514 



GREBES. ALCID^E, OR AUKS. 



FIG. 296. LITTLE GREBE. 



discharge they were alarmed; and then to come up at two hun- 

 dred yards' distance. Their pro- 

 gression on land, however, is ex- 

 tremely awkward ; for they are 

 obliged to lie upon the whole length 

 of the body, and then to shuffle 

 along like Seals, by the action of 

 their feet against the ground. Their 

 flight is feeble, but their wings give 

 much assistance in the act of 

 diving. 



457. The family ALCID^E, or 

 Auks, have, like the Divers, very 

 short wings, and the legs placed 

 far behind the centre of the body, 

 so that they stand nearly erect; 

 but they have the toes all united 

 with a web. They pass a large 

 part of their time in the waters 

 of the ocean ; and nestle upon its borders. The power of the 

 wings is extremely limited; and in 

 one tribe they are only capable of 

 acting as paddles, to assist the mo- 

 tion of the Bird in the water. The 

 form of the bill varies in the dif- 

 ferent genera ; but it is usually 

 compressed, and the tip is very com- 

 monly hooked. In the Auks, 

 or Razor-bills, the wings are per- 

 fectly formed, though short; and 

 the hind toe is wanting. These Birds 

 are found in the Northern Ocean, 

 and appear in more temperate cli- 

 mates during the winter. They feed 

 on fish, small crabs, &c. They 

 never leave the water, except for the 

 purposes of incubation ; and they breed on the ledges of 



FIG. 297. GREAT AUK. 



