PLATE CXLIV. 



This is a very fcarce fpccies in Britain. It is confined chiefly 

 to the ifle of St. Kilda, and Bafs ifland in Scotland ; and the Farn 

 ifles on the coaft of Northumberland, and has been alfo feen on the 

 rocks in the north of CaernarvonflnrCj but rarely. To the north 

 of Europe, as far as Greenland, this bird occurs in vaft numbers. 

 The principal food is fifh, in purfuit of which it dives and fwims 

 with fmgular dexterity. Thefe birds have a mofl awkward gait in 

 walking ; in flight they appear mollly in pairs, the male accompanying 

 the female. 



The length of this bird is about fourteen inches : the plumage very 

 deep black, with a white patch more or lefs obfcured with dufky 

 fpots, according to the age of the bird, and the legs fcarlet. The 

 plumage is alfo obferved to vary much in different feafons, as 

 well as in the younger birds, the black being often intermixed with 

 dufky brown, and whitifh. Thefe birds breed in crevices of the 

 rocks in maritime fituations, and lay either one or two eggs, the fizQ 

 ofthofe of the common hen, the colour white, with grey patches, 

 and fpots of black. 



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