ALCWM—AUKS. 



277 



Family ALCIDi^. 



Razorbill : Alca tor da. 



Common on the seas round our coast from autumn to spring. Its 

 nearest breeding place is on the cliffs at Flamborough. 



At Harwnch, " it is com- 

 mon during some winters" 

 (Kerry). Mr. Hope de- 

 scribes it as " common on 

 the Essex coast in winter." 

 During the winterof 1889-90' 

 several Avere shot at Mal- 

 don, Burnham, and South- 

 end (Fitch). 



RAZORBILL, in sunimer, Ys. 



[Great Auk : A/ca impennis. 



There does not seem to be any record connecting this bird with the 

 county of Essex. It is interesting, however, to note that the specimen 

 formerly belonging to Mr. Hoy is now in the possession of that gentle- 

 man's nephew, Mr. J. F. Lescher, of Boyle's Court, Brentwood. Accord- 

 ing to Prof. Newton, this is one of the 22 specimens now existing in 

 Britain.] 



Common Guillemot: Lomvia troile. Locally, "Willock." 

 Common at sea from spring to autumn. It has no breeding 

 ■colony in this part of England. 



Mr. Hope writes that they " come south in 

 August." He adds that "when they skim 

 over the water it is considered a sign of foul 

 weather coming." At Harwich, some are seen 

 every year, and a fine specimen in full breed- 

 ing plumage was caught on the beach at Dover- 

 court on June loth, 1889 (Kerry). A speci- 

 men from Colchester in Jan., 1861, is in Dr. 

 Bree's Collection. Of the " Ringed Guille- 

 mot," which is now usually regarded as a form 

 or variety of the common species, Mr. Kerry 

 says that " some are seen every year" round 

 Harwich, and Ambrose has also received it 

 from there. common guillemot, in sicmmcr, i/ro. 



