AMERICAN ANHINGA. 453 



the first toe, and the first phalanges of the rest, covered above with transverse 

 series of scales, the rest of their extent scutellate. Claws rather large, very 

 strong, compressed, curved, very acute; the outer smallest, the third longest, 

 with a deep groove on the inner side, and a narrow thin edge, cut with 

 parallel slits; those of the first and second toes nearly equal. 



There is a bare space at the base of the upper mandible, including 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, tapering 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, considerably 

 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 acuminate; 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 numerous minute oblong spots of white; which 

 form two broad bands extending backwards, and gradually becoming more 

 elongated, there being 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 inner web. The 

 five inner elongated secondaries are marked with a narrow white band, 



