FOOLISH GUILLEMOT. 321 



to get within shot of them, as they are litth alarmed by the 

 near approach of a boat. 



In the end of April, great numbers may be seen flying in 

 strings along the coasts toward their breeding-places, "which 

 are abrupt clifls, equally resorted to by Razorbills and other 

 birds ; such as Flamborough Head, the Fern Islands, St. 

 Abb's Head, the Bass Rock, Fowlsheugh, near Stonehaven, 

 Troup Head, and numberless others all round the coast of 

 Scotland, and in its islands, as well as in Wales and Ireland. 

 No preparation is made for the reception of the eggs, which 

 arc deposited on the little shelves or ledges, or in hollows of 

 the rock, each female laying a single egg, though often a great 

 number may be seen together, as closely placed as the birds 

 can sit upon them. It appears wonderful how each can dis- 

 tinguish its own in such cases. A very little inequality 

 suffices to steady an egg, and it is further prevented from 

 rolling over by its pyriform shape, which, however, has not 

 all the effect generally supposed. Many eggs fall in stormy 

 weather, and are driven over by the birds themselves when 

 flying off" abruptly on being fired at. When the cliffs are 

 high, and other birds breed upon them, the Guillemot occu- 

 pies a zone above the Kittiwakes, and below the Razorbills ; 

 but when the latter are not present, they disperse over the 

 face of the rocks. Coming in from sea at great speed, they 

 alight quite abruptly, without injury, as they invariably ascend 

 in a curved line, which breaks the force of their flight. When 

 they leave their stations they shoot away in a similar curve. 

 But often, when annoyed by shots, they ascend in the air, 

 wheeling in circles, and emitting shrill cries. The eggs vary 

 little in form, being regularly pear-shaped, about three inches 

 and a quarter in length, and two inches in their greatest 

 breadth, but they differ greatly in colour, being, however, 

 mostly of some tint of green, or greenish-yellow, sometimes 

 white, and marked with angular black or brown lines and 

 spots. They afford good eating, and are gathered in great 

 quantities for that purpose. 



Incubation appears to last about a month. The young, 

 at first covered with stiffish down, of a greyish-black colour 

 above, and white beneath, arc fed for some weeks with small 



VOL. V. Y 



