I'lMX.K. 
is  more:  or  less  clot  lied,  with  the  opening  longitudinal  unci  exposed.  117////.*  short  and  pointed,  with  the 
first  quill  longest.  Tail  very  short.  Tarsi  shorter  than  the  middle  toe,  much  compressed,  and  covered 
with  small  scales.  Toes  moderate,  and  all  united  by  a  broad  web;  with  the  outer  toe  as  long  as  the 
middle  one;  the  claws  short,  compressed,  and  acute. 
The  species  of  this  genus  arc  inhabitants  of  the  Arctic  seas,  whence  they  migrate  during  the  winter  to  the  more 
temperate  regions.  They  arc  most  usually  noticed  near  the  sea  coast,  swimming  and  diving,  even  beneath  the  ice,  with  the 
greatest  facility  ;  in  the  latter  operation  they  assist  themselves  by  means  of  their  wings.  Their  flight  is  short,  rapid,  and 
generally  performed  near  the  surface  of  the  water,  and  they  walk  on  the  land  with  great  difficulty ;  they  feed  chiefly  on 
fish  and  other  marine  productions.  The  egg,  which  is  single  and  of  large  size,  is  usually  deposited  by  these  birds  in 
society,  on  the  ledges  on  the  summits  of  precipitous  rocks  overhanging  the  sea,  without  any  nest. 
1.  U.gryHe  (Linn.)  Lath.  Edwards's  Birds,  pi.  50.  —  Cepphus 
Colombo  Pall. ;  Colymbus  marmoratus  Fritsch  ;  C.  lactcolus  Pall. ; 
I'ria  halthicus  et  U.  grylloides  Briinn.  Gould,  B.  of  Eur.  pL  3Q{)., 
Clioris  Voy.  Pittor.  t.  22.,  Gal.  des  Ois.  t.  29  k,  Audub.  B.  of 
Amer.  pi,  210.;  Uria  scapularis  Staph. 
2.  U.  Mandtii  Licht.  Cat.  DopL  Berl.  Mus.  p.  88. 
3.  U.  carbo  (Pall.)  Brandt,  Zoogr.  p.  .'350.  t.  79- 
4.  U.  Troilc  (Linn.)  Lath.  PL  enl.  903.,  Edwards's  Birds, 
pL  850.  f.  1.  —  Colymbus  minor  Gruel.;  Uria  swarbag  et  U.  lomvia 
Briinn.  Choris  Voy.  Pittor.  t.  20.,  Gould,  B.  of  Eur.  pi.  306, 
397-,  Audub.  B.  of  Amer.  pi.  318.  ;  Type  of  Cataractes  Mcehr. 
(1752). 
5.  U.  Briinnichii  Sabine,    Linn.  Trans,  xii.  p.  539  Uria 
Francsii  Leach  ;  U.  Troile  Briinn. ;  Alca  pica  Faber ;  Cepphus 
arra  Pall.  Gould,  B.  of  Eur.  pi.  398.,  Choris  Voy.  Pittor.  t.  21., 
Audub.  B.  of  Amer.  pi.  235. 
6.  U.  ringvia  Briinn.  Orn.  Bor.  p.  27.  —  Uria  lacrymans  Lcpy. 
Gould,  B.  of  Eur.  pi.,  Choris  Voy.  Pittor.  t.  23. 
Arctic  a  Mcehr* 
Bill  shorter  than  the  head,  and  broader  than  high  at  the  base,  with  the  culmen  curved,  and  the  sides 
compressed  at  the  tip,  which  is  emarginated ;  the  gonys  short  and  ascending;  the  nostrils  basal,  and 
placed  in  a  short,  broad,  membranous  groove,  with  the  opening  near  the  middle,  and  sub-lunate.  Wings 
rather  short  and  pointed,  with  the  first  quill  the  longest.  Tail  short  and  rather  rounded.  Tarsi  shorter 
than  the  middle  toe,  slightly  compressed,  and  covered  with  small  scales.  Toes  long,  and  all  united  by  a 
broad  web,  with  the  outer  toe  nearly  as  long  as  the  middle  one ;  the  claws  moderate,  compressed,  and 
sharp. 
The  species  arc  found  in  the  northern  regions,  migrating  to  the  more  temperate  parts  during  the  winter.  Their 
habits  are  very  similar  to  those  of  the  preceding  genus. 
1.  A.  fl//e  (Linn.)  PI.  enl.  917-,  Edwards's  Birds,  pi.  91.,  Gal.  des  1  2.  A.  cirrocephalus  (Vigors),  Zool.  Beechey's  Voy.  p.  33. 
Ois.  t.  295.  —  Alca  Candida  Briinn.  Wils.  Amer.  Orn.  pi.  74.  f.  5.,  3.  A.  Cassinii  Gamb.  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  1846.  p.  266. 
Gould,  B.  of  Eur.  pi.  402.,  Audub.  B.  of  Amer.  pi.  339.  ;  Mergu- 
lus  melanoleucos  Steph. 
*  It  was  in  1752  that  Mcehring  established  this  genus.  Meryulus  of  Vieillot  (181  (1)  is  synonymous. 
August,  1848. 
8  B 
