THE LITTLE AUK. 



Alca alle. 

 Mergulus melanoleucos. 



HE Little Auk, or, as it is 

 more familiarly called, the 

 Common Rotche, is a winter 

 visitor only, and is seldom 

 seen farther south than the 

 islands of Orkney and Shet- 

 land. Occasionally, during 

 very severe and protracted 

 gales, these birds are com- 

 pelled to forsake the open 

 sea and take refuge on those 

 parts of the coast where 

 shelter and protection may 

 be found. At these times 

 they are shot with little 

 difficulty. Numerous in- 

 stances are recorded of the 

 Little Auk being found on 

 various parts of our coasts, 

 and sometimes in large 

 numbers ; but as soon as the 

 severity of the weather had 

 abated the birds invari- 

 ably disappeared ; they have 



