LITTLE GUILLEMOT. 
261 
^1*6 head, back, wings, and tail, were black ; the upper 
P*rt of the breast and hiudhead, were gray, or white, 
^'Xed with ash ; the sides of the neck, whole lower 
r^ts, and tips of secondaries, were pure white ; feet 
^d legs, black; shius, pale llesh colour; above each 
there was a small spot of white;* the lower 
’’capulars, streaked slightly with the same. 
The little guillemot is said to be but a rare visitant of 
‘“e British isles. It is met with iu various pans of the 
!*orth, even as far as Spitzbergen ; is common iu Green- 
land, 
iu company with the black-billed auk, and feeds 
!*Pou the same kind of food. The Greenlanders call 
} the ice-bird, from the circumstance of its being the 
'■Hrbinger of ice. It lays two bluish white eggs, larger 
those of the pigeon. It flies quick, and dives 
'''*11 ; and is always dipping its bill into the water while 
Wmining, or at rest on that element ; walks better on 
^'‘d than others of the genus. It grows fat in the stormy 
^*ason, from the waves bringing plenty of crabs and 
^‘>iall lish within its reach. It is not a very crafty bird, 
"<1 may be easily taken. It varies to quite white, and 
"'netimes is found ndth a reddish breast.f 
Tq the anatomist, the internal organization of this 
fPecies is deserving attention : it is so constructed as to 
y* capable of contracting or dilating itself at pleasure. 
know not what Nature intends by this conformation, 
j*'less it be to facilitate diving, for which the compressed 
'"’m is well adapted ; and likewise the body, when 
'^panded, will be rendered more buoyant, and lit for 
*'* purpose of swimming upon the surface of the water. 
„ * .In Peak’s Museum, there is an excellent specimen of this 
+ which has likewise a smaller spot below each eye. 
t Latham ; Pennant. 
