120 
THE LAEGE-BILLED PUFFIN'. 
nearly flat and grooved, the edges strong, the tip very narrow. The gap 
extends downwards a little beyond the base of the bill, and is furnished 
with a soft corrugated extensible membrane. 
Head large, oblong, anteriorly compressed. Eyes of moderate size, with 
bare orbits ; over the upper eyelid an oblong, tapering, horny body 
directed upwards and backwards, on the lower a linear body of a similar 
nature over its whole length. Neck short and thick. Body full, and 
rounded. Feet short, rather stout ; tibia bare for a short space above the 
joint. Tarsus very short, little compressed, anteriorly for three-fourths of 
its length with a series of small scutella, the rest with reticular angular 
scales. Hind toe wanting, toes rather long and slender, scutellate above, 
connected by reticulated entire membranes, the third and fourth toes about 
equal, the second considerably shorter, with a narrow marginal web. 
Claws strong, of moderate length, compressed, arched, that of the inner toe 
much cui*ved and acute. 
Plumage close, blended, soft, very short on the head. Wings curved, 
short, narrow, acute. Primary quills tapering, incurved, the first longest, 
the second a little shorter, the rest regularly graduated ; secondaries very 
short and rounded. Tail very short, much rounded, of sixteen rounded 
feathers. 
Bill bright orange-red, soft edges of mouth gamboge. Edges of eyelids 
orange-red ; the iris and horny appendages light blue. Feet orange-red, 
with the webs paler, the claws yellowish-brown. The sides of the head and 
the lower parts in general, white ; upper part of the head light brownish- 
grey tinged with lilac ; a broad collar extending to the lower mandible, 
of a dark greyish-brown tint below, and gradually passing into the colour 
of the upper parts, which is brownish-black, glossed with blue ; primary 
quills and their coverts blackish-brown, very slightly margined with paler. 
Length to end of tail 13 inches, to end of claws 14, to end of wings 12£ ; 
extent of wings 24% ; bill along the ridge 2i, along the edge of lower 
mandible II ; depth of bill at the base lf|, its greatest diameter f ; tarsus 
II ; middle toe 1$, its claw £. 
Adult Female. 
' The female is precisely similar to the male. 
