SURF DUCK. 165 
for two-thirds from the base they are nearly parallel and straight, but 
towards the end ascending, the unguis very large, somewhat triangu- 
lar and rounded. Lower mandible flattened, with the angle long and 
rather narrow, the dorsal line slightly convex, the edges with about 35 
lamelle. Nostrils submedial, elliptical, large, pervious, near the ridge. 
Head large, oblong, flattened above. Eyes of moderate size. Neck 
short and thick. Body large, and much depressed. Feet short, placed 
rather far behind ; tarsus very short, compressed, having anteriorly in 
its whole length a series of small scutella, and above the outer toe a 
partial series, the rest covered with reticular angular scales. Hind toe 
small, with a free membrane beneath; anterior toes nearly double the 
length of the tarsus, connected by reticulated membranes having a si- 
nus on their free margins, the inner with a lobed marginal membrane, 
the outer with a thick margin, the third and fourth about equal and 
longest. Claws small, that of the first toe very small and curved, of 
the middle toe largest, with a dilated inner edge, of the rest slender, 
all rather obtuse. 
Plumage soft, dense, blended, and glossy. Feathers on the head 
and neck of a velvety texture. Wings rather short, narrow, and pointed ; 
primary quills curved, strong, tapering, and pointed, the first longest, 
the second little shorter, the rest rapidly graduated ; secondaries broad 
and rounded, the inner elongated and tapering. Tail very short, nar- 
row, wedge-shaped, of fourteen stiff, narrow, pointed feathers. 
Upper mandible with a nearly square black patch at the base, mar- 
gined with orange, unless in front, where there is a patch of bluish- 
white extending to near the nostrils, prominent part over the nostrils 
deep reddish-orange, becoming lighter towards the unguis, and shaded 
into rich yellow towards the margins; the unguis dingy greyish-yel- 
low; lower mandible flesh-coloured, unguis darker. Ivis bright yel- 
lowish-white. ‘Tarsi and toes orange-red, the webs dusky tinged with 
green; claws black. The plumage is of a deep black, glossed with blue. 
On the top of the head, between the eyes, is a roundish patch of white, 
and on the nape a larger patch of an elongated form. 
Length to end of tail 20 inches, to end of wings 18, to end of claws 
22; extent of wings 334; bill from the angle in front 14; from the pro- 
minence at the base 2}; along the edge of lower mandible 2,5, ; wing 
from flexure 93; tail 33; tarsus 1,4; first toe and claw 43; outer toe, 
and claw 24; middle toe and claw }, longer. Weight 2 lb. 7 oz. 
