304 FIELD-STUDIES OF RARER BIRDS 



this species sits on its eggs, it does not stand 

 over them may be caught by hand, the Black 

 Guillemot on the whole can scarcely be called a 

 close sitter. Quite usually a boat being rowed 

 beneath their haunt, or a good clap of the hands, 

 is all sufficient to send them swaying and 

 scurrying into the sea, or, in any event, compel 

 them to appear each one at the mouth of its retreat, 

 where balancing on the platform outside it they 

 watch the intruder inquisitively for some while ere 

 taking to their wings. Apart from this, their 

 homes are often easy of discovery, since long before 

 the eggs are laid the birds keep visiting and leaving 

 them ; they will even brood in an empty hole. As 

 against this, however, I have known some Black 

 Guillemots very chary about returning to their 

 belongings, so long as the explorer remained within 

 easy sight of the hole. After being flushed the 

 bird flies straight to the water, sometimes, indeed, 

 far out to sea, but beyond an occasional whine 

 no further anxiety is shown or demonstration 

 evinced. 



The laying-season commences about May 20th, 

 though sometimes rather sooner, indeed I have 

 heard of nestlings early in June : but the end of 

 May or early June is about the safest date for a 

 fresh set, while fresh eggs are not without precedent 

 early in July. Surely these are the outcome of an 

 accident to the original clutch ? Certainly only 

 one brood is reared in the season. 



