260 Mr. Peabody on the 
to consist in its returning to the breeding places 
where it is annually disturbed; but this appears 
to be doné in despair of going beyond human reach ; 
forit once bred in our bay. But it has for many 
years abandoned it, and proceeds to the north in 
company with the eiders, earlyin thespring. "Their 
eggs afford luxurious food, and are collected in great 
numbers by those who make it their employment, 
to be sent to distant markets. They are so nume- 
rous, that the sailors, who were sent by Audubon to 
bring him two or three dozen, returned with twenty- 
five hundred, which indicates an immense abun- 
dance of the birds, since the eggs in each nest do 
not exceed three. The white line that- encircles 
the eye and extends back upon the head, is found 
only in the old birds. Like the preceding species, 
they swim under water almost as rapidly as they can 
fly above. 
The Lancer-siL.LED GuiLLEMoT, Uria Brunnichii, 
is said, by Nuttall, to be occasionally found, in win- 
ter, on the coast of the northern states, but I cannot 
ascertain that any one has been taken in Massachu- 
setts, except in a single instance ; Dr. Brewer found 
one washed up on the beach, in April, 1836. This, 
however, is sufficient to give it a place among our 
birds. The specimen from which Audubon's illus- 
tration was taken, was sent him from Eastport in 
Maine. He found none on the coast of Labrador, 
though the preceding species, with which this asso- 
ciates, so greatly abounded. They had probably 
gone farther into their aretic home. 
