514 TUFTED AUK, AND PERROQJJET. 



prefent a lover can give his miftrefs, or a hufbancj to his wife, 

 and the ftrongeft proof of afFe£lion. 



Their magicians formerly ufed to recommend the bills of this bird, 

 , mixed with thofe of the Puffin, and the parti-colored hairs of 



Seals, as a powerful amulet. The diftant iflanders ftill bear the 

 bills in their helmets and caps, and make their garments of the 

 Ikmsj but the Kamtfchaikans at prefent make no ufe of any part 

 but the eggs, which are a -common food; the flefh being hard and 

 infipid. 



433. pERRoquET, Alca Pfittacula, Pallas, SpiciL Zaol. fafc. v. 15. tab. ii. — Latham, iii. 



A With an oval bill, or the upper and lower parts convex, and 

 of a bright red color : from the remote corner of each eye is 

 a very (lender tuft of fine white feathers, hanging down the neck : the 

 head and upper part of the body dufky ; the lower whitifh, varied 

 with black edges : legs dirty yellow : webs dufky. About the Size 

 of the Little Auk. 

 Place. Inhabits Kamtfchatka, the ifles towards Japan, thofe towards 



America, and the weftern fliores of America, in great abundance. They 

 fwim in flocks j but never, unlefs tempeft-driven, go far from the 

 rocks, to which they relbrt towards night, and Ihelter themfelves in 

 the fifTures or holes, without keeping any certain neft. Are the moft 

 ftupid of all birds, and caught by the natives in this ridiculous 

 manner : — towards evening they put on their garment with great 

 fleeves, pull out their arms, and leave the fleeves diftended, which 

 the birds will creep into by flocks, and thus become an eafy prey. 



The flupidity of this fpecies has often been the falvation of ma- 

 riners failing by night in thefe dangerous parts ; being often warned 

 of the neighborhood of a dreadful rock, by thefe birds flying on board 

 their yefTel, miftaking it for their defigned lodging. They lay one 

 egg, uncommonly great for their fize; it is of a whitifh color, fpeck- 

 led with brown, dulky, or yellow j and is efteemed for its delicacy.. 



Aka, 



