253 



Genus III.— PHALERIS, Temm. PHALERIS. 



Bill shorter than the head, stout, straightish, broad at the base, compressed 

 toward the end; upper mandible with a prominent basal rim as in the Puffin, 

 its dorsal line convex and declinate, the sides sloping, the edges sharp, with 

 a deep sinus close to the narrow, declinate, blunt tip; lower mandible with 

 the angle rather long and wide, the dorsal line ascending and a little convex, 

 the sides sloping outwards, the edges sharp, the tip ascending, obliquely- 

 truncate. Nostrils linear-oblong, direct, near the margin, in the horny part 

 of the bill. Head rather large, ovate; neck short and thick; body full and 

 compact. Feet short, placed far behind; tibia bare below; tarsus very short, 

 much compressed, anteriorly scutellate; toes three, connected by emarginate 

 webs; middle and outer toes of the same length. Claws rather stout, 

 moderately arched, compressed, rather obtuse. Plumage dense, blended, 

 soft. Wings of moderate length, very narrow, pointed. Tail very short, 

 rounded, of fourteen feathers. 



CURLED-CRESTED PHALERIS. 



Phaleris cristatella, Gmel. 



PLATE CCCCLXVIL— Adult. 



My drawing of this singular bird, which belongs to the north-west coast, 

 was taken from a specimen in the Museum of the Zoological Society. Since 

 then I procured one for description, from Mr. Leadbeater. 



Alca cristatella, Gmel. Syst. Nat., vol. i. p. 552. 



Curled-crested Phaleris, Phaleris cristatella, Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. v. p. 102. 



