153 
Genus II. — 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 slightly convex, the 
ridge convex, gradually narrowed, the sides sloping, the edges sharp, and 
beyond the middle cut into minute slender-pointed serratures 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 ; 
gap-line ascending towards the end. No external nostrils in the adult. 
Head very small, oblong ; neck very long and slender ; body elongated and 
slender. Feet very short and stout ; tibia feathered to the point ; tarsus 
very. short, roundish, reticulated; toes all connected by webs, the first of 
moderate length, the fourth longest, the first toe and the first phalanges of 
the rest with transverse 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 secon- 
daries elongated and resembling the posterior scapulars. Tail very long, 
narrow, of twelve straight feathers, having very strong shafts, and increas- 
ing 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 pyloric lobe ; intestine long and 
very slender ; no coeca, but a small rounded termination to the rectum. 
Vol. VII.— 20 
