Crass Il. GREAT AUK. 3 147 
others blotched with black and ferruginous about 
the thicker end: if the egg is taken away, it will 
not lay another that season. A late writer* in- 
forms us, that it does not visit that island an- 
nually, but sometimes keeps away for several 
years together, and adds, that it lays its egg 
close to the sea-mark; being incapable, by rea- 
son ef the shortness of its wings, to mount 
higher. 
The length of this bird, to the end of its toes, Descrie- 
is three feet; that of the bill, to the corner of the ae 
mouth, four inches and a quarter; part of the up- 
per mandible is covered with short, black, velvet- 
like feathers; it is very strong, compressed and 
marked with several furrows that tally both 
above and below; between the eyes and the 
~ bill on each side is a large white spot; the rest 
of the head, the neck, back, tail, and wings, 
are of a glossy black; the tips of the lesser quil 
feathers white; the whole under side of the body 
white; the legs black. The wings are so small, 
as to be useless for flight; the length, from the 
tip of the longest quil feathers to the first jou 
being only four inches and a quarter. 
This bird is observed by seamen never to 
wander beyond soundings; and according to its 
* Macaulay's hist. St. Kilda. p. 156. 
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