426 Synopsis of the Birds 



Female similar to the male. Young differing from the 

 adult. Moult twice in the year, undergoing little or no 

 change of color. 



Reside throughout the year in Arctic regions, very con- 

 fined in their migrations. Live socially at sea, swimming 

 among the ice with much grace and dexterity, retiring at 

 night to the clefts of rocks, or to burrows dug with their bill 

 and feet. Feed on Crustacea, mollusca, and other small ma- 

 rine animals. Lay without any preparation, in holes of rocks, 

 or in their burrows, a single egg. Exceedingly stupid : easily 

 killed or taken. Eggs and skin useful to the Arctic tribes. 



Inhabit the Polar seas between Asia and America. Formed 

 of three species, of which one is not well determined. 



376. Phaleris psittacula, Temm. Black ; belly white ; a 

 line behind the eyes, and a spot above, white ; ridge of the 

 bill compressed. 



Adult, bill red. 



Young, bill yellowish-dusky. 



Alca psittacula et tetracula, Lath. Perroquet, and Dusky 

 JLuh, Syn. v. 95. Jig. 2. and 3. the head. 



Inhabits the north-western coasts of America, and the op- 

 posite ones of Asia : common in Kamtschatka.* 



* Phaleris cristatella, Temm. Blackish, beneath lighter, tinged with 

 bluish on the breast, and yellowish on the vent ; a frontal tuft of six or 

 eight feathers curling over the bill ; sides of the head ornamented with long, 

 slender, white feathers ; ridge of the bill hardly compressed, lower mandi- 

 ble with a groove each side from the throat. 



Young black, beneath white ; no tuft. 



Alca cristatella, et pygmaza, Lath. Crested, or Flat-billed Auk, Lath. 

 Syn. Hi. pi. 95. Jig. 4. the head. Phaleris cristatella, Temm. pi. col. 200. 

 adult. Alca cristatella, Vieill. Gal. Ois. pi. 297. adult. 



Inhabits the seas of Japan, and the north-eastern coast of Asia, especial- 

 ly Kamtschatka. Visits also in all probability, the opposite western shores 

 of North America. Allied to our last Uria. Alca antiqua of Lath, is most 

 probably a third North American species of Phaleris. 



