146 ARCTIC ZOOLOGY. 



observed among the throng of Col. glocitans, and that in 

 their most northern migration. Sea being the dovekee's 

 home, this bird has Httle intercourse with hind, except 

 for the purpose of incubation. Its nest is on the ground, 

 exposed, and merely temporary ; always near the grand 

 retreat. This dwelhng is extremely simple, and formed of 

 such adjacent materials as the site will supply. Tenant at 

 will, the dovekee seeks not for much luxury ; and the whole 

 of its active life seems to be similar to that of the human 

 lord who derives his scanty and precarious sustenance from 

 the same waters, in the same situation. For a draAving of 

 this colymbus, see Plate XIV. Fig. 2. 



Colymbus Glocitans (the roch). — This bird is neiv in de- 

 scription, and is peculiarly remarkable from its frequency 

 and softness of call. Hence it merits the specific name 

 which I have ventured to assign it. Bill, short and black ; 

 both mandibles, arched, the edges compressed and sharp ; 

 head, neck and body above, sooty black : wings, light- 

 brown, irregularly mixed with white ; bill and scapulars, 

 white ; legs, black ; length, when fully grown, ten inches. 



The roch is the remotest and last visitor of Davis's 

 Strait, which it frequents in immense flocks, darkening 

 the surface of the sea, and with its incessant call enliven- 

 ing that dreary scene, where nature seems Avrapped in 

 eternal slumber. In view of the Linnaean Isles, the water 

 is covered with millions of this species, where their fa- 

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