CATALOGUE OF BIRDS. 4 1 



naked rock, without any nest, often dangerously- 

 near the edge. The sitting birds when leaving the 

 rock are very careful to push the eggs from under 

 them ; but when startled suddenly, as by the report 

 of a gun fired from a ship or boat for the amusement 

 of cockney excursionists, the eggs may be thrown 

 off the ledge, and in some instances have been seen to 

 fall in a shower down the cliff side. The Guillemot 

 lays a handsome pear-shaped egg, very large for the 

 size of the bird. No bird lays eggs so various in 

 colour ; so greatly do they vary that two eggs 

 cannot be found quite alike even amongst hundreds. 

 The ground-colour in different specimens is white, 

 cream, stone-colour, pale blue, reddish, and many 

 shades of green, from a strong bright green to olive- 

 green. The egg is spotted or blotched with brown, 

 black, deep red, and grey. The Guillemot when 

 incubating does not lie on its egg like most birds, 

 but stands with the egg between its legs, which are 

 placed very far back, as in all Auks, Divers, and 

 Grebes." 



The Black Guillemot. 



This bird is dealt with on page 193, Case ^S, 

 being devoted to the species. 



