424 RAZOR BILLS AND GUILLEMOTS 



beak of the bird next to it, which in like manner seizes its 

 neighbour, and the dog continuing to draw them out, an 

 extraordinary string of these birds fall into the hands of the 

 fowler. They are in Norway taken for their feathers, which 

 are valuable." 



Social as they appear, and attentive to their young, there 

 yet seems to be a curious exception occasionally occurring 

 towards the close of the breeding-season, when, on their 

 departure, the broods of the latter hatches are left a prey for 

 the Peregrine Falcon, who watches at the mouth of the holes, 

 and seizes the poor starving nestlings, when compelled 

 through hunger to quit their inner chambers, thus escaping 

 the lingering pains of famine by a more violent and imme- 

 diate death. 



With respect to the Eazor-bills and Guillemots, we shall 

 again refer our readers to the same rock-scenery of the South 

 Stack, already noticed in our observations on Gulls, where, 

 as on a stage of Nature's theatre, we have often watched 

 their motions from the verge of a projecting little promontory, 

 or arm of rock, immediately facing a precipice beyond the 

 reach of human intrusion, intersected by innumerable 

 fissures, crevices, ledges, and shelves, admirably adapted for 

 tenants requiring such accommodations, and where, accord- 

 ingly, an army of Eazor-bills and Guillemots have taken up 

 their position, almost, though not entirely, to the exclusion of 

 the Gulls ; and therein, as if conscious of their safety (it 

 being an inviolable rule never to disturb them), they carry 

 on their usual occupations with the .most perfect unconcern, 

 permitting an observer to enter fully into their domestic 

 arrangements. 



At our last visit, closely jammed in a lateral niche, just 

 opposite, sat seventy- two Guillemots, all bowing their heads 

 at each other, with a gravity and solemnity quite unaccount- 

 able. On they went for above a quarter of an hour without 

 intermission ; each nodding slowly to its neighbour, who, 

 with equal composure, nodded as slowly in return. Now and 

 then, on another ledge, one or two would come in from a 



