Order  VIII.  ANSERES. 
The  third  Family, 
ALCIDiE,  or  Auks, 
have  the  Bill  more  or  less  long,  generally  compressed  on  the  sides ;  and  the  culmen  usually  curved  to 
the  tip,  which  is  sometimes  hooked :  the  Wings  generally  short,  and  more  or  less  imperfectly  formed : 
the  Tail  short  and  graduated :  the  Tarsi  usually  short  and  compressed :  the  Toes  entirely  webbed,  with 
the  hind  toe  small  or  wanting. 
The  first  Subfamily, 
ALCIN7E,  or  Auks, 
have  the  Bill  more  or  less  short,  and  much  compressed  on  the  sides,  with  the  culmen  and  gonys  keeled ; 
the  tip  of  the  upper  mandible  acute  and  hooked ;  the  Nostrils  linear :  the  Wings  more  or  less  long  and 
perfectly  formed,  with  the  first  quill  the  longest :  the  Tail  short  and  graduated :  the  Tarsi  short  and 
compressed :  the  Toes  entirely  webbed,  with  the  hind  toe  wanting. 
Alca  Linn.* 
Bill  lengthened,  basal  half  clothed  with  short  plumes,  and  the  apical  half  horny,  much  compressed ; 
with  the  culmen  keeled,  curved,  and  hooked  at  the  tip,  that  of  the  lower  mandible  curved  downwards ; 
and  the  gonys  angulated  and  ascending;  both  mandibles,  laterally,  obliquely  grooved;  the  nostrils 
basal,  on  the  lateral  margin,  and  almost  covered  with  the  basal  short  plumes,  with  the  opening  linear 
and  narrow.  Wings  more  or  less  long  and  pointed,  with  the  first  quill  the  longest.  Tail  short 
and  graduated.  Tarsi  much  shorter  than  the  middle  toe,  robust,  and  covered  with  small  scales. 
Toes  entirely  webbed,  with  the  outer  toe  longer  than  the  inner  one ;  the  claws  short,  curved,  acute, 
and  slightly  dilated  on  the  margin. 
The  species  are  found  in  the  northern  latitudes,  frequenting  at  certain  seasons  the  more  temperate  parts  of  Europe. 
They  are  sometimes  noticed  on  the  rocks,  in  the  deep  clefts  of  which  the  female  deposits  a  single  egg,  without  any 
kind  of  nest.    They  live  chiefly  on  the  water,  where  they  are  very  expert,  swimming  and  diving  with  great  rapidity. 
*  Linnaeus  established  this  genus  in  1744.  Chenalopex  of  Moehring  (1752),  Pinguinus  of  Bonnaterre  (179^),  Diomedea  of  Scopoli 
(1777),  Pingouin  of  Cuvier  (1799 — 1800),  and  Utamania  of  Leach  (1816)  are  synonymous. 
