7o8 THE BIRDS OF YORKSHIRE. 



sion of Mr. J. A. Wilson, Whitby ; it is similar in plumage 

 to that last described. 



The projecting tail-feathers in the adult specimens extend 

 in some instances to seven or eight inches beyond the tail ; 

 in two examples I obtained on 15th October 1879, these 

 feathers reached to eight and a quarter inches in length. 

 Some peculiar observations were made in the year named 

 by the late Alfred Roberts at Scarborough, who noticed the 

 Pomatorhines and Buffon's chasing each other indiscriminately, 

 and nipping off the projecting tail feathers, probably for the 

 purpose of impeding their flight in the scramble for morsels 

 of food (W. Eagle Clarke, Zool. 1880, p. 357). 



RAZORBILL. 



Alca torda (L.). 



Resident, breeding in large numbers on the cliflfs at Flamborough, 

 Bempton, and Speeton. Departs with its young to the open sea in 

 late July or August. In winter storms many are washed ashore. 



The earliest mention of this bird in Yorkshire occurs in 

 Willughby's " Ornithology," where it is stated that from 

 the Sea-cliffs about Scarborough were sent " The Alke of 

 Hoierus, known here by the name of Auks " (Will- " Orn." 

 1678. pp. 3-323)- 



Thomas Allis, in 1844, wrote of it thus : — 

 Alca torda. — The Razorbill — Common on the coast. 



The Razorbill is a common resident, breeding on the cliffs 

 of the Flamborough range which extend from the Headland 

 of that name to Speeton, a distance of five or six miles ; its 

 numbers are considerably less than those of the Guillemot, 

 the proportion being probably about as one to one hundred, 

 and it occupies different sites to those frequented by the 

 last named species. The Razorbill usually arrives at the 

 breeding station in March, but has occasionally been seen 

 there in February, on the 21st of which month in 1884 Mr. 



