CLASS TT. AVES 



ORDER 8. NATATORES. 



320 



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GEEBEs. (See p. S2T.J 



The Black Guillemot, f/". [irylle, is thirteen inches long ; found in the arctic regions of En- 

 rope and America; is occasionally met Avith on our coast. 



The Thick-billed or Brunnich's Guillemot, U. Brunnichii, eighteen inches long ; found in 

 northern regions of Europe and America. This is according to Yarrell; the Smithsonian Cata- 

 logue makes two distinct species, the Thirk-hllled and BrunnicWs, and calls the latter the Murre. 



The Ringed or Bridled Guillemot, U. lacrymans^ is eighteen inches long; found in Europe. 



THE ALCAD^. 



These consist of the Auks and Puffins of the Arctic Seas, and the Penguins of the Antarctic 

 Seas : they have the feet placed very far back, close to the hinder extremity of the body, which 

 adapts them admirably for swimming. They do not support themselves when on laud merely 

 upon the toes, as is the case with most other birds, but npon the whole lower surface of the tarsus, 

 which is usually furnished with a sort of sole to adapt it for this purpose. The wings are very 

 small, sometimes, as in the Penguins and the Great Auk, rudimentaiy, and covered only with a 

 scaly skin; in other cases they are covered with feathers and furnished with quills, so that the birds 

 are capable of rising into the air, although their flight is by no means powerful. The beak is com- 

 pressed and short, sometimes hooked at the tip, and the plumage is exceedingly thick and close. 



Genus FRATERCULA : Fratcrcula. — This includes the Arctic Puffin, i^^. a;-c^eca — Moine 

 and Perroqaet du Xord of the French — twelve inches long; it flies with facility, is migratory, feeds 

 on young fish, marine Crustacea, and insects ; lays one egg in a crevice in the rocks, or in a burrow 

 three feet deep, which it digs in the earth ; found along the rocky coasts -of Europe and America. 

 This is the Sea-Parrot and Coulter-Neb of English authors, and the Mormon arcticus of Tlliger. 



Other species are the Common Puffin, Mormon (jlaeialis of Leach ; the Horned Puffin, 

 M. corniculatus of Naumann, and the Tufted Puffin, M. cirrhatus of P>onapartc. 



Genus ALCA : Alca. — This includes the Great Auk, A. impennis, thirty-two inclies long; it 

 feeds on fish ; builds in the crevices of rocks ; lays one egg the size of a swan's. The wings are 

 little more than fins, and do not enable the bird to fly, but they are very eflicient as oars in 

 swimming. It is found along the shores of the Arctic Seas ; occasionally on the coasts of England. 



Vol. IL— 42. 



