THE RAZORBILL. 235 



this bird, the "sea-parrot " of our own coast,) — where it breeds in 

 myriads, has exceeded those of ornithologists on tins side of 

 the Atlantic. 



THE EAZOEBILL.^ 



Alca tor da, Linn. 

 Black-billed Auk. I Young, and old in 



.led Auk. 1 Yc 

 I, Linn. J w 



Alca pica, Linn, j winter plumage. 



Visits annually, for nidification, lofty cliffs around 

 the coast. 



This species and the common guillemot are found so much to- 

 gether in their breeding-haunts, that what has been said of those 

 of the latter bird will be found almost equally applicable to the 

 razorbill. It breeds at the Gobbins, but in greatly diminished 

 numbers of late years, omng to persecution. About a hundred 

 pair were seen by an ornithologist here one day in June 1847, 

 and many more were doubtless out at sea. They kept in flocks 

 on the cliffs (where twelve were killed at one shot) as well as on 

 the water. They proceed in bodies from the rocks to the sea 

 every morning, but not at an early hour. Though generally ar- 

 riving in April, they do not breed before the end of May ; — in the 

 late season of 1849, they had not commenced laying on the 2nd 

 of June, upon which day the rocks were examined for their eggs. 

 In that month of 1842, I observed some of these birds at 

 Carrick-a-rede, in the north of the county Antrim. Dr. J. D. 

 Marshall informs us that at the end of June 1834, " this auk 

 was found associated with the foolish guillemot in countless num- 

 bers on the northern shores of llathlin. It was, however, much 

 more plentiful than the guillemot, but so much resembling it in 

 general appearance, that, by the boatmen, they were invariably 

 confounded, and, while sitting on the rocks, regarded as belonging 



* Called puffin at tlic Gobbius (co. Antrim), S:c., whci-c the bird properly so culled 

 bears the name of Ailsa-cock. 



