BIRDS — ALCIDAE — MORMON. 901 



A Isrge ovate spot of white in front of each cyu. Head und cntiro upper parts brownish black, darker on the back, and 

 clearer brown on the head ; greater coverts of the wings narrowly lipped with while ; tindur wing coverts ashy ; entire under 

 parts white, which color extends to a point on the neck in front ; bill black, with the grooves in both mandibles white ; feet 

 dark. Total length about 30 inches ; wing, Sj ; tail, 3 ; bill from tip to gape, 4 inches. 



Wat. — Northeastern coast of America, and Arctic seas. Newfoundland. (Mr. Audubon.) 



The largest of the family Alcidae inhabiting the northern regions, and remarkable as the 

 only species not possessing the power of flight, approximating in that respect to the penguins 

 of the southern hemisphere. This bird appears to be of rather rare occurrence, and is highly 

 valued by collectors and naturalists. We have never seen an American specimen. That figured 

 by Mr. Audubon, and obtained on the banks of Newfoumlhind, is now in the cabinet of Mr. J. 

 P. Giraud, jr. This and one in the collection of the Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences 

 are all known to exist in any American museum. 



TTtamania, Leach.' 



ALCA TORDA, Linnaeus. 



The Razor-billed Auk. 



JtUa (orrfa, Linn. Syst. Xat. I, 175^, 130.— Ib. I, 176G, 210.— Bon. Syn. 1828, 431.— Aud. Cm. Biog. Ill, 1835, 112: 



V, 428 ; pi. 214.— Ib. Syn. 345. 

 ffomonia tarda, " Leach," Stephens, in Shaw's Zool. XIII, 1826. 

 AUapica, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, p. 210, (176G.) 

 Jilca unisuhata, Brinnich, Orn. Bor. 1764, 25. 

 .■Ilea balthka, Brl.sn. Orn. Bor. 1764, 28. 



Figures.- BcFFoN, PI. Enl. 1003. 1004.- Edwards, Birds, VII, pi. 358.— Gould, B. of Eur. IV, pi. 401.— Naumanv, B. of 

 Germ. pi. 336 —Acd. B. of Am. pi. 214 ; Oct. ed. VII, pi. 466. 



Sp. Ch. — Much smaller than the preceding; general form short and heavy; bill rather long, densely feathered at base, 

 flattened laterally ; upper mandible with three to five curved transverse grooves ; under mandible with three or four transverse 

 grooves. Feathers on side of upper jaw reaching far beyond the middle of the commissure, and nearly as far as those of the 

 lower jaw. Wing moderate, pointed ; tail short, graduated, with the middle feathers longest and pointed ; legs short, strong. 



A narrow but very distinct line of white on each side from the base of the upper mandible to the eye. Head and entire upper 

 parts brownish black, more clearly brown on the throat and neck in front, and darker on the back ; secondary quills narrowly 

 tipped with white ; entire under parts white. Bill black, with a single transverse band of white on both mandibles ; feet black. 



Total length about 17 inches ; wing, 8 to 8j ; tail, 31 ; bill to gape, 2i inches. 



Hob. — Northeastern coast of America; Newfoundland; Labrador, and south in winter to New Jersey; also, Arctic regions 

 of Old World. 



This well known species is very abundant on the northeastern coasts of North America, and 

 appears to be quite identical with the bird of the northern regions of the Old World. It 

 wanders southwardly in the winter, and is occasionally noticed on the coasts of the middle 

 States on the Atlantic. This bird may always be recognized by the conspicuous white line in 

 front of the eye, which is present in all ages and stages of plumage. 



MORMON, Illiger. 



Mormon, Iliicer, Prodromus, 1811, 283. 

 Ch. — General form short and heavy, and adapted to swimming and diving with great facility, and to limited power of flight. 

 Bill short, entirely horny, much flattened laterally, and nearly as high as long; measured on the side obliquely rugose and laminated ; 

 a portion at the base punctulated; nostril in the edge of and iu the second lamina of the upper mandible. Wing moderate or 

 rather weak, first quill usually longest ; tail short ; legs short ; toes, three only, directed forwards, rather long, fully webbed ; claws 

 large, curved. Plumage very compact. 



' Wings moderately developed, admitting of flight, reaching the tail. 



