170 RAZOR-BILL. 
northern parts, and these in turn are succeeded by others 
from still colder regions. 
They are common in Ireland. 
The Razor-bill is a migratory species, and begins to move 
southwards about the end of September, continuing its travels 
through November and December, according as the weather 
up to that period has been more or less severe. In March 
and April it returns northwards again. According to Meyer, 
‘During these migrations an interesting circumstance may be 
observed, namely, that when the several divisions or groups 
of a flock descend upon the sea to rest themselves, the parties 
that are behind alight some distance in advance of those that 
first settled, so that when the first-arrived parties haye re- 
cruited their strength, and taken wing again, the later-arrived 
groups having alighted so much in advance, have had time 
to rest themselves also, and are prepared in their turn to 
follow in the train of their former leaders as soon as these 
have passed over.’ 
They may often be seen far from land, ‘ccelum undique et 
undique pontus.’ The parent birds appear to be much attached 
to their young. 
They fly strongly, rather fast, and well, but near the surface 
of the water, rising up only to gain a rock or cliff, the wings 
being quickly beaten. The birds that compose a flock keep 
at some distance from each other. On the land their motions 
are awkward and slow, and if pursued they make use of their 
wings to further their advance. They swim and dive with 
great ability. 
They feed on young herrings, sprats, and other small fish, 
as also on crustacea, obtained by diving to a considerable 
depth. 
The note is likened to the syllables ‘arr’ and ‘orr.’ 
Any slight hollow or cranny in a rock of the cliff over- 
hanging 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 
egg. This in the month of April. Even here, however, it 
is exposed to accidents of different kinds, and is not unfre- 
quently thrown down by a high wind, or some other bird, 
great numbers 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. 
