86 ALCID^. 



Shetland than further south. Somewhat intermediate in its 

 characters between the Guillemots and the Auks, it has 

 been considered worthy of generic distinction, and separated 

 accordingly. 



Truly oceanic in its habits, and, unless forced by neces- 

 sity, rarely seen on land except in the breeding-season, this 

 species usually makes its appearance on our coasts with, 

 or soon after, the stormy weather which often follows each 

 autumnal equinox, when it is forced by violent and long- 

 continuing winds to leave the rougher sea and take shelter 

 in land-locked bays, where it is easily shot. Individuals arc 

 not unfrequently driven while on wing over the land itself, 

 far from their natural marine haunts, to situations where 

 they are generally found either exhausted or dead. Some 

 occur almost every year. 



A remarkable instance of this sort occurred in the month 

 of October, 1841. Dr. Edward Clarke, of Hartlepool, sent 

 the Author word, that after a violent storm of wind from 

 N.N.E., which lasted several days, his attention was directed 

 by pilots and fishermen on the look-out, to various flocks of 

 small black and white birds, then close in shore. There 

 were several hundreds of them, which were unknown to 

 these seafaring men, but which proved to be the Little Auk. 

 Many were obtained, five or six being killed at each shot, 

 the birds were so numerous. The same thing happened at 

 the same time at Eedcar, on the Yorkshire coast, but after 

 two or three days, the wind abating, they were seen no more. 

 About the same time the Author heard from various friends 

 of other examples being taken in many different counties, — 

 in Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Suflblk, Essex, Kent, and Sussex. 

 During the early part of November, 1841, a few of these 

 birds were sent for sale to the London markets. Some were 

 taken at unusual distances inland. Mr. Thrale, a collector 

 in Hertfordshire, sent notice of one that was obtained on 

 the mill-head at Wheathamstead ; and another, which was 

 picked uji alive between Baldock and Royston, is now pre- 

 served in the Museum at Saflron Walden. The Author 

 heard of others taken near ]>irmingham ; Strickland re- 



