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 hir 

 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 boUed, forms in the centre into a thickish flaky matter, 

 like milk.' ^ Great quantities are used in the neighbourhood of 

 Flamborough Head early in the nesting season. 



THE BLACK GUILLEMOT 



URIA GRYLLE 



Upper plumage black ; middle of the wings and under parts white ; iris brown ; 

 feet red. Length thirteen and a half inches. Eggs whitish grey, blotched 

 and speckled with grey and two shades of brown. 



The 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. Length about seven inches. 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 



' Vol. ii. p. 45. 



