In the course of my voyages across the Atlantic, I have often observed the Little Guillemots in small groups, rising and flying to short distances at the approach of the ship, or diving close to the bow and reappearing a little way behind. Now with expanded wings they would flutter and run as it were on the surface of the deep; again, they would seem to be busily engaged in procuring food, which consisted apparently of shrimps, other crustacea, and particles of sea-weeds, all of which I have found in their stomach. I have often thought how easy it would be to catch these tiny wanderers of the ocean with nets thrown expertly from the bow of a boat, for they manifest very little apprehension of danger from the proximity of one, insomuch that I have seen several killed with the oars. Those which were caught alive and placed on the deck, would at first rest a few minutes with their bodies flat, then rise upright and run about briskly, or attempt to fly off, which they sometimes accomplished, when they happened to go in a straight course the whole length of the ship so as to rise easily over the bulwarks. On effecting their escape they would alight on the water and immediately disappear. During my visit to Labrador and Newfoundland I met with none of these birds, although the cod-fishers assured me that they frequently breed there. I am informed by Dr TOWNSEND that this species is found near the mouth of the Columbia River. ALCA ALLE, _Linn._ Syst. Nat. vol. i. p. 211.—_Lath._ Ind. Ornith. vol. ii. p. 795. LITTLE AUK, ALCA ALLE, _Wils._ Amer. Ornith. vol. ix. p. 94, pl. 74, fig. 5. URIA ALLE, _Ch. Bonaparte_, Synopsis of Birds of United States, p. 425. LITTLE GUILLEMOT, URIA ALLE, _Richards. and Swains._ Faun. Bor.-Amer. vol. ii. p. 479. LITTLE AUK, or SEA DOVE, _Nuttall_, Manual, vol. ii. p. 531. Adult Male in summer. Plate CCCXXXIX. Bill shorter than the head, stout, straightish, subpentagonal at the base, compressed towards the end. Upper mandible with the dorsal line convexo-declinate, the ridge convex, the sides sloping, the edges sharp and overlapping, the tip rather obtuse. Nasal depression short and broad; nostrils basal, oblong, with a horny operculum. Lower mandible with the angle long and wide, the dorsal outline very short, ascending, and straight, the sides convex, toward the end ascending and flattened, the edges thin and inclinate, the tip acute, with a sinus behind.