CLASS II. AVES: ORDER 8. NATATORES. 
329 
GEKBES. (See p. 327.j 
The Black Guillemot, U. r/njlle, is thirteen inches long ; found in the arctic regions of En- 
rope and America; is occasionallj met with on our coast. 
The Thick-billed or Brunnich's Glillemot, TT. BrunnicUi, eighteen inches long ; found in 
northern regions of Europe and America. This is according to Yarrell ; the Smithsonian Cata- 
logue makes two distinct species, the ThicJc-hilled and Brunnicli's, and calls the latter the Murre. 
The Ringed or Bridled Guillemot, U. lacrymans, is eighteen inches long; found in Europe. 
THE ALCADJ5. 
These consist of the AuM and Puffins of the Arctic Seas, and the Penguins of the Antarctic 
Seas: they have the feet placed very for back, close to the hinder extremity of the body, which 
adapts them admirably for swimming. They do not support themselves when on land merely 
upon the toes, as is the case with most other birds, but upon the whole lower surface of the tarsus, 
which is usually furnished with a sort of sole to adapt it for this purpose. The wings are very 
small, sometimes, as in the Penguins and the Great Auk, rudimentary, and covered only with a 
scaly skin ; in other cases they are covered with feathers and furnished with quills, so that the birds 
are capable of rising into the air, although their flight is by no means powerful. The beak is com- 
pressed and short, sometimes hooked at the tip, and the plumage is exceedingly thick and close. 
Genus FRATERCULA: Fralercula. — This includes the Arctic V\:^Ym,^F. arctica—Moine 
aadPerroqioet du Nord of the French— twelve inches long; it flies with fiicility, is migratory, feeds 
on young fish, marine Crustacea, and insects ; lays one egg in a crevice in the rocks, or in a burrow 
three feet deep, which it digs in the earth ; found along the rocky coasts of Europe and America. 
This is the Sea-Parrot and Coulter-Neb of English authors, and the Mormon arcticus of Illiger. 
Otlier species arc the Common Puffikt, Mormon glacialis of Leach.; the Horned Puffin, 
if. corniculatus of Naumaniv and the Tufted Puffin, M. cirrhatus of Bonaparte. 
GertMS ALCA: Alca. — This includes the Great Auk, A. hnpennis, thirty-two inches long; it 
feeds on fish ; builds in the crevices of rocks; lays one egg the size of a swan's. The wings are 
little more than fins, and do not enable the bird to fly, but they are very efficient as oars in 
swimming. It is found along the shores of the Arctic Seas ; occasionally on the coasts of England 
Vol. II.— 42. 
