558 'BIRDS OF SOMERSETSHIRE. 



and there is no white mark across it; the streaks 

 from the upper mandible to the eyes are just marked, 

 but by no means so distinctly as in the adult ; the 

 chin, throat, sides of the neck, and an irregular 

 patch at the back of the eye, are white ; the rest as 

 in the adult. 



The eggs are not nearly so pear-shaped as those 

 of the Guillemot not unlike a Hen's egg in size 

 and shape ; white, much blotched and spotted with 

 very dark brown, almost black, and reddish brown. 



This is the last of the family that I can include in 

 this list. There is not much to be said of them, 

 either individually or collectively, as regards their 

 usefulness to man ; but they certainly add much to 

 his pleasure when seen at their various breeding 

 stations, for which purpose they seem to me to pick 

 out the most beautiful spots, at least, all the stations 

 I know of are such, Lundy, Caldy, the Stack Rocks 

 and Alderney (at which latter place the numbers, 

 especially of Puffins, are almost incredible), and 

 greatly do these birds add to the beauty of such 

 spots and enliven the scene, constantly flying back- 

 wards and forwards from the rocks to the water, the 

 black and white of the Razorbills and Guillemots 

 beautifully conspicuous against the dark rocks and 

 the bright blue sea, and the orange bills and legs 

 of the little Puffins shining brightly in the sum- 

 mer sun. I cannot say that the Razorbills and 



