2088 Tjik Zoologist — Apkil, 1870. 



portion of the culmen ; bounded below by the nasal slit; bounded 

 anteriorly by a deep groove whose convexity looks backwards; these 

 four boundaries enclosing a subtrapezoidal space. The terminal part 

 smooth, except in the presence of three widely separated, oblique, 

 curved, dee]) grooves, whose convexity looks backwards. Lower 

 mandible with the sides perfectly smooth, the base convex, the con- 

 vexity looking backwards, with slight indication of a ridge of 

 punctulated, subcorneous tissue. General outline of culuien convex ; 

 this convexity, however, interrupted near the middle by a notch, 

 forming a re-entrant angle between the two parts of the_culmen, each 

 of which, taken separately, is convex in outline — ihe anterior part the 

 most so. Rictus exceedingly sinuate, the tip of the upper mandible 

 being almost perpendicularly hung over that of the lower; the angle 

 of the mouth occupied by a large fibrous or membranous excrescence, 

 nearly circular in outline, turgid in life ; in the dry slate shrunken and 

 minutely punctulated. This peculiar warty excrescence seems of 

 nearly the same structure as the base of the bill itself, with which it 

 is directly continuous. Nasal slit short, linear, subbasal, placed close 

 to the commissural edge of the upper mandible. Palate and floor of 

 mouth both deeply excavated ; the culling edge of both mandibles 

 exceedingly sharp. 



The eyelids are naked along the edge, but present no thickening or 

 unusual fleshiness. The crest springs chiefly from what would other- 

 wise be a naked linear groove in the plumage from the eyes to the 

 extreme occiput. Some of the featliers begin to grow much above, if 

 not a little anterior to, the eyes. The crest in })erfeclly adult birds is 

 more ihixn Jour inches long. The feathers have exceedingly slender, 

 delicate shafts, and loose, entirely disconnected, though quite lengthy 

 fibrilla;, and a peculiar silky glossiness. 



The wings are of the usual size and shape in this family. The tail 

 is comparatively somewhat longer, perhaps, than in any other Alcidine 

 bird; the lateral feathers a little graduated ; the central pair shorter 

 than Ihe next, producing an eiuargination. The legs are as in 

 Fratercula. The claw of the inner toe presents the curious 

 character which has already been dwelt upon in connection with 

 F. arctica. 



Adull : Bill orange-red; the basal moiety of both mandibles livid 

 horn or enamel colour; the punctulated basal ridge, and rictal 

 callosities more yellowish. Legs and feet obscure reddish ; the webs 

 bright coral-red; claws brownish-black. Edges of eyelids red; 



