266 PODICEPS CORNUTUS. 



tarsus short, extremely compressed, five-twelfths in depth, 

 with a double row of prominent scales behind ; the toes as in 

 the other species, as are the claws. 



The plumage downy on the hind-neck, firm and glossy on 

 the upper parts of the body, silky on the lower. On the 

 head is a tuft of elongated soft feathers on each side of the 

 occiput, and a more expanded tuft on each side of the upper 

 part of the neck. The wings are small and convex ; the 

 primaries rounded at the end, the first abruptly cut out on the 

 inner web, and slightly shorter than the second. The tail a 

 slight tuft of downy feathers. 



The bill is bluish-black, with the tips of both mandibles 

 yellow. The iris is carmine, wath an inner circle of white ; 

 the basal loral space carmine ; the edges of the eyelids paler. 

 The feet are dusky, tinged with grey externally, dull yellow 

 internally and on both edges of the tarsus ; the claws brown. 

 The upper part of the head and the ruff are glossy black, as 

 are the cheeks and throat ; a band from the bill over the eye, 

 including the elongated occipital tuft, yellowish-red. The 

 fore part of the neck, to the extent of three inches, is brown- 

 ish-red, as are the sides of the body ; the rest of the lower 

 parts silvery-Avhite. The upper parts are greyish-black ; the 

 feathers edged with dull grey. About ten of the secondary 

 quills, Avith some of the feathers on the humerus, are Avhite ; 

 the other quills and the tertials greyish-black. 



Length to end of tail 14 inches ; extent of wings 24 ; 

 wing from flexure 5f ; tail 1^ ; bill along the ridge ^4 ; along 

 the edge of lower mandible IJ; tarsus If ; hind toe -^, its 

 claw -jV ; second toe 1-j^, its claw -fj ; third toe l-^, its claw 

 fij ; fourth toe 1-|4, its claw -^. 



Female. — The female is similar to the male, but some- 

 what smaller, with the tufts and ruff a little shorter and less 

 deeply coloured. 



Habits. — This species is not extremely uncommon in 

 Scotland during the winter, and in frosty weather, when it 

 betakes itself to the estuaries, is sometimes shot in consider- 

 able numbers. In mild weather it resorts to lakes and rivers. 



