12 



AUK. 



of a yellowish-brown, with a cast of red, and marked with oblong dusky 

 spots, but they are subject to vary, for we have met with one specimen 

 that had these parts entirely plain." 



Here then is an excellent definition of the distinction of the females 

 of the two species, or of the young- of both sexes before the first moult- 

 ing- : and, except this remark of Mr. Pennant, we do not find any 

 description that sufficiently accords with either sex of our ash-coloured 

 falcon, to refer to with confidence. Selby says he has taken it in Nor- 

 thumberland, where it breeds in the open moors, but is not plentiful.* " 



ASH-COLOURED-HERON.— A name for the Night-heron. 



ASH-COLOURED-SANDPIPER.— A name for the Knott. 



ASH-COLOURED SWAN.— A name for the Gaunt. 



ASSILAG. — A provincial name for the Petrel. 



ASTUR (Auctores.) — *A genus of the Falcon family, thus 

 characterised. Bill short ; nostrils somewhat oval ; shanks of middle 

 size; shins plated with scales (scutellata.) — Vigors.* 



AUK (Alca, LiNNiEus.) — A genus of which two species are 

 British. 



AUK (Alca impennis, Linnaeus.) 



Alcaimpennis, Gmet. 1. p. 550. — Brun. p. 105. — Faun. Suec. p. 140. — Mutter, p. 17. 

 —Alca major, Bris. 6. p. 85.— Penguin, Rail, p. 118.— Will. p. 322. 65.— Pin- 

 gouin brachiptre, Temm.2. p. 939. — Le grand Pingouin, Buf. 9. p. 393. — Great 

 Auk, Venn. Br. Zool. 2. p. 229, pi. 81.— Arct. Zool. 2. p. 424.— Bewick, 2. 

 pi. 162.— Mont. Diet, and App.— Lath. Gen. Hist. 10. p. 55. 



This species appears to have become extremely rare on the north 

 coast of Britain. The natives in the Orkneys informed Mr. Bullock, 

 in his late tour through those islands, that one male only had made his 

 appearance for a long time, which had regularly visited Papa Westra 

 for several years. The female, (which the natives call the Queen 

 of the Auks) was killed just before Mr. Bullock's arrival. The King, 

 or male, Mr. Bullock had the pleasure of chasing for several hours, 

 in a six-oared boat, but without being able to kill him, for though he 

 frequently got near him, so expert was the bird in its natural element, 

 that it appeared impossible to shoot him. The rapidity with which 

 he pursued his course under water, was almost incredible. 



The length is three feet. The bill is black, very strong, compressed, 

 and marked with several furrows. The base of the upper mandible 

 is covered with short velvet-like feathers ; between the bill and the 

 eye is a large patch of white ; the head, neck, back, and wings, glossy 

 black ; lesser quill-feathers tipped with white ; legs black. 



The smallness of the wings renders them useless for flight, the 

 longest quill-feather not exceeding four inches in length. These, 



