264 THE FOWLER IN IRELAND. 



direction varying with the strata of rock on which 

 they are resting. Long rows, parallel and diagonal, 

 in prominent white, may be seen. They make no 

 nest, but lay their handsome green egg on the bare 

 rock. The birds rest on the hinder part of the tarsus, 

 with the feet in front, and as soon as the egg is laid 

 it is rolled forward on the upper surface of the feet. 

 The Guillemot, Razor-bill, and Puffin only lay 

 one egg. Their eggs often get broken, for, when 

 suddenly startled, a Guillemot may be seen to carry 

 its egg some little distance on the feet, or stuck to 

 the feathers of the breast by the albumen of other 

 eggs that have accidentally been broken. Guil- 

 lemots are very friendly, and will do a good turn 

 if they can to one another. I have seen a bird, 

 when pelted off its egg by stones, leave it to be 

 taken care of by her neighbour on the ledge, who, 

 perceiving what had occurred, would tenderly roll 

 it under her own breast. The other bird would 

 return in some minutes, caress its friend by rubbing 

 and stroking with the bill, then take forth her own 

 egg and sit again in happiness. When the young 

 bird is about three weeks old, the parent may be 

 seen carrying it on her back down to the sea. When 

 the mother touches the water she usually dives ; the 

 little swimmer is then left alone, and utters a most 

 pitiful, whistling cry. Presently the old bird comes 

 to the surface and paddles round her progeny, or 

 dives and reappears with a sprat in her bill to feed 

 her little one. After a few such lessons the tiny 

 morsel mounts its mother's back again, and both 

 depart seaward, bidding farewell to cliff and shore 

 till the following spring. 



