a 
570 ORNITHOLOGY AND OOLOGY. 
and almost oval ones. The only means of perfect identi- 
fication of either of these species is to visit their breeding- 
places, and secure the parent birds on their nests. 
- The dimensions vary from 3.50 by 2.15 inches to 2.95 by 
by 1.78 inch. 
URIA RINGVIA. — Briinnich. 
The Murre. 
Uria ringvia, Briinnich. Orn. Bor. (1764) 28. 
Uria troile, Audubon. Orn. Bor., III. (1835) 142. 
DESCRIPTION. 
About the size of, or rather larger than, the preceding; bill rather long, pointed, 
compressed; from the lateral feathers, longer than the tarsus, or than the inner toe and 
claw; wings rather short: tail very short; a narrow line of white encircling and run- 
ning backwards behind the eye and over the ear; head and entire upper parts dark- 
brown, with a tinge of ashy; under parts white; sides with transverse stripes of 
ashy-brown; under wing coverts white; bill black; feet greenish-black; winter 
plumage, with the throat and all other under parts, white; the white line behind the 
eye frequently wanting, and different in length in specimens. 
Total length, about seventeen inches; wing, seven and a half to eight inches; 
tail, two inches. 
Hab. — Northern America, Northern Europe, and Asia. 
The same remarks are applicable to this as to the Foolish 
Guillemot. It is northern in its habits, and is more abun- 
dant on the coast of Maine than farther south. 
MERGULUS, Ray. 
Mergulus, Ray, Syn. Av. (1713), 125. 
Small; general form short and heavy; head rather large; bill short, thick; upper 
mandible curved, slightly lobed on its edge; membrane of the rounded nostril large; 
wings moderate or rather short, pointed; first quill longest; tail short; feet rather 
short. 
MERGULUS ALLE, — Linneus. 
The Little Auk; the Sea Dove ; Dovekie, 
Alca alle, Linnzeus. Syst. Nat., I. (1766) 211. 
Uria alle, Audubon. Orn. Bor., IV. (1838) 304. 
DESCRIPTION. 
Small; head, breast, and entire upper parts, brownish-black, inclining to fuligi- 
nous on the head and breast; under parts from the breast white; a narrow line of 
white over the eye; secondaries tipped with white; scapulars edged with white; 
