1062 SYSTEMA TIC SYNOPSIS. —PYGOPODES — ALCjE. 



Analysis of Subfamilies and Genera. 



Fratekctilin^. Nostrils naked, remote from feathers. Bill of variable shape, extremely compressed, much higher 

 than wide, appendaged with deciduous elemeuts. A rosette at angle of mouth. Inner claw enlarged and much 

 curved. Tarsus scutellate in front. No great seasonal changes of plumage. Tail of 16 feathers. 

 Eyelids with deciduous appendages. No crests. Culmen with one curve ; both mandibles grooved. Covering 



of bill moulted in 7-9 pieces. N. Atlantic and N. Pacific Fratercula 



Eyelids simple. Long lateral crests. Culmen with two curves ; upper mandible grooved, under .smooth. Cov- 

 ering of bill moulted in 7 pieces. N. Pacific Lunda 



Phaleeidin^. Nostrils naked or only incompletely feathered, in most forms exposed and overhung with a nasal 

 scale. Bill of variable shape in different genera and species, appendaged with deciduous elements or not. Various 

 crests, or none. Inner claw not peculiar. Eyelids not appendaged. No rosette at angle of mouth. Tarsi 

 scutellate or reticulate. Average size small. 

 Nostrils remote from feathers. BiU usually appendaged. Head usually crested or plumed. All N. Pacific. 



Bill appendaged with a large upright horn. Tarsi scutellate in front. Tail of 16-18 feathers . Ceratorhina 

 Bill variously appendaged with one or more deciduous pieces. Tarsi reticulate. 



Upper mandible oval in profile, lower falcate, rictus ascending. Tail of 14 feathers . Cyclorrhynchus 

 Upper mandible not oval in profile, lower not falcate, rictus not ascending. Tail of 14 featliers 



Simorhynchus 

 Bill not known to be appendaged, acute at tip, upper mandible wrinkled. Tarsi reticulate. Tail of 14 



feathers Ptycorhamphus 



Nostrils not remote from feathers. Bill not appendaged with deciduous elements. Head never crested exc. S. 

 umizusume. 

 Tarsi scutellate in front and internally, much compressed. Bill short, much compressed. Tail of 14 



feathers. N. Pacific Synthliborhamphus 



Tarsi reticulate, not much compressed. Bill elongate, more or less acute. 



Bill slender, straight, acute, with comparatively long gonys. Small ; wing under 6 inches. Tail of 



12-14 feathers. N. Pacific Brachyrhamphus 



Bill similar, with comparatively short gonys. Large : wing over 6 inches. Tail of 12-14 feathers. Cir- 



cumpolar Cepphus 



Allin^. Nostrils subcircular, incompletely feathered. Bill unappendaged, short, stout, obtuse, with very short 

 gonys. No crests. One genus, Arctic and N. Atlantic. Tarsi scutellate. Size small ; wing about 5 inches. 



Tail of 12 feathers Alle 



Alcin^. Nostrils linear, densely feathered, being quite covered by the plumage. Bill unappendaged, lengthened. 

 No crests. Tarsi scutellate. Size largest in the family ; lengtli over 15 inches. 

 Bill simply elongate, not cultrate nor sulcate, culmen gently curved. Tail of 12 feathers. Circumpolar . Uria 

 Bill elongate, extremely compressed, cultrate, sulcate, culmen strongly decurved. 



Wings fully developed, fit for flight. Tail of 12 feathers. N.Atlantic Alca 



Wings reduced in size, unfit for flight. Tail of 14 feathers. Extinct Plautus 



Obs. — Many additional characters of these remarkable genera are given under their respective heads. 



Subfamily FRATERCULIN/E : Sea Parrots, or Puffins. 



Characters as above sufficiently indicated. This subfamily contains a number of the most 

 curious birds of the Auk family. With one exception (that of the Common Puffin or Sea 

 Parrot of the Atlantic), all are confined to North Pacific and Polar waters, and all have the bill 

 appendaged with 7 to 9 deciduous elements, which are regularly moulted. The shape and color- 

 ation of the bill are peculiar, giving the birds a grotesque appearance. Both genera have a 

 singular fleshy rosette at the angle of the mouth ; Fratercula has peculiarly appendaged eye- 

 lids ; Lunda has extravagant corn-colored crests on each side of the head; and both have a 

 special development of the inner claw. 



FRATER'CULA. (Lat. fraterculare, to swell up, used comically by Platus like sororiare, 

 to swell up as twin breasts; from fraterculus, little brother, dimin. of frater, brother: what 

 application ?) Sea Parrots. Masking Puffins (the grotesque bill being likened to the 

 comic mask of revellers at a carnival, and being as it were put on for the nuptial festivities, 

 and afterward removed). Bill about as long as head, about as high as long, extremely com- 

 pressed, with nearly vertical sides; lateral profile somewhat triangular; depth at base equal to 

 that of head; culmen beginning level with forehead, thence curving downward with regu- 

 lar convexity to the overhanging tip, its ridge sharp and unbroken throughout ; commissure 

 straight and horizontal to the decurved tip ; gonys sharp, ascending, gently sinuous. Terminal 



