THE RAZORBILL 351 



there are rocky cliffs. Flamborough Head is a 

 well-known resort of these birds, which breed 

 there in vast numbers in company with the 

 guillemots. The tail of the razorbill is long, and 

 turns upwards. In its summer plumage the head, 

 neck, and upper parts generally are greenish- 

 black, with a distinctly-marked white bar across 

 the wings ; the under parts white. 



In winter the black loses the glossy green shade 

 which pervades the upper parts of the summer 

 plumage, and the throat, neck, and cheeks turn 

 white. The length is seventeen inches. 



Expert swimmers and divers as are all the 

 members of this family, their movements on land 

 are slow and awkward, by reason of the peculiar 

 position and shape of their legs and feet. 



Wherever the razorbill is found, the common 

 guillemot is sure to be present in even greater 

 numbers. The bill of this bird is straight, strong, 

 and sharply pointed. The summer plumage is 

 dark brown above ; a slightly-marked short white 

 bar across the wings ; the breast and under parts 

 are white. In winter the white extends to the 

 throat and sides of the head. In length it 

 measures about eighteen inches. 



The black guillemot is rarely met with except 

 on the West coast of Scotland. It is plentiful in 

 the Orkneys and Shetland Isles. Its length is 

 fourteen inches. In spring the plumage is sooty- 

 black, with a large white patch on the wings ; 

 the legs and inside of the mouth are orange-red. 



