GUILLEMOT. 



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313 



(iuills tapering, curved, the first and second longest ; second- 

 aries very short, rounded. Tail very short, rounded, of twelve 

 or fourteen feathers. 



The Guillemots are active and rather lively birds, which 

 inhabit the northern seas, procuring their food, which consists 

 of small fishes and Crustacea, by diving from the surface and 

 pursuing it under water, in which they glide with great 

 rapidity by means of the action of their wings. These organs, 

 though small, being quickly moved by strong muscles, enable 

 them to fly with great speed. Their feet, however, having a 

 position and form unfavourable to locomotion on land, are 

 scarcely used for that purpose, but enable them to paddle 

 along very expertly on the water. They form no nests, but 

 deposit their extremely large pyriform eggs on the bare surface 

 of rocks ; and there also their young ones crouch until partially 

 or entirely fledged. The eggs aflbrd good eating ; but the 

 flesh of both young and old is rank and unpleasant. 



