344 RAZORBILL. 



feed chiefly upon fish, which they obtain by diving ; 

 they will also eat marine insects. 



Puffins breed in colonies, sometimes many thou- 

 sands in number, either on small islands or on rocky 

 headlands. They lay but one egg, towards the end 

 of May, which is placed in a hole in the ground 

 usually burrowed by the birds themselves, though at 

 times they will use a rabbit-hole, often first forcibly 

 ejecting the lawful tenant. The egg is placed right 

 at the end of the hole and is pale greyish white in 

 ground colour, finely spotted and blotched with light 

 brown and ash grey colours. The bird sits very close 

 upon her egg (which is large for the size of the bird) 

 and will often allow herself to be caught when hatch- 

 ing. Hewitson says : " Of this I have often had very 

 feeling experience when seeking for its egg, and after 

 thrusting my arm into various holes to no purpose, 

 have at last had notice of my success by the no means 

 pleasant gripe of its sharp and powerful bill, with 

 which it lays such tenacious hold of the finger that 

 you may draw it out ". 



RAZORBILL. 



ALCA TORDA. 



Family ALCID;E. Genus ALCA. 

 Black-billed Auk Marrot. 



This bird is rather smaller than the Guillemot, 

 which it greatly resembles in appearance, and larger 

 than the Puffin. Like these birds it is in all respects 

 a sea bird, keeping throughout the greater part of the 

 year many miles out at sea, though it may be regarded 

 as a resident in British waters. 



