ALCID^. 867 



Tribe Urinatores, Divers. 



Alcada, Vigors. 



Usually three toes only, or with a small hind toe pointing for- 

 wards. 



This tribe, the last of the Natatores, comprises two distinct 

 families, neither of which possess representatives in India, Their 

 young are fed by their parents in the nest for some time. 



\st. — Alcidce. Auks and Guillemots. 



2nd. — Spheniscidce. The Penguins. 



Fam. ALCiDiE. 



These are sub-divided into Alcince, or Auks and Puffins, and 

 Uriin(B, the Guillemots. The Auks and Puffins have a stout, 

 highly compressed bill, often very high and sharp on the culmen, 

 no hind toe, and the three anterior toes fully webbed. They 

 have short wings, and in general fly badly or not at all, but swim 

 and dive well. They nidificate on rocks, or burrow in sand» 

 laying one (or rarely two) eggs. They are said to run or rather 

 creep along the ground faster than would be supposed from the 

 shortness of their legs. The sternum has the fissures reduced 

 to foramina, and is narrow ; the prolongation of the tibia observed 

 in Grebes and Colymbida? is not found here, for these birds chiefly 

 use their wings for progression under water. They are all from 

 northern latitudes, and several are found in British Seas. The 

 great Auk, Alca major, L., has tlie shortest wings of any northern 

 bird, and cannot fly at all. The Razor bill, A. tarda, L., on the 

 contrary, can fly tolerably well. The Puffins (FraterciilaJ have 

 deep, generally brightly-coloured beaks, and some are crested 

 (Phaleris.) They have no seasonal change of plumage. 



The Guillemots, Uriina, have the bill more slender and like that 

 of the Colymhidae. They c:in fly tolerably well, and also use their 

 wings under water. They have a double moult. They lay but one 

 very large egg, variable in color, usually green with dark blotches. 

 The young at first are clothed with a down resembling the sum- 

 mer dress of the old bird ; the first plumage resembles the adult 

 winter dress, is of remarkably delicate texture, and is replaced by 

 the real winter plumage in a few weeks. 



