PYGOPODES. ( 297 ) ALCIDM. 



THE COMMON GUILLEMOT. 



FOOLISH GUILLEMOT, WILLOCK, MURRE, MARROT, SCOUT, 

 SKIDDAW, SCUTTOCK, SEA HEN. 



Una troile. 

 fecoot, 1 



The baron hath the landward park ; the fisher hath the sea ; 

 But the rocky haunts of the sea-fowl belong alone to me. 



MARY HOWITT, Song of the Sea-Fowler. 



THE magnificent promontory of St. Abb's Head, where the 

 dark sea-girt rocks tower to a vast height above the restless 

 waves below, is the favourite haunt of the Common Guillemot 

 in Berwickshire. Here it may be seen during the breeding 

 season in closely-packed colonies on the rocky ledges of the 

 gloomy precipices, which are whitened by the mutings of 

 countless generations of sea-fowl. When a boat approaches 

 the bottom of the cliffs, and the birds are alarmed, vast 

 numbers dash headlong from their eggs towards the sea, 

 their harsh chattering screams, mingled with the clamorous 

 cries of Gulls and other sea-fowl, reminding us of the fol- 

 lowing quaint description by old Dunbar : 



The air was dirkit with the fowlis 

 That come with yawmeris, and with yowlis, 

 With skryking, skryming, and with scowlis, 

 To tak him in the tyde. 



1 Scout's Croft, near Coldingham ; Scout Cave, on the coast south, from Eye- 

 mouth ; and Scout Point, near Gunsgreen, have evidently derived their names 

 from this bird. 



2 So called by the Cove fishermen. J. Hardy. 



