522 



PALMIPEDES. 



SUB-FAMILY I 



ALnxyE. 



TJie Auh 



proper. 



Gen. Charac. — Bill more or less short, and much compressed on the sides, 

 with the eulmen and gonys keeled, the tip of the upper mandible acute and 

 hooked; the nostrils linear; the wings more or less long and perfectly 

 formed, with the first quill the longest ; the tail short and graduated ; the 

 tarsi short and compressed; the toes entirely webbed, with the hind toe 

 wanting. 





Fig. 203.— the puffin. 

 {Pnffinus arcticHs.) 



These birds frequent higli nortliern latitudes^ but 

 at certain seasons visit tlie more temperate parts of 

 Europe. They resort in great multitudes to barren 

 rocks^ on the ledges of which^ or in a subterranean 

 burrow, the female deposits a single egg. They 

 live chiefly on the water, where they are very expert, 

 swimming and diving with great rapidity. The 

 shortness of their wings does not admit of much 



