116 ZOOLOGY. 



feet palmated, the niembraae deeply indented ; hind 

 toe not connected. 



These Birds are gregarious, being generally found in very 

 considerable numbers ; they feed on fish, and aquatic insects ; 

 the flesh of the young birds and the eggs are accounted good ; 

 they build their nests in shallow pools, composing them of a 

 large quantity of decaying vegetables and sticks, these are 

 piled up so high, that the birds sit on the eggs with their feet 

 hanging over the sides of the nest. They are natives of 

 Africa, and South America ; are rather a stupid race, as 

 they do not use the powers they are possessed of, either to 

 avert or resits attacks. 



4. Diomedia. Albatross, or Man-of-War Bird. BilL 



strait, upper mandible hooked at the point, lower one 

 truncate ; nostrils prominent, oval, lateral, pervious ; 

 tongue very small ; feet palmated ; toes four, all 

 placed forwards. 



This genus inhabits isolated rocks, situated in the ocean ; 

 they are gregarious, feed on fish and moluscas ; their flesli is 

 rank, and unfit for food. 



5. Alca. Puffin or Awk. Bill strojig, thick, compressed, 



furrowed ; nostrils linear, placed in a furrow, near the 

 edge of the mandible ; tongue nearly the length of the 

 bill ; toes three, palmated. 



The Awks are all oceanic birds ; they feed on fish, 

 and moiuscae, and lay only one egg, either in burrows. 



