236 COMMON GANNET. 
Bill longer than the head, opening beyond the eyes, straight, elon- 
gated-conical, moderately compressed. Upper mandible with the dor- 
sal line straight and declinate, at the end convex and a little decurved ; 
ridge very broad, convex, with a slight median carina, and separated 
on each side, from the sides, which are nearly perpendicular, slightly 
convex, and have an additional narrow jointed piece below the eye ; 
edges sharp, direct, irregularly serrate, with numerous slender cuts 
directed backwards ; tip compressed, a little decurved, rather acute. 
No external nostrils. Lower mandible with the angle very long and 
narrow, the dorsal line straight, ascending, the sides erect, convex, the 
edges sharp and serrated, the tip compressed and sharp. 
Head large; neck of moderate length and very thick, body of 
moderate bulk, rather elongated; wings long. Feet short, strong, 
placed rather far behind ; tibiz concealed ; tarsus very short, rounded 
before, sharp behind, at its upper part anteriorly with rather large 
roundish-flat scales, in the rest of its extent with very small oblong 
tubercles ; anteriorly there are three lines of small transversely oblong 
scutella, which run down the toes. The latter are long and slender, 
all united by membranes, which are reticularly granulated, and have 
their margins straight; first toe rather small, directed inwards and 
forwards, middle toe longest, the outer almost equal. Claws of mode- 
rate size, slightly arched, those of the first and middle toes depressed, 
the latter with its inner edge thin and pectinated. 
Plumage generally close, rather compact, the feathers small and 
rounded ; those on the head and neck blended and slightly glossed. A 
bare space between the bill and the eye, surrounding the latter, and ex- 
tending an inch behind the angle of the mouth. The gular membrane 
also bare for a small breadth, extending two inches beyond the base of 
the mandible. About a quarter of an inch of the tibia bare. Wings 
very long, narrow, acute ; primaries strong, narrow, tapering rapidly 
to a rounded point; first longest, second about a quarter of an inch 
shorter, the rest rapidly graduated ; secondaries short, rather broad, 
rounded, with a minute acumen. ‘Tail rather long, cuneate, of twelve 
narrow tapering feathers. 
Bill pale bluish-grey, tinged with green towards the base ; the lines 
on the upper mandible blackish-blue; the bare space about the eye, 
and that on the throat, blackish-blue. Iris white. Tarsi, toes, and 
webs brownish-black, the bands of narrow scutella on the tarsus and 
