ALClDyE — THE AUKS — .LUNDA. 



531 



i'asliioncd with ('Si)eeial regard to the fantastic and tlio comical. In common with 

 the clrrJuita, it conies up from the sea, from the south, to th(; cliffs of the islands 

 about the 10th of IVIay, always in pairs, never coming or going in flocks. It makes a 

 nest of dried sea-ferns, grass, moss, etc., far back or down in some deep rocky crevice, 

 wlu!re the egg when laid is generally inaccessible. It lays but a single egg, large, 

 oblong-oval, pure white ; and, contrary to the custom of Gidls, Arries, Choochkies, 

 etc., when the egg is removed the Sea Parrot does not renew it, but deserts the nest, 

 probably locating elsewhere. The young chick Mr. Elliott Avas not able to get until it 

 emerged fully fledged and ready for flight, in August, when it does not differ materi- 

 ally from its parent ; it leaves the islaiids about the lOth of September. This bird is 

 said to be very quiet and unobtrusive, and not to come to the islands in large num- 

 bers, and to breed everywhere else in Behring's Sea. Its fliglit is performed with 

 quick and rapid wing-beats, in a straight and steady course. There is no difiference 

 between the sexes as to size, shape, or plumage. 



The eg^ is noticeably more elongate than are those of Fratercula arctica or Lunda 

 cirrhata, though not more pointed. The shell is rough and of a dead white, and, so 

 far as known, without any obscure or obsolete marking of the other species. The 

 specimens measure about 2.75 inches in length, and 1.75 in their larger breadth. 



Genus LUNDA, Pallas. 



Lunda, Pali.. Zoog. Rosso- As. II. 1826, 363 (type, AJca cirrhata. Pall.). 

 Sacjmatorhina, Bonap. P. Z. S. 1851, 252 (type, S. Lathami, Bp., = Lunda cirrhata, }\\v .\) . 

 Gijmnoblcpharum, Brandt, Bull. So. St. Petersb. II. 1837, 349 (ty[)e, Alca cirrhata, Pai>l. ). 

 Chcniscas, Gkay, Cat. Gen. & Sul)gen. B. Brit. Uns. 1855, 127 (same type ; not of Eytox, 1838). 



Char. Similar to Fratercula, but na.?al shield rapidly increasing in width toward the top, 

 where forming a thickened, slightly arched ridgo nearly cipud in length to the culmen ; mandible 



L. cirrhata, smnincr adult. 



smooth, without grooves ; eyelids withont horny appendages ; head ornanienlod by a deciirvod 

 superciliary tuft of long, silky, straw-colored feathers. Lower parts dusky. 



