250 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF 



island. Another small island on the east side of Esquimaux Bay, has in a like 

 manner been deserted, the birds apparently having retired to the Puffia islands 

 on the opposite side of the Bay. From these facts, I could not but conclude 

 that the birds are slowly but surely retiring before the persecutions of man to 

 more northern and inaccessible regions, though thousands still breed as far and 

 farther south than Little Mecattina and the Murre Rocks. 



It was at Sloop Harbor, on the third of July, that I first formed acquaintance 

 with the Razor-billed Auks. As we dropped anchor in that sheltered cove, a 

 large companj' of them were sitting at a little distance on a flat rock, crowded 

 closely together, and all facing towards the sun, then low in the skies. They 

 rested perfectly upright on their rumps, occasionally twisting their bodies in a 

 curious jerking manner. No sooner, however, had our boat touched the rocky 

 shore than they all instantly took flight and dispersed either singly or in small 

 flocks. Although so watchful, they seemed to be not at all aware of the nature 

 of the danger that threatened them, for they flew directly towards or past us 

 as often as in any other direction, and numbers were easily shot. On the fol- 

 lowing day, the fourth of July, while searching for the eggs of the Eiders and 

 Herring Gulls, I had abundant opportunity for observing their flight and 

 general manners, for they bred in considerable numbers in the crevices of all 

 the rocky islands in the vicinity. 



Although the Razor-bills cannot be approached while sitting on the rocks, yet 

 while flying they evince such a want of caution, or rather so much stupidity, as 

 to fly continually directly over and past a boat at such short distances that they 

 are easily shot down. But they are strong and tough birds and carry a great 

 deal of shot, requiring a heavy charge to kill them. I have occasionally seen 

 one fly off", apparently as strong as ever, leaving a cloud of white feathers 

 floating in the air. When only one wing is broken they dive with great ease and 

 celerity, and are then difficult to secure. When shot at and not touched, they 

 open and shut the tail, swerve from their course and quicken their flight. 



Though they are, I believe, entirely mute while flying, on being wounded 

 and taken in hand they utter a loud, rough, hoarse cry, at the samet ime throwing 

 themselves on their backs, fighting and scratching most furiously, They bite 

 with great force, their strong hooked bills enabling them to inflict a severe 

 wound, and they will suffer themselves to be held up by their bite before 

 they will relax their hold. The name of Razor-bill is certainly a most appro- 

 priate one. 



The flight of this bird is firm, well-sustained, very swift, and, considering 

 the heavy body and short wings, very powerful. It is performed with short, 

 quick, vigorous flappings* They never sail ; but on one occasion I saw an in- 

 dividual endeavor to flap its wings with a slow, measured stroke. It was but 

 a few yards, however, and it at once found that mode of flight impracticable. 

 On the water they swim lightly and elegantly with the head and tail elevated, 

 exactly as represented in the right hand figure of Audubon's life-like plate. 

 When well stewed, their flesh is by no means poor, being, though rather 

 tough, well flavored, and not possessing the slightest rank or fishy taste. We 

 all ate them whenever they conld be procured. 



The situations chosen by the Auks for their breeding places are generally 

 the rocky, precipitous islands where there are many caverns and fissures, in 

 which the eggs are deposited, often together with those of the Black Guillemot, 

 tPria grylle. I have never found more than a single egg, though in the face of 

 such authority as Audubon to the contrary, I should not like to assert that 

 two are never laid. I have great pleasure in being able to corroborate the 

 statement made by this distinguished ornithologist with regard to the sagacity 

 displayed by the birds in protecting their eggs from the wet. When deposited 

 in damp fissures, through which the water is continually percolating, a layer 

 of small pebbles is placed beneath the egg, to keep it from the moisture, but 

 in sufficiently dry situations, where the caution is no longer necessary, the 

 birds never undertake the additional labor. 



[Aug. 



