The Zoologist — February, 1870. 2011 



subfamilies. In this particular it is substantially the same as Mr. 

 Gray's, but the sequence of the genera is entirely different, and is 

 nearly that of the first-mentioned author. Beginning with typical 

 Alca it passes to Fratercula, and ends with Lomvia, instead of passing 

 to Lomvia and ending with Fratercula. But in either case the collo- 

 cation of the genera is essentially the same. It is believed that this 

 sequence of genera cannot be broken in upon to any considerable 

 degree, without the rupture of a natural series as a consequence. 



Desciuptions of Geneba and Species. 

 Subfamily Alcin^. — Alca, LinnoBus. 



Size largest in the family. Form heavy, compact, robust. Head 

 large, ovate, produced forwards. Neck moderately long, thick. Wings 

 morphologically perfect, teleologically rudimenlal, not admitting of 

 flight, in length from carpal joint to end of longest primary scarcely 

 twice as long as tail ; when folded not reaching the tail. Tail short, 

 pointed. Legs short and stout. Webs broad and full. Tarsi com- 

 pressed ; their anterior ridge and superior surfaces of toes scutellate, 

 lateral and posterior aspects reticulate, the plates on the latter very 

 small. TibiEe feathered nearly to the joint. Bill about as long as the 

 head, large, strong, very deep, exceedingly compressed. Upper 

 mandible with culmeu about straight for half its length, then regularly 

 convex, tip obtuse, declinate, scarcely overhanging ; a deep groove on 

 its side at base, parallel with the outline of feathers ; its side then per- 

 fectly smooth for a space, then deeply impressed with six to ten 

 oblique curved sulci. Gape very large, running far back ; line of com- 

 missure nearly following that of culmen. Eminentia symphysis 

 slight; gonys nearly straight. Lower mandible two-thirds as deep as 

 upper, its sides impressed with six to ten straight, vertical sulci. 

 Feathers about base of mandibles short, very compact, extending 

 downwards from base of culmen, a little forwards, to commissural 

 edge of upper mandible; reachiug much further on sides of lower 

 mandible ; wholly covering the moderately long, very narrowly linear, 

 impervious nostrils, which are situated just above the commissure. 



It is unnecessary to compare this genus with any other. Ulamania, 

 most closely allied, is at once distinguished by its teleologically perfect 

 wings, though nearly identical with Alca in other points of structure. 

 The only known representative of the genus is remarkable, both for its 

 large size and for not possessing the power of flight, in consequence 

 of which it may be said to represent, in the Northern Hemisphere, the 



