290 



BIEDS. 



its chief stations are, I believe, in the north-east. In the 

 spring of 1894 I was witness of a somewhat interesting 

 sight, which enabled me to record in the ' Field ' a new 

 article of food for this bird, notably large barnacles. I 

 was steaming near the Wight when I saw something on 

 the water, which developed under strong binoculars into 



a small plank, evidently a fragment of wreckage, covered 

 with those crustaceans, which two guillemots were busily 

 tearing off and eating — such portions at least as they could 

 manage, for a barnacle is not all eatable. There could be 

 no doubt about their occupation, for I could plainly see 

 them first worrying the creatures off the wood, then throw- 

 ing up their heads, evidently swallowing some portions. 



