398 HISTORY OF 



Words cannot easily describe the form of the bill of the puffin, 

 tvhich differs so greatly from that of any other bird. Those who 

 have seen the coulter of a plough, may form some idea of the 

 beak of this odd-looking animal. The bill is liat ; but, very 



narro\v as the shank. The two exterior toes of the feet are longest ; and 

 the nails are flat and broad, resembling' the liuman, which give strength, 

 iind increase the power of swimming. The foot, when expanded, is not at 

 right angles with the leg ; but tlie exterior part inclining towards the head, 

 forms an acute angle with the body, the intention being, not to give motion 

 in the line of the legs themselves, but, by the combined impulse of both in 

 Bn intermediate line, the line of the body. 



Most people, who have exercised any degree of observation, know that 

 the swimming of birds is nothing more than a walking in the water, where 

 one foot succeeds the other, as on the land. " But no one, as far as I am 

 aware," says the Rev. Mr White, "has remarked, that diving fowls, while 

 under water, impel and row themselves forward by a motion of their wings, 

 as well as by the impulse of their feet; yet such is really the case, as any 

 one may easily be convinced who will observe ducks when hunted by dogs 

 in a clear pond. Nor do I know that any one has given a reason why the 

 wings of diving fowls are placed so forward ; doubtless not for the purpose 

 of promoting their speed in flying, since that position certainly impedes it ; 

 but probably for the increase of their motion under water, by the use of four 

 oars instead of two : and were the wings and feet nearer together, as in land 

 birds, they would, when in action, rather hinder than assist one another." 



The Speck/ed Diver is not quite so large as the other. 



The Great Auk. — This bird inhabits Europe and America ; is three feet in 

 length; is very timid; it has not the power of flying; its food is chiefly 

 fishes. The bill is black, compressed, and edged ; and has eight or ten 

 grooves : there is an oval spot on each side before the eyes. The wings are 

 so short as to appear as only rudiments ; secondary quill feathers tipt with 

 \A'hite ; the legs are black. Its Q^g is six inches long, and white, with pur. 

 plish lines and spots. 



The Little Auk also inhabits Europe and America, and measures nine 

 inches in length. The bill is short, black, smooth, and conic; the back is 

 black, with a few dusky lines ; the secondary quill feathers are tipt with 

 white. It has a white dot above the eyes ; the tips of the hind quill fea- 

 thers are white ; the legs are black. 



The Guillemot is about the size of a common duck. The upper parts of 

 the body are of a dark brown colour, inclining to a black, except the tips of 

 some of the wing feathers, which are M'hite ; all the under parts of the body 

 are also white. The tail is about two inches long These are simple birds, 

 and easily taken. They generally join company with other birds, and breed 

 on the inaccessible rocks and steep cliflfs in the Isle of Man ; and likewise in 

 Cornwall ; on Priesholm Island, near Beaumaris, in the isle of Anglesey ] 

 also on the Fern Inland, ne.ir Northumberland: and the cliff's about Scar- 

 borough, in Yorkshire ; and several other places in England. They lay ex- 

 ceeding large eggs, being full three inches long, blunt at the one end, sharp 

 at tiie other, of a sort of bluish colour, spotted generally with some bl.tr'k 

 spots or strokes. 



