DEPOSITION OF THE EGG. 119 



by her side, watching even the rumbling sound of 

 the breeze. The least noise brings from him a 

 sound of anger. Should lie spy a racoon making 

 its way among the grass, he walks up to him un- 

 dauntedly, hurls a vigorous stroke at him, and 

 drives him instantly away. It may even be 

 doubted whether man himself, if unarmed, would 

 come off unscathed in such an encounter. The 

 brave mate does more ; for if imminent danger 

 excite him, he urges his partner to fly off, and, 

 determined to do battle to the last, resolutely re- 

 mains near the nest until he is assured of her 

 safety, when, aware that resistance would now be 

 only fool-hardiness, he also betakes himself to 

 flight, mocking as it were by his notes his disap- 

 pointed enemy. 



Yet frequently less of this disposition is mani- 

 fested, the bird simply flying from a superior foe. 

 This is strikingly manifested in the guillemot. 

 Mr. Hewitson has given a striking description of 

 the haunts of this bird, At the Fern Islands they 

 occupy a rock, or stack, as such rocks are very 

 appropriately called, which stands apart from the 

 islands, surrounded by the sea ; and the eggs cover 

 it so completely, that at a short distance they have 



