524 WEB-FOOTED BIRDS. 



the borders of the Atlantic. They are alike indigenous to 

 the western side of the American continent, and occur in 

 Kamtschatka. At St. Kilda, on the Bass isle, in the Frith 

 of Forth, in the Farn islands off the coast of Northumber- 

 land, and on some parts of the coast of Wales, particularly 

 near Tenbeigh, they are known to breed. 



They fly commonly in pairs, with considerable rapidity, 

 almost grazing the surface of the sea, but at other times they 

 proceed in a more elevated course. Their note, according 

 to Audubon, is a contracted whistle. They nestle some- 

 times under ground, but more commonly in the deep and 

 rocky fissures of inaccessible cliffs and bold headlands pro- 

 jecting into the sea. To avoid the access of water to the 

 eggs, they commonly pile together a nest of pebbles, be- 

 neath which the rain water or melting snow passes off 

 without any injury or inconvenience. The eggs are from 

 1 to 3, white or whitish, spotted pretty equally with dark 

 brown. To escape becoming the prey of the foxes who 

 incessantly watch for them, the young, when pushed 

 to the necessity, throw themselves without difficulty from 

 their impending eyrys into the sea. They dive with great 

 facility, and feed upon small fish, but particularly on 

 shrimps, small crabs, and other Crustacea, and marine 

 insects. They show considerable vigilance on being ap- 

 proached, and are much more shy and wary than the other 

 Guillemots. The eggs, (called improperly those of the 

 Noddy,) are brought sometimes in the small coasting vessels 

 to Boston market. 



The length of the Black Guillemot is about 13 inches ; the tail 2 

 inches; the wing 6 inches 4 lines; the bill above, about 1 inch 1 

 line ; the tarsus 1 inch 2 lines. Greenish-black above ; brownish- 

 black beneath. Border of the wing and quills pitch-black. Mid- 

 dle and greater coverts, inner bases of the quill feathers, and all the 

 under wing coverts, white. Bill black ; inside of the mouth and 

 feet scarlet. The bill compressed, extreme tip of the upper mandi- 



