OF ORNITHOLOGY 137 



dering it necessary to put in a reverse order every specimen 

 and every group in the sub-kingdom, in order to conform to 

 what I call the linear theory, we confess we are at a loss 

 to imagine. The Auks are the least developed of the birds. 

 Their legs are situated so far back that they walk and even 

 stand with difficulty ; their wings are rudimentary ; and their 

 habits primitive. They seem to have little vitality save that 

 of mere existence. They lay generally a single egg — seldom 

 more, and often leave the sun to hatch that. They are emi- 

 nently social, often assembling together in regular colonies ; 

 and, though stragglers are sometimes found a great way from 

 home, they seldom stray far away from the main body of their 

 associates. 



As a. family they are easily told from their neighbors in the 

 same order by having but three toes to their feet, all fully 

 webbed. The tail is short and of few feathers. The bill is 

 variable in shape and often subject to seasonable, periodical, 

 or sexual changes. They are confined to the sea-board, though 

 severe gales often blow them many miles inland. When once 

 on wing they fly well, but prefer the water where they are 

 perfectly at home, swimming and diving with great facility. 

 Their notes are harsh and few. There are two well-defined 

 sub-families, though they are scarcely distinguishable so very 

 closely do they run into each other. Many authors make no 

 sub-families, I believe. There is a great deal yet to learn of 

 these sub-families, whose extremes are so cfesimilar the ends 

 that approach eacho ther so similar. 



Sub-family a PHALERIDIN^J Puffins and allies 



Genera, Fratercula, The True Puffins (3 species). 

 Lionda, The Tufted Puffin. 

 Ceratorliina, The Horn-billed Puffin. 

 Simorhinchus, The Crested and Whiskered Auks. 

 Phaleris, The Parrot Auk. 

 Ciceronia, The Least Auk. 

 Piycorhamphus, The Aleutian Auk. 



