GREAT AUK. 437 



beak from the forehead 2 in., and at the root exactly as 

 high as it is broad ; grey-blue, with red tip. In the 

 young bird the beak is only half as high as it is long, 

 and smooth at the sides. 

 Is principally confined to the Scandinavian Polar seas, 



although occasionally a pair breed off the south-west coasts. 



They are rare, however, except in the far north. 



Gen. Alca, L. 



Beak feather clad on its inner half; the outer half high, 

 compressed, and transversely furrowed; upper mandible 

 hooked and convex ; under mandible with an angular pro- 

 jection near the tip ; nostrils medial, covered ; first primary 

 longest ; secondaries very short. 



298. AICA TOEDA, L. Tordmule. The Eazor Bill. D. F. 



Black above ; below white ; wings formed well for 

 flight, and, when closed, reach over the tail root ; tail 

 sharp, twelve feathers. Length 1 ft. 7 in. ; head and 

 beak 4 in. ; beak from gape 2-f- in. long, and about 1 in. 

 high ; eyes small, brown ; beak and legs black. In the 

 summer there is a small white streak in front of the eye, 

 which is not observed in winter, and the front of the 

 neck to the middle is black, but white in the winter ; 

 the white spot on the side of the neck, and the white 

 transverse streaks across the beak, are apparent at all 

 seasons. 

 Is met with in the Cattegat and the Baltic, but more 



commonly in the Polar seas. 



299. A. IMPENNIS, L. Garfogel. The Great Auk. D. F. 



As large as a tame goose in the body. Length 2 ft. 

 10 in. ; tail 3 in. ; beak to the forehead 3 in. 5 1. long, 

 1 in. 6 1. high, with round edges above and below, and 

 eight white transverse furrows on the upper mandible, 

 ten on the under ; tarsus 2 in. 2 1. In the summer the 

 throat and all the upper parts are black ; a large oblong 

 white spot between the eye and gape ; secondaries 



