LESSER GUILLEMOT. 217 



the head, hind part of the neck, back, wings, and 

 tail are black : from the eye a dusky streak arises, 

 pointing backwards : the tips of the secondary quill- 

 feathers are slightly marked with white : the cheeks, 

 throat, and all the under parts white : on the sides 

 and on the thighs a few dusky streaks : legs black. 



This species inhabits the same regions as the pre- 

 ceding, and is by many ornithologists reputed to be 

 the young of that bird ; but Montagu asserts that it 

 is a totally distinct species, and in support of his 

 opinion gives the following reasons in the Supple- 

 ment to his Ornithological Dictionary, which I shall 

 quote at length, in order to prevent unnecessary 

 repetition hereafter, as they equally apply, not only 

 to the present and preceding bird, but to the Common 

 and Lesser Razor-bills (or Black-billed Auk of au- 

 thors), which he also separates. 



Montagu observes, that "this species and the Black- 

 billed Auk (Utamania pica) are found in vast abund- 

 ance in winter, in the bays on the coast of Scotland, 

 extending even to the Orkney and Zetland islands, 

 but particularly in the Firth of Forth ; and at the same 

 time being so sparingly scattered over the southern 

 parts of the kingdom, evinces that they are properly 

 natives of the more northern regions, and retire only 

 from the icy seas to such parts as may afford them 

 subsistence. Thus they are contented with a boreal 

 station, even in the colder months, and never seek a 

 southern region, but mostly continue on our northern 

 shores, where they are never impeded by ice from 

 diving after their favourite prey, the sprat, which is 

 there found in abundance throughout the winter. 



