GUILLEMOT. 267 



than 5 ins. in total length (4;^ from the carpal joint), service- 

 able enough in the water, but of no use for flight. The eggs, 

 about 5 by 3 ins., are similar to large eggs of the Razorbill, and 

 vary considerably. Descriptions of plumage and of the known 

 history of this extinct bird can be found in the extensive litera- 

 ture of the Great Auk. 



Guillemot. Uria troille (Linn.). 



. The Common Guillemot (Plate 1 19) is a bird of the northern 

 Atlantic and Pacific, breeding in the former from Greenland 

 and northern Norway to Newfoundland and Portugal. It is an 

 abundant and very gregarious breeder on all suitable steep cliffs 

 or lofty stacks round our shores, and in winter is pelagic, keep- 

 ing well off shore except when storm driven. 



On the water the Guillemot, beside being a browner bird, 

 lacks the compact, plump, and neat appearance of the Razorbill ; 

 it is a longer necked, more slender bird, with a long pointed 

 bill. It swims well, and may be seen sporting on the surface, 

 splashing and rolling, sometimes with the white under parts 

 upward. It dives swiftly, catching and swallowing fish below 

 the surface, and uses the wings under water, only employing the 

 feet to assist when turning rapidly. Its flight is swift and 

 straight, and when moving to and from distant feeding grounds 

 parties frequently form strings or lines, skimming near the 

 surface. In February or March birds collect near the breeding 

 cliffs, and long before the eggs are laid, in May, constantly visit 

 the ledges, quarrel for sites or posture with bobbing heads and 

 swinging necks in nuptial preparation. In late summer the 

 young are induced to take to the water, but the method by 

 which they are brought from cliff to sea is as uncertain as with 

 the last species ; throughout early autumn old and young 

 remain near the cliffs, though I have met with birds 200 miles 

 from land early in July. In winter, though some remain off 



