WATER FOWL. 397 



it is beautifully variegated all over with many 

 stripes, and differs from the penguin, in being 

 much slenderer and more elegantly formed. The 

 Grey Speckled Diver does not exceed the size of 

 a Muscovy duck; and, except in size, greatly 

 resembles 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 remarkable 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 the duck, its edge 

 is upwards. It is of a triangular figure, and end- 

 ing in a sharp point ; the upper chap bent a little 

 downward, where it is joined to the head ; and a 

 certain callous substance encompassing its base, 

 as in parrots. It is of two colours j ash-coloured 

 near the base, and red towards the point. It has 

 three furrows or grooves impressed 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 grey or ash-coloured. These are 

 marks sufficient to distinguish this bird by ; but 



