456 RAZOR-BILLS AND GUILLEMOTS 



accommodations, and where, accordingly, an army of 

 Razor-bills and Guillemots have taken up their position, 

 almost, though not entirely, to the exclusion of the 

 Gulls ; and therein, as if conscious of their safety, (it 

 being an inviolable rule never to disturb them,) they 

 carry on their usual occupations with the most perfect 

 unconcern, permitting an observer to enter fully into 

 their domestic arrangements. 



At our last visit, closely jammed, in a lateral niche 

 just opposite, sat seventy-two Guillemots, all bowing 

 their heads at each other, with a gravity and solemnity 

 quite unaccountable. On they went for above a quarter 

 of an hour without intermission ; each nodding slowly 

 to its neighbour, who, with equal composure, nodded as 

 slowly in return. Now and then, on another ledge, 

 one or two would come in from a short excursion, and 

 jostling the whole line, send a dozen or two backwards 

 over the dizzy height, croaking disapprobation at the 

 intruders, who took the vacant places, utterly disregard- 

 ing the confusion they had caused. It was impossible 

 at first sight to divest oneself of an involuntary shudder, 

 as they tumbled backward, headlong into the abyss, 

 where the sea was roaring and lashing the rocks below 

 them, their squat plump bodies supported only by such 

 comparatively disproportioned wings. One felt at every 

 moment a sort of rising exclamation, " Ah, poor bird, 

 nothing can save it; it must be killed!" when flapping its 

 little pinions, away it went, cleaving the air, making its 

 circuit of a mile or so, skimming now and then over 

 the sea, but never touching the waves, and then rejoin- 

 ing its friends on the ledge, and in its turn jostling the 

 line, and causing a similar ejectment of half a dozen 

 others. In these solitary nights, however, they now and 

 then meet with unpleasant adventures, as certain Hawks 

 inhabiting the mainland occasionally make a dash at 

 them. One day, the light-keepers were witnesses of 

 one of these curious rencontres. 



The Hawk was seen in full chase of a Razor-bill, but 



