284 ZOOLOGY. 



Sp. Ch. — The largest species of this genus, general form short and stout, head large, hill much flattened laterally, entirely 

 homy, upper mandihle composed of three parts or lamina, the first of which, next to the frontal feathers, is narrow and 

 covered with minute spots, the second smooth, with the apertures of the nostrils inserted at its lower edges, and with an 

 elevated sub-cylindrical process on its upper edge or the culmen of the hill; third with two or three transverse curved grooves, 

 and somewhat hooked at the tip; under mandible smooth. Head with two crests of elongated pendant feathers from behind 

 the eyes; wings rather short, tail short, legs and feet strong, claws sharp. 



Two first parts of the hill yellowish green, terminal part and under mandible reddish yellow or orange, the under mandible 

 greenish at base. Crests pale yellow ; plumage around the base of the bill, including the eyes, white. All other pai-ts of the 

 plumage brownish black, darker on the head and back; legs bright orange red. 



Total length, about 15 inches; wing, 8; tail, 3 inches. 



Jlab. — Western coast of America; California; accidental on the coast of Maine, (Mr. Audubon.) 



I obtained a specimen of mormon from the vicinity of the Straits of Fuca, which was kindly 

 presented to me through George Gibbs, esq., by Captain Fowler, of the schooner R. B. Potter. 

 The range of the species probably extends as far south as the Farralone islands, off San 

 Francisco baj', as certain specimens there obtained were seen by me in collections in San 

 Francisco.- — S. 



CERORHINA MONOCERATA, (Pallas,) C as sin. 



The Homed-bllled Gnlllemot. 



Alca monocerata, Pallas, Zoog. Rosso-Asiat. 11, 1811,362. 

 Cerorhyncha occidmlalis, Bonap. Ann. Lye. N. Y. II, 1828, 4'28. 



Ceratorhyncha occidentalis, Bo.nap. Comp. List, 1838, 66 — AuD. Cm. Biog. V, 1839, 104; pi. 402. 

 " Cerorhina orientals, Bonap." Brandt, Bull. Acad. St. Petersburg, 1, 1837, 345. 

 Cerorhina monocerala, (Cassin,) Baird & Cassin, Gen. Rep. Birds, 905. 

 Sp. Ch. — Bill rather large, flattened laterally; upper mandible with an upright homy appendage at its base, the top or 

 termination of which is frequently broken or worn off; angle of under mandible very distinct, and having the appearance of 

 being a distinct piece; wings moderate, pointed; tail short, rounded; legs short, robust. Head and entire upper parts dark 

 fuliginous; lighter and tinged with ashy on the throat and neck in front; darker and nearly black on the back and rump. A 

 line of long yellowish white feathers over and behind the eye and another from the corner of the mouth. Under parts of body 

 white; under wing coverts and sides ashy brown; bill dark orange; legs light colored. 

 Total length, about 15 to 15J inches; wing, 7|; tail, 2J; bill to gape, 2 inches. 

 Bab. — Northwestern and western coasts of America; northeastern Asia; Japan, (Com. Perry's Expedition.) 



This curious bird, first described by Bonaparte from specimens said to have been brought 

 from the west coast of America, is found moderately abundant on the lower part of Puget 

 Sound and in the Straits of Fuca. In the summer of 1854 I obtained a couple of young 

 birds from the vicinity of Port Townscnd, Washington Territory. Unfortunately they were 

 destroyed by rats. Protection island, near the last mentioned locality, is said to be a favorite 

 breeding ground of the species, where, according to the accounts given me by Indians, they 

 breed in holes dug in the steep banks, like those of the black guillemot, and are said to have 

 much the same habits. The most remarkable feature of the bird is the characteristic singular 

 wax-yellow protuberance on the bill. 



Dr. Ayres, of San Francisco, had in his cabinet a specimen of this species obtained by him 

 from the Farralone islands. — S. 



CERORHINA SUCKLEYI, Cassin. 



Cerorhina suckleyi, (Cassin,) Baied & Cassin, Gen. Rep. Birds, p. 906. 



Sp. Ch. — Smaller than the preceding, and with the hill much more narrow laterally; plumage darker. Bill shorter than 



the head ; upper mandible curved towards the end, without distinct basal knobs ; under mandible with the angle very 



distinct ; bill rather widened at the base, compressed towards the end ; wings short ; tail very short. Entire upper parts 



brownish black, darker and nearly clear black on the head and back. Throat, neck, and upper part of breast dark cinereous ; 



