538 WEB-FOOTED BIRDS. 



WESTERN CERORHINCA. 



(Cerorhinca occidentalis, Bonap. Synops. p. 428. No. 377. Phaleris 

 cerorhinca,lBn). in Am. Orn. MSS. ined.) 



Sp. Charact. — Blackish, belly whitish ; a few slender, elongat- 

 ed white feathers at the corners of the eyes and mouth ; bill 

 yellow. 



According to the Prince of Musignano, from whom we 

 derive all we know concerning this rare bird, it is an inhab- 

 itant of the western coasts of North America. 



PUFFINS. (Mormon, Illig. Alca, Linn.) 



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

 than long, at base as broad as the head, transversely and obliquely 

 grooved on the sides, covered at base by a wrinkled, callous mem- 

 brane : both mandibles much curved and notched ; the upper with a 

 sharp ridge, rising higher than the front : the lower a little shorter 

 and obtuse ; angles of the mouth margined with an extensible mem- 

 brane. Nostrils near the cere, marginal, long, linear, obsolete, 

 almost entirely closed by a naked membrane. Tongue short, com- 

 pressed, and very acute. The head very round; the orbits naked; 

 neck short and thick. Feet placed very far back ; the tibia almost 

 wholly retracted ; tarsus rather slender, carinated above and behind ; 

 webs slightly indented ; nails much curved, acute, middle one largest, 

 the inner one most curved. Wings short, slender and acute ; the 1st 

 primary as long, or a little longer than the 2d. Tail short, of 16 fea- 

 thers, the middle and outer shortest. 



The sexes alike in plumage ; and the young differ but little from 

 the adult, except in the smaller and smoother bill. They moult 

 twice in the year, but the colors undergo very little change. The 

 young are at first covered with a long down. 



The Puffins inhabit the cold and hyperboreal regions, associating 

 in large flocks, keeping at no great distance from the shores, and 



