THE LITTLE AUE^ / 807 



'curved, tip rather blunt, both mandibles notched before tip, gonys 

 very short. Nostrils oval with well marked operculum. 



Soft parts. — Bill black ; legs and feet brown to slate-grey, webs 

 and joints black ; iris black. 



Characters .— Xo subspecies. Distinguished by small size, white 

 margins to scapulars and short, stout bill. 



Field -characters .—Very sociable in habits, and at its breeding- 

 haunts usually met with in flocks, which go through innumerable 

 evolutions with wonderful unanimity. Cry a frequently uttered 

 ringing succession of laughing notes uttered in chorus on the wing. 

 Might very rapid, and bird rises with ease directly from surface of 

 water. Small size and short bill, giving a finch-like expression 

 which is borne out by its sprightly demeanour, distinguish it from 

 other Atlantic Aleve. When on land sometimes rests on tarsus, but 

 not always. (F.C.R.J.) 



Breeding-habits. — Breeds in colonies, sometimes of enormous 

 extent and generally but not always at considerable height, often 

 on sea-cliffs, but also at some distance inland, and either in fissures 

 and crevices of rocks or among talus of heaped-up boulders. No 

 nest is made, but egg is generally about arm's length from entrance. 

 Egg. — One only, pale blue in colour, usually unmarked but occa- 

 sionally with a few yellowish -brown spots or interlacing streaks at 

 big end. Average of 140 eggs, 48.09x33.75. Max. : 53x33.5 and 

 50.7x36.7. Min.: 45 X 32.5 and 50x30 mm. Breeding -season. — 

 From mid- June onward. Incubation. — By both sexes. Period 

 given as 24 days (Hantzsch). Single brooded. 



Food. — In its breeding-grounds almost entirely small crust acea and 

 plankton organisms, such as Amphipoda (especially Gammaridce), 

 Schizopoda (EupJiausia, Jlysis), etc. During winter months small 

 fish also occasionally taken. 



Distribution. — British Isles. — Irregular winter-visitor (mid-Oct. 

 to mid-March, most numerous Nov. to mid-Feb. ; early dates 2nd 

 week July. 1846, Norfolk, 15th, 1872, Norfolk, Aug. 5th, 1886, 

 O.H.. 30th. 1913, co. Donegal ; late dates April 25, 1911, Wigtown, 

 May 8th, 1899. N. Inst. 22nd, 1846. Ulster. 24th, 1918, Derby, 25th, 

 1857, Norfolk, June 24th, 1893, O.H.). Most frequent Scotland 

 and east coast England, but occurs all coasts, often being driven 

 on shore and inland. Occasionally in great numbers as Jan., 1895, 

 Feb. and Mar.. 1900, Nov., 1910, and Jan. and Feb., 1912. 



Distribution.— A broad. — Arctic Ocean, from Novaya Zemlia and 

 Franz-Josef Land, Spitsbergen, Jan Mayen, Iceland (Grimsey) to 

 Greenland, Baffin Bay, Smith Sound and Kane Basin. In winter 

 south to Azores and Canary Islands, exceptional Mediterranean ; in 

 America to Long Island, New Jersey and Carolina, casually and 

 accidentally to Bermudas and other parts of N. America. 



