126 
COMMON OR ARCTIC PUFFIN. 
orbits ; over the upper eyelid an oblong, nearly erect, horny body, along 
the lower a more elongated one of the same nature. Neck short and thick, 
body full and rounded. Wings short. Feet short, rather stout ; tibia bare 
for a short way above the joint. Tarsus vei’y short, little compressed, 
anteriorly with a series of small scutella, the rest with reticular angular 
scales. Hind toe wanting. Toes of moderate length, rather slender, scutel- 
late above, connected by reticulated entire membranes which project a little, 
the third and fourth toes about equal, the second considerably shorter, with 
a narrow marginal web. Claws strong, of moderate length, compressed, 
slightly arched ; that of the inner toe much curved and acute. 
Plumage close, blended, soft, very short on the head. Wings curved, 
short, narrow, acute. Primary quills narrow, incurved, first longest, second 
a little shorter, the rest rapidly graduated. Secondaries very short, small 
and rounded. Tail very short, slightly rounded, of sixteen narrow rounded 
feathers. 
Bill with the basal rim and first ridge of upper mandible dull yellow, the 
intervening space greyish-blue, basal margin of lower bright red, first ridge 
and intervening space as in the upper, the rest bright red (carmine tinged 
with vermilion) ; membrane at the base of the gap gamboge-yellow, inside 
of mouth and tongue yellow. Edge of eyelids vermilion, horny appendages 
of eyelids greyish-blue. Iris light blue. Feet vermilion, claws black. 
Throat and sides of the head white, that colour extending over the eye. and 
passing in a narrow line behind the occiput. Upper part of the head 
blackish-grey, tinged with olive, paler anteriorly. The middle of the neck 
all round, and all the upper parts of the body, deep black, with blue reflec- 
tions, the quills tinged with brown. The whole under surface white, except 
the upper part of the sides, which are dusky. 
Length to end of tail Ilf inches, to end of claws 13£, extent of wings 23 ; 
bill along the back 2, along the edge of upper mandible If ; depth of bill at 
base If, its greatest diameter f ; tarsus 1, middle toe li, its claw i. Weight 
% lb. 
Female. 
The female is precisely similar to the male, but of somewhat smaller size. 
