By the Rev. A. C. Smith. 



169 



behind, that they are wholly incapable of walking on land ; while 

 their wings are little more than rudimentary, and are advanced so 

 far forwards that though admirable as oars or fins in propelling them 

 through the water, they are of little service in enabling them to fly 

 through the air. On this account the presence of any member of 

 this family in our inland county is indeed marvellous. 



" Razor-bill. " (Alca torda). It is indeed most surprizing 

 how this bird can have penetrated so far inland : and I confess 

 that its reported occurrence near Marlborough so astonished me, 

 that I felt extremely sceptical as to its identity, until the enquiries 

 instituted by my friend the Rev. T. A. Preston, of Marlborough 

 College, and the arrival of the stranger sent me for identification 

 compelled belief. The specimen sent is in immature plumage, and 

 is in fact a bird of the year, having neither arrived at the size nor 

 the distinctive characteristics of the parents : indeed, except for a 

 faint indication of transverse grooves along both mandibles, neither 

 the shape, colour, nor markings of the beak betoken the remarkable 

 formation peculiar to this bird when in adult dress. There were 

 two individuals which made their appearance near Marlborough, 

 and both of which were seen by Mr. Preston in the flesh. They 

 were not, found together, but one was caught on the banks of the 

 Kennet, on the 25th of October, the other was subsequently picked 

 up dead, and was in so emaciated a condition, as to imply that it 

 had died of starvation. The young bird of the year of A. torda 

 was for a long time considered a distinct species, and honest old 

 Bewick describes it, (though evidently with some hesitation) under 

 the title of the " Black-billed Auk," Alca pica; but Colonel Montagu 

 has no such scruples, and boldly contends that Dr. Latham in his 

 Synopsis is mistaken in supposing it to be no other than the 

 Razor-bill immatured. More careful observation however has 

 proved that the Doctor was in the right. 



PELICANID2E (The Pelicans). 



We pass on to the Pelicans, which is a high sounding title, 

 but the British members of that aristocratic race are but humble 

 and degenerate offshoots of a noble family, and can only claim to 



