254 AYES. 



Slimmer, and c-verywliorc nrnttled mth v/lilte in winter : the bill and f^'Pt red. Its ran^:''' is nmre northerly, r.irely 

 if ever breeding; to tbc southward of the Scottish Isles, aud [irodueiuL,^ two and olti_-n tJiree eg-^^s, proportiunally 

 smaller, and singularly tlilferent from those of the other, both in shape and coluur. It is less allied to the Common 

 Guillemot than tbj iaiter is to the Auks, with which an iniermediate species, rarely found on the British coasts, 

 tends even to connect it —the U. Biunnichn, which scarcely differs except in the more robust form of Ihe bill. 

 Tliere is also a breed of the Common Guillemot found on the Welsh coast, and some other places, which lias a 

 narrow white line iVuin tlie bill to the eye, as in the llazor-billed Auk.] 



Tui^ RoTCKE (0'j//iiif,-, Ciiv. [Mergulu.<i, Hay and Vicillot]), — 

 Has a sliorter 1)111. more arcuated aiiovc, and unemarginatcd ; the syra[diysis of tlie lower niandiljlc 

 e\tromeIy short. Us wings are stronger, and the membranes of the feet somewhat notched. 



The known species, termed LillJe Auli and C'.rcrnlnnd Dove, (C. aUe ; Cohimhus minor, Gmelin), is not Iarf;fer 

 than a Pig-eon, and black above, wbitu b(.'l(,)\v, with the same mark on the \Aing- as the Cnuunon Guillemot. It 

 inhabits the arctic shores, where it breeds on fhe ground, and is occasionally met wiWi in oar latitudes during the 

 winter. 



The genus of 



Tiir. Auks {Alca, Lin.) — 

 Is known by its extremely compressed beak, raised vertically, sharp along the ridge, and ordinarily 

 grooved on the sides, together T^-ith its feet entirely palmated and without back toe, the same as in the 

 Guillemots. The species are all from the northern seas. 



They require to he di\ided into three su'igcncra. 



Tlie Pl'ffixs [Fratprcida, Brisson ; Mormon, Illiger), — 

 Of which the beak, shorter than the head, is as high or higher than it is long, giving it a very 

 extraordiiiary form, "ftdiile its base is generally furnished with a folded skin. The nostrils, placed 

 near its edge, are mere slits. Their short wings can just su.^taiu them for a brief period, and they 

 re>iile in the ocean like the Guillemots, and nestle in the rocks, [or rather they burrow holes iti loose 

 soil, and lay their single egg at the dep+h of several feet, Thi'V run or creep swiftly on the ground, 

 and the Auks and GiuUemots can aLo ^vaddle ^vith moi-c speed than might be a!iticlpa;ed from the 

 shortness of their legs]. 



The common species {Alca arcHca, Lin. ; Mormon fratercula, Tem.), is a little larg;er than a Pigeon, with black 

 mantle, calotte, and collar, and the rest white. [Legs orange ; bill brightly coloured; and a slip of loose skin at 

 each eye. It is common in suitable localities on the British shores, flies rapidly, and may often be seen to return 

 to its mate or youn^, with a number of small fishes curiously ranged on each side of its bill, each held by the bi.'ad. 

 The young are at hrst co\'ered with long and flocculent black down, which is replaced by delicately soft plumage 

 analogous to that of the young Guillemot, succeeded by the adult garb in the course of a few weeks, which last 

 undej'goes no seasonal changes]. 



M. Temminck distinguishes as 



The PiiALiiRixs (Phakris, Tcm.), 

 Those species which liave the beak less elevated; as, 



The Alca n-istalclla^ "N'icillot, and A. jixi/furn/a. Pallas. [Six species arc known on the arctic shores of America, 

 one forming tSie Ceraluriiiiehus, Bonap. ; some of these extenii to tlie north of Siberia.] 



The Restricted Auks {Alca, Cuv.) — 

 Have a more lengthened beak, resembling the blade of a knife; feathers at its base as far as the nos- 

 trds, [the same as in the Guillemots, to which they are most nearly allied,] and wings decidedly too 

 small to su]>port them, iuasnuichas they cantiot fly at all; [an ciroueous statement respecting one of 

 the two species]. 



'Jlie Rnzor-bill Auk {Ah-a lorda and j'i'-n, G'melin). [Plnniagn ami scrisnnal clianges of the Common Guillemot, 

 only that the black is more deep, and some white transverse lines on the bill. It is rather smaller than that spe- 

 cies, which it exactly resembles in habit and extent of wing, flying C'lually well: inhabits tlie same cliffs, but less 

 numerously ; and commonly lays two eg<,^s, sometimes three, of similar character to those of the Blaclc Guillemot : 

 has a croalcing^ voice ] 



The Great Auk (-1. ini}>nini.s,\An.). — Colours of the preceding', but the beak marked with ei2;ht or ten cress 

 grooves, and an oval white spot between the eye and bill. It Ia\s but one great eg;.?, sported n', itli purjilish. [Tin's 

 species, which is larger than a Goose, is the only northern sea-tuw! utterly deprived nf the function of fh^bt, and 

 has accordingly its wings reduced to exactly that size which is most efficient of all for suliaqualic progression : 

 they are not larger than very moderate-sized fins, and the limb-bones are considerably wi'ij^htier and le^.s solid 

 than those of its coni;ei',.';- ; !jut we are not aware that the skeleti.m makes anv approach in form to that of the 



