138 BRITISH SEA, BIRDS. 
the bare ground or rock. The Black Guillemot, 
and its allies, are remarkable for the fact that their 
eggs are two or three in number; in all other 
members of the Alcide the eggs never exceed 
one. This peculiarity has induced some systematists 
to restrict the genus Urza to the Black Guillemots 
alone. The Black Guillemot lays two eggs, much 
smaller than, and not so pear-shaped as, those 
of the Common Guillemot, cream, buff, or pale 
green in ground colour, blotched and spotted with 
rich dark brown, paler brown, and gray. The 
young chicks are said not to repair to the sea 
at so early an age as those of the preceding birds ; 
and to be soon deserted by their parents after 
doing so, congregating in flocks by themselves. 
RAZORBILL. 
This bird, the Aka torda of Linnzeus and 
ornithologists generally, is widely confused with 
the Common Guillemot, and many local names 
refer indiscriminately to each— such as Murre, 
Marrot, and Diver. It is readily distinguished 
from the Guillemots by its much deeper bill, crossed 
by a white line at its centre, and by a narrow yet 
very conspicuous white stripe, extending from the 
base of the bill te the eye. Otherwise,’ the 
Razorbill closely resembles the Guillemot in appear- 
ance, both in its summer and winter plumage. It 
is widely distributed round the British coasts, 
breeding in most situations where the cliffs are 
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