THE RAZOtt-BILL. 253 



Descriptions. 



has an unpleasant cry, and will occasionally, 

 when angered or pleased, raise or fall the fea- 

 thers of his crest. 



THE GREAT AUK. 



THIS bird is the size of a goose; its bill is 

 black, about four inches and a quarter in length, 

 and covered at the base with short velvet-like 

 feathers. The upper parts of the plumage are 

 black, and the lower parts white, with a spot of 

 white between the bill and the eyes, and an ob- 

 long stripe of the same on the wings, which are 

 too short for flight. The bird is also a very bad 

 walker, but swims and dives well. It is, how- 

 ever, observed by seamen, that it is never seen 

 out of soundings, so that its appearance serves as 

 an infallible direction to land. It feeds on the 

 lump-fish, and others of the same size; and is fre- 

 quent on the coast of Norway, Greenland, New- 

 foundland, 8cc. It lays its eggs close to the sea 

 mark. 



THE RAZOR-BILL, 



WHICH is not so large as the common tame 

 duck, has a large bill of a deep black colour 

 and near two inches long; with a deep incision 



