DOVEKEES 



(34) Allealle 



(Linn.) (Swedish). 



DOVEKIE; SEA-DOVE. Bill 

 small, black, dovelike. Ad. in sum- 

 mer — Plumage as shown, throat 

 dark brown, secondaries tipped and 

 scapulars streaked with white. In 

 ic'iiiter — The throat is white, extend- 

 ing around the sides of the neck and 

 sometimes meeting on the nape. L., 

 8.50; W., 5.00; Tar., .80; B., .50. 

 Nest — Single, pale bluish eggs laid 

 on bare ledges of inaccessible sea- 

 cliffs; 1.7s X 1.20. 



Range — Breeds on rocky coasts 

 and islands in the North Atlantic, 

 within the Arctic Circle. Winters 

 regularly south to Long Island and 

 casually to N. Car. Accidental in 

 Wis., Mich, and Ont. 



they regularly migrated, by swimming, as far sotith as 

 Massachusetts, and occasionally to Virginia. Vessels jour- 

 neying between the two continents stopped at the breeding 

 islands to lay in supplies of fresh meat, eggs and oil, a practice 

 that continued and was carried on in a wasteful manner until 

 the last Auk was gone. 



DOVEKIES are the tiniest of the auks — plump little 

 birds called Sea-doves by fisherman, because their bills re- 

 semble those of doves. They nest in high latitudes on 

 ledges of inaccessible sea-cliffs. They are very awkward 

 when on land, but not as much so as the larger members of 

 the family. Their flight is swift and performed by very 

 rapid wing-beats. 



In winter they are regularly found off the coast as far 

 south as Long Island. In their haste to elude approaching 

 steamers they are often unable to get a-wing and, after 

 pattering along the surface for a few yards, are forced to take 

 refuge by diving. 



