BLACK GUILLEMOT. 151 



blotched with very dark purplish-black, the markings larger and closer 

 towards the great end, which, however, is generally left free of them. 

 The shell is much thinner than that of the egg of the Foolish Guillemot 

 or Razor-billed Auk. As an article of food they are excellent, being de- 

 licate and nutritious. 



The parents pluck the feathers from a space across the lower part of 

 their belly, as soon as incubation commences ; and this bare place, when 

 the bird is taken alive, it immediately conceals by drawing the feathers of 

 the upper part of the abdomen over it, as if it were anxious that it should 

 not be observed. When driven from the nest, the Black Guillemot at 

 once runs out of its hiding-place and flies to the water, on which it plays, 

 bathes as it were, dives a few times, and anxiously watches your retreat, 

 after which it soon returns and resumes the arduous task of incubation. 



The young, which are at first quite black, are covered with soft down, 

 and emit, although in an under tone, the same lisping notes as their pa- 

 rents. Their legs, feet, and bill are black. The red colour of the legs, 

 of the old birds is much brigliter during the breeding-season than at any 

 other time, and the mouth also is bright red. About the first of August 

 the Guillemots lead their progeny to the water, and although at this time 

 neither old nor young are able to fly, they dive deeply and with great 

 ease, which enables them to procure abundance of food, for at this season, 

 lints, shrimps, and marine insects are plentiful in all the waters. 



While in Labrador, 1 made a severe experiment to ascertain how long 

 the Black Guillemot could live without food, — an experiment on which 

 I have never since been able to think, without some feeling of remorse. 

 I confined a pair of them in the fissure of a rock for many days in suc- 

 cession. After the entrance was securely closed, I left the place, and for 

 eight days the wind blew so hard that no boat was safe on the waters 

 without the harbour. Many a time I thought of the poor captives, and 

 at last went to their retreat one rainy afternoon, over a great swell of the 

 sea. The entrance of the fissure was opened, and a stick pushed into the 

 hole, when I had the pleasure of seeing both birds, although apparently 

 in a state of distress, run out by me, and at once fly to the water. 



The flight of the Black Guillemot is rapid and continued. As they 

 proceed in their course, they alternately shew the black of their lower 

 parts and the white of their wings. They walk on the rocks with consider- 

 able ease, using short steps, and whenever they wish to remove from one 



