THE RAZOR-BILLED AUK. 251 



smaller and less furrowed, and the head more brown. The back, tail, and 

 lower parts do not seem to undergo any material change. 



Alca Torda, Bonap. Syn., p. 431. 



Razor-bill, Alca Torda, Nutt. Man., vol. ii. p. 547. 



Razor-billed Adk, Alca Torda, Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. iii. p. 112; vol. v. p. 628. 



Male, 17, 29|. 



Rare on the eastern coast of the United States, and only during winter. 

 Breeds in great numbers on the Gannet Rock in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, 

 on the shores of Newfoundland, and the western coast of Labrador, chiefly 

 in the fissures of rocks. 



Adult Male in summer. 



Bill shorter than the head, feathered as far as the nostrils, beyond which 

 it is very high, exceedingly compressed, and obliquely furrowed on the 

 sides. Upper mandible with the dorsal line curved so as to form the third 

 of a circle, the ridge extremely narrow but rounded, the sides nearly flat, 

 with five grooves, the one next the base deeper and more narrow, the edges 

 inflected and sharp, the tip decurved and obtuse. Nostrils medial, marginal, 

 linear, short, pervious, but concealed by the feathers. Lower mandible with 

 the angle very narrow, and having a horny triangular appendage, the base at 

 first horizontal and extremely narrow, then sloping forwards and rounded, 

 the dorsal outline rounded, towards the end concave, the sides slightly 

 concave, the edges inflected, the tip decurved. 



Head large, oblong, anteriorly narrowed. Eyes small. Neck short and 

 strong. Body full, rather depressed. Wings small. Feet placed far behind, 

 short, rather strong; tibia bare a short way above the joint; tarsus very 

 short, compressed, anteriorly scutellate, laterally covered with reticulated 

 angular scales, posteriorly granulate. Hind toe wanting; toes of moderate 

 length, rather slender, scutellate above, connected by reticulated entire 

 membranes, the inner toe having also a projecting margin; outer toe slightly 

 longer than middle one; inner considerably shorter. Claws rather small, 

 arched, compressed, obtuse. 



Plumage close, blended, very soft, on the head very short and velvety. 

 Wings short, curved, narrow, acute. Primary quills narrow, incurved, 

 acute, first longest, second slightly shorter, the rest rapidly graduated; 

 secondary quills very short, obliquely rounded. Tail short, tapering, of 

 twelve narrow, pointed feathers. 



Bill black, with a white line across each mandible; inside of the mouth 

 gamboge-yellow. Iris deep hazel. Feet black. Fore part of neck below, 

 and all the lower parts, white; the rest black, the head, hind neck, and back, 



