74 



Another specimen: culmen l-TO ; commissure 2-10; feathers on side of 

 lower mandible to its tip 1-55; depth of bill at base -50; width at same 

 point -38. 



An interesting species of Uria, easily recognized by its peculiar colors, 

 which are different from those of either of the other two species here described. 

 Although unmistakeably characterized by Pallas, in 1811, as above cited, it 

 seems to have been overlooked by many subsequent writers. It appears, how- 

 ever, in the monograph by Prof. Brandt, who was well acquainted with Pallas' 

 labors and discoveries ; and is on different occasions noticed by Mr. Cassin, 

 who has given a figure of it in the Atlas accompanying Prof. Baird's Birds of 

 North America. There is a fine specimen in the Philadelphia Academy, from 

 Kamtschatka ; and a mutilated one in the Smitlisonian Institution, from Japan. 

 The latter is interesting on account of the new and unusual locality. The bird 

 is chiefly an inhabitant of the higher latitudes on the coasts of the Pacific 

 Ocean. It has not yet become a common bird in collections. 



The species is somewhat larger than grylleov columba, but chiefly noticeable, 

 as far as form is concerned, by the greater stoutness and straightness of the 

 bill, very observable upon direct comparison. The culmen and commissure 

 are nearly straight almost to the very tip, where they are rather suddenly de- 

 curved. The gonys and mandibular rami are quite straight ; the eminence at 

 their symphysis is well-marked. The nasal fossa is short, but wide and deep ; 

 the feathers reach to the nostrils, but do not cover them. These nasal feathers, 

 as well as those around the base of the lower mandible, are dull white. The 

 eyes are conspicuously encircled with white, which stretches behind them for 

 about an inch, tapering to a fine point. There are no indications of white on 

 the wings. With the exceptions just mentioned the whole plumage is sooty- 

 black, tinged with slaty above, with brownish below, and becoming light ashy 

 on the under surfaces of the wings. The bill is black, as in the other species; 

 the inside of the mouth probably carmine red in life. The feet are light yellow 

 in the dried specimens, doubtless vermillion or carmine red in life. The webs 

 are still tinged with this color. The claws are black. 



It is possible that the plumage just described is not that of the perfectly 

 adult bird, in which, when fully mature, the white about the sides of the head 

 and base of the bill may not be exactly as here described ; and the body colors 

 may be purer and more intense. Dr. Schlegel describes a specimen from the 

 Kurile islands as " d'un noir enfume uniforme ;" and another, from Sachalin 

 island, as an " individu an plumage imparfait ; d'un brun fuligineux, passant 

 au blanchatre sur la face et les cot^s de la tete." 



LOMVIA, {Ray) Brandt. 



Lomvia, Pay, Syn. Meth. Av., p. 120. Type L. Hoieri Ray, (fide Bryant). 

 Lomvia, Brandt, Bull. Acad. St. Pet. ii, 1837, p. 345. Type Coli/mbustroille Linn. 

 Cataraciex, Moehring, Gen. Av. 1752, p. 68, No. 75. Based on Lomvia Ins. 



Farree Ilociri. 

 Cafarac/cx, Bryant, Monog. Gen. Cataractes, Pr. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist. 1861. 



Type Colymbiis troille Linn. 

 Alca, Linnseus, Fyst. Nat. i, 1758, in part ; and of many older authors. Also 



of Schlegel (18''67), in part. 

 Uria, Brisson, Orn. ii, 1760, p. 377, in part ; and of authors generally. 

 Colymlms. Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. i, 1766, in part; and of many older authors. 

 C('pp/<us, Pallas, Zoog. R.-A. ii, 1811, p. 345, in part. 



Bill shorter than the head, longer than the tarsus, straight, or slightly de- 

 curved, usually very slender, much compressed, culmen regularly decurved in 

 its whole length, rictus moderately and very gradually decurved, gonys straight, 

 or even slightly concave in outline, very long, nearly as long as the culmen ; 

 a groove in the side of the upper mandible near its tip ; commissural edge of 

 upper mandible greatly inflected. Nasal fossae scarcely apparent, fully feath- 



