P TY CHO RH AMPH US ALEUTICTTS.
PA C I F I C AU K .
URIA ALEUTICA. Pall., Zoog. Rosso-Asiat., Vol. II, p. 370 (1811).
MBRGULUS CASSINII. Gambol, Proc. Acad. Nat. Scien., Vol. II, (1845,) p. 266.
PTYCHORHAMPHUS ALEUTIODS. Brandt, Bull. Scion. Acad. Imp. des Scion., St. Petersb., Vol. II, (1837.) p. 344. Id. Cassin, B. of
'N. America, p. 910.
The great family of the Alcidae, or Auks, is represented in the Old and New Worlds by many species of various forms, some
of which are coinmou to both continents. They are natives of the cold northern regions of the globe, and frequent the rocky
coasts, that rise above and overhang the sea.
The Great Auk, Alca Impennis, was the giant of this family, and was remarkable for being the only species which had not
the power of flight; resembling in this respect the Penguins of the.Southern Ocean. .But of late years, this bird has entirely
disappeared from the localities it was in the habit of frequenting, and in all probability has become extinct.
Formed to pass their lives upon the water, the Auks are never seen inland ; and; on - account of their inability to walk
without great effort, they evince a decided disinclination to remove any distance from their beloved sea. Some of the birds of
this family lay their eggs in the fissures of the rocks, as is the case o f the Razor-Bills and Black Guillemots; others upon low
islands, where they congregate in great numbers, and deposit their eggs on the bare ground, as is the habit of the Foolish Guillemot;
or in burrows, which they excavate in the earth often to the depth of three feet, at the extreme end of which the single egg
is placed, as is the custom of the Puffin.
The Auks pass much of their time sitting in long rows of many individuals on the edge of the cliffs, presenting their pure
white breasts to the sea. If alarmed, they allow themselves to drop from the dizzy height, and either disappear beneath the waves,
or wing their way far over the ocean, until they are safe from all danger.
The species which heads this article has long been known as an inhabitant o f our western coast, and was first included in our
faniia by Dr. Gambel, who described it in the Proceedings of the Philadelphia Academy under the name Mergulus Cassimi, which
appellation, however, could not stand, as the bird had already been called Uria Aleulica by Pallas. Brandt, in his paper on the
Alcidae, formed it into a distinct genus, which he styled Ptychorliamplms.
No account of the habits' or economy of this curious little bird has ever been published, and I regret that I am unable to
furnish a complete history of its mode of life.
Head and entire upper parts, brownish black. Throat, sides of the neck and flanks, ash. Rest o f under parts, white. Bill,
brownish black ; a bright yellow spot at base of uuder mandible. Feet, light yellow.
The figures arò life-size.