5o5 G R E A T A U K. Class II. 



that feafon. A late writer* informs us, that it 

 does not vifit that ifland annually, but fometimes 

 keeps away for feveral years together ; and adds, 

 that it lays its egg clofe to the fea-mark -> being 

 incapable, by reafon of the fhortnefs of its wings, 

 to mount higher. 



The length of this bird, to the end of its toes, 

 is three feet ; the bill, to the corner of the mouth, 

 four inches and a quarter : part of the upper man- 

 dible is covered with fhort, black, velvet like 

 feathers ; it is very ftrong, comprefTed and mark- 

 ed with feveral furrows that tally both above and 

 below : between the eyes and the bill on each fide 

 is a large white fpot : the reft of the head, the neck, 

 back, tail and wings, are of a glofiy black : the 

 tips of the lefTer quil-feathers white : the whole un- 

 der fide of the body white : the legs black. The 

 wings of this bird are fo fmall, as to be ufelefs 

 for flight : the length, from the tip of the longed 

 quil-feathers to the firft joint, being only four inch- 

 es and a quarter. 



This bird is obferved by feamen never to wan- 

 der beyond foundings j and according to its appear- 

 ance they direct their meafures, being then afTured 

 that land is not very remote. Thus the modern 

 failors pay refped to auguries, in the fame manner 



• Macaulaf shift. St. Kilda* p. 156. 



as 



