LETTER XIV. 107 



marked with grey, or sometimes black, while the under parts are 

 mottled with black and white. Some even retain their black 

 plumage entirely. 1 The young birds are blackish-brown above 

 and white underneath. The upper plumage turns to grey as 

 winter comes on ; the white patch on the wing is very much 

 clouded with black spots, and the legs are of a dull brownish-red. 



This Guillemot is a very tame bird and easily shot, as it allows 

 a boat to approach very near before it takes flight. They seldom 

 attempt to escape by diving, or, if they do, they probably rise 

 again within shot. They do not rise very easily off the water, 

 and their feet often come in contact with the crest of a wave 

 just as they are rising, when, in spite of all their hurry, the round, 

 plump little fellows are fairly tripped up, and down they come 

 souse into the water again head foremost. 



The Black Guillemot sits on the shore in an erect position ; 

 but on the floor of a room they do not seem able to walk at all, 

 for while the Common Guillemot stumps about with great activity 

 and ease, the other crawls about upon his stomach, pushing him- 

 self along with his legs and wings without trying to stand up. 



I may conclude by remarking that the flesh of the Black 

 Guillemot is much superior to that of the Common Guillemot and 

 Eazor-bill. 



1 We have notes showing that in some other parts of the Northern Isles the 

 adult Black Guillemots invariably retain the black plumage in winter. ED. 



