98 



RAZOR-BILL. 



PLATE CCX. 



Alca torda, . . . Pennant. Montagu. 



Any slight hollow or cranny in a rock of the cliff 

 overhanging the sea, or even the bare unsheltered 

 surface of the rock itself, a preference being given to 

 the most precipitous places, is chosen by the Razor- 

 bill as a deposit for its single eg^. This in the month 

 of April. Even here, however, it is exposed to acci- 

 dents of different kinds, and is not unfrequently thrown 

 down by a high wind, or some other bird, great num- 

 bers frequenting, from the like causes of predilection, 

 the same breeding-places, or is broken by a chance 

 stone or mass of earth dislodged from above: such 

 landslips overwhelm also, at times, the bird herself. 



The old ones shew much attachment to their young. 

 The latter are able in July to provide for themselves, 

 but the descent to the sea is not always accomplished 

 ■with safety. It sometimes happens that in throwing 

 themselves down from the edge of the cliff, to which 

 they are led by their parents, and instructed, as it 

 •were, almost, what to do, they fail in clearing every 

 obstacle below, and the force of the fall in such case 

 is fatal. They lay towards the end of May, or the 

 beginning of June. 



The egg is subject to almost endless variety. Its 

 prevailing colour is white, blotted and spotted with 

 blackish brown and reddish brown. 



