514 



GREBES. ALClDJEj OR AUKS. 



FIG. 298. 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 

 |vmM^ \ their feet against the ground. Their 

 flight is feeble, but their wings give 

 1 much assistance in the act of 

 diving. 



457. The family ALCHXE, 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 



Fio. 297. GREAT AUK. 



