SoLWAY Nature Notes. l5^ 



an hour at a time without noticing- a movement of the wing 

 as they follow the vessel. 



In strong" contrast to the graceful Manx Shearwater were 

 the fussy Guillemots and Razor Bills. These birds, I think, 

 must represent the other extreme, for they appear to expend 

 more energy on their flight than any other shore bird, and, in 

 spite of this, they have not a very good control over their 

 motions. They are distinctly clumsy birds. I sc\eral times 

 saw them hit a. wave while in full flight in such a way that I 

 could only suppose it was an accident. One simple man- 

 oeuvre of theirs, which I had never noticed before, interested 

 me very much, and once I had noticed it I saw it over and 

 over agfain. This was the way in which the large webbed 

 feet are used as an auxiliary steering apparatus. Both the 

 Guillemots and Razor Bills are plump, round-bodied birds 

 with short pointed wings and practically no tails. They fly 

 at a considerable pace, and it is quite apparent that they have 

 difficulty in turning. This manoiuvre with other birds is 

 greatly facilitated by using the tail as a rudder. Razor Bills 

 and Guillemots use their feet. 



The first time I noticed this was in the case of a bird 

 which came flying low at right angles to my course. It 

 became evident to it and to me that if it continued to fly 

 straight on it would hit the sail. Then I saw it deliberately 

 thrust out a large webbed foot to one side, and with this help 

 it was able to turn sharply. The speed of the bird through 

 the air made the foot a most effective aid in steering. It was 

 an operation similar to back-watering with an oar. 



During the next ten minutes many of these birds went 

 through precisely the same performance, some of them 

 coming within twenty feet of the sail before turning. I dis- 

 covered that I was sailing between their nests on the cliff, and 

 a large number which were feeding on the sea. Can it be that 

 these birds are short-sighted that they should have so nearh- 

 flown against my sail, or are their eyes placed like those of 

 the hare in an awkward position for seeing right ahead ? 



Skuas were fairly numerous for a few days, and these 

 handsome birds, with their powerful beaks, were also fair]> 

 tame, and seemed to take \ ery little notice of the boat. 



