292 THE BIRDS OF SUSSEX. 



of St. Leonards-on-Sea, that on October ISth^ 1883, a 

 female immature Black Guillemot was shot off that town by 

 Mr. Maggs. In 'The Birds of lona and Mull/ p. 105, 

 Mr. Graham states that during incubation these birds sit 

 erect on their nests, gasping out a plaintive wheezing noise 

 something like the complainings of a set of very young 

 kittens. This seems to be their only cry, for, except at this 

 time of year, they are entirely mute. 



LITTLE AUK. 



Mergulus alle. 



The Little Auk is entirely arctic in its breeding-quarters, 

 and only an occasional visitor to out coasts. The only note 

 I have of it is the following. On November 5th, 1841, I 

 noticed a Little Auk sitting on a smaU rock in a little pool, 

 close to Portobello, near Brighton. It took to the water and 

 swam about for a short time, returning again to its station. 

 Seeing a shrimper a short distance off, I beckoned to him, 

 and when he disturbed it, it flew to a short distance ; but 

 after chasing it for nearly a mile, he at last caught it. It 

 was rather curious that it never attempted to get out to sea. 

 It is now in my collection. 



On November 23rd, 1850, I saw one at Mr. Swaysland's 

 which had just been caught by some fisherwomen at 

 Brighton, and another which had been taken about the 

 same time. In the first week of February 1864, a Little 

 Auk was caught alive in Lansdowne-place, Brighton, having 

 been seen to fly against a house during a thick fog. It 

 appeared uninjured and was in good condition ; the weather 

 was quite calm at the time. I have another, found dead at 

 Hurst-Pierpoint, but have lost the date. Mr. .Teffery (p. n.) 



