426 NATATORES. 



Labrador. Thousands of them are killed on that coast for the 

 sake of the breast feathers, which are very warm and elastic. 

 The eggs are about as large as a turkey's, being great in propor- 

 tion to the size of the bird. Of these, incredible numbers are 

 collected at Labrador and in its vicinity. The Razor-Bill is 

 seen on the coast of New York State every autumn and winter ; 

 it is common in Europe. 



The COMMON PUFFIN, or COULTER-NEB, Fratercula Arctica, or 

 Mormon f rater cula, (Mormon Arcticus, DeKay.) has a beak mon- 

 strously large, rivaling in its development those of the Toucans 

 and Hornbills, and from its enormous size and the sharpness of 

 the edge, rendering this bird a formidable antagonist. This or- 

 gan is shorter than the head, higher than its length, somewhat 

 triangular in outline, and has its sides cut into furrows, (Plate IX. 

 fig. 11.) The generic names applied to the Common Puffin, re- 

 fer, in their signification, to its singularly grotesque appearance, 

 with its short, thick-set form, its erect attitude, and above all, its 

 extraordinary and brightly colored beak. It makes a burrow for 

 itself on the lofty cliffs, but sometimes avoids this labor by occu- 

 pying that of a rabbit which stands in awe of the formidable 

 bill, and readily gives up his habitation. From the lofty cliff, 

 the Puffin plunges fearlessly into the sea, and returns with its 

 beak full of fish, which are secured by their heads, and lie in a 

 row along the Puffin's bill. The length of this bird is from 

 twelve to thirteen inches. 



The LITTLE GUILLEMOT, Uria alle, or Mergulus aUe, is from 

 six to ten inches in length, sometimes, but rarely, seen on the 

 coast of New York, its range being from 39o N. L. to the north 

 pole. It is also called Sea-Dove, Sea-Pigeon, Pigeon Diver, or 

 Ice-Bird. During the breeding season, it collects in vast num- 

 bers along the north and east coast of Baffin's Bay. Dr. Kane 

 says it was not uncommon to kill more than a hundred in the 

 course of a couple of hours. The long-sought and lamented 

 Sir John Franklin killed and salted down so many of these birds 

 as to augment his resources by nearly a two years' supply of 

 food. " No other bird migrates in such numbers, or contributes 

 so largely to the pleasures of the table." (Grinn. A ret. Exped.) 

 The size of this bird compares well with that of a partridge ; 

 the feet are short, plunged into the feathers far back beyond the 

 equilibrium of the body ; it has three toes, all front and entirely 

 webbed. While taking their food, consisting of small fish, crus- 

 taceans and medusae, they can be approached so near as to be 

 knocked down with poles and boat hooks. The whalers some- 

 times shoot them with dried peas. Upon the bare rock they 



