File:The birds of Europe (1837) (14564014500).jpg

Identifier: birdsEuropeVGoul (find matches)
Title: The birds of Europe
Year: 1837 (1830s)
Authors: Gould, John, 1804-1881
Subjects: Pictorial works Birds
Publisher: London, Printed by R. and J.E. Taylor, pub. by the author
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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he feetbeing yellowish brown instead of red. Although a few pairs of the Black Guillemot occasionally breed on the Isle of May in the mouth of theFrith of Forth, still it is evident that the high northern latitudes form its most congenial and natural habitat.It appears to abound in the arctic circle, being equally common in the polar regions of both continents.According to the continental writers, it is less abundant on the coasts of Holland and France than on thoseof England, but more frequent on those of Norway and the shores of the Baltic. It rarely, if ever, resorts toinland waters. Its principal food consists of small fish, marine Crustacea, &c. The sexes are alike in plumage, and the adults, in summer, may be distinguished by their having the wholeof the plumage of a sooty-black tinged with olive-green, with the exception of a snow-white patch on thecentre of each wing ; bill black ; irides and feet red. The Plate represents an adult and a young bird of the natural size. J*;
Text Appearing After Image:
R-* o Genus ALCA. Gen. Char. Beak straight, arched, large, very much curved at the point; both mandibleslaterally sulcated, and covered for half their length with short feathers. Nostrils near thelower edge of the upper mandible partly concealed by feathers. Wings short, narrow,and in one species unequal to the purpose of flight. Legs short, situated far backwards.Toes three before, webbed as far as the claws; hind toe wanting; front of the tarsi andtoes scutellated. Tail short, pointed, and consisting of twelve or sixteen feathers. GREAT AUK. A lea impennis, Linn.Le Pingouin brachiptere. In this noble species of Auk we recognise a close approximation to the true Penguins, which form the genusAptenodytes: being, like them, destitute of the powers of flight, its narrow slender wing serves more as an oarfor aquatic progression than for any other decided purpose; unless, perhaps, in assisting the bird to scrambleup the rocks, on the ledges of which it deposits its single egg, which is, i

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