5*2 GREAT AUK. 



This species is not numerous any where : it inhabits 

 Norway, Iceland, the Ferroe Islands, Greenland, and 

 other northern regions ; and but very rarely visits Bri- 

 tain, and then only the most northern parts, among 

 the Orkneys. 



The female lays but one egg, which is white, irregu- 

 larly marked with purplish lines, and blotched with 

 dark rusty spots at the larger end ; and it is said that 

 if the egg be taken away she will not lay a second : 

 this will account for its rarity. The young are hatched 

 very late in the season : they feed upon plants, but 

 the old upon fishes, in search of which they dive and 

 swim under water with the greatest rapidity, for which 

 their short wings are easily calculated, as they per- 

 form the office of fins : they are very rarely seen on 

 shore, and walk very badly : they are extremely shy. 



