COMMON AND BLACK GUILLEMOTS. 135 



COMMON GUILLEMOT (Una troile). 



Kesident. Widely distributed and common round our coast- 

 lines, keeping out to sea for the greater part of the year. At 

 breeding time it takes up its position on precipitous cliffs, 

 notably at Flamborough Head, in Scotland (especially the Bass 

 Kock), on the Fame Islands, Isle of Wight, Dorset, Devon, and 

 Cornish coasts, at Scilly and Lundy, and on the Welsh and 

 Irish coasts, &c. 



Observation. Distinguish from Razorbill by brown upper 

 parts and slenderer bill. 



Plumage. Head, neck, and upper parts chocolate-brown ; 

 under parts white. Secondaries tipped with white, forming 

 slight bar. Bill black, pointed, and not shaped like the Razor- 

 bill's. Legs and feet blackish. Length 18 in. Female similar, 

 but rather smaller. In winter, throat white. Young : like 

 adults in winter dress ; young in down, brownish black above 

 and dingy white below. 



Language. A variety of curious and weird noises, some like 

 the moaning of one in pain, others like the mewing of a cat. 



Habits. Generally much like the Razorbill. An expert 

 diver, propelling itself through the water with the combined 

 aid of its webbed feet and wings. Owing to its short wings, 

 the flight, though rapid, is somewhat laboured, and the wings 

 are much vibrated. It only properly comes to land to breed, 

 where it is completely out of its element, shuffling along most 

 awkwardly, bowing and bobbing its head the while. 



Food. Fish in enormous quantities. 



Nest. May. One brood. 



Site. On some inaccessible ledge of the sea-cliffs. 



Materials. None. 



Eggs. One. Large for the bird's size, and acutely pear- 

 shaped. Very variable indeed. Generally bluish green, blotched 

 and streaked with dark reddish brown and black. 



BLACK GUILLEMOT (Una grylle). 



Best known as a winter visitor, but breeds fairly commonly 

 on the north and west coasts of Scotland and Ireland, and 

 sparingly on Isle of Man. 



Plumage. Sooty black. Conspicuous white patch on wing- 

 coverts. Bill black. Legs and feet vermilion-red. Length 

 14 in. Female similar. In winter, crown white, marked with 

 black. Back barred with black and white ; rump and under 

 parts almost white. Young : much like adults in winter dress, 

 though rather whiter ; young in down, sooty black. 



Language. A low, plaintive kind of piping. 



Habits. Generally much like its commoner relative, but not 

 so gregarious. 



