Their Eggs and Nests. 199 



GREAT K\5\\.—{Alca impennis). 



Gair-Fowl. — Not merely an exceedingly rare British 

 Lird, but extinct as a British species. While yet in ex- 

 istence it Avas said scarcely ever to leave the water, and 

 it laid its one large ^gg almost close to high- water 

 mark. These eggs are w4iite in ground, or sometimes 

 soiled or slightly yellowish white, blotched and 

 streaked, most at the larger end, with black. They 

 somewhat resemble the Guillemot's egg in shape, but 

 are rather less elongated. The value of these eggs is 

 almost fabulous, sixty guineas ^ having been given for 

 a couple of them. I had to thank the late Mr. 

 Champley, C.E., of Scarborough, for most kindly send- 

 ing me an engraving of a Great Auk's Qgg in his 

 possession, as well as for offering me access to his ad- 

 mirable collection of eggs, numbering upwards of 

 8,000 specimens. 



COMMON GUILLEMOT— (C/n^/;'^//4 



Foolish Guillemot, Willock, Tinkershere, Tarrock, 

 Scout, Sea Hen, Murre, Lavy. — It is remarkable in 

 several particulars connected with its breeding peculi- 

 arities. It makes no nest, and lays but one ^gg, but 

 that an Qgg of huge dimensions as contrasted with the 

 size of the bird itself ; besides which, it is almost 

 impossible, out of a collection of many scores, to pick 

 out half a dozen that are precisely alike, either in 

 ground-colour or general markings. The eggs are 

 laid on the ledges of rocky precipices overhanging the 

 sea, on various parts of the British coasts. I have 



^ Morris's " British Birdo." 



