260 URIA ALLE. 



of the pond to the other, and would take food from the 

 hand. The bird had received an injury in the head, 

 which had deprived one eye of its sight, and the other 

 was a little impaired; but, notwithstanding-, it could, by 

 incessantly diving, discover all the fish that was thrown 

 into the pond. In defect of fish, it would eat floh. 



" It is observable, that the legs of this bird ai 

 constructed and situated as to render it incapable of 

 walking upon them. This is probably the case with 

 all the divers, as well as the grebes. 



" When this bird quitted the water, it shoved its 

 body along upon the ground, like a seal, by jerks, 

 rubbing the breast against the ground, and it returned 

 again to the water in a similar manner. In swimming 

 and diving* only the legs are used, and not the wings, 

 as in the guillemot and auk tribes, and by their 

 situation so far behind, and their little deviation from 

 the line of the body, the bird is enabled to propel itself 

 in the water with great velocity in a straight line, as 

 well as turn with astonishing quickness."- 



292. USIA ALLE) TEMMIXCK. ALCA ALLE, WILSON. 



LITTLE GUILLEMOT. -f- 

 WILSON, PLATE LXXIV. FIG. V. 



OP the history of this little stranger, but few parti- 

 culars are known. With us it is a very rare bird, and, 

 when seen, it is generally in the vicinity of the sea. 

 The specimen described was killed at Great Egg Harbour 

 in the month of December, 1811, and was sent to 

 Wilson as a great curiosity. It measured nine inches in 

 length, and fourteen in extent ; the bill, upper part of 



* I have never seen this bird diving in pursuit of fish, but I 

 have seen it in the act of diving to avoid danger, and took notice 

 that its wings, when beneath the surface of the water, did not lie 

 close to the body, but they were not as much extend* *1 as when in 

 the act of flying. They had no visible motion, hence the presump- 

 tion is that their only use is to balance the body. 



f Named in the plate, Little Auk. This article is written by 

 Mr Ord. 



