RAZORBILL 



A lea tor da 



HE Razorbill is a very common bird on most of the rocky 

 parts of our coasts, and breeds on all suitable cliffs round 

 the coasts of Great Britain and Ireland, and most of the 

 adjacent islands. It is a resident throughout the year, 

 and often strays to the low-lying coasts during winter, 

 being occasionally blown inland during a heavy gale. 



In its habits the Razorbill resembles the Guillemot, 



and generally feeds in company with this species. It is, however, easily 

 distinguished from it by its much deeper bill and the conspicuous white 

 stripe from the base of its bill to the eye. In winter the Razorbill does not 

 appear to be so numerous as it is in summer; this is principally because it 

 is much more widely spread, living chiefly out at sea. It is a very silent 

 bird, both on the water and at its nesting-stations, only uttering a hard, 

 guttural ' aarrk' when suddenly disturbed from its single egg. It is most 

 at home on the sea, and floats on the water as lightly as a cork, sleeping 

 on the restless waves in perfect safety. It sits high in the water, with its 

 head and neck held upright above its back, like the divers, and swims very 

 fast when it cares to exert itself. Sometimes these birds may be seen chasing 

 each other and splashing along the top of the water, diving suddenly when 

 the pursuit gets hottest, and remaining quite a long time under the water. 

 It is not a shy bird, and often allows the passing vessel to get within a few 

 yards of it before it dives suddenly and swims rapidly away under water, 

 leaving a tell-tale track of rising air-bubbles to mark the direction of its 

 flight. On the Dutchman's Cap I spent a considerable time watching these 

 birds; they did not fly about in wide circles like the Puffins, sweeping past 

 their breed ing- places again and again as these birds do, but flew straight 

 VOL. ii. z 85 



