428 Synopsis of Birds 



377. Cerorhinca occidentals, Nob. Blackish, belly whitish; 

 a few slender, elongated, white feathers at the corners of the 

 eyes and mouth: bill yellow. 



Phaleris cerorhinca, Nob. I. c. Id. Jim. Om. iv. pi. Not 

 mentioned in my catalogue. 



Inhabits the western coasts of North America. 



83. MORMON. 



Alca, L. Gm. Lath. Spheniscus, Moehring. Fratercula, 

 Briss. Cuv. Mormon, 111. Temm. Ranz. Larva, (since Fra- 

 tcrcula), Vieill. 



Bill shorter than the head, exceedingly compressed, higher 

 than long, at base as high as the head, obliquely sulcated on 

 the sides, covered at base by a wrinkled, callous membrane ; 

 both mandibles much curved and notched ; upper with the 

 base on a level with the crown, ridge sharp, higher than the 

 front ; lower a little shorter, obtuse : angles of the mouth 

 margined with an extensible membrane : nostrils placed near 

 the callous cere, marginal, long, linear, obsolete, almost en- 

 tirely closed by a naked membrane : tongue short, compres- 

 sed, very acute. Head globular ; orbits naked ; eyes small ; 

 neck short, thick : body plump. Feet placed exceedingly 

 far back ; thighs almost entirely drawn in; tarsus one third 

 shorter than the middle toe, rather slender, carinated above 

 and behind ; toes slender ; middle somewhat longest ; inner 

 one third shorter than the outer : webs moderately broad, 

 slightly indented, projecting a little beyond the toes : nails 

 compressed, much curved, very acute, middle one largest, 

 the inner most incurved. Wings short, slender, acute. Tail 

 short, of sixteen feathers, the middle and outer shortest. 



Female similar to the male. Young differing but little 

 from the adult, except by their small and smoother bill. 

 Moult twice a year, colors of their plumage changing but 



