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ALCIN^.. 



A UKS AND ALLIED SPECIES. 



Some of the Alcina3 approximate to the Colymbinsc in the 

 form of their bill, while others have that organ of a peculiarly 

 vertically-expanded form ; but all differ from the family just 

 mentioned in having the body very compact, the neck short 

 and thick, the head large and broadly ovate, and the feet not 

 placed so far behind. 



The bill is short, or of moderate length, much compressed, 

 pointed, but varies from slender and tapering to cultriform, 

 or even, viewed laterally, sub-triangular. The mouth of mode- 

 rate Avidth ; the palate flat, with longitudinal ridges ; the 

 tongue slender, trigonal, thin-edged, pointed ; the oesophagus 

 very wide, generally much dilated at its loA^er part ; the 

 stomach roundish, with a moderately thick muscular coat, 

 and dense, plicate epithelium ; the intestine rather long, with 

 moderate coeca. 



The nostrils small, linear, basal, sub-marginal ; the eyes 

 small ; the apertures of the ears very small. The feet short, 

 placed far behind ; the tibia bare for a short space ; tarsus very 

 short, compressed, scutellate ; toes three, of moderate length, 

 connected by membranes ; claws rather small, arched, com- 

 pressed, acute. 



The plumage is dense, short, soft, and blended. The 

 wings small, narrow, convex, pointed ; the tail very short 

 and rounded. 



These birds belong entirely to the northern hemisphere, 

 and inhabit the seas and coasts of the cold and temperate 

 regions of both continents. Fitted by their compact form and 

 dense short plumage to bear all vicissitudes of weather, they 



