700 COMMON GUILLEMOT. 



down to New England. A form with a somewhat stronger bill 

 inhabits the North Pacific. 



The Guillemot prefers open ledges or the flat tops of 'stacks'; 

 and on these is laid a single egg, of large size. Its very variable 

 colour is generally bluish-green more or less blotched and streaked 

 with dark reddish-brown or black, though sometimes it is white 

 scrolled with brown, and often plain green or white without any 

 streaks or blotches, while a rich reddish-brown variety is less 

 common. The form is that of an elongated pear : measurements 

 3"25 in. by 2 in. The hen usually sits facing the cliff, holding 

 the egg between her legs, with its point outwards ; if robbed 

 she will lay at least one more, similar in colour and markings. 

 Plenty of young are on the sea by the third week in July, and 

 by the end of August or early in September both parents and 

 offspring have quitted the rocks for the year. In England rhis 

 species is often called " Murre," from the hoarse murmuring 

 emitted by the multitudes assembled at their breeding haunts ; by 

 fishermen it is known as "Scout," " Marrot " or " Tinkershere " ; 

 and the young bird is called " Willock " from its cry : whence, 

 probably, the word Guillemot, of French origin. Considerable 

 force is exercised in diving, and the wings are used for propulsion 

 under water. 



The adult in spring-plumage (on the right) has the head, neck 

 and upper-parts of a variable brown ; undersurface white ; bill 

 blackish ; legs and feet smoky flesh-colour, webs darker olive. 

 Length of a male about 18 in., wing 7 "5 ; the female being rather 

 smaller. In winter the throat becomes white or is mottled irregu- 

 larly with brown ; as shown in the young bird on the left. 



The Ringed or Bridled Guillemot, figured below, is now generally 

 admitted to be a variety, with an unusual development of white round 

 the eye and along the crease or furrow behind it. 



