FULIGULINJS. SOMATERIA. 177 



large, the upper very long and narrow, the frontal angles 

 very long, narrow, soft, and tumid, as is the ridge as far as 

 the nostrils, the dorsal line straight and sloping to the un- 

 guis, which is extremely large, elliptical, convex, moderately 

 decurved ; lower mandible with the intercrural space long, 

 pointed, partially bare, the outline of the crura nearly 

 straight, the unguis very large, broadly elliptical, little con- 

 vex. Mouth of moderate width ; anterior palate concave, 

 with lateral slender lamellae not projecting ; tongue fleshy, 

 very thick, with a deep median groove, two lateral series of 

 bristles, and a semicircular thin-edged tip ; oesophagus of 

 moderate width, a little enlarged ; proventriculus oblong ; 

 stomach an extremely large gizzard, situate obliquely, 

 transversely elliptical, with very large muscles, thick, dense 

 epithelium, and elliptical grinding plates ; intestine long, 

 of moderate width ; coeca moderate. Trachea of nearly 

 uniform width, but with a transversely oblong dilatation at 

 the lower end, projecting 'more to the left side ; bronchi 

 very wide. Nostrils large, oblongo-elliptical, submedial. 

 Eyes small. Aperture of ear small. Legs very short, placed 

 rather far behind ; a very small part of the tibia bare ; tar- 

 sus compressed, anteriorly scutellate ; hind toe small, with 

 a broad lobiform membrane, connected at the base with the 

 loose bilobate membrane of the second toe ; anterior toes 

 long, the third double the length of the tarsus ; interdigital 

 membranes emarginate ; claws small, compressed, arcuate, 

 obtuse, that of the third toe internally expanded. Plumage 

 close and dense ; feathers of the head short, soft, blended ; 

 wings rather short, very concave, narrow, pointed ; second 

 quill longest ; nine secondaries elongated, tapering, curved 

 outwards ; tail very short, rounded, slightly decurvate, of 

 sixteen stiffish pointed feathers. 



The males have the plumage variegated with white and 

 black. These birds inhabit the arctic regions of both con- 

 tinents, are strictly marine, and feed on mollusca, Crustacea, 

 and radiata ; swim and dive with ease, and have a strong, 

 rapid flight. 



253. SOMATERIA MOLLISSIMA. WHITE-BACKED EIDER. 



Male with the frontal angles of the bill very narrow, ad, 



M 



