The Zoologist — September, 1870. 2293 



descriptive terms used by these authors may not have been critically 

 correct. It seems unnecessary, and it would be perhaps unjustifiable, 

 to attempt to discriminate the present species from Alca antiqua, upon 

 the grounds just mentioned. They had best be regarded as the same, 

 at least until suites of specimens may determine the existence of two 

 species, differing in the particulars above mentioned. No indications 

 of a distinction of species can be found in the extensive series of 

 specimens at present contained in American collections. 



This species, in the condition here described as that of the adult, 

 is the Uria senicula, Pallas ; and should bear the name of Synthlibo- 

 rhamphus seniculus in the event of its not proving the same as Alca 

 antiqua, Gm. Mergulus cirrhocephalus, Vigors (Arctica cirrhocephala, 

 Gray), is the same bird, in the same condition of maturity. The 

 species has no other synonyms of consequence, except those resulting 

 firom its reference to several different genera. 



In breeding plumage it is a very handsome bird, being in fact — 

 with the exception of Wurmizusume — the handsomest of the Urinae. 

 It is of frequent occurrence along the coast and among the islands of 

 the North Pacific; extending, on the Asiatic side, to Japan, and on 

 the American, to Washington Territory, U. S. It apparently migrates 

 southward in winter. It breeds in the vicinity of Sitka, R. A. It is 

 well represented by numerous specimens in the collections of the 

 Philadelphia Academy and of the Smithsonian Institution. It has 

 been figured by Temminck and Schlegel, and by Audubon. 



Synthlihorhamphus Wurmizusume (Temm.), Coues. — Habitat : 

 Asiatic and American coasts of the North Pacific ; south to Japan 

 and Washington Territory, U. S. Specimens in Mus. Acad. Phila- 

 delphia, and Mus. Smiths. Inst. 



Bill more slender and elongated than in the type of the genus, the 

 depth at base less, and the compression not so great, the sides of the 

 bill being less vertical ; rictus nearly straight. Rather larger than 

 S. antiquus. 



Adult. — Bill decidedly yellow (in the dried state), the ridge of upper 

 mandible alone black. Feet dull livid bluish, the webs dusky (feet 

 dusky yellowish in the dried state). "Eye brilliant gray, iris black" 

 (label), A large conspicuous crest springing from the extreme fore- 

 head of a dozen (more or less) slender elongated feathers, not 

 recurved, but extending straight backwards quite to the occiput. A 

 large conspicuous series of white feathers on each side of the top of 

 the head, extending from the base of the crest, on the forehead far in 



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