FULIGULINJE. SOMATERIA. 
177 
large, the upper very long and narrow, the frontal angles 
very long, narrow, soft, and tumid, as is the ridge as far as 
the nostrils, the dorsal line straight and sloping to the un- 
guis, which is extremely large, elliptical, convex, moderately 
decurved ; lower mandible with the intercrural space long, 
pointed, partially bare, the outline of the crura nearly 
straight, the unguis very large, broadly elliptical, little con- 
vex. Mouth of moderate width ; anterior palate concave, 
with lateral slender lamellae not projecting ; tongue fleshy, 
very thick, with a deep median groove, two lateral series of 
bristles, and a semicircular thin-edged tip ; oesophagus of 
moderate width, a little enlarged ; proventriculus oblong ; 
stomach an extremely large gizzard, situate obliquely, 
transversely elliptical, with very large muscles, thick, dense 
epithelium, and elliptical grinding plates ; intestine long, 
of moderate width ; coeca moderate. Trachea of nearly 
uniform width, but with a transversely oblong dilatation at 
the lower end, projecting more to the left side ; bronchi 
very wide. Nostrils large, oblongo-elliptical, submedial. 
Eyes small. Aperture of ear small. Legs very short, placed 
rather far behind ; a very small part of the tibia bare ; tar- 
sus compressed, anteriorly scutellate ; hind toe small, with 
a broad lobiform membrane, connected at the base with the 
loose bilobate membrane of the second toe ; anterior toes 
long, the third double the length of the tarsus ; interdigital 
membranes emarginate ; claws small, compressed, arcuate, 
obtuse, that of the third toe internally expanded. Plumage 
close and dense ; feathers of the head short, soft, blended ; 
wings rather short, very concave, narrow, pointed ; second 
quill longest ; nine secondaries elongated, tapering, curved 
outwards ; tail very short, rounded, slightly decurvate, of 
sixteen stiffish pointed feathers. 
The males have the plumage variegated with white and 
black. These birds inhabit the arctic regions of both con- 
tinents, are strictly marine, and feed on mollusca, Crustacea, 
and radiata ; swim and dive with ease, and have a strong, 
rapid flight. 
253. SOMATERIA MOLLISSIMA. WHITE-BACKED ElBER. 
Male with the frontal angles of the bill very narrow, and, 
M 
