50 



ALCA. AUK, 

 Generic Character, 



nostrum capite aequale, rec- 

 tum, longius quam al- 

 tum, utrinque compres- 

 sum, transversim sulca- 

 tum : mandibula superiore 

 apice adunca, inferiore 

 subtus angulosa. 



Nares lineares, laterales, ad 

 medium rostri sitae. 



Aloe brevissimae. 

 Pedes breves, tridactyli ; un- 

 gues subcurvati. 



Beak as long as the head, 

 straight, longer than high, 

 compressed on each side, 

 transversely grooved ; the 

 upper mandible hooked at 

 the tip, the lower angu- 

 lated beneath. 



Nostrils linear, lateral, placed 

 towards the middle of the 

 beak. 



Wing's very short. 



Legs short, three-toed; the 

 claws slightly curved. 



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

 LARVA. Vieil. 



This extraordinary genus, of which there is but 

 one species known, approximates very closely to the 

 true Penguins, or the birds of the second division of 

 this family"; they also bear a great resemblance to the 

 Razor-bills, except in the length of the wings, which 

 in this bird are very short, so short as totally to in- 

 capacitate it for flying : it lays but one egg. 



