2O6 BRITISH BIRDS. 



GENUS CCII. TACHYBAPTES, Reichenbach (1851). 



374. Taehybaptes fluviatilis (Tunst.). LITTLE GREBE. 



Hab. Temperate and tropical regions of Old World. 



Adult: above deep brown; secondaries showing scarcely 

 any white ; chin blackish ; cheeks, throat, and upper 

 breast rufous ; belly greyish-white ; sides dark brown ; 

 bill horn-brown, greenish at base on each side ; iris 

 brownish-red ; feet greenish. Length 8*50 ; wing 4*25. 

 In winter paler and with the chin whitish. Young : 

 chiefly brownish-white below. 



Common everywhere on ponds, lakes and streams. Eggs : 

 4 to 6 ; much smaller than P. cristatus ; 1*50 by roo. 



Family Aloldse. 



GENUS CCTII. ALCA, Linnaeus (1766). 



Bill rather large, upper mandible with the terminal part 

 arched, enlarged and much decurv-ed, lower correspondingly 

 bent, base of both mandibles clothed with short feathers. 

 Nostrils marginal, narrow, situated in middle of bill. 

 Hind toe absent ; front toes fully webbed. 



375. Alea torda, Linn. RAZORBILL. 



Hab. Coasts and islands of North Atlantic. 



Adult : above black, glossed with green ; throat dark 

 brown; below white; greater wing-coverts slightly tipped with 

 white ; bill black, with a white groove on each mandible 

 and a white line in front of eye. In winter throat is white 

 and upper parts are slightly duller. Length 15*50; wing 

 7*50. Young : resembles adults in winter but white grooves 

 on bill are absent and white in front of eye is scarcely visible. 



Breeds in large numbers on the rocky portions of our 

 coasts, depositing in May a single egg on a rock-ledge or 



