AUKS; PUFFINS; GUILLEMOTS. 515 



precipices, in caverns, and in deep fissures of the rocks. When 

 on land, they shuffle along in a very awkward manner ; and 

 sometimes use the bill to draw themselves upwards on the shore ; 

 but in water, they dash along with the ease and velocity of 

 fishes. Nearly allied to the Auks are the Puffins, which are 



FIG. 298 COMMON PUFFIX. 



abundant on the shores of all the northern seas, breeding in holes 

 and crevices of rocks, but not resorting to the land at any other 

 time. They breed on many parts of our own coasts ; such as 

 Dover Cliffs, the Needles, and the Farn islands of Northumber- 

 land. Their nests are much sought by fowlers, both for the 

 eggs, and for the parent birds, the bodies of which are much 

 relished by many as food. The Guillemots strongly resemble 

 the Auks and Puffins in their general habits ; but differ in the 

 form of the bill, which is straight and compressed. They are 

 thick and clumsy Birds, and are almost completely destitute of 

 the powers of walking and of flight ; but they dive with great 

 address, and catch their prey with much adroitness. The most 

 common species is known as the Foolish Guillemot, on account 

 of its habit of allowing itself to be taken, rather than quit its 

 single egg. This Bird is widely spread through the northern 

 shores, and performs a southern migration for the winter ; the 

 extent of which depends in part upon the place it has left. Thus, 

 the Guillemots which breed on the small rocky islands near the 



