PYGOPODES. 



RAZOR-BILL. 



55 



ALCID.E. 



Alca torda, Linnaeus.* 

 THE RAZOK-BILL. 



Alca tarda. 



Alca, Linnccus\. — Bill straight, large, compressed, very much decurved to- 

 wards the point, basal half of both mandibles covered with feathers, grooved 

 towards the point, the superior mandible hooked, the under one forming with it 

 a salient angle. Nostrils lateral, marginal, linear, near the middle of the beak, 

 the aperture almost entirely closed by a membrane covered with feathers. Legs 

 short, abdominal ; only three toes, all in front, entirely united by membrane ; 

 claws but slightly curved. Wings short. Tail pointed. 



The members of the family of tlie Auks are oceanic birds 

 that can swim and dive well, and in this way obtain small 

 fishes of various sorts, or still smaller Crustacea, as food. 



* Aha Torda, Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. Ed. 12, i. p. 210 (1766). + he. cU. 



