278 OUR RARER BIRDS 



^Yallde^ing hundreds of miles away from its breeding-places, 

 following the shoals of fish up and down the wide waste of 

 waters, sleeping on the sea, rarely using its wings, and still 

 more rarely visiting the shore. The Guillemot never by any 

 chance flies over the land ; it never flies inland from the 

 rocks even for a few yards, but when disturbed unerringly 

 makes for the sea. It is not only a gregarious bird, but 

 moreover a very sociable one, and during the autumn and 

 winter months allows many other sea-birds to join its 

 gatherings. 



AYe cannot well dismiss the Guillemot without giving a 

 passing glance to the variety of this bird known as the 

 Einged Guillemot. It only differs from the Common 

 Guillemot in having a narrow white band round the eye, 

 and which becomes a streak for some distance behind and 

 below it. It may be seen mixed with the Common 

 Guillemots, but it is decidedly a much rarer bird. Whether 

 it be a species or only an accidental variety of the Common 

 Guillemot I am not prepared to say, but certainly its 

 habits do not differ in the slightest perceptible manner, nor 

 does the colour of its eggs, from those of that bird. 



At most of the breeding-places of the Common Guillemot 

 on the west coast of Scotland and in the north of Ireland, 

 the observer may be almost certain of meeting with the 

 Black Guillemot {Alca grylle). It is only about half the 

 size of that species, uniform black in colour, glossed with 

 green, and has white bars on the wings ; its legs and feet 

 are bright red. In most of its habits it very closely resembles 

 the Common Guillemot, but in its nesting economy is similar 

 to the Eazorbill. It breeds in the holes and crannies of the 

 cliffs, sometimes at a considerable distance from the water, 

 making no nest. I have taken its eggs in St. Kilda and in 

 several other parts of the Hebrides, but have never found 

 them to exceed two in number. They are white or very pale 



