BRITISH BIRDS. 380 



ff)c (gmtllcmof. 



THE bills of this genus, though of a slender 

 shape, are firm, strong, and pointed: the upper 

 mandible slightly bending towards the end: base 

 covered with soft short feathers: nostrils lodged in 

 a hollow near the base : tongue slender, almost the 

 length of the bill: thighs placed in the abdomen: 

 no back toe. 



Some of the Guillemots appear to be very stupid, 

 not becoming cautious from experience, like many 

 other kinds, but suffering themselves repeatedly to 

 be shot at, as if they did not know the danger; 

 for notwithstanding they have seen their associates 

 drop at every fire, they still continue to wheel 

 about in the same circle, and to alight again on 

 the same place where they were first disturbed. 

 Others, however, are sufficiently alert. They use 

 their wings when under water. 



These birds are numerously spread over various 

 parts of the northern world, whence they are driven 

 by the approach of winter to seek more temperate 

 climes. At that season they arrive on the British 

 shores, where they remain until they have reared 

 their young. 



