28 



CERATORHYNCHA, Bonaparte. 



Alca, Pallas, Zoog. R.-A. ii, 1811, ia part ; not of authors. 

 Phalerig, Bonaparte, Zool. Journ. iii, 1827; not of authors. 

 Cerorhinca* Bonaparte, Syn. U. S. Birds, 1828. Type C. occidentalis, Bp. =^. 



monocerata, Pall. 

 Chimerina, Eschscholtz, Zool. Atlas, 1829. Type C. cornuta, Esch. =.4. mono- 

 cerata^ Pall. 

 Uria, Audubon, B. Am. vii, 1844, in part ; not of authors. 

 Simorhynchus, Schlegel, Mus. Pays-Bas, 1867, livr. ix, in part; not of Merrem. 



Base of upper mandible with a large upright horny protuberance. Under 

 mandible with an accessory corneous piece interposed between its rami, near 

 their symphysis. Bill shorter than the head, stout, very deep at the base, 

 tapering rapidly to the tip, much compressed, the sides erect, smooth, the cul- 

 men very convex, the rictus gently curved, the gonys nearly straight, except at 

 symphysis, where it is bulging. Nostrils short, linear, subbasal, marginal, 

 impervious. Eye small ; no palpebral appendages. No crest ; no furrow be- 

 hind the eyes ; slender elongated feathers on each side of the head. Inner 

 lateral claw of usual size, shape and position. Other details of form almost 

 exactly as in Fratercula. Size large ; general form robust. 



This curious genus may readily be distinguished from all others of the family 

 by the characters indicated in the two first sentences of the above diagnosis. 

 The intercalation of an accessory corneous element at the mandibular sjva- 

 physis is an entirely unique feature in this family. It seems very much like 

 the " interramicorn," as the writer has elsewhere called it, which is found in 

 the albatrosses, as one of the characters which distinguish those birds from 

 other Procellariidse. In the present instance, it is a feature of especial import- 

 ance and value, as it helps greatly to distinguish this genus from Sagmntorrhina, 

 or, to be more explicit, to separate S. Suckleyi from C. monocerata in every stage 

 of growth. 



The affinities of this genus are decidedly with Fratercula, after Sagmatorrkina, 

 of course. Aside from the peculiarities of the bill, it agrees with the former in 

 most points of structure, except the eyes and inner lateral claw. It does not 

 require comparison with any other genus. It is represented by only a single 

 species, according to the writer's way of thinking, — Suckleyi falling most 

 naturally, as well as can be judged at present, in Sagmatorrhina. 



Ceratorhyncha monocerata (Fall.) Cass, 



Alca monocerata, Pallas, Zoog. R.-A. ii, 1811, p. 362, No. 41 1. 

 Cerorhina monocerata, Cassin, Baird's B. N. A. 1858, p. 905. Cooper and Suck- 

 ley, Pacific R. R. Rep. xii, pt. ii, 1859, p. 284. 

 Simorhynchus wjonocera^ws, Schlegel, Urinatores Mus.Pays-Bas,livr.ix, 1867, p. 26. 



Cites Sagmathorina [lege Sagmatorrhina] Lath-ami Bp. and Cerorhina Suckleyi 



Cass, as young. 

 Phaleris eerorhynca, Bonaparte, Zool. Jour, iii, 1827, p. 53. 

 Cerorhinca occidentalis, Bonaparte, Syn. Am. Birds, Ann. Lye. N. Y. iv, 1828, p. 



428. Nuttall, Man. ii, p. 538. Vigors, Zool. Voy. Blossom, 1839, Ornith. 



p. 33. 

 Ceratorhyncha occidentalis, Bonaparte, Corap. List, 1838, p. 66. Bonaparte, Consp. 



Gav. Comptes Rendus, 1856, xlii, p. 744. 

 Ceratorhina occidentalis, Audubon, Orn. Biog. 1839, v, p. 104, pi. 402, fig. 5. 

 Cerorhina occidentalis. Gray, Genera Birds, iii, 1849, p. 639. Heerraann, Pac. 



R. R. Rep. X, 1859, Route to California, Birds, p. 75. 

 TJria occidentalis, Audubon, B. Am. vii, 1844, p. 364, pi. 471. 



• This word is spelled in a great variety of ways, both by Bonaparte himself, and other 

 authors. We find Cerorhina, Cerorrhina, Ceratorhina, Ceratorrhina, Cerorhinca, Cero- 

 rhynca, Cerorhyncha, Ceratorhyncha, Ceratorrhyncha, etc. The orthography above cited 

 is that apparently first given by Bonaparte, but is obviously erroneous. 



