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Razorbill This bird derives its name from the likeness in shape 

 of its bill to that of a razor, and this resemblance is greater than are 

 many characteristics from which other birds have derived their names. 

 In general habits and appearance the Razorbill closely resembles the 

 Guillemot, but a visitor to its rocky haunts, where both species are 

 invariably found associated, will soon perceive the two distinguishing 

 features by which the Razorbill may be identified from the Guillemot, 

 viz.: its blunt bill instead of the awl -shaped weapon of the Guillemot, 

 and by the former's dense black colour as against the sooty brown of 

 the latter. The Razorbill lays its solitary egg, reddish -brown or 

 white in ground-colour, usually thickly spotted and speckled with 

 black and brown, in a somewhat similar position to that affected by 

 the Guillemot, but seeks a situation of greater safety, selecting a 

 cranny or nook beneath some boulder, instead of the open, naked 

 shelf on which the Guillemot deposits her egg. It is a moot point as 

 to how this bird brings her young from the nesting-place, possibly 

 200 or 300 feet above the sea, down to the water. Some observers 

 insist that they have seen the parent bird bearing the young one 

 down perched on its back, but this seems improbable ; it is more 

 likely that instinct will teach the nestling the confidence necessary 

 for it to trust to its outspread wings, and by that means to convey 

 itself down to that element thereafter to be so largely its home ; for 

 this bird spends all the rest of the year from nesting season to nesting 

 season at sea. 



Redbreast The Robin or Redbreast is one of the most familiar 

 of our British birds, being widely distributed and abundant. Its 

 tameness and its approach to the habitation of man during the winter 

 months, render it a general favourite ; no bird is, however, more 

 pugnacious. It is more migratory than is generally supposed, 

 considerable numbers leaving our country for more southern climes 

 during the winter. In spring the Robin generally deserts the immedi- 

 ate neighbourhood of man's dwelling, retiring to nest in the woods 

 and roadside banks, where, concealed in the herbage or ground ivy, 

 the nest, constructed mostly of dead leaves and moss, and lined 

 with hair, may be discovered. The colour of the robin is too familiar 

 to need description, but the younf until the autumn moult, are, in 

 plumage, quite different to their parents, being buff-brown in colour, 

 each feather with a central spot of light buff, and tipped with black, 

 giving a mottled appearance. This bird indulges occasionally in 

 very odd sites as nesting places, such as an old tin can or pail, often a 

 hole in a wall. The eggs, five six, or even eight in riumDer, are of a 

 pale buff ground colour, clouded with dull red markings, occa- 

 sionally these markings are more distinct, taking the form of reddish 

 spots, while at rare intervals clutches of white unmarked eggs have 

 been discovered. 



Rook The Rook, often erroneously called the Crow, is one of the 

 most familiar and widely distributed of British birds. It is to be 

 found everywhere, save in the outer islands, and even to those spots 

 is occasionally a visitor. The plumage of the Rook, as seen in th 

 sunshine of early spring, has a rich dark blue gloss ; the length 

 of the bird is seventeen inches, and in the mature form, the face is 

 devoid of feathers, giving it an unsightly and almost repulsive look. 

 As is well known, the Rook is gregarious, both in winter and during 

 the nesting season, which begins early in March, at which time they 

 build their nests in colonies, known as rookeries. In the main the 

 rook is undoubtedly the farmer's friend, ridding his ground of the 

 grubs of many destructive insects. The eggs are three to five in 

 number, pale green in ground colour, spotted and blotched with 

 blackish brown. 



