LITTLE AUK, OR ROTCHE 203 



features of this bird, which is some degree intermediate between the- 

 true auks and the guillemots, although clearly referable to neither of 

 the two genera. In addition to its diminutive size, the species is dis- 

 tinguished by the absence of any groovings on the beak, which is 

 relatively short, swollen, and somewhat sharply bent down towards the 

 tip, without any notch in its upper half. More important, perhaps, is 

 the circumstance that the oval nostrils are fully exposed and quite 

 clear from the feathering at the base of the beak. 



xAs its ordinary name implies, this bird is the smallest representa- 

 tive of the auk family, measuring only 8^ inches in total length. In 

 summer the crown of the head and upper-parts generally are black 

 tinged with grey, but the sides of the head and neck are sooty black ; 

 these sombre tints being relieved by white tips to the secondary wing- 

 quills, white margins to the scapular feathers, and wholly white under- 

 parts. In winter the white of the under surface extends on to the 

 fore part of the neck, the throat, and the sides of the head ; but 

 during spring and autumn the throat and chin are mottled with black, 

 as one type of plumage is exchanged for the other. The young in 

 first plumage differ from the adults in summer merely by their inferior 

 size and the lack of gloss on the plumage of the back and wings ; but 

 the nestling is uniformly smoke-grey above and somewhat paler below. 



As already mentioned, the rotche is essentially a bird of the open 

 sea, which, except for breeding-purposes, seldom makes its appearance 

 on land unless forcibly driven there by inclement weather. In the 

 Arctic regions it is to be met with in summer, especially in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Spitzbergen, literally by myriads, its flocks darkening the 

 water. With such a high northern range it is not a little remarkable 

 that the bird is unknown in the Arctic Pacific. Where the great bulk 

 of these auks go when their summer-home in the Arctic Ocean is held 

 fast in the grip of winter appears to be still unknown ; the same 

 remark being applicable, however, to the case of many other northern 

 sea-birds. The chief food of this species appears to consist of small 

 crustaceans belonging to the group known as Entomostraca ; and 

 during the breeding-season a kind of pouch-like enlargement of the 

 cheeks is developed in the old birds in order to enable them to carry 

 food of this nature to their young. Like all the auk-tribe, the rotche 

 is an expert diver, and is able to swim under water with the aid of its 

 rather short wings. These birds have a watchful enemy in the shape 

 of the Arctic fox, and in order that the eggs may npt be carried off by 

 this marauder, they are laid in deep holes or burrows under stones ; 

 each female, according to the rule among the auk-tribe, depositing 



