280 NEW-YORK FAUNA — BIRDS. 



green and blue, blotched and splashed with dark brown. Large numbers of the eggs of this 

 and the preceding species are annually brought to Boston for sale. Its habits are similar to 

 those of the preceding species. Ranges from 61° to 40° north. Common to Europe and 

 America. 



(EXTRALIMITAL.) 



V. brunnichi, Sab. (Aud. B. of Am. Vol. 7, pi. 472.) Bill large and stout : upper mandible three times 

 as long as broad. Sooty black ; beneath white ; secondaries white at tip ; feet dusky, tinged with 

 red. Summer, whole head black. Length, 18*5. Northern regions of Europe and America. 



U. townsendi. (Aud. lb. Vol. 7, pi. 475.) Brown or rufous above, barred with black. Bill straight, 

 slender, acute, notched at tip. Beneath white. Bill black: feet yellow. Length, 9*0. North- 

 west coast of America. 



GENUS MERGULUS. Kay. 



Bill very short, rather thick, convex, conical, slightly compressed, nearly as broad as high, 

 covered at the base with downy feathers. Both mandibles notched at the tip. Nostrils 

 basal, oval, partly concealed by a feathered membrane. First and second quills subequal, 

 longest. Tail of twelve feathers. 



THE SEA DOVE. 



Mergulus alle. 

 plate cxxxvi1i. fig. 302. 



(COLLECTIONS OF H. C. DE RHAM AND G. N. LAWRENCE.) 



Alcaalle. Linn.«us, p. 210. 



Little Auk. Pennant, Arct. Zool. Vol. 2, p. 512. Wilson, Am. Orn. Vol. 9, p. 94, pi. 74, fig. 5. 



Una (Mergulus) alle. Bonaparte, Ann. Lye. N. Y. Vol. 2, p. 425. Richardson, F. B. A. Vol. 2, p. 479. 

 Nbttall, Manual Ornith. Vol. 2, p. 531. 



Mergulus id. Bonaparte, Geog. and Comp. List, p. 65. Aodubon, B. of A. Vol. 7, p. 257, pi. 469. 



M. id., Pigeon Diver. Peabody, Birds of Mass. p. 400. Giradd, Birds of Long Island, p. 375. 



Characteristics. Black ; tips of secondaries and beneath white ; under the wings black ; 

 bill and feet dusky. Bill O - 5. Summer, whole head black. Length, 

 6 inches. 



Description. Tarsus compressed, partially concealed, 0' 8 long: middle toe slightly longest. 

 Length of wing 4 "7. Tail very short, nearly even. 



