BIRDS OF NORTH AND MIDDLE AMERICA. 763 
Mergulus cassinii GamBet, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila., Aug., 1845, 266 (coast of 
California); Journ. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila., ii, 1850, 55, pl. 6.—Barrp, in Stans- 
bury’s Rep. Great Salt Lake, 1852, 335 (coast of California). 
A[retica] cassinit Gray, Gen. Birds, iii, 1848, 645. 
Genus PHALERIS Temminek. 
Phaleris Temmincx, Man. d’Orn., ed. 2, i, 1820, p. exii. (Type, Alca psittacula 
Pallas. See Allen, Bull. Am. Mus. N. H., xxiv, 1908, 37.) 
Cyclorrhynchus Kaur, Entw. Eur. Thierw., 1829, 15. (Type, Alca psittacula 
Pallas.) 
Ombria Escuscnottz, Zool. Atlas, pt. iv, 1831, 3. (Type, Alca psittacula Pallas.) 
Medium-sized Phalerine (wing 140-152 mm.) with very deep and 
much compressed bill with strongly convex upper and lower outlines, 
the mandible only about half as deep as maxilla, strongly recurved 
to the acute tip, and maxillary tomium strongly convex. 
Bill relatively short, deep, and compressed, its greatest depth 
nearly equal to length of exposed culmen, and equal to more than 
twice its width at latero-frontal antie; culmen and maxillary tomium 
both strongly convex, the latter distinctly notched subterminally, 
the tip of maxilla obliquely truncated (in lateral profile); mandible 
only about half as deep at gonydeal angle as maxilla, both gonys 
and tomium strongly recurved to the acute tip, the gonydeal angle 
prominent; mandibular rami feathered for about posterior two- 
thirds (measured from base of gonys to rictus), the malar feathering 
forming a distinct median malar antia or angle; nostril longitudinally 
narrowly ovate, overhung by a broad corneous operculum with 
flaring lower edge, a considerable corneous space separating the 
nostril from nearest loral feathering; latero-frontal antia about on 
same vertical line with posterior end of nostril, where forming a 
distinct obtuse angle. Wing moderate, the longest primary (outer- 
most) exceeding distal secondaries by less than half the length of 
wing. Tail about three-sevenths as long as wing, slightly but dis- 
tinctly rounded, the rectrices (14 in number) broadly rounded at 
tips. Tarsus shorter than middle toe without claw, the acrotarsium 
reticulate; outer toe (without claw) as long as middle toe (without 
claw), the inner toe as long as first two phalanges of middle toe. 
Nuptial ornaments.—The following deciduous accessory pieces at 
base of the maxilla are present during the breeding season, after 
which they are shed and do not reappear until the following nesting 
season: (1) ‘‘The soft white swelling at the base of the maxillary 
tomia, the tomial tumor.” (2) ‘‘The nasal cuirass, an irregular 
piece above and behind the nostrils, not continuous with the cor- 
responding piece on the opposite side.” (3) ‘‘A small unpaired 
saddle-piece riding at the base of the culmen, rising knoblike above 
the latter, and with the ends of its legs just touching the upper 
