RAZOBBILL 847 



are usually seen in small flocks ; they fly like diving ducks, with 

 rapidly-beating wings, in a line, one bird behind the other, and so 

 close as to be almost touching. In March they resort to the bold head- 

 lands and precipitous rocky cliffs which are their breeding-places. 

 They are then seen associating with guillemots and puffins; for, albeit 

 these three auks differ in appearance and breeding-habits, they seem 

 to be aware of their relationship, and mix together in a friendly way. 

 It may, however, be noticed that on a ledge where many guillemots 

 and a few razorbills are assembled, as a rule the latter form a little 

 group by themselves. This species is somewhat silent, although they 

 occasionally utter long cries, somewhat gull-like in character, but 

 lower and more guttural. When disturbed they emit a different 

 sound, peculiar and human-like in tone, resembling the low moans 

 of a person in pain. 



A single egg is laid by the razorbill, and is placed in a cranny, 

 sometimes in a hole several feet deep ; occasionally the egg is de- 

 posited in a hollow on a rocky ledge, and in such situations razor- 

 bills and guillemots are found breeding side by side. The egg 

 is large and handsome, the ground-colour white, spotted and blotched 

 with different shades of blackish and deep reddish brown, and some- 

 times chocolate-colour. Both birds take part in incubating. An 

 observer who has studied the habits of this bird says that in most 

 cases the young fly down to the sea, usually early in the morning, 

 and being once there, do not return to the rocks, as their wings 

 are not then strong enough to enable them to mount upwards. 

 1 Sometimes,' he writes, ' when the young one is obstinate, the mother 

 will take it by the back of the neck, and fly down to the sea. 

 (Zoologist, 1871, p. 2427.)' He adds that the parent teaches the 

 young bird to dive by taking it by the neck and diving with it. 



The breeding season over, the birds do not return to the rocks 

 until the next spring. 



Common Guillemot 

 Lomvia troile. 



Head, neck, and upper parts blackish brown ; under parts white. 

 Length, eighteen inches. 



The common guillemot is the most abundant of the four species 

 of auks which inhabit the British Islands. Less handsome and 



