ALCAD.E. 549 



seen this done, though I have seen young hirds in 

 the water that certainly could not have flown down, 

 and a fall from the height at which the eggs are 

 usually placed would be fatal to the young birds, 

 even if they fell into the water, but in many instances 

 they would fall on the hard rocks or stony beach. 



After the breeding season the Guillemots spread 

 themselves all over our seas in search of fish, on 

 which they live almost entirely. On the south coast 

 of Devon, when the sprats and herrings are about, 

 both Guillemots and Razorbills collect in consider- 

 able numbers ; indeed a shoal of herrings or sprats 

 collects immense multitudes of birds, various sorts 

 of Gulls, Gannets, Divers, Cormorants and others, 

 as well as the present species, making a most lively 

 and animated scene, which I have often watched 

 with the greatest interest, many of the birds being 

 so bold that they will come nearly within arm's 

 length of the boat ; some of the more wary ones, 

 however, creeping off as the boat approaches. The 

 chase of a Guillemot is by no means such an arduous 

 undertaking as that of a Northern or Redthroated 

 Diver, for although a quick and easy diver it does 

 not disappear under water in the same wonderful 

 manner, nor does it dive so far. On the wing it goes 

 at a great pace, but pretty straight, so the only diffi- 

 culty in shooting it is to shoot far enough a-head. 



The bill of the Guillemot is sharp and pointed, of 

 a dark colour, nearly black ; irides very dark brown ; 



