146 GUILLEMOT. 



water, and was much struck with the great similarity of its 

 wings both in their shape and in its manner of using them 

 under the surface, to the fins of a fishj 'remigium alarum;' 

 and in the water, instead of the air, the analogy loses none 

 of its force.' 



They are excellent divers, and though bulky birds, swim 

 in a lightsome manner. They fly quickly at a low height, 

 the wings being beaten with short repeated strokes: they 

 have some difficulty in rising from the surface. 'During 

 the breeding-season they are generally compelled to make a 

 circuitous flight before they can attain a sufficient elevation 

 to reach the ledge of rock selected for that purpose.' 



They feed on sprats, young herrings, anchovies, sardines, 

 and other fish, mollusca, testacea, and sea-insects. 



Mr. Couch observes of the Guillemot, in his 'Illustrations 

 of Instinct,' 'I have watched with much interest the pro- 

 ceedings of this bird when capturing the stragglers of a 

 school of young mullets, and the admirable skill with which 

 their dispersion was prevented, until a full meal had been 

 secured. It is the nature of this bird, as well as of most 

 of those birds which habitually dive to take their prey, to 

 perform all their evolutions under water with the aid of 

 their wings; but instead of dashing at once into the midst 

 of the terrified group of small fry, by which only a few 

 would be captured, it passes round and round them, and so 

 drives them into a heap, and thus has an opportunity of 

 snatching here one and there another, as it finds it con- 

 venient to swallow them, and if any one pushes out to 

 escape, it falls the first prey of the devourer.' 



Towards the end of March or beginning of April, they 

 assemble in countless thousands, with a view to lay and 

 hatch their eggs, and at times even darken the sea with 

 their prodigious numbers. When the work of incubation is 

 over, they repair in small parties to the sea. 



The Guillemot makes no nest, but lays her single egg 

 upon the barren rock. Countless numbers of these birds 

 breed together on the rocks or cliffs that abut upon the 

 ocean, thinking there to find that security, which indeed 

 they would find were it not for the superiority of mind 

 over instinct. Incubation continues for a month. The old 

 bird is believed to convey her young down to the sea on 

 her back. 



The eggs are very large in proportion to the size of the 



