260 
URIA ALLE. 
of the pond to the other, and would take food from the 
hand. The bird had received an injury in the head, 
which had deprived one eye of its sight, and the other 
was a little impaired ; but, notwithstanding, it could, by 
incessantly diving, discover all the fish that was thrown 
into the pond. In defect of fish, it would eat flesh. 
“ It is observable, that the legs of this bird are so 
constructed and situated as to render it incapable of 
walking upon them. This is probably the case w r ith 
all the divers, as well as the grebes. 
“ When this bird quitted the water, it shoved its 
body along upon the ground, like a seal, by jerks, 
rubbing the breast against the ground, and it returned 
again to the water in a similar manner. In swimming 
and diving* only the legs are used, and not the wings, 
as in the guillemot and auk tribes, and by their 
situation so far behind, and their little deviation from 
the line of the body, the bird is enabled to propel itself 
in the water w r ith great velocity in a straight line, as 
well as turn with astonishing quickness.” 
292 . URIA ALLE , TEMMINCK . — ALCA ALLE , WILSON. 
LITTLE GUILLEMOT, f 
WILSON, PLATE LXXIV. FIG. V. 
Of the history of this little stranger, but few parti- 
culars are know n. With us it is a very rare bird, and, 
w hen seen, it is generally in the vicinity of the sea. 
The specimen described was killed at Great Egg Harbour 
in the month of December, 1811 , and was sent to 
Wilson as a great curiosity. It measured nine inches in 
length, and fourteen in extent ; the bill, upper part of 
* I liave never seen this bird diving in pursuit of fish, but I 
have seen it in the act of diving to avoid danger, and took notice 
that its wings, when beneath the surface of the water, did not lie 
close to the body, but they were not as much extended as when in 
the act of flying. They had no visible motion, hence the presump- 
tion is that their only use is to balance the body. 
+ Named in the plate, Little Auk. This article is written by 
Mr Ord. 
