594 AVEs. 



Mergxdus aile. — The Little Auk. I'Iste xlviii. fig 4. Describcil, vol. iii. 

 p. 398. 



Genits 24.— PHALERIS.— re;»OT«ncft. 



Generic Character. — Bill shorter than the Iiead, depressed, somewhat 

 dilated on the sides, quadrangular and slightly notched at the tip ; tha 

 lower mandible angulated on its lower side ; nostrils remote from the base, 

 placed on the edge of the upper mandible, linear, and half concealed by a 

 membrane ; legs short ; tarsus scaly ; feet with three long anterior toes only, 

 united to their tips by a serrated membrane; nails long and bent; wijigs of 

 medium length ; the first quill longest. 



Phaleris cristatella. — The Tufted Starikl. Plate xlvii*. fig. 5. Brownish 

 ash-coloured; venter and crissum white ; wings brownish ; front surmount- 

 ed by an upright crest of arched feathers ; face and cheeks with long fila- 

 mentous, silky feathers; bill scarlet; legs and feet dusky-yellow. Twelve 

 inches long. Inhabits America and Asia, 



Genus 25.— MORMON Illiger. 



Generic Character. — Bill shorter than the head, much compressed, deeper 

 than long ; both mandibles arcuated, transversely furrowed, with a notch 

 near the tip ; ridge of the upper mandible elevated above the level of the 

 coronal surface ; nostrils lateral, linear, remote from the base, placed on the 

 margin of the upper mandible ; nearly concealed by a large membrane ; legs 

 short, placed very far beliind ; feet with three anterior toes only, webbed to 

 their points, rather long and hooked nails ; wings short ; first and second 

 quills longest. 



Mormon fratercula. — The Puffin. Plate xlviii. fig. G. Described, vol. iii. 

 p. -101. 



Genus 2G. — ALC A. — Linnceus. 



Generic Character. — Bill straight, broad, much compressed, and greatly 

 be lit towards the tip ; basal half of both mandibles covered with feathers, 

 groored tansversely towards the venter and point ; upper mandible hooked ; 

 the under mandible slightly concave next the base, and forming an acute 

 angle at a distance from the point, from whence it becomes abruptly point- 

 ed ; nostrils linear, marginal, situated near the centre of the bill, nearly 

 covered by a membrane, and hid by feathers ; legs short, placed far behind ; 

 tiu'sus, while in a sitting posture, horizontal; feet with three anterior toes 

 only, connected to their points by scalloped viebs; nails short, slightly hook- 

 ed and retrousse ; wings very small ; first quill longest. 



Alca impenyiis — The Great Auk. Plate xlviii. fig. 5. Described, vol. iii. 

 p. 394. and 398. 



Genuj 27.— SPHENISCUS.—5;mo?». 



Generic Character. — Bill shorter than tlie head, straight, laterally com. 

 pressed, very thick, strong, hooked at the point, and obliquely grooved ; 

 edges of both mandibles inflected, the under one covered with feathers at its 

 base, and sub-truncated at its tip ; nostrils small, linear, situated in the fur- 

 row, near the middle of the bill ; legs very short, thick, placed very far be- 

 hind; feet with three anterior toes, webbed to their tips ; hallux articulated 



