08 AUK. 



Inhabits the Islands contiguous to Japan. One of these, in the 

 collection of Sir Joseph Banks, came from Bird Island, between 

 Asia and America. It sleeps at night in burrows on shore, and 

 fissures of rocks, from whence it is often taken by the hand, with 

 other birds of this stupid race. 



8— DUSKY AUK.— Pl. clxx. f. 3. 



Alca tetracula, Ind. Orn. ii. 794. Gm. Lin. i. 552. Pall. Spic. v. 24. t. 4 & 5. 

 Dusky Auk, Gen. Syn. v. 324. pl. 95. f. 3. Arct. Zoo/, ii. No. 435. Ellis's Narr. ii. 

 p. 252 ? 



LENGTH eleven inches; breadth eighteen. The bill yellow 

 brown, the ridge white, the upper mandible bent at the point; irides 

 white, surrounded with black; feathers of the forehead somewhat 

 long, downy, reflexed half one way, half the other; behind the eyes 

 a white streak ; the head and neck are black, marked with a few 

 obscure, ferruginous spots on the nape; the upper parts of the body 

 black ; beneath cinereous, growing whitish near the vent ; the wings 

 reach to the base of the tail, which is composed of fourteen feathers, 

 all of which, except the two middle ones, are ferruginous at the 

 ends; the legs livid, webs black. 



Met with in the Seas between Japan and Kamtschatka, and 

 sometimes very far from land ; in this case seen single, but on land 

 are found in flocks ; make the nest in burrows, among the rocks; are 

 wonderfully active in the water, but no bird is more clumsy, or stupid 

 on land; for it is with the greatest difficulty they get upright on their 

 legs, and then cannot stand, except the rump be propped up on a 

 stone, or other elevation ; will now and then fly on board ships in 

 the evening, and then are easily taken by the hand : the flesh is little 

 valued, nor can the down be separated from the skin, so as to be 

 useful ; bnt the eggs are thought very good. 



