BIRDS. 



397 



CHAP. VIII. 



OF THE AUK, PUFFIN, AND OTHER BIRDS OF THE PENGUIN KIND. 



Of a size far inferior to the penguin, but with nearly the same 

 form, and exactly of the same appetites and manners, there is a 

 very numerous tribe. These frequent our shores, and, like the 

 penguin, have their legs placed behind. They have short wings, 

 which are not totally incapable of flight; with round bills for seiz- 

 ing their jirey, which is fish. They live upon the water, in which 

 they are continually seen diving ; and seldom venture upon land, 

 except lor the purposes of continuing their kind. 



The first of this smaller tribe is the Great Northern Diver, 

 which is nearly the size of a goose : it is beautifully variegated 

 all over with many strips, and differs from the penguin, in being 

 much slenderer, and more elegantly formed. The Gray Speckled 

 Diver does not exceed the size of a Muscovy duck ; and, except 

 in size, greatly resembles the former. The Auk, which breeds 

 on the islands of St Kilda, chiefly differs from the penguin in size 

 and colour : it is smaller than a duck ; and the whole of the breast 

 and belly, as far as the middle of the throat, is white. The Guille- 

 mot is about the same size ; it differs from the auk, in having a 

 longer, a slenderer, and a straighter bill. The Scarlet- Throated 

 Diver may be distinguished by its name ; and the Puffin, or 

 Coulterneb, is one of the most remarkable birds we know. * 



» The Great Northern Direr, which is the principal of the auk tribe, is 

 nearly three feet and a half in lenjfth. T\\t'. bill is black, and i3 four inches 

 and a half long. The head and neck arc of a deep velvet black. Under the 

 chin is a patch of white, marked with several parallel lines othlack ; and on 

 each side of the neck, and on the breast, is .ilso a hirpe portion of whit<! 

 marked in a similar manner. 'I he upper parts arc black, marked with white 

 spots ; and the under parts are white ; the wings are short ; and the quilW, 

 tail, and legs, are black. The female is less than the male. It inhabits 

 chiefly the northern sea-s, and is common on some of the coar.ts of Scotland. 

 Kvery part and proportion of this bird is most admirably adapted to its mode 

 D» life. The bead is sharp, and smaller than the pjirt of the neck ad.joininp, 

 tn order that it may pierci- the water ; the wiiig^ are plai'cd forward, and 

 out of the centre of gravity, for a purpose which will be noticed hereafter ; 

 the thighs quite at the pnidix, in order to facilitate diving ; and the legs are 

 flit, and a-s sharp backwards almost as the edge of a knife, that, in striking 

 they may ea--ily cut the water ; while the feet are broiul for swimming, yet 

 fo folded up, when sdvaucvd forwaid to take a Ircsh stroke, as to be full ii« 

 III 2 I. 



