126 Allen's naturalists library. 



such rapidity that it is very difficult to shoot at a long range, 

 as it disappears at the flash of the gun, and is safe from danger 

 ere the shot strikes the water where it was sitting a moment 

 before. The flight of the Black Guillemot is rapid, straight, 

 often considerably prolonged, performed by incessant beatings 

 of the small narrow wings, and is seldom elevated more than a 

 few feet above the surface of the water. As it approaches the 

 rocks the bird gradually rises in a straight line from the sea 

 and alights abruptly on the cliffs. Flocks of a dozen or more 

 of the birds may frequently be seen flying rapidly in strings 

 over the surface of the water, bound to or from a favourite 

 fishing-ground. It walks but little on the land, though capable 

 of doing so rather quickly, and it sits on the rocks like a 

 Guillemot, resting on the tarsus as well as on the foot. The 

 Black Guillemot does not appear to wander about so much as 

 the Common Guillemot, and obtains most of its food near 

 home. It is abroad late in the evening, for it may often be 

 seen fishing in the dusk^ and it is one of the earliest birds astir 

 at dawn. Many birds pass the whole night on the sea, sleep- 

 ing safely on the water, but usually they retire to the neigh- 

 bouring rocks at dusk. In winter it almost exclusively lives on 

 the sea, only occasionally visiting the land. 



" The food of the Black Guillemot is principally composed of 

 the fry of fish, especially of the coal-fish and herring, which 

 literally swarm in many Scotch waters. In search of these fry 

 it explores the water quite close to the rocks, often seeming 

 only very narrowly to escape being dashed on them by the 

 force of the waves. It also feeds largely on crustaceans and 

 very small shellfish. The note of the Black Guillemot is 

 described by Capt. Feilden as a plaintive whine ; and Saxby 

 describes that of the young birds as shrill but rather plaintive." 



Nest. — None, the eggs being generally placed in the crevice 

 of a rock, sometimes at the base of a cliff, at other times at a 

 height of several hundred feet, while occasionally the bird is 

 found breeding far inland. 



Eggs. — Two in number. Ground-colour white or greenish- 

 white, with black spots generally distributed over the egg, and 

 with very distinct underlying spots of purplish-grey, which 

 sometimes form large blotches. The black markings are often 



