PELECANIN^. PLOTUS. 
305 
GENUS 11. PLOTUS, Linn. ANHINGA. 
Bill about twice the length of the head, almost straight, 
being very slightly recurved, rather slender, compressed, 
tapering to a fine point ; upper mandible with the dorsal 
line slightly declinate, very shghtly convex, the ridge con- 
vex, gradually narrowed, the sides sloping, the edges sharp, 
and beyond the middle cut into minute slender-pointed serra- 
tures directed backwards, the tip acuminate ; lower mandible 
with the angle very long and narrow, the dorsal line beyond 
it straight and ascending, the sides sloping slightly outwards, 
the edges sharp and serrated, the point extremely narrow ; 
gape-line ascending towards the end. No external nostrils in 
the adult. Head very small, oblong ; neck very long and slen- 
der ; body elongated and slender. Feet very short and stout ; 
tibia feathered to the point ; tarsus very short, roundish, re- 
ticulated ; toes all connected by webs, the first of moderate 
length, the fourth longest, the first toe and the first pha- 
langes of the rest with Ansverse series of scales, the rest 
of their extent scutellate. Claws rather large, very strong, 
compressed, curved, very acute, the third with parallel slits 
on the inner edge. A bare space at the base of the upper 
mandible, including the eye ; skin of the throat bare and 
dilated, as in the Cormorants. Plumage close, blended, 
silky, the feathers oblong ; scapulars elongated, lanceolate, 
compact, the outer web of the largest undulated. Wings 
of moderate length and breadth ; third quill longest, inner 
secondaries elongated and resembling the posterior scapu- 
lars. Tail very long, narrow, of twelve straight feathers, 
having very strong shafts, and increasing in breadth to the 
end. Tongue a slight oblong knob ; oesophagus very wide ; 
proventricular glands placed on the right side in the form of 
a globular sac ; stomach roundish, of moderate size, rather 
thin, with its inner coat soft and smooth ; a large roundish 
j^pyloric lobe ; intestine long and very slender ; no coeca, but 
a small rounded termination to the rectum. 
c c 
