BLACK GUILLEMOT. 385 



in a straight line from the sea, and alights abruptly on the cliffs. Flocks 

 of a dozen or more of these birds may frequently be seen flying rapidly 

 in strings over the surface of the water bound to or from a favourite fishing- 

 ground. It walks but little on the land, though capable of doing so 

 rather quickly, and it sits on the rocks like a Guillemot resting on the 

 tarsus as well as on the foot. The Black Guillemot does not appear 

 to wander about so much as the Common Guillemot, and obtains most 

 of its food near home. It is abroad late in the evening, for it may often 

 be seen fishing in the dusk, and it is one of the earliest birds astir at 

 dawn. Many birds pass the whole night on the sea, sleeping safely on 

 the water, but usually they retire to the neighbouring rocks at dusk. 

 In winter it almost exclusively lives on the sea, only occasionally visiting 

 the land. 



The food of the Black Guillemot is principally composed of the fry of 

 fish, especially of the coal-fish and herring, which literally swarm in many 

 Scotch waters. In search of these fry it explores the water quite close to 

 the rocks, often seeming only very narrowly to escape being dashed on 

 them by the force of the waves. It also feeds largely on crustaceans and 

 very small shellfish. The note of the Black Guillemot is described by 

 Capt. Feilderi as a plaintive whine ; and Saxby describes that of the young 

 birds as shrill but rather plaintive. 



The Black Guillemot probably pairs for life, as year by year the same 

 crannies and crevices of the rocks are tenanted, presumably by the same 

 birds. It is a rather late breeder, its eggs being seldom deposited in 

 Scotland before the end of May or the first week in June, and fresh eggs 

 may be obtained all through the latter month. It makes no nest, but de- 

 posits its eggs either in a crevice of the cliff, it may be hundreds of feet 

 above a boiling sea, or amongst the debris under the fallen rock -fragments 

 at the foot of the cliffs. Sometimes they are laid under the large blocks 

 of rock on the beach, and less frequently at considerable distances 

 inland. Saxby states that he has found the eggs on grassy rock-strewn 

 slopes fifty or sixty yards from the sea ; and Evans and Sturge found this 

 bird breeding in Spitzbergen a mile or two inland. Sometimes the eggs 

 can easily be obtained from the niche or crevice, but at others they are 

 almost inaccessible. They are almost invariably two in number, Mac- 

 gillivruy says that they are frequently three, and Audubon states that the 

 latter number is the usual clutch. In general appearance they very closely 

 resemble those of the Razorbill, but are easily recognized by their much 

 smaller size. They are subject to but little variation, ranging in ground- 

 colour from very pale buff or creamy white to very pale bluish green. 

 The overlying markings are rich deep brown, some of them almost black, 

 and vary in size from large irregular blotches to minute specks ; many of 



