THE GREAT AUK. 183 
brought together by common necessity, and never move in 
concerted flocks. 
At this season, their movements are not betrayed by any 
note or call ; the vocal powers of the species are only called 
into existence at the period of propagation ; at other times 
they move and start to wing in silence. The young run or 
wander off as soon as they are hatched, are at this period 
covered with a brownish-white down, and, on being taken, 
utter a slender bleat, or clear and long drawn peep. 
THE GREAT AUK. (Alca impennis). 
This bird is of the size of a goose ; its bill is black, and 
covered at the base with short velvetlike feathers. The 
upper parts of 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 flight. It is a very bad walker, but swims 
and dives well. It is, however observed by seamen, that it 
is never seen out of soundings, so that its appearance serves 
as an infallible direction to land. It feeds on the lump- 
fish, and others of the same size ; and is frequently seen on 
the coasts of Norway, Greenland, Newfoundland, &c. The 
female lays but one egg, which she hatches on a ledge, close 
to the seamark. 
