90 BRITISH BIRDS. 



ON THE FOOD AND FEEDING-HABITS OF THE 

 RAZORBILL. 



On June 30th, 1909, I visited one of the loftiest stack of rocks 

 of the Scilly group for the purpose of watching the various 

 sea-birds which breed there. LTpon reaching the summit, 

 some 140 feet high, I found myself in the midst of a colony 

 of Razorbills (Alca torda). Many of these birds sat in rows 

 on the great rugged boulders piled up one above the other, 

 which formed innumerable suitable recesses for nesting ; 



RAZORBILL CARRYING SAND-EELS TO YOUNG. 

 {Drawn by F. W. Frohawk.) 



in these I found many young birds in down, of various 

 sizes, but none more than half grown. The old birds appeared 

 fearless of my presence ; they sat quite still in rows only a few 

 feet away, simply staring at me. A large number were con- 

 tinually arriving and leaving the rocks, and several brought 

 in fish for their young ; now and again these fortunately 

 settled close to me, when they gave me excellent opportunities 

 for observation. I counted as many as twelve small fish in 



