The JitJc.] OE ORKNEY. 99 



ORDER VIIL--WEB'FOOTED BIRDS. 



GENUS AAT/.— THE AUK KIND. 



Gen. Char. — Bill strong, thick, convex, compressed ; nostrils linear, placed near 

 the edge of the mandible ; tongue almost as long as the bill ; toes, no back 

 toe. 



* Tliose with thick bills. 

 ** Those with slender bills. 



Species 1. — The Auk. 



Razorbill, Auk, Murre, Wil. Orn. 323. RaiiSyn.J'iJ. IIQ. The Marrot, Sib. 

 Hist. Fife, 48. Alca Torda, Lin. Syst. 210. Brit. Zool. 403. Brit.Zool. 

 JUus.tab.ig.Jig ^. 0/c. Baukie. 



These birds are very common in all the headlands and 

 high rocks round the country ; they come here in March, and 

 fill the whole shelves of the rocks in breeding-time ; lay but 

 one large egg, either on the bare rock, or I have seen them, 

 where there was any earth in the interstices, make a small 

 hollow, wherein they placed their single egg ; but this is sel- 

 dom, and when it is the case they take no pains to line it 



