Genus IV.--Mergulus, Ray. Sea-dove

Birds of America

By John James Audubon, F. R. SS. L. & E.

VOLUME VII.

GENUS IV.--MERGULUS, Ray. SEA-DOVE.

Bill shorter than the head, stout, nearly straight, sub-pentagonal at the base, compressed towards the end; upper mandible with the dorsal line convexo-declinate, the ridge convex, the sides sloping, the edges sharp and overlapping, the tip rather obtuse; nasal depression short and broad; nostrils basal, oblong; lower mandible with the angle long and wide, the dorsal line ascending, straight, the sides convex, toward the end ascending and flattened, the edges sharp and inclinate, the tip acute, with a sinus behind. Head large, ovate; neck short and thick; body full and compact. Feet short, rather stout; tibia bare for a very short space; tarsus very short, compressed, anteriorly covered with oblique scutella; hind toe wanting; anterior toes connected by entire webs, the third and fourth nearly equal. Claws rather small, moderately arched, compressed, rather acute. Plumage dense, glossy, blended. Wings of moderate length, narrow, pointed; the first quill longest, secondaries rounded. Tail very short, slightly rounded, of twelve feathers.