558 



black, the white of the underparts extending to the bill and on the sides of the head and neck nearly 

 to the nape ; upper parts duller and browner than in the summer dress. 



Young (Orkney, January). Kesembles the adult in winter; but the bill is shorter, weaker, and much less 

 elevated; legs brownish black. Gape l - 9 inch, height of bill at base 052. 



Young in down (Lundy Island) . Crown and neck covered with short white down, through which black 

 shows in patches ; rest of the upper parts covered with black down intermixed with silvery grey, the 

 lower parts of the back tinged with brown; throat and flanks silvery grey; rest of the underparts 

 white; bill small, but comparatively stout, measuring — gape TO inch, height of bill at base 0*4. 



The Razorbill or Auk inhabits the northern portions of Europe and of Eastern North America ; 

 and though not found on the Pacific coasts of the latter continent, it is stated to occur abun- 

 dantly on the coasts of Japan. 



In Great Britain it is found at all seasons of the year; and large numbers breed at the 

 various breeding-stations on our coasts, from the extreme north of Scotland down to the south of 

 England. In some parts it is as numerous as the Puffin and Guillemot, but in others much less 

 so. Dr. Saxby writes that formerly it used to be quite as plentiful as the Guillemot in Shetland, 

 but has been steadily decreasing, there being apparently no cause for this diminution in its 

 numbers; and Mr. Cordeaux also writes (B. of Humber Distr. p. 188) that it is not nearly so 

 numerous at Flamborough as the Puffin and Guillemot, and arrives there rather earlier than 

 the latter species to take possession of its breeding-quarters. In Ireland as in England it is 

 common and resident, and breeds in suitable localities in many parts of the coast. It is not rare 

 either in North or South Greenland, but has not hitherto been observed on the east coast ; and 

 in Iceland it breeds commonly in company with the Guillemot, many leaving in the winter, but 

 some few remaining there throughout the year. In the Eseroes, where it arrives late in January 

 and leaves in July or August, it is, Captain Feilden says, " abundant, but far less numerous than 

 the Guillemot. Svabo writes that the Razorbill has two hatching-spots between the legs, that 

 it arrives and departs with the Guillemots, which it greatly resembles in its habits — though there 

 are some exceptions ; for the Razorbills sometimes breed in holes and crevices, like the Puffin, 

 which the Guillemot never does." 



Mr. Collett informs me that in Norway it is found chiefly in the northern districts, and in 

 the breeding-colonies of sea-fowl within the Arctic circle the Razorbill is found in vast numbers. 

 In those southward to the islands outside Stat it is met with in larger or smaller numbers, very 

 sparingly outside Stavanger, and even down to the Sosteroerne at the entrance to the Christiania 

 fiord. In the autumn and winter it visits in large numbers the southern coasts, and penetrates 

 into the fiords. Nilsson says that it occurs on the Baltic coasts of Sweden, where it breeds, as 

 for instance, on the Carlsoar, at Gottland. On the coast of Finland it has been met with right 

 up to the top of the Gulf of Bothnia. Dr. Palmen says that eggs have been received from Ija. 

 Alcenius states that it occurs off Jakobstad and far out off Wasa only in certain places, as, for 

 instance, on the Walsoar and on Petsgrundet, between there and Borko, where Alcenius found 

 eleven nests in 1873. It occurs off Bjorneborg but rarely, though it is common on Aland, 

 whence baskets full of eggs are sent to Helsingfors. In Nyland it is rare, but breeds there, as, 



