ALCID.4^]. 581 



Tlie Little Auk, or Guillemot {Arctka alle). " This 

 interesting little bird inhabits the countries extending 

 northwai'ds from our latitude to tlie regions of perpetual 

 ice, occurring equally in the polar regions of both con- 

 tinents. In these liigh latitudes the Guillemots congre- 

 gate in ahnost innumerable flocks. Great quantities of 

 them are destroyed by the crews of vessels, as well as by 

 the Esquimaux, their flesh being considered both whole- 

 some and delicate, and at the same tune affording a 

 beneficial change of diet to the mariner. They are said 

 to be very tame, and easily captured, a circumstance 

 readily accounted for, as the persons engaged in the wdiale 

 fisheries, and the limited race of natives inhabiting the 

 borders of the Arctic seas, are the only human beings by 

 whom they are ever disturbed. Like the rest of its 

 family, the Little Auk passes a great portion of time on 

 the ocean, where it sports with great ease and fearless self- 

 ]3ossession, feeding upon small Crustacea and fishes, diving 

 for its prey with great celerity and adroitness." — {Gouhl, 

 '• Birds of Europc.r) 



