167 



CLANGULA. GARROT. 



The species of which this genus is composed are inferior 

 in size to the Eiders and Scoters, from which they are dis- 

 tinguished by having the bill shorter, and destitute of the 

 fleshy elongated frontal angles of the former, and of the late- 

 ral bulgings of the latter. Their body is full, ovate, compact, 

 and slightly depressed ; the neck rather short and thick ; the 

 head large, compressed, and rounded above. 



Bill shorter than the head, much higher than broad at the 

 base, gradually depressed, and becoming considerably nar- 

 rowed to the end, Avhich is rounded ; upper mandible with 

 the lateral sinuses broad and rounded, the basal angles short 

 or moderate, the ridge broad and flattened at the base, the 

 unguis large and convex, the edges thin, concealing the not 

 much elevated lamellae ; lower mandible flattened, with the 

 intercrural space long, rather Avide, pointed, and partially 

 bare ; the unguis very large, broadly elliptical, little convex. 



Mouth of moderate Avidth ; anterior palate broadly con- 

 cave, with a median prominent tuberculate line. Tongue 

 fleshy, very thick, deeply grooved above, the edges posteriorly 

 serrate, anteriorly lamelloso-fibrillate, the tip thin-edged and 

 semicircular. CEsophagus of moderate Avidth ; stomach large, 

 transversely elliptical, its muscles very large, the epithelium 

 dense and rugous, Avith two elliptical grinding plates. In- 

 testine of moderate length, Avide ; coeca long, and rather 

 narroAV. 



Trachea in the male generally much enlarged about the 

 middle, and having at the loAver end an extremely large bony 

 and membranous dilatation. 



Nostrils oblong, large, medial. Eyes small. Aperture of 

 ear small. Legs very short, and placed rather far behind ; 

 tarsus compressed, Avith small scutella. Hind toe small. 



