THE FIRTH OF FORTH. 31 



derably smaller than the razor-bill, and their nests 

 are at once distinguished from others by the 

 material fact that, like the little auk, they lay two 

 eggs, whilst the rest of the species lay but one. 

 The eggs, too, are considerably smaller, and much 

 less pear-shaped than those of other rock-building 

 auks. 



" The common guillemot, the razor-bill, and the 

 puffin, breed in the Firth of Forth, and the little 

 auk is an occasional and most interesting winter 

 visitor ; but I confess I read with a doubting sur- 

 prise that any other of the auk tribe has its nest 

 on our islands. 



" That stray specimens may sometimes appear, 

 is not only a possible but a most probable circum- 

 stance ; but that a gentleman should sail out with 

 the intention of shooting black guillemots, and 

 actually succeed in bagging two, will, I think, be 

 looked upon by every local ornithologist as a 

 most remarkable circumstance. I am, &c., 



S." 



The Author writes in reply to this communica- 

 tion: "I am delighted with your correspondent 



