ALCIN.t. 



699 





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THE COMMON GUILLEMOT. 



Uria TRoiLE (Linnaeus). 



The Common Guillemot is more numerous than the Razorbill, 

 which it resembles in the localities it frequents, the times of its 

 arrival and departure, its manners, habits, and food. Near Flam- 

 borough, and at other large and accessible colonies, its eggs are 

 collected during the season in vast quantities, chiefly, it is said, on 

 account of the albumen, which is used in trade, and, except where 

 extirpated by persecution, settlements may be found on suitable 

 sea-cliffs throughout the British Islands, especially in Scotland, 

 Ireland and Wales. 



This species abounds in the Faeroes, the south of Iceland, and 

 Norway as far east as the Varanger-fjord ; while it ranges northward 

 to Bear Island. In the Baltic it breeds on Bornholm ; there are 

 colonies on Heligoland, as w^ell as on the northern and western 

 coasts of France ; and Mr. Tait has obtained eggs from the Ber- 

 lengas Islands, off Portugal. The Guillemot seldom enters the 

 Mediterranean, but it frequents the Atlantic down to about lat. 

 30° in winter ; and on the American side it breeds from lat. 64° N. 



