18 THE AUKS 



two or three minutes, when, after a final tussle, the aggressor 

 decamped. The description given above of a battle between razor- 

 bills makes it appear that their method is the same. 



Like other birds, guillemots and razorbills express the rebirth of 

 love in the spring by a variety of actions. These are usually called 

 courtship actions, but, as noted in another chapter, 1 the term is, 

 strictly speaking, inexact, for such actions occur in the case of birds 

 that live in pairs throughout the year, and continue after mating has 

 taken place. They are simply the outward and visible sign of the 

 birds' feelings, and may be witnessed at all times during the breeding 

 season. The display of the cock sparrow can, for instance, be seen 

 any day from January to July that is, during nearly half the year. 



One of the most usual expressions of mutual love among both 

 guillemots and razorbills is common to many birds. This is the 

 familiar "billing," which takes the form of touching, rubbing, or 

 interlocking bills, and corresponds to the human kiss. The move- 

 ments of the head and neck that accompany it are sometimes 

 performed in the air without actual contact of the bill. Closely 

 connected with " billing," and legitimately included under the term, 

 are the caresses which take the form of nibbling with the tip of the 

 bill at the plumage of the beloved. I have more than once seen a 

 guillemot, seated in an attitude of slippered ease, on the ledge with its 

 head bent over its back, its beak pointing blissfully upward, and a 

 wide expanse of neck and throat presented to its mate, who 

 affectionately nibbled at it, to be afterwards caressed in turn. Some- 

 times a bird passes its bill over the head and neck of its mates 

 without nibbling. This, at least, certainly applies to razorbills, 

 probably also to guillemots. These love caresses are by no means 

 always gentle ; indeed, one might well mistake the pecks then given 

 for an assault, did they not gradually develop into an exchange of 

 gentler pecks and nibblings. At times, of course, there are serious 

 domestic disputes, followed, however, by a happy reconciliation. A 



1 Vol. ii. 65, 66. 



