85 ® Mr. Home’s Description of the Anatomy 
The nostrils are two small orifices, close to each other, within 
a quarter of an inch of the end of the bill. 
The eyes are very small, and are situated laterally on the 
head, close to the base of the bill. 
The external ears are two oval slits, an inch long, situated 
nearer to the upper part of the head than the eyes, and sc- 
inches further back. 
The teeth, if they can be so called, being, like those of the 
paradoxus, composed of a horny substance, and not of ivory and 
enamel, as in all other quadrupeds, are'not situated on the mar- 
gin of the palate and lower jaw, but are confined to the tongue 
and surface of the palate. On the posterior part of the tongue, 
which is thicker and broader than the rest, there is a space, one 
inch in length and f broad, covered with a strong cuticle, and 
having about 20 small teeth, blunt at their ends, projecting 
about A- of an inch ; there are also several others, less promi- 
nent. On that part of the palate immediately opposite, there are 
seven transverse rows of very slender horny teeth, with their 
points directed backwards : each row looks somewhat like a 
small-toothed comb, laid flat upon the palate.* 
The appearance of these horny teeth, and a general view of 
the palate and tongue, are represented in Plate XL 
The fore legs are short and thick, and have five toes, with 
strong blunt claws, intended probably for the purpose of dig- 
ging; the middle claw is the longest, the others becoming 
gradually shorter. The leg, to the end of the longest claw, is 
* In the duck, both upon the tongue and palate, there are horny papillae, which 
have a slight resemblance to the horny teeth just described ; those on the tongue are 
lateral, six on each side. 
