156 ANHINGA OR SNAKE-BIRD. 
the eye; the skin of the throat is bare and dilated, like that of the 
Cormorants. The plumage of the head, neck, and body, is close, 
blended, and of a silky texture; the feathers oblong, rounded, with 
the filament disunited toward the end. On each side of the neck, from 
near the eye to half its length, is a series of elongated narrow loose 
feathers, a few of which are also dispersed over the back of the neck, 
and which in the breeding season are an inch and a quarter in length. 
The scapulars, which are very numerous, are elongated, lanceolate, ta- 
pering to a point, compact, stiffish, elastic, highly glossed, gradually 
increasing in size backwards, the outer web of the largest, crimped. 
Wings of moderate length and breadth; primaries strong, firm, consi- 
derably curved, the third longest, the second almost as long, the first a 
little shorter than the fourth; the second, third, and fourth cut out on 
the outer web. Secondaries a little decurved, broad, rounded and acu- 
minate; the inner elongated, straightish, acuminate, and resembling 
the posterior scapulars. ‘Tail very long, narrow, of twelve straight 
feathers having strong shafts, and increasing in breadth from the base 
to the end, which is rounded and very broad, the two middle feathers 
have their outer webs curiously marked with transverse alternate ridges 
and depressions. 
Upper mandible dusky olive, the edges yellow; lower mandible 
bright yellow, the edges and tips greenish; bare space about the eye 
bluish-green ; gular sac bright orange. Iris bright carmine. Tarsi 
and toes anteriorly dusky olive, the hind parts and webs yellow ; claws 
brownish-black. The general colour of the head, neck, and body, is 
glossy blackish-green ; of the scapulars, wings, and tail, glossy bluish- 
black. The long loose feathers on the neck are purplish-white or pale 
lilac. The lower part of the neck behind is marked with very nume- 
rous minute oblong spots of white; which form two broad bands ex- 
tending backwards, and gradually becoming more elongated, there be- 
ing one along the centre of each feather including the scapulars. The 
smaller wing-coverts are similarly marked with broader white spots 
disposed in regular rows ; the four last of which have merely a central 
line towards the tip, while the inner has a broad band extending from 
near the base over the outer half of the inner web, and towards the end 
including a portion of the outer web; the first row of small coverts, 
and the secondary coverts are white excepting the portion of the imner 
web. The five inner elongated secondaries are marked with a narrow 
