COMMON SEA-DOVE. 



35 



sides of the breast, and all the upper parts of a deep 

 black; except the termination of the secondary quills, 

 and three or four longitudinal stripes on the greater 

 wing-coverts nearest the body, which are white : the 

 throat, the fore part and sides of the neck, and all 

 the under parts are pure white : the sides of the head 

 are also white, with dusky streaks : the tarsi and toes 

 are yellowish-brown : the webs dirty green. 



This species varies according to its age ; in being 

 more or less spotted on the throat and upper part of 

 the neck ; or being without the longitudinal bands 

 on the greater wing-coverts. It has also occurred 

 entirely of a white colour. 



This chiefly resides in the polar regions, and is 

 more abundant in those of America than in Europe : 

 it also occurs in lower latitudes, being occasionally, 

 but rarely, found on the coasts of England, France, 

 and Holland. Some authors assert that it lays two 

 eggs of a clear blue colour, on the ledges of the rocks ; 

 others, that it lays but one, which is occasionally 

 sprinkled with dusky spots. Its principal food con- 

 sists of small crabs, lobsters, and other Crustacea and 

 mollusca* 



