LITTLE GUILLEMOT. 
141 . 
Little Auk or Sea-dove, Nutt. Man., vol. ii. p. 531. 
Little Guillemot, Uria Alle , Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. iv. p. 304. 
Male, Ii, 144. 
Rare and only during winter along the coast of the United States, from 
New York to Maine. More abundant along the coast of- Nova Scotia, and 
far at sea. Breeds on the Arctic coasts. 
Adult Male in summer. 
Bill shorter than the head, stout, straightish, sub-pentagonal at the base, 
compressed towards the end. Upper mandible with the dorsal line convexo- 
declinate, the ridge convex, the sides sloping, the edges sharp and over- 
lapping, the tip rather obtuse. Nasal depression short and broad ; nostrils 
basal, oblong, with a horny operculum. Lower mandible with the angle 
long and wide, the dorsal outline very short, ascending and straight, the 
sides convex, toward the end ascending and flattened, the edges thin and 
inclinate, the tip acute, with a sinus behind. 
Body full and compact ; neck short and thick ; head large, ovate. Feet 
short, rather stout ; tibia bare for two-twelfths of an inch ; tarsus very short, 
compressed, covered anteriorly with oblique scutella, behind with angular 
scales ; hind toe wanting ; anterior toes connected by reticulated webs, the 
inner much shorter than the outer, which is almost as long as the middle ; 
the scutella numerous. Claws rather small, moderately arched, compressed, 
rather acute, that of the middle toe having its inner edge considerably 
expanded. 
Plumage dense, blended, glossy. Wings of moderate length, narrow, 
pointed ; primaries pointed, the first longest, the rest rapidly graduated ; 
secondaries rounded. Tail very short, slightly rounded, of twelve feathers. 
Bill black. Iris dark hazel. Feet pale flesh-coloured ; webs dusky ; 
claws black. Inside of mouth light yellow. The head, upper part of neck, 
and all the upper surface, glossy bluish-black. A small spot on the upper 
eyelid, another on the lower, several longitudinal streaks on the scapulars, 
and a bar along the tips of the secondary quills, white. The lower parts 
white ; the feathers on the sides under the wings have the outer webs 
white, the inner dusky ; lower wing-coverts blackish-grey. 
Length to end of tail 7 s inches, to end of claws 7-J, to end of wings 6£, to 
carpal joint 21 ; extent of wings 144 ; wing from flexure 41 ; bill along 
the ridge f*, along the edge of lower mandible 1 ; tarsus I ; middle toe 1 ; 
its claw i ; outer toe 1, claw V 1 1 inner toe I, its claw V 1 - Weight 81 oz. 
Adult Female in winter. 
In winter, the throat and the lower parts of the cheeks are white ; the 
