The Zoologist — Apkil, 1870. 2083 



A very peculiar, though well-known genus of Alcida;, without an 

 intimate ally except Lunda. The essential characters lie in the 

 structure and configuration of the bill, the rictal and palpebral 

 appendages, and the shape and position of the inner claw; although 

 there are other features involved. Lunda is crested, with no furrow 

 in the plumage, no palpebral appendages, and a very differently shaped 

 bill. 



Three distinct species represent the genus, as far as known. They 

 are all peculiarly boreal birds, not coming far south, even in 

 winter. One is extremely abundant on the shores of the North 

 Atlantic ; another inhabits the North Pacific exclusively ; another is 

 more particularly a denizen of the Arctic Ocean at large. They may 

 readily be distinguished as follows : — 



Species (3). 



I. A hlender acute uprighthorn on the upper eyelid. Black of tliro;it 



extencliii}!; to bill I. corniculala. 



II. A short bluiii process on the upper eyelid. A black ring around 

 the neck, not extending to bill. 



Bill mocieiaie ; cliord of culnien 2"00, tlse curve 2" 10, tiie 



ordinate 30; depth at base 1-40 (average), wing 6 50. . 2. arclica. 

 Bill larye; chord of culmen 2M0. the curve 2 60, ihe oidinate 



•45; depth at base r70 (averge) vvin>; 7-25 3. glacialis. 



Frateicula arctica (L.), Stcph. — Habitat: Coasts and Islands of the 

 North Atlantic, very abundant. Rare in the North Pacific (Pallas), 

 where replaced by F. corniculata. In winter, south on the American 

 Coast to Massachusetts. Breeds on the islands in the Bay of Fundy, 

 (Boardman). Numerous specimens in all American Museums. 



Adult (breeding plumage): Iris hazel brown. Eyelids vermilion- 

 red, the fleshy callosities bluish ash. Base of bill and first ridge dull 

 yellowish, the smooth contained space bluish, rest of bill vermilion- 

 red, the tip of the lower mandible and the two terminal grooves 

 yellowish. Legs and feet coral-red, claws black. Crown of head 

 grayish black, the edges of which are sharply defined against the 

 colour of the sides of the head, chin and throat, and the posterior 

 edge of which is separated by a very narrow but distinct transnuchal 

 stripe of ashy from the colour of the back. Sides of head, with chin 

 and throat ashy white ; nearly white between the eyes and bill, and 

 with a maxillary stripe or area of blackish ash on either side of the 

 throat. A narrow, distinct line of white along the anterior edge of the 



