. The birds of Europe . t, that when just excluded from the egg, thiswhite line is strikingly apparent on the down with which they are then clothed; but with the acquisition ofthe feathers, this white line disappears, and is regained with the stripes on the upper mandible towards theclose of the second year. During winter the adults of both sexes lose the dusky colouring of the throat precisely in the samemanner as the Guillemot. At this period the old and young closely resemble each other in plumage, and areonly to be distinguished by the character of the beak. The sexes are alike in colourin
. The birds of Europe . t, that when just excluded from the egg, thiswhite line is strikingly apparent on the down with which they are then clothed; but with the acquisition ofthe feathers, this white line disappears, and is regained with the stripes on the upper mandible towards theclose of the second year. During winter the adults of both sexes lose the dusky colouring of the throat precisely in the samemanner as the Guillemot. At this period the old and young closely resemble each other in plumage, and areonly to be distinguished by the character of the beak. The sexes are alike in colouring. The whole of the upper surface and the throat is of a deep sooty black; a distinct white band crosses thewing, and a white line passes from the upper part of the bill to the eye; the remainder of the plumage iswhite; the bill is black, the upper mandible marked with deep transverse furrows and a clear white band;feet and tarsi brownish black. Our Plate represents an adult and a young of the year, of the natural .LITTLE AITK, ALca alle,- flimw:).Mergulus a!Le; fBow:). MmmnfiomZffi <£■ m, Jlmely JbZ. GmM. Genus MERGULUS. Gen. Char. Beak medial, its base furnished with downy feathers, somewhat thickened, aboveconvex, emarginate towards the tip, curved. Nostrils rounded, half-covered with short, three-toed, webbed. Wings short. LITTLE AUK. Alca alle, alle, Bon. This interesting- little oceanic bird, which we have illustrated in the accompanying Plate, inhabits the inter-mediate countries extending northwards from our latitude to the borders of perpetual ice, occurring equallyin the polar regions of both continents. In these severe and high latitudes, it congregates in almost innumer-able flocks. Their numbers are often diminished by the crews of vessels, as well as by the native Esquimaux ;their flesh being considered both wholesome and delicate, at the same time affording a beneficial change of are said to be very tame and easi
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Keywords: ., boo, bookcentury1800, booksubjectbirds, booksubjectpictorialworks
