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Genus FRATERCULA. 



Fratercula, Brisson, Orn. vi. p. 81 (1760). 



Alca apud Linnseus, Syst. Nat, i. p. 211 (1766). 



Mormon apud Illiger, Prodromus, p. 283 (1811). 



Lunda apud Pallas, Zoogr. Rosso-As. ii. p. 365 (1811). 



Larva apud Vieillot, Analyse, p. 67 (1816). 



Ceratoblepliarum apud Brandt, Bull. Acad. St. Petersb. ii. p. 348 (1837). 



This genus contains only four species, which inhabit the northern portions of the Palsearctic and 

 Nearctic Regions, only one species being found in the Western Palsearctic Region. They 

 frequent the ocean, being usually found far out at sea, except during the breeding-season, 

 when they frequent rocky and rugged coasts. They fly swiftly, swim buoyantly and with ease, 

 and dive extremely well, frequently remaining for some time below the surface. They feed on 

 small fish, which they pursue and catch under water, and mollusca &c. They nest in burrows 

 something like rabbit-burrows, usually breeding in tolerably large communities. Their single, 

 dull white, rough-surfaced egg is placed in an oven-shaped hole at the end of the burrow ; and 

 not unfrequently the burrows communicate ; and then the oven-shaped nest excavation is scooped 

 out in the side of the burrow. 



Fratercula arctica, the type of the genus, has the beak about as long as the head, stout, 

 much higher than broad, vertically expanded, obliquely furrowed on the sides, curved to the 

 tip, which is narrow and blunt; nostrils basal, linear, marginal; wings short, narrow, curved, 

 pointed ; tail short, slightly rounded ; legs very short, placed far behind ; tibia bare for a very 

 short distance, tarsus stout, anteriorly scutellate ; hind toe wanting ; anterior toes moderate, 

 connected by webs, the inner toe much shorter than the outer one, which is nearly as long as the 

 centre toe ; claws moderate, slightly curved, compressed, pointed. 



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