550 



WEB-FOOTED BIRDS. 



smaller end, pure white, or sometimes yellowish, largely and 

 rather uniformly blotched and streaked with very dark 

 brown, but principally towards the larger end. They lay 

 but one, except when robbed of the first, and if this is taken 

 they will sometimes give a third. These birds, which Mr. 

 Audubon found breeding in great numbers on the coast of 

 Labrador, generally took possession of the most rugged and 

 precipitous isles, in the deep indentations and fissures of 

 which they crowded, and deposited their eggs as near to- 

 gether as distinct proprietorship would admit, commonly 

 upon a nest of pebbles, artificially collected together, under 

 and between which the dripping waters and melting ice 

 thus passed without ever coming in contact wath their eggs. 

 The Murre sits on her nest in an upright posture, and 

 with her head facing the wind. The young are fed by re- 

 gurgitated food until they attain a considerable size ; after 

 which the small fish, on which old and young principally 

 feed, are merely laid before them. They leave their rock, 

 or nest when about half grown, and then immediately com- 

 mence fishing for themselves. Thousands of these birds 

 are here seen breeding on and about the same rock.* 



The flight of the Razor-Bill is rapid, and according to 

 Mr.*Audubon, sometimes even greatly protracted, but low 

 above the surface of the water, and sustained by a constant, 

 stiflT and short flapping of the wings. It dives to great depths, 

 and swims under the surface with considerable velocity, 

 using its wings as flattened fins, and in this manner, like 

 the Divers, they may be seen pursuing and seizing their 

 prey, Besides Labrador, Mr. A. found that they occasion- 

 ally bred in the island of Grand Manan, the Seal Islands, 

 and others situated in the entrance of the Bay of Fundy. 

 Though they walk and run awkwardly, they remove swiftly, 



* Audubon, in lit. 



