THE GUILLEMOT. Ill 



ing localities about Flamborough Head says, " I carried a 

 good telescope with me; through it I saw numbers of 

 young Guillemots diving and sporting on the sea, quite 

 unable to fly ; and I observed others on the ledges of the 

 rocks as I went down among them, in such situations that, 

 had they attempted to fall into the waves beneath, they 

 would have been killed by striking against the projecting 

 points of the intervening sharp and rugged rocks ; where- 

 fore I concluded that the information of the rock-climbers 

 was correct, viz., that the young birds were carried to the 

 sea on the backs of the old ones/' 



The Guillemot is essentially a quiet bird, and seldom 

 gives vent to any utterance save an occasional guttural 

 croak. It will even allow its egg to be stolen without 

 making any vocal sign of displeasure or remonstrance. 



These birds with their young forsake their breeding 

 stations about the end of August ; they then take to the 

 open sea, remaining there both day and night, and in some 

 cases at great distances from the land. 



The Guillemot bears a strong general resemblance to 

 the Divers, both in appearance and habits. The food con- 

 sists of small fishes of various kinds, and also small crus- 

 tacea. It swims and dives with ease, but is seen to very 

 little advantage on dry land, where its movements are awk- 

 ward and apparently uncertain. 



When submerged, the bird uses the wings as a propel- 

 ling power, and the rapidity of its motion, coupled with 

 its easy and graceful evolutions, are matters of astonish- 

 ment to all who have had an opportunity of observing 

 them. 



In the summer months the bill, which is of moderate 

 length, strong and pointed, is black; the inside of the 



