498 



THE DIVING inilDS — PYGOPODES. 



specimen, iu tlie British Museum, is recorded by Professor Newton in "The Ibis" for 18G5, 

 p. 518 — said to have come from Iceland ; and in tlie "Arctic Manual" (1875), p. 109, he remarks 

 tliat IlolboU says that lie has seen in Greenland an "entirely black example," which is prcjbably 

 the same species. Tlie latest testimony tliat we have is that of Mr. L. Kumlien, who accompanied 

 the Howgate Polar E.vpedition in 1877-1878, and who saw "three entirely black specimens," 

 which were considered to be C. carbo. " One was procured in Cuml)erland, but was lost." 



It will tlius be seen that we have abundant and incontrovertible evidence of the existence in the 

 lii,i,dier latitudes of the North Atlantic of a uniformly black or dusky Guillemot. Some authors 

 haVL* rcfenvtl it to C. carbo, but it is evidently distinct from that species, which seems to be strictly 

 confined to the Asiatic coast of tliu Nortli Pacific. Otliers .have considered it a melanism of 

 C grijUe ; but the larger size and \eiy dilferent proportions preclude the likelihood of such relation- 

 ship. Upon the whole, there can be little doubt that it is a distinct species, probably most nearly 

 related to C. carbo, and representing tiie latter in the North Atlantic. At any rate, it should be 

 kept in mind by those who have the opportunity of investigating the avian fauna of the northern 

 waters of the Atlantic.^ 



Genus BRACHYRAMPHUS, Brandt. 



Brachyramphus, Buandt, ISull. Ac. St. Petersb. II. 1837 (type, Cohjmbus marrnorahis, Gmel. ). 

 Apohapton, BiiANDT, 1. c. (same type). 



Char. Size small (wing less than 5.50 inches). Bill small and slender, much shorter than 

 tlie head (not longer than the short tarsus), compressed, and acute ; culmen gently curved, gonys 

 neaily straight ; mandibular tomium notched near the tip, and greatly inflected toward the base ; 



Z). mannoraliis, summer dress. 



nasal fossoc small, shallow, mostly filled witli feathers, which nearly conceal the very small nostrils ; 

 head without ornamental plumes. 



The exact number of species composing this genus is a matter of some doubt. The fallowing 

 key includes those whose validity is established, and also another (/,'. brevirostris), which, if no't 

 identical with B. Kittlitd, must also be a well-marked species. 



1 A much more detailed history of this bird, by Dr. T.. Stejneger, in an article entitled Remarks on 

 thu Species of the Genus C'cppJms, will soon be published in the Proceedings of the United States 

 National Museum. Wc liave been Idiidly peiuiitted by Dr. Stejneger to compile the information given in 

 the present article froni his manusciijit. 



