BIRD-LIFE AT SEA. 247 



of gales, but a return of more genial conditions 

 soon sends them off again to the open sea. 

 Although none of these Auks breed along this 

 part of the Devonshire coast, two of them are 

 well-known species in our local waters from 

 autumn until the following spring. Perhaps the 

 most abundant of these is the Guillemot, but 

 flocks of the Razorbill are not uncommon well 

 out in the bay, and at the fishing-grounds still 

 farther in the Channel. Odd Guillemots and 

 Razorbills are frequent all the winter here and 

 there in Tor Bay, sometimes entering the 

 harbours at Torquay ; and assemblages of both 

 species may at times be seen close inshore 

 when the sea in the Channel is exceptionally 

 rough. They are both very interesting species, 

 their gambols on the water, their sudden dives, 

 and occasional flights in long strings above the 

 sea, never failing to attract our notice. These 

 birds can obtain food in very deep water; whether 

 they visit the bottom when diving in such a 

 locality we are not able positively to say, but 

 judging from the time that they remain under 

 the surface we should feel disposed to think so. 

 A very curious and beautiful example of the 



