348 COMMON GUILLEMOT. 



The Black Guillemot is much smaller than the 

 Common Guillemot. The general colour of its plumage 

 is black, slightly tinged with green ; but a large portion 

 of the wings is white. 



COMMON GUILLEMOT. 



ALGA TROILE. 



Family Alcid^. Genus Alca. 



Foolish Guillemot — Willock — Tarrock — Murre — Scout — Sea 

 Hen. 



The Common or Foolish Guillemot breeds upon the 

 headlands and bold precipitous cliffs of our coasts and 

 islands. At other times it is an inhabitant of the sea. 

 Its habits have already been described in the birds 

 which have gone before. Like them it is a perfect 

 diver and swimmer, and its flight is swift and low over 

 the surface of the waves. The chief interest in these 

 birds centres in their breeding. Towards May they 

 collect in vast numbers at their haunts, and their eggs 

 are generally taken about the second week of this 

 month. No attempt at a nest is made, but the birds 



