902 



U. S, p. E. E. EXP. AND SUEVEYS — ZOOLOGY — GENEEAL REPOET. 



This genus contains three or four species only, easily distinguished from all other sea birds 

 by their high compressed bills, usually brightly colored, and with the general heavy form, 

 presenting a peculiar and somewhat grotesque appearance. These birds inhabit high northern 

 latitudes, descending more southwardly in the winter season, and nearly all the species are 

 well known to navigators and travellers under the name of puffins. The bill in this genus is 

 uniformly corneous, and not composed of two parts of different texture, as is usual in birds. 



Luuda. Pallas. 

 MORMON OIRRHATA, (Pallas.) 



The Tufted Puffin. 



Aim drrhata, Pallas, Spicilegia Zoologica, pt. T, p. 7, (1769.) — Gm. Syst. I, 1788, 553. 

 Mormon drrhatus, Bon. Syn, 1838, 429.— Aud. Orn. Biog. Ill, 599 ; pi. 293.— Ib. Syn. 343. 



FiGnRES.— BoFF. PI. Eul. 761.— Pallas, Spic. Zool. pi. I and V.— Vieill. Gal. II, pi. 299.— Add. B. of Am. pi. 249, Oct. ed. 

 Vn.pl. 462. 



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

 horny, upper mandible 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 blllj third with two or three transverse curved grooves, and 

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

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



Two first parts of the bill 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 parts 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. 



Sab. — Western coast of America. Oregon, (Dr. Suckley,) California, (Dr. Heermann,) accidental on the coast of Maine, (Mr. 

 Audubon ) 



One of the most abundant species of this family on the coasts of western and northwestern 

 America. It is easily recognized by the pendent crest-like feathers on each side of the head. 



List of specimens. 



Fraercula,t Briss. 

 MOEMON COENICULATA, Naumann. 



Mormon comiculaia, Naumann, Isis, 1831, p. 782, (N. America.) 

 Mormon gladalis, Add. Orn. Biog. lit, 1835, 599; pi. 293. 

 PiGDREs.— Naumann, Isis, 1821, pi. 7, fig. 3, 4.— Gray, Gen. of B. Ill, pi. 174.— Aud. B. of Am. pi. 293. Oct. ed. VH, pi. 

 463.— Gould, B. of Eur. V, pi. 404. 



Sp. Ch. — An elevated, sharp, spine-like process over each eye, longer and sharper than in any other species, under the ey e 

 a transverse process of the same description. 



Smaller than the preceding, general form stout, head large, bill large, much flattened laterally, entirely corneous, upper 

 mandible composed of two parts, the first of which at the base is narrow, and covered with minute spots, terminal portion with a 



