226 ALCADJE. 



as a loud, melancholy wail, and heard at a considerable dis- 

 tance ; it died, however, some time after from the effects of 

 a wound received in the head. 



The loud, howling cry of the northern diver has been no- 

 ticed by many of its observers,* who have heard it during 

 the day and at night-time. An ornithological friendf who 

 visited the great Skellig Rocks on the coast of Kerry, during 

 the autumn of 1850, described in a vivid manner the effect 

 produced upon himself and the boatmen he had hired for the 

 passage. On account of the wind blowing freshly off shore 

 they had been belated beyond their expectations, which was 

 furthered by its action against the long swell of the Atlantic 

 rolling in shore its long, heavy waves. An old fisherman 

 related the accident to a young lad who unsuccessfully en- 

 deavoured to kiss the cross placed upon a pinnacle of the rock, 

 and who, failing in the attempt, was dashed to pieces upon 

 the pointed crags below. As the fisherman ended, amidst the 

 silence of the party, a loud thrilling howl sounded clear and 

 distinct from the sea behind them, and, after a short silence, 

 a similar wail echoed along the approaching shore, in all pro- 

 bability the mate of the first bird. The feeling that per- 

 vaded the party, although not fear, yet was so akin to it that 

 not a word escaped from any until the boat was drawn upon 

 the beach. 



Habitat Northern Europe. 



FAMILY XXXVIIL ALCADJS (AUKS). 



GENUS CIV. URIA (GUILLEMOT). 



SPECIES 219 THE COMMON GUILLEMOT. 



Uria troile. Linn. 



Guillemot a capuchin. Temm. 



Foolish Guillemot. Sea Murre. 



THE FOOLISH GUILLEMOT, as it is generally denominated, is 

 abundant upon our coasts during summer, and is one of those 

 species imparting the greatest bustle and life to the rocky 

 headlands and precipices frequented by them. Thus, locali- 

 ties which a few weeks previously exhibited the utmost appear - 



* Thompson; Macgillivray.] tM. F. Le Garde. 



