148 
ANATIDiE. 
in. lin, 
Length of bill to tarsus .... 1 3 
of middle toe . . , 1 10 
nail 0 8-| 
of outer toe .... 2 0 
nail ... 0 21- 
Colour of irides very dark-brown ; pupil dark bluish-black ; upper mandible 
dusky, except from nostrils to base, where it is of a dull leaden-blue ; lower mandible 
of a similar colour except the tip, which is dusky. Base (“ plante”) of feet and 
back of legs black, of which colour also are the webs on the upper side ; tarsi and 
toes of a pale bluish lead-colour, which also prevails in a longitudinal line on each 
side of the toes, thus giving the feet a very handsome appearance, resembling that 
of the gannet. Tail-feathers fourteen in number. On dissection it was found to 
be a female. 
With the exception of two pebbles and five or six of the Rissoa 
labiosa , the stomach was entirely filled with full-grown specimens 
of Lacuna quadrifasciata , of which many were perfect. 
November 12, 1838. — H. Bell, who killed the individual 
just noticed, saw another similar one in the hay, when out in his 
boat looking for wild-fowl. It allowed him to approach so near 
that with his oar he pushed it under water, where, becoming 
entangled in a mass of sea-weeds, the bird was captured ; he 
could not perceive that it was in any way wounded. The wings 
being fixed so as to prevent its escape, the dack was laid in the 
bottom of the boat, where he was quite captivated by its tameness, 
evinced (to use his own expression) “ by its going swattering with 
its bill into the little water that lay in the bottom of the boat.” 
He regretted the want of bread to give it, believing that the bird 
would have eaten from his hand. So pleased was he with his 
captive, that he set it at liberty lest it should be injured by any 
one ; — a great stretch for a man who earns his livelihood by wild- 
fowl shooting. He would have taken it to the taxidermist, 
whom he supplied with all rarities, but was afraid the latter would 
kill it. The next day he was grieved to find the poor bird, 
not far from the place of its liberation, lying dead, with its eyes 
picked out, and the body partly eaten, no doubt by some of the 
larger species of gull. 
November 6, 1839. —A long-tailed duck, which was alone, was 
