10 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF 



A new and very curious species of Simorhynchus is described in the following 

 pages, making a total of thirty-three. 



II. Of the characters of the Family, and its sub-divisions. 



The Auks form a very natural family of birds, distinguished by marked and 

 unmistakable characters from any other. With a single exception,* there is 

 no bird found to present in any notable degree a leaning towards the pecu- 

 liarities of the Alcidm ; and the members of the family, without exception, pre- 

 serve intact those characters which define the group so trenchantly, showing 

 in no single instance a tendency to aberration. The rigidness with which it is 

 possible to circumscribe the Alcidm is in the highest degree satisfactory, in a 

 class of animals in which the recognition and definition of subordinate groups 

 is peculiarly difficult. 



The natural place of the family in our ornithotaxis appears as definite as the 

 characters which separate its forms from other birds. By common consent, 

 iheAlcidfe are regarded as next to the lowest of birds. The degradation of the 

 type or ideal bird which the Auks represent is only carried further in one 

 family — the Spheniscidse. From the latter, which is at the bottom of the scale, 

 we ascend one step to Alcidse ; another brings us to the Colymbidse and Podici- 

 pidse. These four families constitute the order Pyyopndes, or the Brachypterous 

 Natatores. The position occupied by the Auks in this order is so evident as 

 not to admit of question. 



It is only necessary to allude to the wings of the Spheniscidx, without dwell- 

 ing upon the point, to separate this family from the Auks. The tetradactylous 

 feet of the other two families distinguish them with equal facility. Auks are 

 brachypterous, brachyurous, tridactylous natatores, with lateral nostrils. This 

 expression is a perfect diagnosis. 



The Auks are confined to the northern hemisphere. Some representatives 

 have been found as far north as explorers have penetrated. The great major- 

 ity live in more temperate latitudes. A more or less complete migration takes 

 place with most species, which stray southward, sometimes to a considerable 

 distance, in the autumn, and return north again to breed in the spring. A few 

 species appear nearly stationary. The most southern recorded habitat of anj' 

 member of the family is about latitude 21° N., on the Pacific coast of North 

 America, but this is rather exceptional. The species are very unequally divided 

 between the two oceans. The Atlantic has but few representatives compared 

 with the Pacific. On the northern coasts of the latter the family reaches its 

 highest developement ; the greatest number of species, of the most diversified 

 forms, are found there, though the number of individuals of any species does 

 not surpass that of several Atlantic species. Comparatively few species are 

 common to both oceans. All the members of the familj^ are exclusively ma- 

 rine. f They are decidedly gregarious, particularly in the breeding season, 

 when some species congregate in countless numbers. Usually one, often two, 

 rarely if ever three eggs are laid, either upon the bare rock or ground, or in 

 crevices between or under rocks, or in burrows excavated for the purpose. 

 Auks are all altrices, and are believed to be chiefly monogamous. The young 

 are at first covered with long soft wooly down ; rarely stiffish hairs appear on 

 some parts. The moult is double. The young of the year usuall}' differ from 

 the adults; the latter usually differ in their summer and winter plumages. A 

 very prevalent feature is the possession of crests or plumes, or elongated fea- 

 thers of a peculiar shape on the sides of the head. All the species walk badly ; 

 some scarcely walk at all. The position of the legs with reference to the axis 

 of the body necessitates an upright position when standing. The birds appear 

 to rest on their rumps, with the feet extended horizontally before them, most 



* The genus Pel'canoidea, of the Halndrnminse ( Prncellariidai), in all details of external 

 form, except those of the bill, is essentially like Merrjidus. 



t Uria grylle is found on the southern shores of Hudson's Bay; but this fact can hardly 

 furnish an exception to the statement. 



[Jan. 



