162 
SLENDER-BILLED GUILLEMOT. 
Abundant on the north-west coast of America, not far from the Columbia 
river. 
Adult. 
Bill shorter than the head, straight, slender, much compressed, acute. 
Upper mandible with the dorsal line convex and declinate, the ridge very 
narrow, the sides erect and convex toward the end, the edges sharp and 
inflected, with a distinct notch near the tip, which is rather acute and 
caniculate beneath. Nostrils medial, narrow near the margin, in the fore 
parts of the long nasal sinus, which is feathered. Lower mandible with the 
angle long and very narrow, the dorsal line ascending and straight, the sides 
nearly erect, but convex, the edges sharp and inflected, the tip very acute. 
Head of moderate size, oblong ; neck short ; body full, depressed ; wings 
small. Feet placed far behind, very short and slender ; tarsus very short, 
reticulate ; toes slender, with numerous short scutella ; the first wanting ; 
the third or middle toe longest, the inner much shorter than the outer ; 
claws small, slightly arched, compressed, rather acute. 
Plumage very soft, close, blended, rather glossy ; feathers of the head 
very short, of the back oblong, of the lower parts ovate. Wings small, very 
narrow, convex, falcate ; first quill longest, second a twelfth of an inch 
shorter, the rest rapidly diminishing ; secondaries incurved, obliquely 
rounded. Tail extremely short, narrow, rounded, of twelve weak, rounded 
feathers. 
Bill black. Feet yellow ; claws black. The upper parts are brownish- 
black, the feathers of the back terminally margined with light grey ; the 
lower parts, cheeks, a transverse band on the nape, both eyelids, and a 
longitudinal band on each side, formed by some of the scapulars, white, 
some dusky streaks on the hind part of the sides, and the lower wing-covert 
greyish-brown, the larger tipped with dull-white. 
Length to end of tail 10 inches ; bill along the ridge along the edge 
of lower mandible 1 ; wing from flexure 5 T 2 2 ; tail lfW . tarsus T 8 2 ; mid- 
dle toe 1 T V, its claw fi. 
Young in autumn. 
Bill and feet as in the adult. The upper parts are brownish-black, the 
feathers terminally margined with brown ; the occipital band is merely 
indicated by some lighter feathers, and the scapular band is brownish or 
chestnut-red. The lower parts have a curious mottled appearance, the 
feathers being brownish-grey at the end, but in the rest of their extent 
white, that colour appearing more or less on all parts, and showing a patch 
on the hind part of the sides. 
Length to end of tail 9£ inches ; bill along the ridge f|, along the edge of 
