344 MERGULUS ALLE. 



America than in those of Europe. Its food consists of small 

 Crustacea and fishes, which it procures by diving, its habits 

 being- similar to those of the Auks and Guillemots. Some 

 writers say that it lays two eggs, others that it has one only. 

 My acquaintance with it in the living state is extremely 

 slight, as I have had only a single opportunity of seeing it, 

 having observed two individuals perched on the cliffs of the 

 Bass llock, one day in the montli of May. I have been 

 credibly informed of its breeding in considerable numbers at 

 St. Abb's Head. The egg, according to Mr. Audubon, 

 " measures one inch and nearly five-eighths in length, one 

 inch and an eighth in its greatest breadth. It is remarkably 

 large for the size of the bird, and of a dull uniform pale 

 gteenish-blue." 



On their arrival from the far north, these birds are seen 

 occasionally in considerable numbers among the Shetland 

 and Orkney Islands. Dr. Edmondston, however, in his 

 Notes, calls it a rare winter visitant in Shetland ; while, in 

 Orkney, Messrs. Baikie and Heddle inform us that they 

 " occasionally appear in great numbers during winter. They 

 were very abundant in 1803, in January 1812, and again 

 during winter 1846-7. They usually keep to deep water, 

 and approach the shore only during bad weather. One 

 season they were frequently observed swimming on fresh- 

 water lochs." They are seen occasionally along the east 

 coast of the middle division of Scotland, especially in the 

 Bays of Banff, Peterhead, and Aberdeen. In November 

 1846, an individual, caught near the mouth of the harbour 

 at Aberdeen, was brought to me by Mr. Alexander Chal- 

 mers ; another found dead near Don Mouth I saw Avith Mr. 

 Thomas M'Kenzie ; a third was sent to me from Roseliearty, 

 by Dr. Wisely, who stated that they come sometimes to the 

 coast there in very severe storms in winter. Great numbers 

 were seen that Avinter along the eastern coast of Aberdeen- 

 shire. Mr, Yarrell gives an account of the occurrence of 

 these birds in October 1841, after a violent storm from the 

 N.N.E., on the eastern coasts of England, from Yorkshire to 

 Kent and Sussex ; and mentions various instances of their 

 havintj been driven far inland. 



