GUILLEMOT 



195 



traits which formed another factor conducing to its extermination. It 

 fed mainly or entirely on fish ; and, like its kindred, laid its single egg on 

 a bare ledge of rock. These eggs, of which just over seventy arc known 

 to be preserved, are very similar to those of the razorbill, exhibiting 

 much the same variations in colour and markings, but are, of course, 

 much larger. Both skins and eggs of the great auk are now much 



SKELETON OF GREAT AUK. 



sought after whenever they come into the market, and command 

 extraordinarily high prices. A mounted skin, formerly in the 

 collection of a well-known ornithologist at Scarborough, was, for 

 instance, sold recently for ;^400, while a single egg has realised as 

 much as 300 guineas. 



Although the guillemot, locally known as the willock 

 or tinkershere, probably once shared with the razor- 

 bill the title of auk, it is preferable to restrict that 

 name as a specific designation t9 the latter bird. From the true auks 



Guillemot 

 (Uria tpoile). 



