zJ tJ ,<Ct 



Nestling (Spitsbergen, 23rd July) . In general coloration of plumage resembles tbe adult in summer dress ; 

 but the feathering is scanty and shows the blue skin, and there are patches of sooty brown down here 

 and there amongst the plumage. 



The present species inhabits the circumpolar portion of both the Western Palsearctic and Eastern 

 Nearctic Regions, being driven southward to Continental Europe and the coasts of the United 

 States only by stress of weather ; but in the Atlantic Ocean it straggles in some numbers during 

 winter as far south as the Canaries. With us in Great Britain it is an irregular winter visitant, 

 not appearing every season ; but it has at various times been met with on almost all parts of the 

 coast. Yarrell writes (Brit. B. iii. p. 470): — "During the early part of November 1841 a few of 

 these birds were sent for sale to the London markets. Some were taken at an unusual distance 

 inland. Mr. Thrale, a collector in Hertfordshire, sent me notice of one, now in his possession, 

 that was obtained on the mill-head at Wheathamstead. Another was picked up alive between 

 Baldock and Royston, and is now preserved in the museum at Saffron Walden. I heard of others 

 taken near Birmingham. Mr. Strickland recorded nine taken in Worcestershire, three in Shrop- 

 shire, some at Bristol, and others near the Severn. The Little Auk, however, is a rare bird in the 

 counties of Devon and Cornwall. Mr. W. Thompson has noticed its occurrence in Ireland, at 

 Wexford and at Kerry ; at the latter it is suspected that it may breed in the same locality as 

 Briirmich's Guillemot. It has been shot in winter in Cumberland." I have seen specimens obtained 

 on the south coast of England ; and it has been recorded from various parts of the east coast. 

 Mr. Cordeaux says (B. of Humber Distr. p. 186) : — " In severe weather it is sometimes seen within 

 the Humber. There are numerous instances of the Little Auk occurring far inland, driven in 

 by stress of weather. Mr. Boulton had two in the flesh, shot on the river Hull in the autumn 

 of 1861, one late in October, the other on the 9th of November, in that year. I have one in 

 winter plumage taken on the decoy at Ashby in the latter part of 1864. In the autumn of 1863 

 very large flocks of the Little Auk appeared off the coast of Durham and on the river Tees ; and 

 many were at that time procured." Mr. Hancock also states that in November 1841 this species 

 visited the coasts of Northumberland and Durham in great numbers. They moved in a northerly 

 direction, and continued to pass in detached flocks for several days. In a few days he had sent 

 to him twenty-six specimens. It is somewhat remarkable that in Scotland this bird should 

 migrate along the east coast, only visiting the west side as a straggler. Mr. Robert Gray, who 

 remarks this, writes (B. of W. of Scotl. p. 431) as follows : — " This interesting little bird is of 

 irregular and uncertain occurrence only in the west of Scotland. So far as I can learn, not 

 more than three or four specimens have, at any time, been met with in the Outer Hebrides. 

 Mr. M'Donald procured two in North Uist in the winter of 1868-69. They were both found 

 dead on the beach, having been cast up by the waves during a storm from the west, but were 

 quite fresh, showing they had been in life a few hours previously. Similar waifs have been 

 picked up at other places in rough weather; and many living, though exhausted, Little Auks 

 have been scattered broadcast over the western mainland in the same accidental way. Thus in the 

 winters of 1866-67 and 68 several were captured near Oban, and southwards as far as the Firth 

 of Clyde other examples were obtained. The species has also been shot at Millport, in the Isle 

 of Cumbrae, and on the banks of Loch Fyne, as I have been informed by Mr. William Hamilton, 

 jun. Specimens of the bird have been found as far inland as Kilmarnock, in Ayrshire, on the 



