102 NATURAL HISTORY [Birds. 



the cheeks and round the eyes are gray, under the chin a little 

 darker ; from the eyes runs a remarkable parting of the fea- 

 thers, very visible while the bird is alive, but soon obliterat- 

 en when it is dead ; the top of the head, whole upper side of 

 the body, wings, and tail, are black, with a collar of the same 

 round the neck ; the breast and belly white ; the inside of 

 the wings dusky ; the legs and feet are yellow, with black 

 claws, the innermost of which is much hooked ; the tail short 

 and rounded. 



This, too, is one of the birds for which our rock-men ven- 

 ture life and limbs. The flesh is very rank and fishy tasted. 

 It takes flight with great difficulty, and is often run down with 

 boats, but can fly very well when it once gets wing. Our 

 people take these from their holes with a stick, at the point 

 of which is an iron hook ; but they must take great care both 

 of this and the former, for they bite very severely, and the 

 form of the bill makes the impression still more strong. 



I have observed many of this species drove ashore in a sud- 

 den storm, that is, when caught suddenly in a gale of wind, 

 which is a further proof of the difficulty they have to take 

 wing from a level ; indeed, all the motions of the sea-birds, 

 except swimming, are extremely awkward. 



