256 PROCEEDINGS OP THE ACADEMY OP 



believe, streaked in any manner. Towards the latter part of June or 1st of July 

 the eggs are laid, and the young appear the second or third week of that month ; 

 but the precise period of incubation I am unable to state. When surprised on the 

 nest, the parent, if she be not already there, creeps to the furthermost ex- 

 tremity of the fissure, and, as if aware of the safety of her retreat, cannot be 

 induced to come out. But if it becomes aware of an approach before the en- 

 trance be obstructed, it invariably takes flight, making directly for the water. 

 Should the fissure be so shallow that the bird may be reached by the hand, it 

 sits quite still, even allowing a noose to be put over its head without strug- 

 gling, and on being taken in hand shows a gentleness of disposition quite the 

 opposite of the Puffins. It merely pecks at the hand once or twice feebly, and 

 yields itself in silence and without struggling. The young at first are entirely 

 of a dull sooty black, and have not the beautiful vermillion legs of the adult, 

 these being of a dusky hue. They constantly utter a low, plaintive "peep," 

 when requiring attention from the parent. On a warm, sunny day, all the 

 birds will sometimes leave their eggs and young, and collect in large flocks 

 on the water at a little distance from the shore, where they wash and plume 

 themselves. So completely are the nests deserted on these occasions, that on 

 an island nearly a mile in circumference, I have found but a single bird on 

 its nest, though hundreds rested on the water at a little distance. 



The flight of the Black Guillemot is firm, even, and direct, though not pow- 

 erful ; performed by quick flappings, when the white of the upper and under 

 surfaces of the wings shows as one continuous spot. They invariably, except 

 when going to and from their eggs, fly very low over the water ; I never saw 

 one more than a few feet over the surface, and they usually just clear the tops 

 of the waves. They are rather timid and wary, seldom allowing an open ap- 

 proach within shooting distance, and always when flying, wheeling and 

 changing their direction just at the right moment. The best way to procure 

 them is to sail or row directly down wind upon them, since, being unable to 

 rise from the water except against the wind, they are forced to fly in such a 

 direction as to afford a good shot. They often dive on being approached, 

 when by noting their direction and pursuing in haste, they may be shot the 

 instant they rise, or as they fly off. They are most expert divers, easily 

 eluding, when on the watch, the shot intended for their destruction. When 

 shot at in flight and not touched, they generally plunge at once into the water, 

 as if killed, which idea however is quickly dispelled by seeing them reappear 

 at a little distance and take flight. Except near large breeding places they are 

 seldom seen in companies of more than a dozen, and far oftener they are to be 

 found singly, or two or three together. They are universally known to the 

 natives and fishermen as " Sea-pigeons," the only name I ever heard applied 

 to them. 



Uuia (Cataractks) lomvia, Briinn. Foolish Guillemot. Murre. " Turre." 



Uria (Cataracteis) lomvia, Cassin, Gen. Rep. 913. 



On the sixth of July we passed a celebrated breeding place of these birds, 

 known as the " Murre Rocks," situated a few miles north of the harbor of 

 Little Mecattina. They are two small, rocky and very precipitous islands, al- 

 most entirely destitute of vegetation ; the sides, which rise abruptly from the 

 sea, are composed of successive tiers or ledges of shelving rock, on which the 

 eggs are deposited. The birds at this date were breeding on the islands by tens 

 of thousands ; their number was truly incredible, and yet I was informed that 

 these were rather fewer than usual. As we drew near the island, the air 

 seemed darkened with the masses that wheeled and circled overhead ; while 

 on every flat rock and ledge the birds were densely packed in rows and tiers, 

 each sitting, or rather standing (for they seemed to rest perfectly upright on 

 their rumps) sentinel over its solitary egg. The birds all seemed to be facing 

 in the same direction, and it was with great pleasure that I noticed the curious 



[Aug. 



