BIRDS — ALCIDAE — I'lIALEBIS PUSILLA. 909 



This Imnilsome little species is easily recognized by its short elevated carunclo at the base of 

 the bill and its small size, though larger than the succeeding. The figure of Mr. Audubon 

 cited above is very accurate, and represents the adult bird, though the young differs in no 

 material character. In all the specimens the under parts are spotted as described above, except 

 the throat, which is pure white. It appears to be abundant on the coasts of northwestern 

 America and northeastern Asia. 



It is possible that the pigmy auk of Pennant, which is Alca pygmaea, Gmelin, may be the 

 young of this species, but it is more probable, judging from the descriptions of Latham and 

 Gmelin, that several small species have been coni'uunded under this name. Latham describes 

 his bird as having the bill : " the top is ridged, but on the sides of the ridge is considerably 

 depressed, as in the duck," which is a character of no species which has come under our notice. 



List of specimens. 



CatAl. No. , Locality. 



8094 NorChweaC coast of America . 



Whence obtained. 



John Gould. 



PHALERIS PUSILLA, Pallas. 



The Least Auk. 



l/'rio pKsilla, Pallas, Zoog. Ro3s.-Asiat. II, 1811, 373. 

 Figures. — Pallas, Zoog. Ross.-Asiat. II, pi. 90. 



Sp. Ch. — Smaller than either of the preceding. Head rather large ; bill short, slightly curved upwards towards the tip, 

 without appendages ; a longitudinal groove in the under mandible ; wing moderate, second quill slightly longest ; tail short, 

 truncate or even at the end ; legs and feet rather large. Entire upper parts black, lustrous on the head above and back. 

 Scapular feathers ashy white, giving the appearance of two white spots on the upper view of the bird ; secondary quills tipped 

 with white ; a spot of white over the eye ; a ievi hair-hke feathers in front white, and a few of the same kind behind the eye. 

 Entire under parts white, with some narrow transverse lines of dark ashy on the sides. Bill black ; edges of both mandibles at 

 base, and tip of under mandible yellow ; legs dark. Narrow space on the throat at the base of the under mandible and cheeks 

 dark brownish cinereous. 



Total length about 5| inches ; wing, 3J ; tail, 1 inch. 



Hab. — Northwestern coast of America.- Semiavine Straits, (Nat. Mus. from Capt. Rodger's North Pacific Exploring 

 Expedition.) Kamtschatka, (Pallas.) 



This interesting little species is the bird described by Pallas as above, and is altogether 

 distinct from the preceding. It is probably the very smallest of the sea birds, and is easily 

 distinguished by the clear black of its upper plumage and pure white of tlie under parts, with 

 the additional jsrominent character of having white scapulars. 



The only specimens that we have ever seen of this bird are in the National Museum, and are 

 part of the very extensive zoological collection made by the North Pacific Exploring and 

 Surveying Expedition in command of Capt. John Rodgers, United States navy. 



List of specimens. 



Catalogue No. \ Loc.ility. [ Whence obtained. 



Seniavinc Straits Captain J. Ilodfiors, United States navy. 



Collected by- 



W Slimpson. 



