A dictionary of British birds : reprinted from Montagu's Ornithological dictionary, and incorporating the additional species described by Selby; Yarrell, in all three editions, and in natural-history journals / compiled and edited by Edward Newman.
- George Montagu
- Date:
- 1866
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: A dictionary of British birds : reprinted from Montagu's Ornithological dictionary, and incorporating the additional species described by Selby; Yarrell, in all three editions, and in natural-history journals / compiled and edited by Edward Newman. Source: Wellcome Collection.
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![rence has been recorded, nor a specimen of the Blackbilled Auk killed on the south- ern parts of the coast of England till the month of November, a period long after the others have departed. Besides we affirm, that out of many hundreds, per- haps thousands, we have shot of both the Eazorbill and Foolish Guillemot, on va- rious parts of the coast of England in the breeding season, neither the Blackbilled Auk nor the Lesser Guillemot ever oc- curred. Whatever therefore may be the little varieties of both these birds which bring them a shade nearer to those of which thej' have been by some naturalists considered as only the young, we should 1‘ecollect, that though they have not been discovered to breed within the islands of Great Britain, yet they are described by northern physiologists as resorting to the arctic regions for that puipose, and dis- perse into lower latitudes during the icy months, when those seas are frozen. It is then that the northern parts of Britain re- ceive abundance of them in company with the Lesser Guillemot, and a few spread over the southern parts. Thus these birds supply the place of the Razorbill and Foolish Guillemot, who leave us to seek a more southern clime during the inclement season. What separates the Rook and the Crow but their habits, for not a feather is diffei’ent? It is their manners and note that detect them. How many are there that still seem to doubt the distinction be- tween the Corvorant and Shag to be more than sexual ? How ai-e the Greater and Lesser Blackbacked GuUs to be known but by habits, since naturalists give great scope to variety in size as weU as in plu- mage, for although there is sufficient dis- tinction in the colour of the bid and legs, yet these require perhaps the maturition of several years ? the manners and habits therefore of such nearly allied birds are, if they can be obtained, the best criterion of distinction. These and other similar spe- cies indigenous to our own country, within the means of our personal observ’ation, teach us that habits are less erring than the usual marks of disciimination. Sup- pose for instance the Blackbdled Auk did actually put on the exact plumage, and other markings of the Razorbill in the breeding seaspn (but which is not found to be the case), yet if the former should only visit us in the winter, and the latter only in the summer, who could doubt of their actual distinction, independent of their difference in size ? As therefore we have such good authority for this species inhabiting Greenland in abundance in the summer months, and that they actually breed there, we must not consider the little variety sometimes observed in their | feathers to bo o step towards that maturity which would stamp the true character of the Razorbill; for we know others of this class, as well as that of the Guillemot, vary considerably in plumage, and none more than the Black Guillemot, of which no less than seven or eight varieties are described, some of them so very different as to have been considered distinct species. Since then it has been ascertained that the Blackbilled Auk breeds wthin the arctic I'egions, and there, known by its different plumage, we may conclude it is at no season sufficiently like the Razorbill to admit of their being confounded. And we can have no doubt but that the Lesser Guillemot is as distinct from the common species, and breeds also in similar lati- tudes. We may therefore safely conclude, that those species which visit us in the winter migrate from the same northern regions, though each may have its limits or peculiar haunts; and, Hke better known species, may not be found to inhabit all situations alike. We have been rather dif- fuse on this subject in order to clear up existing doubts by personal experience. But we shall have occasion to touch upon it again under the head of Guillemot, Lesser, as well as under that of Auk, Razorbilled. [Nevertheless, I believe this to bo the Razorbill in winter plumage.] Auk, Common.—See Razorbill [or rather Auk, Razorbilled.] Auk, Great.— [FatTeZZ, iii. 479; Hewit- son, cxxix. 400.] Alca impennis, Lin. Syst. p. 210, 3 ; Gmel. Syst. p. 550. Pen- guin, Raii Syn. p. 118; Will. p. 242, t. 65 ; Ib. Angl. p. 322, t. 65; Edio. t. 147. Alca major, Bris. vi. p. 85, 1, t. 7 ; Ib. 8vo, ii. p. 382. Le grand Pen- goin, Buf. ix. p. 393, t. 29. Great Auk, Br. Zool. ii. No. 229, t. 81; lb. fol. 130 ; Arct. Zool. ii. No. 424; Lath. Syn. v. p. 311, 1; Ind. Orn. ii. p. 701, No. 1; Lewin, Br. Birds, vi. t. 222; Wale. Syn. i. t. 86. —The length of this species is three feet. The bid is black, very strong, compressed, and marked with several furrows. The base of the upper mandible is covered with short velvet-like feathers ; between the bill and the eye is a lai-ge patch of white; the head, neck, back, and wings glossy black ; lesser quill-feathers tipped with white; legs black. The smaUness of the wings renders them useless for flight, the longest quBl-feather not exceeding four inches in length. These, however, are admirably adapted to its mode of hfe, and are of peculiar use in diring under water, where they act as fins; by which means it pursues its pre}' with astonishing velocity. This bird is only found in the](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b28089935_0032.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
