File:The birds of Europe (1837) (14750692635).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

View Book Page: Book Viewer
About This Book: Catalog Entry
View All Images: All Images From Book
Click here to view book online to see this illustration in context in a browseable online version of this book.

Text Appearing Before Image:
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 size.
Text Appearing After Image:
.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 feathers.Legs short, three-toed, webbed. Wings short. LITTLE AUK. Alca alle, Linn.Mergulus 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 diet.They are said to be very tame and easily captured,—a circums

Note About Images