156 BRITISH BIRDS, THEIR EGGS AND NESTS. 
even given it up “for a consideration.” On the contrary the 
Puffin is quite ready and equally able to seize on and continue to 
occupy the desired home by force of arms. In other cases they - 
dig their own noles, and often excavate them to the depth of two 
or three feet. The eggs are nearly white before they become 
soiled—that is spotted and marbled with a tinge of ash colour. 
985. RAZOR-BILL—(Alea torda). 
Razor-bill Auk, Black-billed Auk, Murre, Marrot.—It may 
almost be said that wherever the Guillemot is met with the ~ 
- Razor-bill is sure not to be far distant. They have their habits 
their food, their haunts, even to a great degree their general ap- 
pearance, in common, ‘There is, however, a great difference both 
in the shape and size and also in the colouring of the single egg 
laid by the Razor-bill, from that of the Willock. It is less in pro- 
portion, less elongated, wants the infinite diversity of colouring 
which characterises the egg of the latter, the ground-colour 
being always whitish or white tinged with some light buffy shade, 
and the spots and blotches, which are sufficiently abundant, are 
some of a reddish or chestnut brown, others of a very deep rich 
brown.—lViy. 4, plate X. 
286. GREAT AUK—(Alca wmpennis). 
Gair-Fowl.—Not merely an exceedingly rare British bird, but 
it is to be feared, extinct as a British species. Where it is yet in 
existence it is said scarcely ever to leave the water, and it lays 
its one large egg almost close to high-water mark. These eggs 
are white 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 
