330 BIRDS OF NEW ENGLAND AND EASTERN NEW YORK 



The Dovekie, or Ice-bird of the fisherman, is a rather ir- 

 regular winter visitant off the coast, generally keeping well 

 out at sea, but at rare intervals blown inland by severe storms. 

 It should be recognized at once by its small size. Small 

 flocks may be seen flying with rapid wing-strokes, close over 

 the water, or floating on the waves. The birds seem tame, and 

 at the approach of a boat they often dive instead of flying. 



Razor-billed Auk. Alca torda 



16.50 



Ad. in summer. — Head, throat, and upper parts sooty-black; 

 line from bill to eye, narrow line across wing, and under parts 

 white; bill short and deep. Ad. in ivinter. — Similar, but throat, 

 fore neck, and cheeks white ; no white line from bill to eye. Im. — 

 Similar to winter adult, but bill smaller. 



The Razor-bill is an irregular winter visitant to the 

 coast of New England and Long Island, occurring off rocky 



Fig. 92. Razor-billed Auk, in Winter 



shores. It gets its food by diving, and uses its wings under 

 M^ater to propel itself. Its pattern of black and white re- 

 sembles very closely that of the Murre, but it may be distin- 

 guished by its deeper bill, and, when sitting on the water, 

 by its upturned tail. 



