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ART. V. — Description of a new species of Mergulus, Ray. from the coast of 

 California. By William Gambel, M. D. 



Mergulus Cassinii, nobis.* Plate VI. — Bill larger and stouter than that of M. 

 alle, and with a yellowish white spot or band across the base of the lower mandible ; 

 head, back, wings and tail glossy black. Throat, neck and sides grayish black or 

 plumbeous, lower part of the back and rump tinged with the same ; breast, belly, 

 vent and spots above and below the eye white. Wings without white. Front part 

 of feet and legs sky blue, behind black. 



Total length from tip of bill to end of tail 7^ inches, tarsus 1 inch, bill nearly | of 

 an inch. 



This new species is frequent along the coast of California, and may readily be 

 distinguished from the M. alle, which it resembles, by the absence of any white in 

 the wing, the size of the bill, and as it turns in the dried specimen the orange spot at 

 the base of the lower mandible, and by the sides being colored like the throat. 



I have named this species in honor of my friend Mr. John Cassin of Philadelphia. 



* Originally published by the late Dr. Gambel in the Proceedings Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. Vol. 1, p. 267, August 

 1845. 



