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sardine. It re-appears in flocks upon our coast towards the end of March or the beginning of April.

In its summer dress, the head and neck of this bird are jet black, the feathers being of a velvety texture; the upper surface is sooty black; the under plumage, white; bill and legs, black; length, fifteen inches.

The BLACK GUILLEMOT (Uria Grylle) is another species inhabiting the same localities and possessing the same habits. Its colour in summer is jet black, with the exception of a white band on the wing.

From the guillemots is separated the Little Auk, or Rotche, forming the type of the genus Mergulus, (Ray,) characterized by a short stout bill, the upper mandible being somewhat arched; in other respects the general characters are similar.

The LITTLE AUK (Mergulus melanoleucos) is the Alca Allé of Linnæus and the older writers. In England it is a winter visitor, its true habitat being the polar ocean, amidst fields of floating ice. It breeds in abundance on the shores of Greenland, Spitzbergen, and the arctic regions of America, whence it migrates southwards as the rigours of winter set in. Like the guillemot, its single egg is deposited on the ledge of overhanging rocks on the shore. Few birds are more active and expert on the watery element than the present little wanderer of the deep; it swims and dives with wonderful celerity. Its flight is low but rapid for a short distance, and performed by quick vibrations of the wings. Fishes, small crustacea, and marine insects constitute its food. In its summer dress, the head, neck, and upper surface are glossy black; the under plumage, white; bill, black; legs, dusky. In winter, the throat and sides of the neck become mottled with white. Length, eight inches.

The genus Alca now demands notice. It is characterized by a short bill, nearly as deep as long, compressed and furrowed down the sides, the upper mandible being

strong, arched, and hooked; nostrils, hidden by the feathers at the base; wings, short and narrow, and in one species unequal to the purpose of flight; tail, short; feet, with three toes, united by webs.

The Auks are truly oceanic birds, never leaving the water except for the purpose of incubation. They swim and dive with great address.

The GREAT AUK (Alca impennis) is by far the most

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remarkable of the genus. In size it equals a goose; its wings, though furnished with quill-feathers, are so small

as to be useless for organs of flight; they are, however, admirable paddles or side-oars, and are used with great effect in diving or swimming under water, a feat which it performs with extraordinary facility and speed. The Great Auk is a native of the arctic seas, and only rarely appears even so far south as the northern isles of Scotland. In the year 1822 one was taken alive near St. Kilda, and kept for some time by Dr. Fleming, who observes that, with a long and heavy cord attached to its legs, its evolutions in the water were performed with amazing strength and celerity. In 1813, another individual was killed near Papa Vestray, one of the Orkney isles, while Mr. Bullock was making a summer excursion; it formed part of his late museum. He informs us, that so great was its swiftness, that he chased it in vain in a six-oared boat, in order to get within gun-shot; but that it appeared to be familiar with the boatmen, whom it allowed to approach by themselves, and by whom it was killed. Besides these two examples, we know not of any others which have been taken within the British dominions.

The icy shores of Greenland and Spitzbergen are the favourite abodes of this extraordinary bird. In these latitudes it is often found far out at sea, and is never known to go on land except for the purpose of breeding; the deep clefts of rocks, above the reach of the highest tides, or retired places among the cliffs or caverns, being its resort for this purpose. The egg, which is single, is as large as that of a swan, and of a yellowish white, veined and marbled with black. Fish and marine crustacea constitute its food.

Length, about three feet; upper plumage, deep jet black, with the exception of a large patch of white on the forehead and around the eyes, and a slight band of white on the wing; under plumage, white; bill, black; legs, very short and dull black.

The RAZOR-BILL AUK (Alca Torda) is a native of the precipitous rocky coasts of our island, as well as of the European continent from north to south. In its manners it closely resembles the guillemot, visiting our shores

at the same time, and occupying the same breeding-places. Its flight is also similar, being performed by rapid strokes of the pinions, and (except when endeavouring to attain the ledge of the rock on which it breeds) at a low elevation. We may remark, that in order to reach the top of the cliffs, all these short-winged diving birds make a long sweep, and gradually rise, as if incapable of a perpendicular ascent or an upward flight, even at a moderate angle. It is curious to see the rows of these birds, thickly covering the shelves and ledges appropriated to the purpose of incubation, their black and white livery setting them off to great advantage, and well contrasting with the gray or dusky rock on which they are collected.

Head, neck, and upper plumage, black—a narrow but very distinct white line running from the base of the upper mandible to the eye; under plumage, white; bill, black, with a white band down the sides of each mandible; legs, black; length, fifteen inches.

The genus Mormon, (Illiger,) Fratercula, (Briss.) is distinguished from the genus Alca by the bill being shorter than the head, as broad as long, and very compressed, the edge of the upper mandible being thin and sharp; the nostrils are slits placed on the border of the upper mandible near the base; the general shape of the beak, on a lateral view, is somewhat triangular, and a loose skin surrounds the corners of the mouth. In other respects the characters of the two genera are similar.

The PUFFIN (Mormon Fratercula, ILL.) is the type of this genus. This bird resembles the guillemot and the razor-bill in its general manners, localities, mode of flight, and of incubation. From the contour of its figure, which is round, thick, and ball-like, and the singular aspect of its physiognomy, it cannot but attract attention. Notwithstanding its rotundity of form, it is a most expert swimmer and diver; and the sharp cutting edges of its broad beak, we may readily conceive, tend to facilitate its progress beneath the surface. Perched on the cliff of the craggy precipice, it looks down with eager gaze upon the

sea beneath, and throws itself headlong into the abyss, cleaving with its beak the briny waters, which close as it disappears. Its food consists of the smaller fishes, and

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among the shoals of Laden with a row of

especially the young of the sprat, which it makes unceasing havoc. these hanging from the bill, their heads being secured between the mandibles, it returns to its mate or its young one, expectant of the due supply, which the ocean fails not to yield. Having delivered up the spoil, it again plunges into the waters and continues its exertions.

The Puffin makes its appearance at its customary breeding-places about the middle of April, and departs in August to winter in the southern coasts of Spain, Italy, and other parts of southern Europe. It is very numerous at the Needles, in the Isle of Wight; upon Priestholm Island, off the coast of Anglesea; and other places. Mr. Selby states that " many resort to the Fern Islands, selecting such as are covered with a stratum of vegetable mould; and here they dig their own burrows, from there not being any rabbits to dispossess upon the particular islets they frequent. They commence this operation about the first week in May, and the hole is generally excavated to the depth of three feet, often in a curving direction, and occasionally with two entrances. When engaged

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