THE ANK. 
113 
The first European bird of the web-footed fowls with 
short legs which naturalists introduce to our notice is the 
Ank, of which there are about twelve species foreign and 
domestic. The whole tribe is distinguished peculiarly by 
the form of the bill, which is strong, convex, compressed at 
the sides, in general crossed with several furrows, and in 
some degree resembling the coulter of a plough. 
The Great Ank is the size of a goose ; its bill is black, 
about four inches and a quarter in length, and covered at 
the base with short velvet-like feathers. The upper parts 
°f the plumage are black, and the lower parts white, with a 
spot of white between the bill and the eyes, and an oblong 
stripe of the same on the wings, which are too short for 
Hight. The bird is also a very bad walker, but swims and 
dives well. It is, however, observed by seamen, that it is 
fever seen out of soundings, so that its appearance serves as 
a n infallible direction to land. It feeds on the lump-fish 
ar *d others of the same size ; and is frequent on the coasts 
Norway, Greenland, Newfoundland. &c. It lays its 
e ggs close to the sea mark. 
, The Razor-bill is not above half the size of the preced- 
es, which it resembles both in form and plumage, except 
d'at it has the use of its wings, and lays its egg (for each of 
dtese species lay but one) on the bare top of a precipice, 
an d fastens it by a cement so as to prevent its rolling off. 
il is pretty common on the coasts of England during the 
s urrtmer season. The black-billed Ank is still smaller. 
-The Puffin is the size of the teal, weighs about twelve 
° u nces, and is twelve inches in length. The bill is much 
compressed ; the half next the point is red, that next the 
. a ®e is blue grey. It has three furrows or grooves impressed 
' n 'l; one in the livid part, two in the red. The eyes are 
e fced with a protuberant skin, of a livid colour; and they 
ai ® grey or ash-coloured. 
i he pulfin, like all the rest of this kind, has its legs thrown 
So far back, that it can hardly move without tumbling. This 
jP a kes it rise with difficulty, and subject to many falls be- 
0, e it gets upon the wing; but as it is a small bird, when it 
° n ce rises it can continue its flight with great celerity. 
AH the winter these birds are absent, visiting regions too 
e, note for discovery. At the latter end of March, or the 
“fanning 0 f April,' come over a troop of their spies or har- 
‘ n ^rs, that stay two or three days, as it were to view and 
be" ii° lU f°r their former situations, and see whether all 
well. This done, they once more depart : and about 
v oi,. H. P 
