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COMMON SEA-DOVE.— LITTLE GUILLEMOT. 



•^"Mergulus alle, Linn. 

 PLATE CCCCLXIX.— Male and Female. 



This interesting little bird sometimes makes its appearance on our eastern 

 coasts during very cold and stormy weather. It does not proceed much 

 farther southward than the shores of New Jersey, where it is of very rare 

 occurrence. Now and then some are caught in a state of exhaustion, as I 

 have known to be the case especially in Passamaquody Bay near Eastport 

 in Maine, and in the vicinity of Boston and Salem in Massachusetts. 



In the course of my voyages across the Atlantic, I have often observed 

 the Little Guillemots in small groups, rising and flying to short distances at 

 the approach of the ship, or diving close to the bow and re-appearing a little 

 way behind. Now with expanded wings they would flutter and run as it 

 were on the surface of the deep; again, they would seem to be busily 

 engaged in procuring food, which consisted apparently of shrimps, other 

 Crustacea, and particles of sea-weeds, all of which I have found in their 

 stomach. I have often thought how easy it would be to catch these tiny 

 wanderers of the ocean with nets thrown expertly from the bow of a boat, 

 for they manifest very little apprehension of danger from the proximity of 

 one, insomuch that 1 have seen several killed with the oars. Those which 

 were caught alive and placed on the deck, would at first rest a few minutes 

 with their bodies flat, then rise upright and run about briskly, or attempt to 

 fly off, which they sometimes accomplished, when they happened to go in a 

 straight course the whole length of the ship so as to rise easily over the 

 bulwarks. On effecting their escape they would alight on the water and 

 immediately disappear. 



During my visit to Labrador and Newfoundland I met with none of these 

 birds, although the codfishers assured me that they frequently breed there. 

 I am informed by Mr. Townsend that this species is found near the mouth 

 of the Columbia river. 



Little Auk, Alca Alle, Wils. Amer. Orn., vol. ix. p. 94. 

 Uria Alle, Bonap. Syn., p. 425. 



Little Guillemot, Uria Alle, Swains, and Rich. F. Bor. Amer., vol. ii. p. 479. 

 Vol. VII. 37 



