800 
SYSTEM A TIC SYNOPSIS. — PYGOP ODES. 
Neither mandible grooved. Covering of bill moulted in 2 i»ieces. Inner lateral claw normal. 
Tarsus scutellate in front Ceratorhina 
Eyelids simple. Variously crested. Bill of indeterminate sliape, various parts moulted in 1-7 pieces. 
No soft rosette. Inner claw normal. Tarsus reticulate Simorhynchus 
Eyelids simple. Not crested ? Bill acute ; upper mandible striate ; no moult of bill known. No 
rosette. Inner claw normal. Tarsus reticulate Fti/chorhamphus 
Alcinje. Nostrils more or less completely feathered. Bill of variable shape, as far as known not 
appendaged with deciduous elements. Head not crested (except one species). Seasonal changes of 
plumage usually marked. 
Bill elongate, more or less slender, without vertical grooves. 
Nostrils nearly circular, incompletely feathered. Bill short and stout for this group. Tarsus 
scarcely compressed, scutellate in front Alle 
Nostrils broadly oval, incompletely feathered. Bill much compressed. Tail nearly even. Tarsus 
extremely compressed, scutellate in front and internally SynthUhorhamphus 
Nostrils oval, feathered. Bill very small, slender, acute. Tarsus reticulate . .Brachyrhamphus 
Nostrils narrow, feathered. Bill about equal to tarsus. Tarsus reticulate Uria 
Nostrils narrow, densely feathered. Bill longer than tarsus. Tarsus scutellate in front Lomvia 
Bill elongate, stout, high, narrow, vertically grooved. Nostrils linear, densely feathered. 
Wings fully developed, fit for flight Utamania 
Wings reduced in size, unfit for flight Alca 
Obs. Many additional characters of these remarkable genera are given under their respective heads. 
339 
340 
341 
343 
344 
345 
34G 
347 
348 
76. Subfamily PHALERIDIN>E : Parrot Auks, etc. 
Characters as above. This subfamily contains a number of curious birds of the Auk 
family for which there is no single English name. With one exception (that of the Common 
Puffin or Sea Parrot of the Atlantic) all are confined to North Pacific and Polar waters. 
Without known exception (but qu. Ptijchorhamphus f) all these birds have the bill appendaged 
with deciduous elements, which is not the case with the Alcince proper ; but the subfamily is 
not very sharply distinguished from Alcince, such forms as Ptycliorhamphus and Alle being 
connecting links. The genera Fratercula and Limda are together so different from the rest 
that some authors separate them as a family Mormonidce ; but this seems scarcely advisable. 
337, FRATER'CULA. (Dimin. of frater, a brother : what application ?) Sea Parrots. 
Masking Puffins : the grotesque bill being likened to the comic mask of revellers at a 
carnival, and be- 
ing as it were put 
on for the nuptial 
festivities, and af- 
terward removed. 
Bill about as long 
as head, about as 
high as long, 
extremely com- 
pressed, with 
nearly vertical 
sides, its lateral 
profile somewhat 
triangular, its 
depth at base 
Fig. 533. —Head of Sea Parrot (i^. arc^ica), nat. size. (Ad nat. del. E. C.) equal to that of 
the head ; culmen beginning on a level with the forehead, thence curving downward with regular 
convexity to the overhanging tip, its ridge sharp and unbroken throughout ; commissure straight 
and horizontal to the decurved tip; gonys sharp, ascending, gently sinuous. Terminal portions 
of both mandibles hard, horny, and persistent, depressed with several oblique curved grooves, 
convex forward. Basal portion of upper mandible forming a narrow obtuse-angled triangular 
