128 BIRDS OF ICELAND 



suitable sea-cliffs, and in common with Puffins and 

 Eazorbills, etc., it is snared in considerable quantities 

 and eaten ; it makes a better provender than would be 

 expected, too, though I should hesitate to assert that a 

 Guillemot is equal to a Woodcock. 



The single egg is large, and pear-shaped, and very 

 variable in tint ; the usual colours are white or a more 

 or less bright green, blotched and spotted with dark 

 brown and black, sometimes pale brown or pale green 

 spotted and scribbled with light brown, or any of the 

 above ground colours without markings of any sort. 

 Length 3 J inches. If their egg is taken, they lay 

 another in a day or two. 



The bird is sooty brown above, and on the throat 

 (the latter turning white in winter), with white under- 

 parts. Length 18 inches, wing 7 J inches; bill from 

 forehead to tip about 2 inches. 



The food consists of small fish and other marine 

 creatures, and the bird is an expert diver like all the 

 Alcidse. 



The ' ringed ' or ' bridled ' Guillemot is only a variety 

 of this species ; it has a ring of white feathers round 

 the eye, and a white line proceeding backwards along 

 the furrow behind the eye. 



