£32 ACCOUNT OF THE AilCTIC REGIONS. 



CoLYMBus. Guillemot. 



1. CoLYMBUS grylle. — Tyste or Doveca. This 

 is a beautifully formed bird. It occurs in consider- 

 able numbers in icy situations, at various distances 

 from land. I have never seen it on the ice or on 

 land ; but commonly swimming on the water. It is 

 so remarkably watchful, and quick in diving, that if 

 fired at without any precaution being taken to con- 

 ceal the flash of the powder, it generally escapes the 

 shot. In diving, it uses its wings under water, as in 

 flying. It frequently dips its bill in the w ater, as if 

 to keep it wet. It feeds on shrimps and small fishes. 

 Its flesh, which is very dark-coloured, tastes a little 

 like the liver of some animals, and is not unplea- 

 sant eating. The common colour of this species is 

 black, with a white patch on the coverts of each 

 wing. Some are all over grey, consisting of small 

 alternating patches of black and white. The feet 

 of all are red. In flying, the tail being short, the 

 feet are used as a rudder. 



2.C0LYMBUS IVoile. — Foolish guillemot or Loom. 

 Occurs almost equally common in tlie Polar Seas 

 with the doveca. It is a clumsy bird, weighing two 

 pounds or upward, and measuring only 16 or 17 

 inches in length, and S8 inches across the wings, 

 when full spread, in breadth. The colour on the 

 back and wings is principally brownish-black ; of 

 the belly and breast, white. On ice or rocks, it sits 



