2012 TfiE Zoologist— February, 1870. 



numerous penguins of the Southern. By many ornithologists it is 

 believed to have very recently become nearly or quite extinct. 



Rigid adherence to the law of priority would necessitate the use of 

 a different name for this genus. " Alca" was first applied by Linnaeus, 

 in 1744, to the genus of which the bird now called Fratercula or Mor- 

 mon arclicus is typical; and even as used by Linnaeus in 1758 it has 

 lorda as its recognized type, according to that rule which regards the 

 species first mentioned as type, when none is otherwise indicated ; so 

 that it cannot, with strict propriety, be used at all in this connection. 

 But the name has become so firmly established by common consent 

 and long usage that it would be ruthless, as well as profitless, to 

 attempt its supercedure by Chenalope.\ of Moehriug, 1752, par- 

 ticularly as this latter word has come into extensive employ for an 

 Anserine genus. The genus Alca, as framed by Linnaeus in 1758, 

 included both torda and impeunis ; and when restricted, by the generic 

 separation of these two types, there seems no good reason why the 

 first mentioned should be regarded as more peculiarly typical of the 

 genus than the last. Should Alca be reserved for Fratercula artica, 

 or for Utamania torda, it will be ap|iarent that numerous unwarrantable 

 innovations necessarily follow, while its employ in connection with 

 impennis entails no such consequences. 



Alca i)npeiuiis, Linn. — Dcscripiion (from the specimen in the Phil- 

 adelphia Academy) : — The white spot between the eye and bill is 

 ovate in shape, its upper border a lillle straightened, its small end 

 towards, but not quite reaching, the bill, ils large end extending to, 

 but not around,' the eye; the width of the black space between it and 

 its fellow is rather more than half an inch. The back is dusky black ; 

 other dark-coloured parts with a good deal of clear brown, especially 

 on the head. The under parts, including the tail-coverts, are white, 

 this colour running far up on the front of the neck in a narrowly acute 

 angle. The under wing-coverts are ashy gray. Tlie secondaries are 

 narrowly but distinctly lipped with white. The bill is deep black, ils 

 sulci dull white. The feet are dark, their precise colour at present 

 nndi'fiuable. 



DiuKusions: — "Length about 30 inches ;" wing 575; tail about 

 300; bill along gape 4"25 ; chord of culmen 3*15 ; greatest width of 

 bill "60> ; greatest depth of upper mandible TOO, of lower 'QQ; tarsus 

 166; middle toe and claw 3*25; outer 3'00; inner 2"25. 



The occurrence of this species on the coast of North America has 

 not been authenticated of late years. Perhaps the last instance on 



