288 WILD-FOWL AND SEA-FOWL OF GREAT BRITAIN 



head and upper neck is replaced with white ; throat, 

 lower part of cheeks, sides of neck, and all the lower 

 parts white. There is no external difference to 

 distinofuish the sexes. 



THE LITTLE AUK. 

 {Mergulus a lie.) 



Male. — The bill black ; iris dark brown. The 

 upper part of head, part of the cheeks, hind-neck, 

 and all the upper parts are black, with a green gloss 

 on the back. There is a white spot on the upper 

 eyelid. The scapulars are streaked, and the second- 

 ary quills tipped with white ; throat, breast, and 

 belly white ; legs and feet dusky. Length, from 

 bill to end of tail, nine inches. 



The female is similar to the male, but smaller. 



THE COMMON RAZOR-BILL. 



{Alca tarda.) 



Male. — The bill bluish-black, a white band 

 crossing each mandible, the upper one shaped like 

 a short bill-hook ; a fine, white, thread-like line from 

 the upper mandible to the eye. The upper part of 

 head, hind-part and sides of neck, and the upper 

 part of body and wings are black, with a tinge of 

 green ; the secondary quills are margined with 

 white. The throat, sides of head and upper neck, 

 fore-part of neck, and rest of the lower parts are 



