110 P U F F I N .
compressed, at the hase as high as the head, obliquely furrowed on the
sides. Upper mandible with a horny rim along the basal margin, its dorsal
line curved from the base, the ridge very narrow but rounded, the
sides rapidly sloped, and marked with three curved oblique grooves, the
edges obtuse, their outline nearly straight, the tip deflected, very narrow
but obtuse. Between the basal rim and the first groove is a triangular
flat space analogous to the nasal groove, in the lower part of which, close
to the edge of the bill, is the linear direct nostril. Lower mandible with
the angle very narrow, and so placed that the base of the bill is inflected
beyond the perpendicular, the dorsal line a little convex at first, towards
the end straight, the ridge narrow, broader about the middle, the sides
nearly flat, grooved and ridged as in the upper, the edges strong, the tip
very narrow. The gape extends downwards a little beyond the base of
the bill, and is furnished with a soft corrugated extensible membrane.
Head large, oblong, anteriorly compressed. Eye rather small, with
bare 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 very 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, scutellate 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 gape 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
P U F F I N . I l l
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 reflections, 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 l l f inches, to end of claws 13-£, extent of
wings 23; bill along the back 2, along the edge of upper mandible 1£ ;
depth of bill at base If, its greatest diameter f ; tarsus 1, middle toe 1
its claw Weight £ lb.
Female. Plate CCXIII. Fig. 2.
The Female is precisely similar to the male, but of somewhat smaller
size.