172 PAPERS, ETC. 
NATATORES. 
ANATIDAE. TADORNA. 
96.—Tadorna vulpanser.—Shelldrake. 
This bird breeds annually in various cliffs on our coasts, 
laying ten or twelve eggs, 2 inches 9 lines by 1 
inch 11 lines, of a smooth shining white. 
COLYMBIDAE. PODICEPS. 
97.—Podiceps minor.— Dabchick. 
Eggs white when first laid, but soon becoming stained 
with various colours, from contact with decayed 
rushes and other herbage, 1 inch 7 lines by 1 inch 
3 lines. 
ALCADAE. URIA. 
98.— Unia troile. — Common Guwillemot. 
This bird lays a single egg of a large size, and very variable 
and beautiful colours, commonly ofa fine blue or green, 
blotched and streaked with very dark brown, pear 
shaped, 34 inches by 1 inches 11 lines. 
99.—U. grylle.— Black Guillemot. 
These birds are scarce at all seasons, and only occasionally 
remain to breed; the eggs are greenish white, 
blotched and spotted with grey, brown and black, 
2 inches 3 lines by 13 inch. 
ALCA. 
100.—Alca torda.— Razor bill. 
Though this bird closely resembles the common guillemot, 
in habits and general appearance, yet the distincetion 
of their eggs is very obvious ; they want the beauti- 
ful tint, and the elegant shape of those of the last 
mentioned bird ; they are white, blotched and spotted 
with reddish brown and black, 23 inches by 1 inch 10 
lines. 
