CLANGULA LEUCONOTA. 
Form, &c. — Figure robust ; head very large ; neck moderately long, at 
the middle contracted ; body short and bulky ; tail short, slightly rounded, 
the feathers twelve or fourteen, narrow, and rounded at the point, the shafts 
rigid. The upper surface of the head is arched ; the feathers of the forehead 
rigid, of the top and hind head rather elongated, and those of the latter form 
a compressed rudimentary crest. Wings short, rounded, and when folded 
reach only to the base of the tail, the longest of the primaries and tertiaries 
the same length, the third and fourth quill feathers longest and equal, the 
second and fifth slightly shorter, the sixth nearly a quarter of an inch 
shorter than the fifth, the first rudimentary. Bill short, rather narrow, high 
at base, flattened and convex towards point. Nasal fossae large, oval, and 
with a distinct membranous septum, in the anterior part of which are the 
nostrils, open, small, and oval. The upper part of the bill, between the 
fossae, anteriorly narrow, posteriorly wider, and consists of two slightly 
diverging sides, between which is a slight groove, which extends to the 
centre of the forehead. Nail of upper mandible oval, the anterior half bent 
over the apex of lower jaw at nearly a right angle; margin of upper mandible 
internally strongly, and deeply crenulated. Legs short, reticulated on all 
sides, the scales very small on the inner side, larger and many sided on 
the outer and anterior sides. Toes long, the webs complete and terminate 
at the base of the nails, the portions on each side of the middle toe more 
advanced than the lateral parts. Hinder toe short, with a large membranous 
flap, on inner side. Nails of all the toes short, slender, slightly curved 
and blunt. 
DIMENSIONS. 
Inches. Lines. 
Length from the point of the bill to the 
base of the tail 16 6 
of the bill to the angle of the 
mouth 2 0 
of the tail 2 0 
-wings when folded 6 7 
Inches. Lines. 
Length of the tarsus 1 5 £ 
outer toe 2 6 
middle toe 2 6 
inner toe 1 1 1 
hinder toe 0 10 J 
The colours of the male more bright than those of the female, the rudi- 
mentary crest also much more distinct. 
Inhabits Verlorn Vley and other lakes on the western coast of Southern Africa. It flies 
but seldom, and when it does it simply skims along the surface of the water; when disturbed 
it immediately dives, continues a considerable time under water, and on its returning to the 
surface it descends again immediately if the cause of its fears continues near it. 
