I L I T T L E A U K .
Alca alie; fMpm:].
MerguLus alle; fB o n .J :
ebbed.
KISS
jo the polar regions m hot,: continent«.. In these severe and Indtoik-** it ........ ... .
able docks. Their numbers are often diminished by the crew* o f vessels, as-wcU as by the m$*H-
their flesh being considered both wholesome and delicate, at the same time affording a be^&dal eh
They are said'to be very tame and easily captured,—« circumstance readily accounted Ter, as
engaged in the whale fisheries, and the limited race.of natives inhabiting the borders of these seas,,
human beings they are ever disturbed by.
I f these wild and almost impenetrable regions, the little Aui», it will he observed, finds an a;
extreme necessity* chiefly from the severities of winter, .that it seek«, ter -a short perioa, an asylrn
temperate climes. Its visits tó the British Isles, and Europe in general, therefore, pmst. be considered i
accidental occurrence thaii a periodical migration. Young birds are, as is the case with the youn
species, ^und tf> wawter fiirtlHíst- from their native habitat j' the examples, ther efore, wtv obtain, a*
from Holland, F nm fkirnaany, average about ten youug birds to one adult. We have beey p a
oar inquines as to whetli« the Little ó ok breeds in- >.»bv of the northern Isles, Iwiiig indue»-*! to beis«'
the circumstance of á »(xHroe» now and then eoivunj* -to' -j»8ad" in the seas-v-s *4 .Iwwábstr**":» 'iv •
state of plumage: we-hay^,notj lwwever, been able te w>v cH-m rb-
positively at rest; and ifyétjn&náis».fixf some a e á l d ú g w*'^ ííjp y the. ¡**f •
family, the Little Auk passes a groat piwrtion o f time on the «t “dril gieirt x*«$e isíí
and adroitness. Although the **»» pff.-r little or no external Hie phwrtege mAvr
side ruble changes periodically, .which we have illustrated in our Plate, ‘fffee - ■ J represented in r.ln
with a black throat, is in its summer plumage i at this season, the whole ofthe bead, neck and mop
being black, with the exception o f a white %u»d across che t.vcondaries; the scapulars aré lw»rd
me same, and a small spot o f white also app. airs over each eye ; the brews* and under siivfaccjT-
the winter plumage, as well as in the young o f the year, the throat, like 6k reft Of risa
« $ * ■