CERORHINCA. 537 



liaving been found on the coast, and around Kamtschatka and the 

 Kurile islands. 



The Anciext Auk is about 11 inches long. The bill an inch and 

 a quarter ', the base white ; from the nostrils to the extremity black. 

 The feathers advance far forward on the bill, and the eyes are set far 

 back apparently in the head. Head, sides, and throat deep black. 

 The upper part of the body and wings dusky black. The under part 

 pure white. Just behind the eyes spring several long narrow white 

 feathers, which lie on each side of the neck, meeting at the lower 

 part and forming a crescent, these are somewhat curled at the origin, 

 where they are most numerous, and can perhaps be erected at will, 

 in the manner of a ruff. Legs 1^ inches long and dusky. The tail 

 black, short and rounded. 



CERORHINCA. Bonap. 



With the bill shorter than the head, much compressed, longer 

 than high, even, the base not much feathered, covered by a callous 

 membrane, surmounted by a long, blunt, horn-like process arising 

 from the base of the bill ; both mandibles curved and slightly notch- 

 ed at tip ; the lower angular beneath, acute ; the edges sharp, in the 

 ujJper mandible dilated, in the lower much bent in at the base. Nos- 

 trils situated beneath the ear, marginal, linear, pervious, half closed 

 by the membrane. Tongue short and slender. Head very round, 

 the orbits feathered. Feet placed very far back ; the tibia almost 

 wholly retracted into the abdomen ; tarsus moderately compressed, 

 rough behind ; toes long and slender ; webs entire : nails curved, 

 acute, the middle one largest. Wings short dindt. slender, 1st primary 

 a little the longest ; the secondaries very short. Tail very short, of 

 14 rounded feathers. 



The changes and habits most probably similar with those of the 

 allied genera. 



It inhabits the coast and the sea between America and northern 

 Asia, and has hitherto been obtained only from the western side of 

 this continent. 



