THE LITTLE AUK. 571 



under wing coverts dark-ashy; flanks with longitudinal stripes of brownish-black; 

 bill black; feet pale-reddish; webs of toes dark; winter plumage and young, with 

 the throat and other under parts, white, extending somewhat on the sides of the 

 neck. 



Total length, about seven and a half inches; wing, four and a half; tail, one and 

 a quarter inch. 



One of the most abundant of the sea-birds of northern America and Europe, 

 straying south in the winter occasionally to the coasts of the Middle States. 



This curious little bird is not uncommon on our coast in 

 winter. In severe storms, it is occasionally blown far 

 inland ; and it has been killed in the Umbagog Lakes, in 

 the north-western part of Maine. I know but little of its 

 habits. Wilson says: — 



" The Little Auk is said to be but a rare visitant of the 

 British Isles. It is met with in various parts of the North, 

 even as far as Spitzbergen ; is common in Greenland, in 

 company with the Black-billed Auk, and feeds upon the 

 same kind of food. The Greenlanders call it the Ice-bird, 

 from the circumstance of its being the harbinger of ice. It 

 lays two bluish- white eggs, larger than those of the Pigeon. 

 It flies quick, and dives well, and is always dipping its bill 

 into the water while swimming or at rest on that element ; 

 walks better on the land than others of the genus. It grows 

 fat in the stormy season, from the waves bringing plenty of 

 crabs and small fish within its reach. It is not a very crafty 

 bird, and may be easily taken." 



NOTES. 



I conclude herewith Mr. Couper's notes on the foregoing 

 species, made at Quebec, Lower Canada : — 



ANSER HYPERBOREUS. — Common on the St. Lawrence in the fall. 



BERNICLA CANADENSIS. — This is our most common species. It goes 

 north and west to breed. They breed abundantly in the swamps of Illinois. 

 A few breed in Anticosti ; and I believe they are to be found breeding in 

 Labrador. 



