PHALKEIS. BIRDS. 327 



U. grylle, Lath. (ColymbusgryIle,Ltin.) Black or Spotted Guillemot. 

 Black above, white beneath, and on the cheeks ; a large white 

 patch on the middle of the wings ; legs red ; iris brown. 14 

 inches long. Inhabits Northern Ocean. B Shaw, xii. pi. 64. 



** Bill shorter than the head. 



U. alle y Tern. (Alca alle, Lin. Mergulus, Vieill.) Little Auk, or 

 Small Black and White Diver. Plumage above black ; under 

 parts and tips of posterior quills white ; bill very short, about 

 half as long as the head, and very little arched. 8^ inches long. 

 Inhabits the Polar Regions. Shaw, xiii. pi. 3. 



These birds inhabit the northern seas, at least as high as latitude 76% where they 

 abound among the channels between the floes of ice. During storms or intense cold 

 some of them are impelled into more southerly climates. They feed much on a 

 small species of crab, and breed in the holes and crevices of craggy rocks, the fe- 

 male laying one bluish-green egg, generally without spots, but sometimes minutely 

 sprinkled with dusky. 



Gen. 21. PHALERIS, Tern. Alca, Lath. 



Bill shorter than the head, depressed, dilated on the sides, near- 

 ly quadrangular, notched at the tip, the lower mandible form- 

 ing a salient angle ; nostrils marginal, in the middle of the 

 bill, linear, half-concealed, and pervious ; legs short, placed 

 far behind ; tarsus slender ; three toes before ; claws much 

 bent ; wings middle-sized, the first quill longest. 



P. cristatella, Tern. (Alca cristaiella, Lath.) Tufted Stariki or 

 Tufted Auk. Body dusky ; back with rusty spots ; a tuft on 

 the forehead, composed of several short feathers, from the middle 

 of which rise six long filamentous and silky ones, which bend for- 

 ward on the bill ; bill red. 12 inches long. Inhabits Islands 

 between Asia and America. Shaw, xiii. pi. 5. 



P. Psittacula, Tern. Body dusky, abdomen white ; face produced 

 and straightened towards the base of the bill ; bill red ; legs dirty- 

 yellow ; membrane brown. Size of a blackbird. Inhabits Kamt- 

 schatka. Shaw, xiii. 44. 



Gen. %2. MORMON, Illig. -Alca, IJm.<-Fratercula, Vieill. 



Bill shorter than the head, deeper than long, and much com- 

 pressed ; both mandibles arched, transversely furrowed, and 

 notched towards the tip ; ridge of the upper mandible ele- 

 vated above the level of the skull ; nostrils lateral, marginal, 

 linear, naked, almost wholly concealed by a large naked 

 membrane ; legs short, placed far behind, furnished with 

 only three toes, all directed forwards and webbed ; claws 

 much hooked ; wings short. 



The birds of this genus are nearly allied to the Guillemots and the Penguins, with 

 the last of which they have been generally classed. They fly less than the former, 

 and are seldom found on land except during the breeding season. 



M. fratercula, Tern. (Alca arctica, Lin.) The Puffin. Top of the 



