THE DIVERS. 255 



or diving close to the bow and reappearing a little way behind. Now with expanded wings they 

 would flutter and run as it were on the face of the deep ; again they would seem to be busily engaged 

 in procuring food, which apparently consisted of shrimps, other Crustacea, and particles of seaweeds." 

 The Little Auk must certainly be regarded as the gayest and briskest member of its family ; 

 when visiting the shore it steps nimbly along on its toes, vanishes from observation among the stones, 

 or creeps like a mouse into crevices in the rocks. When out at sea it swims and dives with wonderful 

 alacrity, remaining under water for even more than a couple of minutes. Its flight resembles that of 

 the birds above described, but it moves its little wings even more rapidly than they. During the 

 breeding season the Little Auks congregate in immense numbers in the vicinity of the islands on 

 which the eggs are to be deposited. Each pair seeks a suitable spot among the stones that have fallen 

 upon the beach, and there lays a single egg of about the same size as that of the Pigeon, and of a 

 whitish colour slightly tinged with blue. How long incubation continues is unknown ; it has, 

 however, been ascertained that both parents attend to their solitary young one (which makes its 

 appearance clad in greyish down) supplying it with food until it is fledged and capable of flying 

 out to sea. 



The STARIKIS (Phaleres), a race of birds occupying northern regions, appear to some extent 



to claim relationship with the Auks and Divers, but are at once distinguishable from them by the 



flowing crest which adorns their head. Their beak is short, and very much depressed, broad, and of 



a somewhat triangular shape, it is incised towards the tip, and slightly vaulted above. The short 



slender feet are placed very far backwards ; the wings are of moderate length, and tail very short. 



The thick plumage is rather brightly coloured. Most of the species belonging to this group are met 



with between the north coast of Asia, and the north-west shores of America. These birds live in 



small flocks, swimming with ease and celerity while in quest of their food, which consists of Crustacea, 



mollusca, and other marine animals. As the night approaches they seek the shore, where, under the 



ledges of the rocks, or in burrows dug with their bills and feet, they retire to rest. The single egg 



is deposited in similar situations. 



THE STARIKI. 



The Stariki (Phaleris cristatelhi) presents as its most conspicuous feature a sort of plume upon 

 the head, consisting of six or eight remarkable feathers, placed close together; other feadiers of 

 similar character, and of a pale white, ornament the sides of the head, and project over the origin of 

 the bill. The plumage of the adult bird is blackish brown upon the upper part of the body, and 

 blueish grey beneath, shading upon the belly to a yellowish grey. The wing-quills and tail are black, 

 the outermost quill being spotted with brown, and the rest with white. The eye is dark brown, beak 

 coral-red, and foot blueish. In young birds the tuft upon the head is wanting ; the feathers on the 

 brow are black, with white shafts ; the entire upper portion of the body is black, except the region of 

 the shoulder, which is grey ; the throat is greyish yellow, and under surface pure white. In its general 

 appearance this bird resembles a large Quail. Steller, who first discovered the Stariki, met with it in 

 Behring's Straits ; subsequent naturalists have traced it from thence to the Sea of Japan and the north 

 coasts of America. In disposition these birds are social and lively. Kittlitz tells us he has seen small 

 parties of them swimming and diving together in twos and threes. 



We learn from the same authority that each pair lays two eggs, which are moderately large, and 

 of an elongated form. The shell is brownish white, speckled and marked with brown. 



The AUKS (Aka) may in certain senses be considered as intermediate between the Guillemots 

 and the Coulternebs, resembling the former in the coloration of their plumage and mode of life, and 



