THE RAZORBILL AND GUILLEMOT 17 



seems to arise, in part at least, from one bird's objection to the 

 presence of another near the particular spot which it regards as its 

 own. It is difficult otherwise to explain the menaces and thrusts 

 exchanged between adjacent incubating birds, or the pecks that a 

 guillemot returning to its ledge often receives from those near which 

 it alights, for no apparent reason except that before reaching its own 

 particular spot it trespasses on the property of others. 



Guillemots appear to be more combative than razorbills, no 

 doubt because the fact that they breed in numbers on the same ledge 

 or stack brings them much closer together, and consequently in- 

 creases the occasions for strife. But the thrusts they make at one 

 another are sometimes merely a matter of form, and at others mere 

 play. I have seen a number thus playing upon the water. Two 

 would point beaks at and swim round each other much like a couple 

 of fencers seeking for an opening, but they went no further, and were 

 evidently in high spirits. Just the same play may sometimes be seen 

 when a pair greet each other. 1 More serious are the disputes that 

 often follow the arrival on the ledge of a guillemot with a fish in its 

 beak. On its passage to its mate or young it has to run the risk of 

 having its prey snapped away by another bird, who in turn may suffer 

 the same loss. Thus the fish may pass from bird to bird before it is 

 finally engulfed. "Or it may be tugged at for a long time by two 

 birds that have a firm hold of the head and tail part respectively, and 

 pull it backwards and forwards, not infrequently across the neck of 

 a third bird standing between them." 2 



As far as my observation goes, the guillemots' method of fighting 

 is the same as the gannets'. Though they make passes with the beak 

 closed, they do not strike with it closed, but either give a sharp nip if 

 they can take their adversary unawares, or else seize him by the beak 

 and tug. I have seen one bird with the beak of another almost 

 inside its own. In this position they remained silently struggling for 



1 E. Selous, Bird Watcher in the Shetlands, p. 163. 



2 E. Selous, Bird Watching, p. 188. 



VOL. III. 



