GUILLEMOTS, RAZORBILL, ETC. 139 



sufficiently suitable, but is much less abundant in 

 the south, and is nowhere, perhaps, so numerous as 

 the Guillemot. During the non-breeding season 

 it becomes more generally scattered, and may then 

 be met with, although ever sparingly, in the seas 

 round most parts of the British coastline. Its 

 actions in the water are almost precisely the same 

 as those of the Guillemot. Like that bird it may 

 be seen swimming to and fro, sitting highly and 

 lightly on the water, often permitting a very close 

 approach, especially in districts where it is not 

 much harassed by the shooter. It dives with the 

 same marvellous celerity as the Guillemot, pursuing 

 its prey through the water, often at a considerable 

 depth, as readily as the swallows chase an insect 

 through the air. It is a very pretty sight to watch 

 the Razorbill in quest of food. This may often be 

 done from the summits of the cliffs, but certainly 

 to better advantage from a boat, in which the birds 

 can be more closely approached, and consequently 

 better observed. A Razorbill in the water is a 

 remarkably striking, if not an actually pretty bird. 

 He sits so lightly, riding buoyantly as a cork on 

 the swell, turning his head from side to side as the 

 boat approaches, swimming rapidly before it, and 

 often nonchalantly dipping his head into the water 

 and throwing a shower over his upper plumage. 

 The boat comes too near at last, and the bird, with 

 a scarcely audible or perceptible splash, disappears 

 into the water. Several moments afterwards he 



