BLACK GUILLEMOT. 335 



under the large blocks of stone near high- water mark. Nests 

 they have none, unless a little gravel or some pebbles may be 

 so called. The eggs, frequently three, but I think more 

 commonly two, are about the same size and shape as those of 

 a domestic fowl, being regularly ovate, from two inches and 

 a half to two inches and a quarter in length, from an inch 

 and seven-twelfths to a twelfth less in breadth, sometimes 

 smooth, often rough wdth little flattened prominences ; grey- 

 ish-white, yellowish-white, bluish-white, or sometimes pale 

 greenish-blue, and marked with blotches, spots, and dots of 

 dark brown, varying in tint from browaiish-black to umber, 

 together wdth faint purplish-grey spots, the markings larger 

 and more numerous near the broader end. The eggs are 

 deposited in the beginning of June, and early in August the 

 young are abroad. 



Their food consists of small fishes and Crustacea, in search 

 of w^hich they frequent less the sounds and bays than the open 

 sea. On all the coasts of Scotland, the fry of the Coal-fish is 

 a very common article of food with them, as with many other 

 sea-birds. About most of their breeding-places, I have not 

 observed them to proceed daily to a great distance ; but on 

 leaving the rocks with their young they disperse over the 

 ocean, entirely deserting their breeding-places until the next 

 spring. Yet they do not migrate far southward with us, 

 most of them remaining all winter in the north. 



This species sits lightly on the water, on which it paddles 

 about in a very lively manner. It dives with rapidity, like a 

 shot as it were, opening its wings a little, and under water 

 actually flies, as I have often seen. If shot at on the water, 

 it will often dive, but also frequently rise on wing, and in so 

 doing it strikes the water with its wings and feet for some 

 distance. Its flight is quick, direct, performed by a perpetual 

 rapid beating of the w'ings. In proceeding to a distance, 

 they often fly, in small strings, low over the water, now 

 inclining a little to one side then to the other. When their 

 nests or roosting-places are high on the rocks, they gradually 

 curve upward as they approach them, and alight abruptly. 

 On the ground they move little about, although on occasion 

 they walk moderately well, and prettily, with short steps, 



