28 1 ZOOLOGY. 



Sp. Ch. — The largest species of tliis genus, general form sliort and stout, head large, bill mucli flattened laterally, entirely 

 horny, upper mandible composed of three parts or lamina, the first of whicli, next to the frontal featliers, is narrow and covered 

 with minute spots, the second smooth, with the apertures of the nostrils inserted at its lower edges, and wilh an elevated sub- 

 cylindrical process on its upper edge or the culmen of the bill; third witi] two or three transverse curved grooves, and somewhat 

 hooked at the tip; under mandible smooth. Head with two crests of elongated pendant feathers from behind the eyes; wings 

 rather short, tail short, legs and feet strong, claws sharp. 



Two first parts of the bill yellowish green, terminal part and under mandible reddish yellow or orange, the uoder mandible 

 greenish at base. Crests pale yellow; plumage around the base of the bill, including the eyes, white. All other parts of the 

 plumage brownish black, di-rker on the head and back; legs bright orange red. 



Total length, about 15 inches; wing, 8; tail, 3 inches. 



Hab. — Western coast of America; California; accidental on the coast of Maine, (Mr. Audubon.) 



I obtained a specimen of mormon from tlie vicinity of the Straits of Fuca, which was kindly 

 presented to me through George Gibbs, esq., by Captain Fowler, of the schooner R. B. Potter. 

 The range of the species probably extends as far south as the Farralone islands, oft' San 

 Francisco bay, as certain specimens there obtained were seen by me in collections in San 

 Francisco. — S. 



CERORHINA MONOCERATA, (Pallas,) Cassin. 



The Homed-billed Guillemot. 



Jllca monocerata, Pallas, Zoog. Rosso-Asiat. II, 1611, 362. 

 Cerorhyncha occidentalls , Bonap. Ann. Lye. N. Y. II, ISaa, 428. 



Ceratorhyncha occidenlalis, Bonap. Comp. List, lt38, C6. — Aud Orn. Biog. V, 1839, 104; pi. 402. 

 " Cerorhina orienlaiis, Bonap." Brandt, Bull. Acad. St. Petersburg, I, 1837, 345. 

 Cerorhina monocerata, (Cassin,) Baird & Cassin, Gen. Rep. Birds, 905. 

 Sp. Ch. — Bill rather large, flattened laterally; upper mandible with an upright horny appendage at its base, the top or termi- 

 nation of which is frequently broken or worn off; angle of under mandible very distinct, and having the appearance of beinga 

 distinct piece; wings moderate, pointed; tail short, rounded; legs short, robust. Head and entire upper parts dark fuliginous; 

 lighter and tinged with ashy on the throat and neck in front; darker and nearly black on the back and rump. A line of long 

 yellowish white feathers over and behind the eye and another from the corner of the mouth. Under parts of body white; under 

 wing coverts and sides ashy brown; bill dark orange; legs light colored. 



Total length, about 15 to 15' inches; wing, ?}; tail, 2J; bill to gape, 2 inches. 



Hab. — Northwestern and western coasts of America; northeastern Asia; Japan, (Com. Perry's Blxpedition.) 



This curious bird, first described by Bonaparte from specimens said to have been brought 

 from the west coast of America, is foxind moderately abundant on the lower part of Paget 

 Sound and in the Straits of Fuca. In the summer of 1854 I obtained a couple of young 

 birds from the vicinity of Port Towuscnd, Washington Territory. Unfortunately they were 

 destroyed by rats. Protection island, near the last-mcutioued locality, is said to be a favorite 

 breeding ground of the species, where, according to the accounts given me by Indians, they 

 breed in holes dug in the steep banks, like those of the black guillemot, and are said to have 

 much the same habits. The most remarkable feature of the bird is the characteristic singular 

 wax-yellow protuberance on the bill. 



Dr. Ayres, of San Francisco, had in his cabinet a specimen of this species obtained b}' him 

 from the Farraloncwislands. — S. 



CERORHINA SUCKLEYI, Cassin. 



CerDrhiim sitckhiji, (Cassin,) Baird & Cassin, Gen. Rep. Birds, p. DOB. 



Sp. Ch. — Sniiillcr than the preceding, and with the bill much more narrow laterally; plumage darker. Bill shorter than 



the head ; upper mandible curved towards the end, without distinct basal knobs ; under mandible with the angle very 



distinct ; bill rather widened at the base, compressed towards the end ; wings short ; tail very short. Entire upper parts 



brownish black, darker and nearly clear black on the head and back. Throat, neck, and upper part of breast dark cinereous; 



