102 OUR RESIDENT BIRDS 



Nest. May. One brood. 



Site. In depression in shingle, among pebbles, and 

 on rocks not far above high-water mark. 



Materials. When on shingle, fragments of pebbles 

 often line the cavity ; when on rocks, a few pieces of 

 seaweed, &c. 



Eggs. Three or four. Pale clay- or stone-colour, 

 spotted and streaked with blackish brown and greyish 

 brown. Large for the bird's size, and not very 

 pyriform. 



RAZORBILL (Alca tor da}. 



Resident, though it is a pelagic wanderer all the year 

 except in the breeding season, when it resorts to precipi- 

 tous cliffs, notably in Scotland, Flamborough, Isle of 

 Wight, on Dorset, Devon, and Cornish coasts, Lundy 

 Island, Isle of Man, and Irish coasts. 



Plumage. Upper parts greenish black. Throat deep 

 velvety brown. Secondaries tipped with white ; under 

 parts white. Bill axe-shaped, with white stripe from 

 eye to base of culmen. Legs and feet blackish. Length 

 17 in. Female similar. In winter the green sheen on 

 upper parts is lost, and throat and cheeks are white. 

 Young : like the adult in winter dress ; young in down, 

 blackish brown above, dingy white below. 



Language. Usually rather silent. It makes several 

 curious noises, which may be compared to those of the 

 Gulls, or to low meanings, or gruntings. 



Habits. Eminently sociable, and in the breeding 

 season may be found on the rocky ledges of its home in 

 countless numbers with the Guillemot. It 'sits on a 

 ledge slightly inclined forwards, owing to the backward 

 position of its legs. When leaving its ledge it never 

 flies upwards, but slantwise down to the water. At all 

 times pelagic, it may be observed in small companies 

 swimming equally well on the surface or below the water, 



