24 



THE NATATOEES. 



is so great that, on alighting, they glide forward on the surface of 

 the water for twenty or thirty yards, leaving a deep furrow in their 

 wake. They are exceedingly quick-sighted, and frequently elude, 

 by diving, the shot which is aimed at them." 



The Gruillemots {Uria), Fig. 84, have the beak long, straight, con- 

 vex above, somewhat angular below, a little curved and hollowed 

 at the extremity of each mandible ; the legs are short, compressed, 

 and placed well behind the body ; the three anterior toes are united 

 by the same membrane ; the claws recurved and pointed ; no hind 

 toe ; the wings are . straight, and the tail short. These birds, 

 when placed on the ground, raise themselves with great diffi- 

 culty, owing to the conformation of their legs. They only come 

 ashore when driven there for shelter by the storm, or for breed- 

 ing. For the latter purpose 

 they choose some precipitous 

 coast where the rocks project 

 in ledges, from which they can 

 throw themselves into the sea 

 if they are disturbed. Boldly- 

 scarped cliffs, which rise per- 

 pendicularly from the waves, 

 are consequently their favourite 

 breeding-places. There it is 

 necessary to seek them. Un- 

 fortunately, the demand for the 

 wings and down of the Guille- 

 mots has reached a point which 

 is not unlikely to lead to their 

 extermination. One London 

 dealer, we are told, has given 

 an order at Ailsa Craig, on the 

 Clyde, for a thousand sea-birds 

 weekly ; and the tacksman of the rock is so intent on supplying 

 the demand, that he spreads his nets while the birds are sitting 

 on the newly -hatched young, which are thus left in thousands to 

 perish from being deprived of a mother's fostering care. 



Among the Guillemots, the female lays only one large egg. 

 They feed on fishes, insects, and Crustacea. They principally 



Fig. 84. — Gruillemots ( Uria. Troile). 



