THE BLACK GUILLEMOT. 215 



established themselves. I saw oiily one pair on the northern 

 shores, and could not ascertain whether they bred there or not. 

 At their breeding-haunts on the southern shore they were very 

 wary, and could scarcely be approached ; but the day I visited the 

 immediate vicinity of the spot alluded to, was so stormy and the 

 sea ran so high, that I dared not keep the boat closer to the 

 rocks, in order to examine their breeding-places more particularly. 

 The black guillemots were easily distinguished from all the others 

 by the dark plumage, and the white spot on the wings," 



Nnumbers annually resort to the cliffs at Horn Head, and 

 deposit their eggs " under stones out of sight and reach.'" They 

 are stated by persons best informed on such subjects to remain 

 there all the year. They breed at the Bills Rock off Achil.* The 

 Eev. G. Robinson, who visited the western coast in the summer of 

 1844 in company with Dr. C. Farran, found these birds to be com- 

 mon in Birterbuy Bay (Gal way), where his companion reckoned 

 above sixty in company. The fishermen state that they remain 

 during the year, and appear to be " bay birds," being seldom 

 seen on the open sea. Their nests are placed on some of the 

 rocky isles at or near the entrance of the bay. When rearing 

 their young, they fly up the bay, continue fishing until sufficient 

 food is procured, and then return to the nestlings with theii' 

 burthen; — in an incredibly short time they are again busily en- 

 gaged at the same occupation : this coming and going is continued 

 throughout the day. 



Mr. Robinson informs me, that they were generally wild, and 

 would not admit the approach of a boat within sixty yai'ds without 

 taking flight, which was their invariable mode of escape. When pur- 

 sued, they always flew towards the open sea, and by his managing 

 to keep to the sea-side of them while in the bay, they were obliged 

 to fly within shot of liis boat, from which he killed fifteen on the 

 1st of August. All except one were old birds, in which the 

 white feathers of the winter plumage were beginning to appear 

 near the tail. When flying from the bay each had generally a 



* Lieut. Reynolds, R.N., 1834. 



