or Auk, in ornithology, a genus of the order of anseres. The beak of this genus is without teeth, short, convex, compressed, and frequently furrowed transversely; the inferior mandible is gibbous near the base; the feet have generally three toes. The species of the alca are 12; of which the most remarkable are,

1. The imperialis, northern penguin, or great auk, with a compressed bill furrowed on each side, and an oval spot on each side of the eyes. According to Mr Martin, this bird breeds on the isle of St Kilda; appearing there the beginning of May, and retiring the middle of June. It lays one egg, which is six inches long, of a white colour; some are irregularly marked with purplish lines crossing each other, others blotched with black, and ferruginous about the thicker end: if the egg is taken away, it will not lay another that season. Mr Macaulay informs us that it does not visit that island annually, but sometimes keeps away for several years together; and adds, that it lays its egg close to the sea-mark, being incapable, by reason of the shortness of its wings, to mount higher. The length of this bird, to the end of its toes, is three feet: but its wings are so small, as to be useless for flight; the length, from the tip of the longest quill-feathers to the first joint, being only four inches and a quarter.

This bird is observed by fishermen never to wander beyond foundings; and according to its appearance they direct their measures, being then assured that land is not very remote. It sometimes frequents the coasts of Norway, the Ferroe isles, Iceland, Greenland, and Newfoundland; and feeds much on the lump-fish, father-larcher, and other fish of that size. The young birds eat rose-root, and other plants. The old ones are very rarely seen on shore, tho' the young ones are not unfrequently met with. It is a very shy bird. It walks ill; but dives well, and is taken in the manner used for the razor-bill and puffin. The skin between the jaws is blown into a bladder, and used for the darts of the Greenlanders, as is also that of some other birds. The skin of the body is supposed to be used by the Esquimaux Indians for garments.

2. The alle, little auk, or black and white diver, with a smooth conical bill, a white streak on the belly and wings, and black feet. The bulk of this species exceeds not that of a black-bird. It is not very common in Britain, being only met with now and then. It seems to be most plentiful towards the north, being met with in various parts as far as Spitzbergen. It is common in Greenland, in company with the black-billed species; feeds on the same food; and lays two blueish white eggs, larger than those of a pigeon. It flies quick, and dives well; and is always dipping its bill into the water while swimming or at rest on the water. It grows fat in the stormy season, from the waves bringing plenty of crabs and small fish within its reach; but from its size it is less sought after than the others. In Greenland it is called the Ice-bird, being the harbinger of ice. This species is sometimes seen of a pure white.

3. The arcticus, or puffin, with a compressed bill and four furrows; the orbit of the eyes and temples are white. The legs of this species are very small; and placed so far behind as to disqualify it from standing, except quite erect, resting not only on the foot, but the whole length of the leg. This circumstance makes the rise of the puffin from the ground very difficult, and it meets with many falls before it gets on wing; but when that is effected, few birds fly longer or stronger. These birds frequent the coasts of several parts of Great Britain and Ireland; but no place in greater numbers than Prieftholm isle, where their flocks may be compared to swarms of bees for multitude. These are birds of passage; they resort there annually about the fifth or tenth of April, quit the place (almost to a bird), and return twice or thrice before they settle to burrow and prepare for ovation and incubation. They begin to burrow the first week in May; but some few save themselves that trouble, and dislodge the rabbits from their holes, taking possession of them till their departure from the isle. Those which form their own burrows, are at that time so intent on the work as to suffer themselves to be taken by the hand. This task falls chiefly to the share of the males; who also assist in incubation. The first young are hatched the beginning of July. The old ones show vast affection towards them; and seem totally infensible of danger in the breeding season. If a parent is taken at that time, and suspended by the wings, it will in a fort of despair treat itself most cruelly, by biting every part it can reach; and the moment it is loosed, will never offer to escape, but instantly return to its unfledged young: this affection ceases at the stated time of migration, which is most punctually about the 11th of August, when they leave such young as cannot fly to the mercy of the peregrine falcon, who watches the mouths of the house for the appearance of the little deserted puffins, which, forced by hunger, are compelled to leave their burrows. They lay only one egg. The eggs differ much in form; some have one end very acute; others have both extremely obtuse; all are white. Their flesh is excessively rank, as they feed on sea-weeds and fish, especially sprats: but when pickled and preserved with spices, are admired by those who love high-eating. Dr Caius tells, that, in his days, the church allowed them in Lent, instead of fish: he also acquaints us, that they were taken by means of ferrets, as we take rabbits: at present, they are either dug out, or drawn from their burrows by a hooked stick: they bite extremely hard; and keep such fast hold on whatever they fasten, as not to be easily disengaged. Their noise, when taken, is very disagreeable; being like the efforts of a dumb person to speak. These birds are also common in Ireland; on the island Sherries, three leagues N. N. W. of Holyhead; and in the S. Stack, near Holyhead, they breed in plenty. They inhabit Iceland and Greenland; and breed in the extreme part of the islands. It is also found in the Ferroe isles, where it is called Landus; and in the Farn isles, where it is called Coulterneb, from the shape of the bill. It goes also by various other names; such as Guld-en-head, Bottle-nose, and Helegog, in Wales; at Scarborough, Mullet; and in Cornwall, Pope. In America they are said to frequent Carolina in winter; and have been met with in Sandwich Sound by our late voyagers: the natives ornament the fore parts and collar of their feal-kin jackets with the beaks of them; and those of Aoonalshka wear gowns of their skins, along with those of other birds. On the coast of Kamtschatka and the Kurilfschi islands they are common, even on the Penchinski bay, almost as far as Ochotka: the nations of the two first wear the bills about their necks fastened to straps; and, according to the superstition of these people, their shaman or priest must put them on with a proper ceremony, in order to procure good fortune.

4. The torda, or razor-bill, with four furrows on the bill, and a white line on each side running from the bill to the eyes. These birds, in company with the guillemot, appear in our seas the beginning of February; but do not settle on their breeding places till they begin to lay, about the beginning of May. They inhabit the ledges of the highest rocks that impend over the sea, where they form a grotesque appearance; fitting close together, and in rows one above another. They properly lay but one egg a-piece, of an extraordinary size for the bulk of the bird, being three inches long: it is either white, or of a pale sea-green, irregularly spotted with black; if this egg is destroyed, both the auk and the guillemot will lay another; if that is taken, then a third: they make no nest, depositing their egg on the bare rock; and though such multitudes lay contiguous, by a wonderful instinct each distinguishes its own. What is also matter of great amazement, they fix their egg on the smooth rock, with so exact a balance, as to secure it from rolling off; yet should should it be removed, and then attempted to be replaced by the human hand, it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to find its former equilibrium. According to Mr Latham, it is by means of a cement that the bird fixes its egg. The eggs are food to the inhabitants of the coasts they frequent; which they get with great hazard; being lowered from above by ropes, trusting to the strength of their companions, whose footing is often so unstable that they are forced down the precipice, and perish together. These birds are found in the north of Europe, also in Iceland, Greenland, and on the coast of Labrador. In Europe they extend along the White Sea into the Arctic Asiatic shores, and from thence to Kamtschatka and the gulph of Ochotka: It is the only one which reaches the inland Baltic; being found there on the Carls-Ozar isles, near Gothland, and the isle of Bondon off Angermania.

5. The pica, or black-billed auk, has the bill of the same form with the torda, but is entirely black. The cheeks, chin, and throat, are white: in all other respects it agrees with the former species. Mr Latham is of opinion that it is no other than the young of that species. Mr Pennant observes, that it is sometimes found on our coasts; but, according to Mr Latlam, it is in the winter-season only, when the common sort has quitted them. They are said to be met with on the coast of Candia and other parts of the Mediterranean; "where, no doubt (Mr Latham observes) the complete old bird is likewise found, as I have been informed that they are common in the bay of Gibraltar, where it is curious to see their activity under water when pursuing the fish; for, as the water in the bay is sometimes clear for a great depth from the surface, these birds may be often seen as it were flying after their prey, with all the agility of a bird in the air, turning in every direction after the fish, with such wonderful address and dexterity as seldom to miss their aim."

6. The cirrhata of Dr Pallas, or tufted auk, somewhat bigger than the common puffin, and the colours much the same: the bill is an inch and three-quarters in length, the same in depth at the base, and crooked with three furrows: over each eye arises a tuft of feathers four inches in length, which falls elegantly on each side of the neck, reaching almost to the back; and are white as far as they are attached to the head, but afterwards of a fine buff yellow: the legs are of a bright red; the claws black. The female is principally distinguished by having the bill crooked only with two furrows instead of three. This species inhabits the shores of Kamtschatka, the Kurile islands, and those intervening between Kamtschatka and America. In manners it greatly resembles the puffin; living all day at sea, but at no great distance from the rocks; it comes on shore at night; burrows a yard deep underground, and makes a nest, with feathers and sea-plants; is monogamous, and lodges there the whole night with its mate. It lays one white egg, the end of May or beginning of June, which alone is thought fit to be eaten, the flesh of the bird itself being insipid and hard. It feeds on crabs, shrimps, and shell-fish, which last it forces from the rocks with its strong bill. Pallas remarks, that the Kamtschatkan girls imitate the tufts of these birds, which nature has supplied them with, by placing a similar strip of the white skin of the glutton behind each ear, hanging down behind by way of ornament; and is a well-received present from a lover to his mistress. The bills both of this and the common puffin were formerly held by the natives as a charm, and worn by the priests as amulets; indeed at the present these have been seen fixed round their head-dresses, but supposed now to be only esteemed as mere ornaments: the skins are however made use of for clothing, being sewed together. It is called in Kamtschatka, Muechagatka; and in Oschotka, Igilma.

7. The pittacula, or perroquet auk, of Dr Pallas, is about the size of the little auk. The bill is much compressed on the sides, in shape convex both above and below, and of a bright red colour: from the remote corner of each eye is a very slender tuft of fine white feathers, hanging down the neck: the head and upper part of the body are dusky; the lower whitish, varied with black edges: the legs are of a dirty yellow; and the webs dusky. This species is found at Kamtschatka, in the isles towards Japan, and on the western shores of America. They are sometimes seen in flocks, but seldom far from land, except driven by storms. Of nights they harbour in the crevices of rocks. They lay an egg almost the size of a hen's, of a dirty white or yellowish colour spotted with brown; which they do about the middle of June, upon the bare rock or sand, for they make no nest. Like most of the tribe, they are stupid birds, as may be evinced by the ridiculous method of catching them:—One of the natives places himself under a loose garment of fur, of a particular make, with large open sleeves, among the rocks, at evening; when the birds, returning to their lodging-places at dusk, run under the skirts, and up the arm-holes, for shelter during the night; and thus become an easy prey. Their stupidity likewise occasions them to fly aboard a ship at such times, mistaking it for a roosting-place; whereby navigators have been taught to avoid the danger of falling in too near with land, either of evenings, or on approaching storms. The eggs are esteemed good.