GUILLEMOTS, RAZORBILL, ETC. 139 
sufficiently suitable, but is much less abundant in 
the south, and is nowhere, perhaps, so numerous as 
the Guillemot. During the non-breeding season 
it becomes more generally scattered, and may then 
be met with, although ever sparingly, in the seas 
round most parts of the British coastline. Its 
actions in the water are almost precisely the same 
as those of the Guillemot. Like that bird it may 
be seen swimming to and fro, sitting highly and 
lightly on the water, often permitting a very close 
approach, especially in districts where it is not 
much harassed by the shooter. It dives with the 
same marvellous celerity as the Guillemot, pursuing 
its prey through the water, often at a considerable 
depth, as readily as the swallows chase an insect 
through the air. It is a very pretty sight to watch 
the Razorbill in quest of food. This may often be 
done from the summits of the cliffs, but certainly 
to better advantage from a boat, in which the birds 
can be more closely approached, and consequently 
better observed. A Razorbill in the water is a 
remarkably striking, if not an actually pretty bird. 
He sits so lightly, riding buoyantly as a cork on 
the swell, turning his head from side to side as the 
boat approaches, swimming rapidly before it, and 
often nonchalantly dipping his head into the water 
and throwing a shower over his upper plumage. 
The boat comes too near at last, and the bird, with 
a scarcely audible or perceptible splash, disappears 
into the water. Several moments afterwards he 
