THE LARGE-BILLED PUFFIN. 237 



nearly flat and grooved, the edges strong, the tip very narrow. The gap 

 extends downwards a little beyond the base of the bill, and is furnished with 

 a soft corrugated extensible membrane. 



Head large, oblong, anteriorly compressed. Eyes of moderate size, with 

 bare orbits; over the upper eyelid an oblong, tapering, horny body directed 

 upwards and backwards, on the lower a linear body of a similar nature over 

 its whole length. Neck short and thick. Body full and rounded. Feet 

 short, rather stout; tibia bare for a short space above the joint. Tarsus very 

 short, little compressed, anteriorly for three-fourths of its length with a 

 series of small scutella, the rest with reticular angular scales. Hind toe 

 wanting, toes rather long and slender, scutellate above, connected by 

 reticulated entire membranes, the third and fourth toes about equal, the 

 second considerably shorter, with a narrow marginal web. Claws strong, of 

 moderate length, compressed, arched, that of the inner toe much curved and 

 acute. 



Plumage close, blended, soft, very short on the head. Wings curved, 

 short, narrow, acute. Primary quills tapering, incurved, the first longest, 

 the second a little shorter, the rest regularly graduated; secondaries very 

 short and rounded. Tail very short, much rounded, of sixteen rounded 

 feathers. 



Bill bright orange-red, soft edges of mouth gamboge. Edges of eyelids 

 orange-red; the iris and horny appendages light blue. Feet orange-red, 

 with the webs paler, the claws yellowish-brown. The sides of the head and 

 the lower parts in general, white; upper part of the head light brownish- 

 grey tinged with lilac; a broad collar extending to the lower mandible, of a 

 dark greyish-brown tint below, and gradually passing into the colour of the 

 upper parts, which is brownish-black, glossed with blue; primary quills and 

 their coverts blackish-brown, very slightly margined with paler. 



Length to end of tail 13 inches, to end of claws 14, to end of wings 12^; 

 extent of wings 24^; bill along the ridge 2^, along the edge of lower 

 mandible If; depth of bill at the base 1|J, its greatest diameter -§; tarsus if; 

 middle toe 1^-, its claw ^. 



Adult Female. 



The female is precisely similar to the male. 



