RAZOR-BILLED AUK. 115 



upright upon its egg. Another thing quite as curious, which I observed, 

 is, that, while in exposed situations, the Auk seldom lays more than one 

 egg, yet in places of greater security I have, in many instances, found 

 two under a single bird. This may perhaps astonish you, but I really 

 cannot help it. 



The Razor-billed Auks begin to drop their eggs in the beginning of 

 May. In July we found numerous young ones, although yet small. 

 Their bill then scarcely exhibited the form which it ultimately assumes. 

 They were covered with down, had a lisping note, but fed freely on 

 shrimps and small bits of fish, the food with which their parents supply 

 them. They were very friendly towards each other, differing greatly in 

 this respect from the young Puffins, which were continually quarrelling. 

 They stood almost upright. Whenever a finger was placed within their 

 reach, they instantly seized it, and already evinced the desire to bite se- 

 verely so cordially manifested by the old birds of this species, which in 

 fact will hang to your hand until choked rather than let go their hold. 

 The latter when wounded threw themselves on their back, in the manner 

 of Hawks, and scratched fiercely with their claws. They walked and 

 ran on the ropks with considerable ease and celerity, taking to wing, how- 

 ever, as soon as possible. When thus disturbed while breeding, they fly 

 round the spot many times before they alight again. Sometimes a whole 

 flock will alight on the water at some distance, to watch your departure, 

 before they will venture to return. 



This bird lays one or two eggs, according to the nature of the place. 

 The eggs measure at an average three inches and one-eighth, by two and 

 one-eighth, and are generally pure white, greatly blotched with dark red- 

 dish-brown or black, the spots generally forming a circle towards the lar- 

 ger end. They differ considerably from those of the Common and the 

 Thick-billed Guillemots, being less blunted at the smaller end. The eggs 

 afford excellent eating ; the yolk is of a pale orange colour, the white 

 pale blue. The eggers collect but few of the eggs of this bird, they be- 

 ing more difficult to be obtained than those of the Guillemot, of which 

 they take vast numbers every season. 



The food of the Razor-billed Auk consists of shrimps, various other 

 marine animals, and small fishes, as well as roe. Their flesh is by the 

 fishers considered good, and I found it tolerable, when well stewed, al- 

 though it is dark and therefore not prepossessing. The birds are two 

 years in acquiring the full size and form of their bill, and, when full 



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