294 THE LITTLE AUK 
are taken for food. In St. Kilda and, perhaps, elsewhere, young 
birds are also taken in large numbers, and salted for consumption 
in winter. Such as escape this systematic slaughter flounder, as 
well as they are able, into the sea when nearly fledged, or are carried 
thither by their foolish mothers. There they learn to swim, to dive, 
and to fish, and about the middle of August old and young disperse. 
Huge baskets of their eggs are sometimes brought to the markets 
of seaport towns (I have seen them so far south as Devonport), 
and sold for a price exceeding that of domestic fowls, for they are 
much larger, and are said to afford good eating. Wilson, in his 
Voyage round the Coasts of Scotland, says that the natives of St. 
Kilda prefer the eggs of these, and other sea-fowl, ‘when sour; 
that is, when about ten or twelve days old, and just as the incipient 
bird, when boiled, forms in the centre into a thickish flaky matter, 
like milk.’1 Great quantities are used in the neighbourhood of 
Flamborough Head early in the nesting season. 
THE BLACK GUILLEMOT 
GRIA GRYLLE 
Upper plumage black ; middle of the wings and under parts white ; iris brown; 
feetred. Length thirteen and ahalfinches. Eggs whitish grey, blotched 
and speckled with grey and two shades of brown. 
Tue Black Guillemot, is a resident species breeding on the Isle of 
Man, and on the Irish coasts. In Scotland it is common. Its 
mode of life, as described by Macgillivray, who was familiarly 
acquainted with it, differs in no material respect from that of the 
species already described. It is, however, much smaller, and lays 
two or sometimes three eggs. Macgillivray says that, on those 
parts of the coast which it frequents, attempts are often made to 
rear it in captivity; but always unsuccessfully. In summer, 
these birds may be readily distinguished from other sea-fowl, by 
their black and white plumage and red feet : the predominant tint 
of the plumage in winter is white, with a tinge of grey; and in high 
latitudes the proportion of white increases. 
THE. LITTLE AUK 
MERGULUS ALLE 
Head and upper parts black ; two bands across the wings ; a spot above the 
eye and all the under parts white. In summer the throat and front of 
the neck are also black. Lengthabout seveninches. Eggs uniform pale 
blue. 
THE Little Auk is essentially a northern sea-bird, coming to us in 
winter, and is described by Arctic voyagers under the name of 
1 Vol.) ii. pi a5: 
