424 NATATORES. URIA. GUILLEMOT. 



garb of MONTAGU'S lesser species, that were taken upon our 

 own coast. Another reason advanced by him for consider- 

 ing them distinct, is the abundance in which they are found 

 in the white-throated state upon the coast of Scotland, during 

 the winter, compared with their rarity upon the English 

 coast ; observing, at the same time, that the numerous colo- 

 nies which make the English shores their summer or polar 

 retreat, depart, after obeying the dictates of nature, to more 

 southern climates. Now, this in fact is only consistent with 

 the laws of migration, the birds that winter in Scotland 

 being the summer inhabitants of much higher latitudes, to 

 which they again retire upon the approach of spring, when 

 they are succeeded by those which had migrated farther to 

 the southward in the autumn of the preceding year. It may, 

 indeed, appear striking, that they should not extend their 

 migration in equal numbers along the English coast, but suf- 

 ficient inducement for limiting their flight, will, I think, be 

 found in a comparative view of the two countries. Scotland is 

 deeply indented by its friths, salt-water lochs and bays, all 

 of which abound with the herring species, the principal food 

 of the Guillemot, and to be met with even in the depth of 

 winter ; and these are the situations it inhabits. The Eng- 

 lish coast, on the contrary, possesses no such attractions 

 during winter for this piscivorous 'bird, as the herrings and 

 sprats, which through the spring and summer approached 

 the coast, then retire to the deeper parts of the ocean, where, 

 in all probability, they are almost beyond the reach of these 

 and other diving birds. Our English summer visitants re- 

 tire to the Mediterranean, to the coasts of Italy, Sicily, &c. 

 where they find an ample supply of even richer species of 

 their favourite fish, as the Anchovy and Sardine. It may 

 also be observed, that among the myriads that breed in the 

 northern isles of Scotland, and still higher latitudes, none 

 have been found during the period of incubation, or imme- 

 diately preceding it, in the plumage assigned to the Lesser 

 Guillemot ; but all are distinguished by the pitch-coloured 

 head and neck, the appropriate livery of the Foolish Guil- 



