134 
THE RAZOR-BILLED AUK. 
smaller and less furrowed, and the head more brown. The back, tail, and 
lower parts do not seem to undergo any material change 
Alca Torda, Bonap. Syn., p. 431. 
Razor-bill, Alca Torda , Nutt. Man., vol. ii. p. 547. 
Razor-billed Auk, Alca Torda , Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. iii. p. 112 ; vol. v. p. 628. 
Male, 17, 29j. 
Rare on the eastern coast of the United States, and only during winter. 
Breeds in great numbers on the Gannet Rock in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, 
on the shores of Newfoundland, and the western coast of Labrador, chiefly 
in the fissures of rocks. 
Adult Male in summer. 
Bill' shorter than the head, feathered as far as the nostrils, beyond which 
it is very high, exceedingly compressed, and obliquely furrowed on the 
sides. Upper mandible with the dorsal lin& curved so as to form the third 
of a circle, the ridge extremely narrow but rounded, the sides nearly flat, 
with five grooves, the one next the base deeper and more narrow, the edges 
inflected and sharp, the tip decurved and obtuse. Nostrils medial, marginal, 
linear, short, pervious, but concealed by the feathers. Lower mandible with 
the angle very narrow, and having a horny triangular appendage, the base 
at first horizontal and extremely narrow, then sloping forwards and rounded, 
the dorsal outline rounded, towards the end concave, the sides slightly 
concave, the edges inflected, the tip decurved. 
Head large, oblong, anteriorly narrowed. Eyes small. Neck short and 
strong. Body full, rather depressed. Wings small. Feet placed fan behind, 
short, rather strong ; tibia bare a short way above the joint; tarsus very 
short, compressed, anteriorly scutellate, laterally covered with reticulated 
angular scales, posteriorly granulate. Hind toe wanting ; toes of moderate 
length, rather slender, scutellate above, connected by reticulated entire 
membranes, the inner toe having also a projecting margin ; outer toe slightly 
longer than middle one ; inner considerably shorter. Claws rather small, 
arched, compressed, obtuse. 
Plumage close, blended, very soft, on the head very short and velvety. 
Wings short, curved, narrow, acute. Primary quills narrow, incurved, 
acute, first longest, second slightly shorter, the rest rapidly graduated ; 
secondary quills very short, obliquely rounded. Tail short, tapering, of 
twelve narrow, pointed feathers. 
Bill black, with a white line across each mandible ; inside of the mouth 
gamboge-yellow. Iris deep hazel. Feet black. Fore part of neck below, 
and all the lower parts, white ; the rest black, the head, hind neck, and back 
