URIN^. 
is  more  or  less  clothed,  with  the  opening  longitudinal  and  exposed.  Wings  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  are  inhabitants  of  the  Arctic  seas,  whence  they  migrate  during  the  winter  to  the  more 
temperate  regions.  They  are  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  difiiculty ; they  feed  chiefly 
fish  and  other  marine  productions.  The  egg,  which  is  single  and  of  large  size,  is  usually  deposited  by  these  birds  ja 
society,  on  the  ledges  on  the  summits  of  precipitous  rocks  overhanging  the  sea,  without  any  nest. 
1.  \J,  grylle  (Linn.)  Lath.  Edwards’s  Birds,  pi.  50. — Cepphus 
columba  Pall. ; Colymbus  marmoratus  Fritsch  ; C.  lacteolus  Pall. ; 
Uria  balthicus  et  TJ.  grylloides  Brilnn.  Gould,  B.  of  Eur.  pi.  SQQ., 
Choris  Voy.  Pittor.  t.  22.,  Gal.  des  Ois.  t.  294.,  Audub.  B.  of 
Amer.  pi.  219- ; Uria  scapularis  Steph. 
2.  U.  Mandtii  Licht.  Cat.  Dupl.  Berl.  Mus.  p.  88. 
S.  U.  carbo  (Pall.)  Brandt,  Zoogr.  p.  350.  t.  79- 
4.  U.  Troile  (Linn.)  Lath.  PI.  enl.  903.,  Edwards’s  Birds, 
pi.  350.  f.  1.  — Colymbus  minor  Gmel.;  Uria  swarbag  et  U.  lorn  via 
Brilnn.  Choris  Voy.  Pittor.  t.  20.,  Gould,  B.  of  Eur.  pi- 
397.,  Audub.  B.  of  Amer.  pi.  318.  j Type  of  Cataractes  Maihr- 
(1752). 
5.  U.  Briinnichii  Sabine,  Linn.  Trans,  xii.  p.  539- 
Francsii  Leach ; U.  Troile  Brilnn. ; Alca  pica  Faber ; Ceppl"^® 
arra  Pall.  Gould,  B.  of  Eur.  pi.  398.,  Choris  Voy.  Pittor.  t.  3U, 
Audub.  B.  of  Amer.  pi.  235. 
6.  U.  ringvia  Brunn.  Orn.  Bor.  p.  27.  — Uria  lacrymans  Lepy 
Gould,  B.  of  Eur.  pi.,  Choris  Voy.  Pittor.  t.  23. 
Arctica  Mcehr.* 
Bill  shorter  than  the  head,  and  broader  than  high  at  the  base,  with  the  culmen  curved,  and  the  sid®® 
compressed  at  the  tip,  which  is  emarginated ; the  gonys  short  and  ascending ; the  nostrils  basal, 
placed  in  a short,  broad,  membranous  groove,  with  the  opening  near  the  middle,  and  sub-lunate. 
rather  short  and  pointed,  with  the  first  quill  the  longest.  Tail  short  and  rather  rounded.  Tarsi  short®^ 
than  the  middle  toe,  slightly  compressed,  and  covered  with  small  scales.  Toes  long,  and  all  united  by  ‘ 
broad  web,  with  the  outer  toe  nearly  as  long  as  the  middle  one ; the  claws  moderate,  compressed, 
sharp. 
rrjjgir 
The  species  are  found  in  the  northern  regions,  migrating  to  the  more  temperate  parts  during  the  winter, 
habits  are  very  similar  to  those  of  the  preceding  genus. 
1.  A.  alle  (Linn.)  PI.  enl.  917.,  Edwards’s  Birds,  pi.  9I.,  Gal.  des 
Ois.  t.  295.  — Alca  Candida  Brilnn.  Wils.  Amer.  Orn.  pi.  74.  f.  5., 
Gould,  B.  of  Eur.  pi.  402.,  Audub.  B.  of  Amer.  pi.  339.  > Mergu- 
lus  melanoleucos  Steph. 
* It  was  in  1752  that  Moehring  established  this  genus. 
2.  A.  cirrocephalm  (Vigors),  Zool.  Beechey’s  Voy.  P- 
3.  A.  Cassinii  Gamb.  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  1846. 
Mergulus  of  Vieillot  (181 6)  is  synonymous. 
August,  1848. 
8 B 
