ALCINJK. 
The  length  of  their  wings  docs  not  admit  of  much  power  of  flight,  except  in  the  case  of  the  second  species,  in  which  it 
ie  rapid  and  heavy,  being  performed  just  above  the  surface  of  the  water  by  qniokly  repeated  movements  of  the  wings. 
They  Peed  On  various  kinds  of  small  fish  and  other  marine  animals. 
1.  A.  imjmnU Linn.  PI.  enl.  3(>7.,  Edw.  Birds,  pi.  147.  — Alca  i  2.  A.  torda  Linn.  PL  enl.  100".,  Edw.  Birds,  pi.  3.18. —  Alca 
major  Britt.  Gould,  B.  of  Bur.  pi.  400.,  Audub.  B.  of  Amer.  pi.  pica  IAun. ;  A.  minor  Britl.  Gould,  B.  of  Eur.  pi.  401.,  Audob, 
S41.  '  B.  of  Amer.  pi.  214.;  Type  of  Utamania  Leach  (1816). 
Fhatehcula  Briss.* 
Bill  short,  entirely  horny,  extremely  elevated  at  the  base,  and  very  much  compressed  on  the  sides, 
with  the  culmen  arched  and  acutely  keeled  to  the  tip,  which  is  hooked;  both  mandibles  transversely 
grooved,  and  the  gonys  projecting  upwards  and  keeled;  the  nostrils  basal,  and  placed  near  the 
Lateral  margin,  with  the  opening  linear  and  narrow.  Wings  moderate  and  pointed,  with  the  first 
quill  the  longest.  Tail  short  and  rounded.  Tarsi  shorter  than  the  toes,  compressed,  and  covered 
with  small  scales.  Toes  webbed,  the  outer  toe  nearly  as  long  as  the  middle;  the  claws  short  and 
curved.    A  dilated  naked  skin  at  the  gape  of  the  mouth. 
The  species  are  inhabitants  of  the  high  latitudes,  but  perform  periodical  migrations  to  the  more  temperate  regions, 
keeping  always  near  the  shore,  and  at  night  concealing  themselves  in  the  clefts  of  rocks  or  burrows.  Their  flight  is 
heavy  and  rather  quick,  but  only  for  a  short  distance  at  a  time,  and  always  near  the  surface  of  the  water,  which  they 
sometimes  strike  with  their  feet  to  assist  them  in  their  progress.  While  on  the  water  their  speed  is  remarkably  quick, 
and  when  alarmed  or  seeking  food  they  expertly  dive  beneath  the  surface.  Their  food  principally  consists  of  mollusca 
and  sometimes  of  crustaceous  animals.  They  generally  excavate  a  hole  by  means  of  their  bill  and  claws  to  the  depth 
of  two  or  three  feet,  at  the  further  end  of  which  the  female  usually  deposits  a  single  egg  on  the  bare  ground. 
1.  F.  arclica  (Linn.)  PI.  enl.  275. —  Mormon  fratercula  Temm.; 
Alca  labradoria  Gmel.  Gould,  B.  of  Eur.  pi.  103.,  Audub.  B.  of 
Amer.  pi.  213.,  Pall.  Zoogr.  ii.  p.  363.  t.  83.,  Isis,  1821,  p.  783. 
t.7-  £5,6,?. 
2.  F. glaciate)  (Leach),  Gould,  B.  of  Eur.  pi.  404.,  Audub.  B.  of 
Amer.  pi.  293.,  Isis,  1821,  p.  782.  t.7-  f.  2. 
3  F.  eornicttiata  (Naum.)  Isis,  1821,  p.  782.  t.7-  f.  3,  4.,  Kittl. 
Kupf.  Nat.  Vog.  t.  1.  f.  1. 
4.  F.  cirrhata  (Gmel.)  PL  enl.  76 1.,  Pall.  Spic.  Zool.  v.  t.  1. 
&  5.,  VieilL  Gal.  des  Ois.  t.  299.,  Pall.  Zoogr.  ii.  p.  363.  t.  82., 
Isis,  1821,  p.  781.  t.7-  f.  1.,  Audub.  B.  of  Amer.  pi.  249.,  Kittl. 
Kupf.  Nat.  Vog.  t.  1.  f.  2  Type  of  Lunda  Pull.  (1811  ?) 
*  Established  by  Brisson  in  1700.  Mormon  of  Illiger  ( 181 1 ),  Lunda  of  Pallas  (1811?),  Gymnoblepharum  and  Cerutoblcpharum 
of  M.  Brandt  (1837)  are  synonymous. 
December,  1847. 
