906 



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



CEKOEHINA SUCKLEYI, Cassin. 



Sp. Ch. — Smaller than the preceding, and with the bill 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 ; lower part of 

 breast and abdomen white ; sides and under wing coverts cinereous ; bill light at base, dark at the end ; feet dark yellow. 



Total length about 12| inches ; wing, 6g inches ; tail, 1| inch. 



Hab. — Steilacoom, Puget's Sound, (Dr. Geo. Suckley.) 



This species is smaller than the preceding and darker in color, especially on the upper surfacie 

 of the head and hody. The bill also is much more slender. The only specimen that we hare 

 ever seen is in the coUection^'made by Dr. George Suckley, U. S. A., whose name we have taken 

 the liberty of applying to it, as a slight testimonial to his great zeal and ability as a naturalist 

 and scientific traveller. 



According to Dr. Suckley, this species is said by the Indians to be not uncommon on Puget's 

 Sound. He further states that in life the membrane at the base of the upper mandible is 

 grayish dusky, the knob (!) slightly more greyish. The middle of both mandibles dingy 

 orange, their tips dusky. Iris pale hazel. Under surface of toes bluish white, darker about 

 the articulations ; nails black. 



List of specimens. 



PHALERIS, Temminck. 



? Simorhynchus, Merrem, 1819. Type, .Slca cristatella. 

 Phaleris, Temminck, 1820. Same type. 



Ch. — General form, short and robust. Head rather large and frequently with a crest of narrow feathers curved forwards. 

 Bill short, compressed, with the commissure more or less curved. Aperture of the nostrils large, and with the base generally 

 covered with short, velvety feathers. Wings moderate, pointed. Tail short; legs moderate; tarsi compressed, covered with 

 minute circular or oval scales ; feet with three toes fully webbed, (no hind toe ;) claws moderate, rather short and blunt. Con- 

 tains several species, amongst which are the smallest of the water birds. 



Simorhjmclms, Merrem. 

 PHALERIS CRISTATELLA, (Pallas, )Bonap. 



Crested Auk. 



Mca cristatella, Pallas, Spic. Zool. V, 1769, 18.— Gm. I, 1788, 552. 



Phaleris cristalella, Bon. List, 1838. Not of Temminck. 



Phaleris svperciliosa, Bonaf. Comp. List, 1838, 66. 



" Phaleris superciliata, Bonap." (Name on Audubon's plate 402.) 



Una dubia, Pallas, Zoog. Rosso-Asiat. II, 371, plate 87.' 



riGUREs.— Pallas, Spic. Zool. pt. V, pi. 3.— Ib. Zoog. Rosso-Asiat. pi. 86.— Aud. B. of Am. pi. 402 ; Oct. ed. VII, pi. 467. 



