BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



389 



Xittlc Baft. 



THE Little Auk (Mergulus alle, Linnaeus) is an irregular 

 straggling autumn and winter migrant to the British Islands, 

 and inhabits the North Atlantic and Arctic Ocean basins. 

 The adult in summer has the head, chin, throat, and upper 

 parts, mostly glossy black; a small white spot over each 

 eye; some scapulars margined, and secondaries tipped, with- 

 white; under parts, below upper breast, also white; irides, 

 hazel; bill, blackish; legs and feet, fleshy-brown; toes, 

 lighter. Length, about eight inches. The winter plumage 

 of the adult is similar to the summer plumage, except that 

 the throat and chest are white. The young lack the white 



