#4 THE NATURAL HISTORY 
Smews; but they all have crefts, and are found 
in Europe, except one a, and that 1 is found i in 
America. : 
Genusegy AL C A. | 
Ter A Uk 
: The bill is Strong, fhort, thick, and compreffed, (that is, 
flattened, not like a Duck’s bill, above and below, but at 
the fides.) It is furrowed often acrofs; and the lower 
mandible is gibbous, (that is, it has a prominence, or knob.) ~ 
The tongue is almoft as long as the bill, 
The noftrils are linear, (or very naerow) and pl aie near 
the edge of the mandible, | 
Their legs are placed very backwards, fo that when they 
fland, they appear to be fixed upright upon the tail, and 
they have no back toe. 
In moft the toes are three in number, all placed forward, 
They fit only on one egg. 
HERE are feveral kinds of Auks. The 
great Auk breeds in the ifland of St. Kilda; 
they come in May, and go away in June; their 
wings are {fo fhort, that they can fcarcely fly ; fo 
the Auk lays her egg very near the high’ water 
mark ; and if this 6 | be taken away, the does 
oe 
