292 FEATEECULIN^. 



Bill small and swollen, without ridges. 

 One genus, Alle. With inter-ramal feathers extending far beyond nasal opening. Tail of 

 twelve feathers. One species, viz. — 



A. alle. 7i" to 8J". The Rotch or Sea-Dove or Little Auk. Wing 4§", well developed. 

 Flight rapid. Above black, edged white. Wings and tail black. Below white. Noisy birds. 

 Almost exclusively oceanic, and seldom approach land except in the breeding season. Sleeps 

 on the water. No nest. One egg (2 x 1-33), greenish white. Arctic Ocean, ranging in winter 

 as far south as Azores and Canary Islands, 



£ill elongate and moderately compressed. 

 One genus, Uria. With inter-ramal feathers extending to or slightly beyond anterior border 

 of nasal opening. Eight species, viz. — 



With tail of twelve feathers. Wing-lining white. 



U. troile. 17" to 18". The Guillemot. Wing 7J" to 8". General colour above smoky 

 brown, below white. An expert diver. A remarkably silent bird. Eemiges twenty-six. 

 Coasts and islands of N. Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, ranging south to Japan, California, New 

 England, Portugal, and occasionally in Mediterranean and in Atlantic to about 30° N. lat. 

 No nest. One egg (3-2 x 20), green or buff, plain or blotched with brown. 



U. ringvia. The Bridled Guillemot. Similar to U. troile, but has feathers round eye and 

 along the crease behind it white. 



U. lomvia. 18" to 19". Briinnich's Guillemot. Similar to U. troile. Colour of upper 

 parts is grey-black. Kemiges twenty-six. Arctic Ocean, visiting Norway in winter and more 

 rarely the British Isles. 



U. grylle. llj" to 13". The Black Guillemot. Black above and below. Greater and 

 median wing-coverts white. Legs and feet vermilion. In winter, white below and flanks 

 barred black. The change is performed by a direct moult. Eemiges thirty. No nest. Two 

 eggs (2-3 X 1-6), greenish, clouded and spotted brown. Dives as quickly as it flies. North 

 Atlantic, and in winter as far south as north of France. 



U. mandti. 12". Similar to U. grylle. Primary coverts white almost to base. Circum- 

 polar, south to Labrador, Alaska, E. Siberia, and Kamschatka. 



With tail of fourteen feathers. Wing-lining grey. 



U. coltirriba. 14J". Similar to U. grylle. Plumage above slaty black with grey gloss. 

 N. America. From California across Behring Sea, probably to E. Siberia. 



U. snowi. Similar to U. columba, but wings entirely black or with three narrow white 

 bands. Orbital region black. Kurile Islands, ranging south to Kamschatka and Japan. 



U. carbo. 14i". Like U. snowi, but orbital region white. Coasts of N. Asia. 



Also the genus Brachyrhampus. With tail of fourteen feathers, and inter-ramal feathers 

 extending slightly beyond nasal opening. Three species, viz. — 



B. marmoratvs. 9 J". Outer tail brownish black, upper parts barred chestnut. Pacific 

 coast of N. America. 



B.perdix. 10". Outer tail brownish black, and upper parts barred buff. Coast of N.E. Asia. 



B. Irevirostris. 9i". With outer tail-feathers white. Coasts of N. Pacific and Behring Sea. 



Also the genus Micruria. With tail of twelve feathers. From the coast of Labrador. Two 

 species, viz. — 



M. hypoleuca. SJ". Lining of wing pure white. 



M. cuvieri. 8J". Lining of wing smoky grey. 



Also the genus Synthliborhampus. With tail of fourteen feathers. Two species, viz. — 



S. antiquus. lOJ". With forehead without crest, and black on throat continued down fore- 

 neck. Coast of N. Pacific. , 



S. wumizusUTne. lOi". With crest of narrow black feathers on forehead ; grey on throat 

 not continued down middle of foreneck. Coasts of Japan. 



Subfamily Feateeculin^. Puffins. 



Feathers on lores not extending to posterior border of nasal opening. Nostril overhung by 

 a horny scale. Puffins are distinguished from the rest of the Auks by their peculiar bill, deeply 

 grooved, while in summer there are some wattles on the face. They have ornamental plumage 

 in the shape of brightly coloured crests and tufts of feathers on the sides of the head, as well 

 as an ornamental colour on the bills, which is shed after the breeding season, just as other 

 birds moult their feathers. Sijj genera. 



