358 THE EIDER DUCK. 



to beyond the nostrils, then curved, the ridge broad at the base, broadly 

 convex towards the end, the edges perpendicular, obtuse, with about fifty 

 small lamellae on the inner side, the unguis very large, elliptical. Nostrils 

 sub-medial, oblong, large, pervious, nearer the ridge than the edge. Lower 

 mandible flattened, with the angle very long, rather narrow and rounded, 

 the dorsal line short and slightly convex, the edges with about sixty lamellae, 

 the unguis very broad, elliptical. 



Head very large. Eyes of moderate size. Neck of moderate length, 

 rather slender at its upper part. Body bulky and much depressed. Wings 

 rather small. Feet very short, strong, placed rather far behind; tarsus very 

 short, compressed, anteriorly having a series of scutella in its whole length, 

 and a partial series above the fourth toe, the rest reticulated with angular 

 scales. Hind toe small, with a free membrane beneath; anterior toes double 

 the length of the tarsus, connected by reticulated membranes, having a sinus 

 at their free margins, the inner with a broad lobed marginal membrane, the 

 outer with a thickened edge; all obliquely scutellate above, the third and 

 fourth about equal and longest. Claws small, that of first toe very small and 

 curved, of middle toe largest, all rather depressed and blunt. 



Plumage short, dense, soft, blended. Feathers on the fore part of the 

 head extremely small; on the upper part very narrow, on the occiput and 

 upper and lateral parts of the neck hair-like, stiff and glossy. Wings rather 

 short, narrow, pointed; primary quills curved, strong, tapering, the first 

 longest, the second scarcely shorter, the rest rapidly graduated; secondaries 

 short, broad, rounded, the inner elongated, tapering, and recurved. Tail 

 very short, much rounded, of sixteen narrow feathers. 



Bill pale greyish-yellow, the unguis lighter, the soft tumid part pale flesh- 

 colour. Iris brown. Feet dingy light green, the webs dusky. Upper part 

 of the head bluish-black; the central part from the occiput to the middle 

 white. The hair-like feathers on the upper .part and sides of the neck are 

 of a delicate pale green tint. The sides of the head, the throat, and the 

 neck, are white, the fore neck at its lower part of a fine colour intermediate 

 between buff and cream-colour. The rest of the lower surface is brownish- 

 black, as are the upper tail-coverts, and the central part of the rump. The 

 rest of the back, the scapulars, smaller wing-coverts, and inner curved 

 secondary quills, white, the scapulars tinged with yellow. Secondary coverts 

 and outer secondaries brownish-black; primaries and tail-coverts greyish- 

 brown. 



Length to end of tail 25 inches, to end of wings 21^, to end of claws 27; 

 extent of wings 42; wing from flexure 11^; tail 4i; bill from extremity of 

 tumid part 2yf, from its notch 2 T 2 2, along the edge of lower mandible 2{|; 



