eye to the nape is a shining green 

 oblong space, narrowed behind, margined anteriorly and below 

 with a black band and a white line ; a curved band of white 

 ascends from the base of the lower mandible, and passes over 

 the eye ; the feathers margining the base of the bill dusky ; 

 those of the throat brownish-black. On the middle of the 

 hind-neck is a black patch. The upper parts may be described 

 as transversely undulated with brownish-black and white ; 

 the hind part of the back brownish-grey, faintly undulated. 

 The inner webs of the inner scapulars are brownish-grey ; the 

 outer scapulars white, edged with black. The wing-coverts, 



