339 



MERGULUS. ROTCHE. 



The only species yet known of this genus, although very 

 intimately allied to the Auks and Guillemots, cannot with 

 propriety be referred to either of these genera, on account of 

 the peculiar form of its bill, which is shorter and thicker, or 

 more convex, than that of either. The body is full and com- 

 pact ; the neck short and thick ; the head oblong, anteriorly 

 compressed. 



Bill very short, stout, a little decurved, as broad as high 

 at the base, moderately compressed toward the end ; upper 

 mandible with the nasal sinus basal, broad, and angular ; 

 the dorsal line convex and declinate ; the ridge convex ; the 

 sides convex at the base, sloping toward the end ; the edges 

 sharp and overlapping, arcuate, with a slight sinus close to 

 the small, narrow, bluntish tip ; lower mandible with the 

 intercrural space long, wide, and feathered ; the dorsal line 

 short, ascending, nearly straight ; the sides sloping a little 

 outwards, the edges sharp, the tip obtuse. 



Mouth of moderate width ; anterior palate flat, and 

 covered with numerous horny reversed papillae. Tongue 

 large, fleshy, emarginate at the base, flat above, rather 

 obtuse. Oesophagus of moderate width ; proventriculus 

 broader ; stomach oblong, muscular, with large tendons, and 

 dense, rugous epithelium ; intestine short and narroAv ; coeca 

 small ; cloaca large and globular. 



Nostrils basal, oblong, with a horny operculum. Eyes 

 small. Aperture of ear very small. Legs very short, rather 

 slender, placed far behind ; tibia bare for a very short space ; 

 tarsus compressed, anteriorly covered with oblique scutella ; 

 no hind toe ; anterior toes webbed, the inner much shorter 



