120 THE CANADA GOOSE, GREAT AUK, TUFTED AUK. 



THE CANADA GOOSE 



Measures about three feet six inches in length. The 

 head and neck are black ; under the throat is a broad 

 white band of a crescent shape ; the breast, the upper part 

 of the belly, the back, and wing- covers, are dusky brown; 

 the lower parts of the belly, and the upper wing covers, 

 white ; the quills and tail black. It inhabits North 

 America, and migrates from the colder regions in winter. 

 These birds pass in large flocks, and may be killed in 

 great numbers, if care is taken not to alarm them before- 

 hand, as they are very timid, and wary of approaching 

 places where they perceive any movement. Those killed 

 in autumn are thrown into large holes dug in the ground ; 

 and are thus preserved for winter use. The Canada goose 

 is now pretty commonly domesticated in Europe, and is 

 esteemed as an ornamental inhabitant of the pleasure- 

 ground. Their flesh and quills serve at the same time to 

 render them profitable where they abound. 



THE GREAT AUK 



Is the size of a goose, of a black colour above, and white 

 beneath : its wings are so small as to be useless for flight. 

 This bird frequents the northern latitudes ; it lays one 

 large egg, close to the high-water mark ; the egg is six 

 inches long, white, marked with purplish li 



lines, and spotted 



at the larger end with black or ferruginous. It feeds on 

 fish and marine plants- 



THE TUFTED AUK 



Inhabits Kamschatka: it is about nineteen inches in 

 length; its plumage is black, inclining beneath to ash 

 colour ; on each side the head is a tuft of feathers, bending 

 backwards, white at the base, and gradually darkening 

 to a fine buff. It burrows in the ground, and lines its nest 

 with feathers : it lays one large white egg. It feeds on 

 crabs, shrimps, and other shell-fish, which it forces from 

 the rocks with its strong bill. 



