90 



PY GOP ODES. 



ALCID^. 



ALCIDjE. 



Fratercula arctica (Linnaeus*). 

 THE PUFFIN, 



SEA PARROT, AND COULTERNER. 



Frate7'cula arctica. 



Fratercula, Brissoyif. — Bill shorter than the head, higher than long, very 

 much compressed, both mandibles arched, transversely grooved, notched towards 

 the point ; the culmen as high as the top of the head, and with a cutting edge. 

 Nostrils lateral, marginal, linear, naked, almost entirely closed by a naked mem- 

 brane. Legs short, abdominal ; feet with three toes only, all in front, united 

 by membranes ; claws curved. Wings and tail short. 



The Puffin is tlie sole representative in the Atlantic of 

 a well-marked genus, whose three other members are con- 

 fined to the North Pacific : the headquarters of the Alcidrs. 



* AIca arctica, Linnncus, Ryst. Nat. Ed. 12, i. p. 211 (1706). 

 t Ornithologie, vi. p. 81 (1760). 



