21 Q A HISTORY OF 



CHAPTER 



OF THE AUK, PUFFIN, AND OTHER BIRDS OF THE PENGUIN KINXi 



OF a size far inferior to the penguin, but with nearly the same 

 form, and exactly of the same appetites and manners, there is a very 

 numerous tribe. These frequent our shores, and, like the penguin, 

 have their legs placed behind. They have short wings, which are 

 not totally incapable of flight ; with round bills for seizing their prey, 

 which is fish. They live upon the water, in which they are conti- 

 nually seen diving ; and seldom venture upon land, except for the pur- 

 poses of continuing their kind. 



The first of this smaller tribe is the Great Northern Diver, which 

 is nearly the size of a goose : it is beautifully variegated all over with 

 many stripes, and diners from the penguin, in being much slenderer, 

 and more elegantly formed. The Gray Speckled Diver does not ex- 

 ceed the size of a Muscovy duck ; and, except in size, greatly resem- 

 bles the former. The Auk, which breeds on the islands of St. Kilda, 

 and chiefly differs from the penguin in size and colour : it is smaller 

 than a duck ; and the whole of the breast and belly, as far as the 

 middle of the throat, is white. The Guillemot is about the same 

 size ; it differs from the auk, in having a longer, a slenderer, and a 

 straighter bill. The Scarlet-Throated Diver may be distinguished by 

 its name ; and the Puffin, or Coulterneb, is one of the most remark- 

 able birds we know. 



Words cannot easily describe the form of the bill of the puffin, 

 which differs so greatly from that of any other bird. Those who have 

 seen the coulter of a plough, may form some idea of the beak of this 

 odd-looking animal. The bill is flat ; but, very different from that 

 of a duck, its edge is upwards : it is of a triangular figure, and end- 

 ing in a sharp point, the upper chap bent a little downwards, where 

 it is joined to the head ; and a certain callous substance encompassing 

 its base as in parrots. It is of two colours ; ash-coloured near the 

 base, and red towards the point. It has three furrows or groves im- 

 pressed in it; one in the livid part, two in the red. The eyes are 

 fenced with a protuberant skin, of a livid colour ; and they are gray 

 or ash-coloured. These are marks sufficient to distinguish this bird 

 by ; but its value to those in whose vicinity it breeds, renders it still 

 more an object of curiosity. 



The puffin, like all the rest of this kind, has its legs thrown so far 

 back, *hat it can hardly move without tumbling. This makes it rise 

 'vith difficulty, and subject to many falls before it gets upon the wing : 

 but as it is a small bird, not much bigger than a pigeon, when it once 

 rises, it can continue its flight with great celerity. 



Both this and all the former build no nest ; but lay their eggs either 

 in the crevices of rocks, or in holes under ground near the shore. 

 They chiefly choose the latter situation ; for the puffin, the auk, the 



