PARROQUET AUK. 535 



nent. They are very abundant, and are seen swimming and 

 diving in flocks, but seldom, unless tempest driven, go far 

 from the rocks to which they resort at night. They are 

 said to be extremely artless, so that the natives take them 

 with ease, sometimes, merely by placing, near their burrows 

 or holes a garment with large sleeves distended, into which 

 they creep as into their customary retreats, and thus become 

 an easy prey. Being constantly seen on dangerous and 

 precipitous coasts, they sometimes afford a timely warning 

 to the mariner of the approach of rocks or shoals, by seek- 

 ing out the refuge of his vessel, which they sometimes mis- 

 take for their accustomed lodging. They lay one large egg, 

 about the middle of June, almost the size of that of a com- 

 mon hen, being whitish, or yellowish, spotted with brown, 

 dusky or yellow, and is esteemed as a delicacy. The young 

 are sometimes seen solitary, wandering out at sea, and are 

 remarkably stupid and awkward. They can scarcely fly or 

 stand, from the shortness of their wings, and the posterior 

 position of their retracted legs, and they depend for subsist- 

 ence wholly on their swimming and diving, at which they 

 are remarkably expert. Their flesh is sometimes eaten, but 

 is very little esteemed, except by the half famished natives 

 of those dreary climates. 



The Perroquet Auk or Phaleris, is about 11 inches long. The bill 

 deep red. A white spot in the middle of the upper eye-lid. From 

 the hinder part of the eye springs a slender tuft of white feathers, 

 which hang loosely on each side of the neck. The head, neck, and 

 upper parts are black, inclining to ash on the fore part of the neck. 

 The under parts from the breast are white ; thighs dusky. Wing3 

 extending to the end of the tail, which last is very short. Legs 

 dull yellow ; the webs brown. 



In the young, the black of the upper plumage on the head and 

 nape is varied with some obscure ferruginous tints. Below cine- 

 reous, whitish near the vent. The tail tipped with ferruginous. 

 Legs livid. 



