258 LITTLE GUILLEMOT. 



Little Auk or Sea-dove, Nutt. Man., vol. ii. p. 531. 



Little Guillemot, Uria Alle, Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. iv. p. 304. 



Male, 7}, 14$. 



Rare and only during winter along the coast of the United States, from 

 New York to Maine. More abundant along the coast of Nova Scotia, and 

 far at sea. Breeds on the Arctic coasts. 



Adult Male in summer. 



Bill shorter than the head, stout, straightish, sub-pentagonal at the base, 

 compressed towards the end. Upper mandible with the dorsal line convexo- 

 declinate, the ridge convex, the sides sloping, the edges sharp and over- 

 lapping, the tip rather obtuse. Nasal depression short and broad; nostrils 

 basal, oblong, with a horny operculum. Lower mandible with the angle 

 long and wide, the dorsal outline very short, ascending and straight, the 

 sides convex, toward the end ascending and flattened, the edges thin and 

 inclinate, the tip acute, with a sinus behind. 



Body full and compact; neck short and thick; head large, ovate. Feet 

 short, rather stout; tibia bare for two-twelfths of an inch; tarsus very short, 

 compressed, covered anteriorly with oblique scutella, behind with angular 

 scales; hind toe wanting; anterior toes connected by reticulated webs, the 

 inner much shorter than the outer, which is almost as long as the, middle; 

 the scutella numerous. Claws rather small, moderately arched, compressed, 

 rather acute, that of the middle toe having its inner edge considerably 

 expanded. 



Plumage dense, blended, glossy. Wings of moderate length, narrow, 

 pointed; primaries pointed, the first longest, the rest rapidly graduated; 

 secondaries rounded. Tail very short, slightly rounded, of twelve feathers. 



Bill black. Iris dark hazel. Feet pale flesh-coloured; webs dusky; 

 claws black. Inside of mouth light yellow. The head, upper part of neck, 

 and all the upper surface, glossy bluish-black. A small spot on the upper 

 eyelid, another on the lower, several longitudinal streaks on the scapulars, 

 and a bar along the tips of the secondary quills, white. The lower parts 

 white; the feathers on the sides under the wings have the outer webs white, 

 the inner dusky; lower wing-coverts blackish-grey. 



Length to end of tail 7^ inches, to end of claws 7^, to end of wings 6^, to 

 carpal joint 2j; extent of wings 14$; wing from flexure 4^-; bill along the 

 ridge ^, along the edge of lower mandible 1; tarsus f-; middle toe 1, its 

 claw $; outer toe 1, claw ^j inner toe -|, its claw V*- Weight S^ oz. 



Adult Female in winter. 



In winter, the throat and the lower parts of the cheeks are white; the 



