COMMON AND BRUNNICH'S GUILLEMOTS. 391 



The Guillemot becomes more numerous, and the breeding-stations are 

 more densely populated, towards the extreme northern limit of its range. 

 It does not appear to be found on the shores of the Baltic, except as an 

 accidental visitor. In winter it is found further south : it occurs off the 

 coasts of Belgium, and a few stragglers go as far south as the coasts of 

 North-west Africa ; but it is an extremely rare bird in the Mediterranean. 

 Its occurrence in the Canaries is not fully confirmed. On the^American 

 continent it winters as far south as the southern coasts of New England 

 and California, and in Asia as far south as Japan. 



For the greater part of the year the Guillemot's haunt is the open 

 sea; but in the breeding-season it retires landwards to its favourite 

 cliffs and rocky islets. A nursery of these birds presents one of the 

 most interesting phases of bird-life. Whether it be the brave old head- 

 land cliffs of Flamborough and Bempton, the curious " Pinnacles " at the 

 Fames, the rugged coasts of Wales, the innumerable nurseries on the 

 Scottish rocks and islets, or a "fuglevoer" among the Norwegian fjords 

 all possess abundant attractions for the naturalist, and well repay repeated 

 visits. 



So soon as the breeding-season has passed, even before the young birds 

 have fully gained the use of their wings, the Guillemots forsake the cliffs 

 and spend the rest of the year upon the open sea. A rocky shore is now 

 no more attraction to them than a low and sandy one, and they may be 

 frequently seen in the sea off such low-lying coasts as Lincoln and Norfolk. 

 The Guillemot is to some extent a migratory bird, but is perhaps better 

 described as a wandering one, straying hundreds even thousands of miles 

 from its breeding-place and its true home. Certain it is, we know on good 

 authority, that the birds are never seen on the cliffs at Flamborough or at 

 the Fames for several months after the young are reared. On Heligoland 

 the birds reappear during the months of November and December, at 

 least half of them being young ones ; and in some of the migration-reports 

 the Guillemot is returned as appearing at its breeding-places suddenly, 

 and just as suddenly leaving them again when the duties of the season are 

 over. 



The Guillemot is an expert diver, very often diving so suddenly as to 

 defy the quickest shots, often disappearing at the flash of the gun, to rise 

 again at some distance quite unharmed. We have but little opportunity, 

 if any, of observing the bird's aquatic gambols in its own native ocean ; 

 but the Guillemots in the saltwater tanks at the Brighton Aquarium are a 

 source of never-ending interest and amusement to visitors. Using their 

 wings much after the manner that a fish does its fins, they progress through 

 the water, darting hither and thither with great rapidity. In swimming 

 the Guillemot uses its legs as a motor, but in diving the wings alone are 

 used : the whole body of the bird is covered with a mass of air-bubbles, and 



