36 



FRATERCULA. PUFFIN. 



Generic Character, 



Beak shorter than the head, 

 higher than long, the base 

 broader than the fa<je, 

 on each side very much 

 compressed, transversely 

 grooved ; the upper man- 

 dible hooked at the tip, the 

 lower angulated beneath. 

 Nostrils linear, placed at the 

 base and sides of the beak, 

 almost entirely clothed 

 with a naked membrane. 

 Legs short, three-toed ; claws 



curved. 

 Wings medial. 



FRATERCULA. Briss., Leach. 

 ALCA. Linn., Brun., Lath., &c. 

 MORMON. Illig., Temm. 

 ANAS. Ray. 

 LARVA. Vieil. 



E beak of these birds is of a very singular con- 

 struction, being exceedingly compressed ; it is shorter 

 than the head ; the mandibles are much arched, trans- 



Kostrum capite brevior, tam 

 altum quam longum, basi 

 tam latum quam facies, 

 utrinque valde compres- 

 sum, transversim sulca- 

 tum : mandibul^ superiore 

 apice adunca, inferiore 

 subtus angulosa. 



Nares lineares, basi et lateri- 

 bus rostri sitae, membran^ 

 nuda fere toto tectae. 



Pedes breves, tridactyli ; un- 

 gues curvati. 



Alee mediocres. 



