AMERICAN ANHINGA. 
165 
toe H, its claw 1 % ; second toe 1 T V, its claw f|- ; third toe 2fV> its claw T 8 2 ; 
fourth toe 2f|-, its claw T s |. Weight 3£ lbs. # 
Adult Female. 
The female has the plumage similar in texture to that of the male, but 
only a few inconspicuous elongated feathers on the neck. The bill is 
lighter than in the male, the naked part around the eye darker, the eye and 
gular sac as in the male ; as are the feet. The upper part of the head and the 
hind neck are dull greenish-brown, lighter at the lower part, the fore part of 
the neck is pale reddish-brown, tinged with grey, lighter on the throat ; this 
eolour extends over part of the breast, an inch and a half beyond the carpal 
joint, and terminates abruptly in a transverse band of deep reddish-chestnut; 
the rest of the lower parts as in the male, as are the upper, only the fore part 
of the back is tinged with brown, and its spots less distinct. 
Length to end of tail 34 inches, to end of wings 294, to end of claws 2 7 2 ; 
to carpal joint 16£ ; extent of wings 43. Weight 2 lbs. 15 oz. 
In external appearance and habits the Snake-bird is very nearly allied to 
the Cormorants. The structure of the feet is essentially the same in both 
genera, as is that of the wings and tail, the latter however being more 
elongated in the Anhinga, in correspondence with the neck. If one might 
suppose a small Cormorant elongated and attenuated, with the feet rather 
enlarged but shortened, the head diminished in size, and the bill formed 
more on the model of that of a Heron, being destitute of the distinct ridge 
and curved unguis, he Would form a pretty correct notion of this bird. Not 
•inly is the bill like that of a Heron, but the vertebrae of the neck are very 
fimilar to those of that family, and form the same abrupt curvatures between 
the seventh and eighth vertebrae. But all the other bones are those of the 
Cormorants and Pelicans. The sternum in particular is almost precisely 
similar to that of the Crested Cormorant, so that without entering very 
minutely into its description, no differences could be pointed out. 
Both mandibles are concave within ; the palate flat, with two longitudinal 
ridges ; the posterior aperture of the nares linear and 9 twelfths long, the 
anterior or external aperture entirely obliterated. The lower mandible has 
a distinct oblique joint at about a third of its length, enabling it to be 
expanded to the extent of an inch and a half. The pouch, which is small, is 
constructed in the same manner as that of the Pelicans and Cormorants ; its 
muscular fibres running from the lower edge of the mandible downwards 
and backwards, and a slender muscle passing from the anterior part of the 
hyoid bone to the junction of the crura of the mandible. The tongue is 
reduced to a more oblong knob, 1J twelfths long, and i twelfth in height. 
The aperture of the glottis is 3 twelfths long, with two roundish thin edged 
flaps behind, destitute of papillae. There is a small bone appended to the 
occipital ridge, 4 inch in length, as in the Cormorants. 
