On Sea and Shore. 231 



trifles that may chance to come in their way. A 

 mile or so off the headland the sea is literally alive 

 with birds of the Auk tribe that are breeding on the 

 long range of cliffs. Here we renew our acquaint- 

 ance with the comical-looking Puffins hundreds of 

 them swimming about, diving at intervals, preening 

 their plumage, and disporting themselves generally. 

 Many of them allow the bows of the coble almost to 

 reach them before they dive with startling speed 

 and reappear some distance ahead or astern, the first 

 thing they do upon reaching the surface again being 

 to look about in all directions for any possible further 

 danger. Mingled amongst them are the Guillemots 

 and Razorbills, the one bird easily identified by its 

 long pointed bill, the other by its deep flattened one 

 crossed with a conspicuous white line on either side. 

 The Razorbill may be further distinguished by the 

 white streak of plumage which runs from the base 

 of the upper mandible to the eye. In the Ringed 

 Guillemot, a form of the Common Guillemot, the 

 white streak extends backwards behind the eye. 

 Both birds are very similar in their actions out here 

 at sea, swimming and diving with great celerity. 

 Here and there small parties of one species or the 

 other may be seen flying swiftly along just above 

 the waves on their way to or from the headland 

 where they are now breeding. They feed on fish- 

 here in these northern waters young herrings and 



