THE RAZORBILL OR AUK 



white markings on the beak are wanting. Considerable difference exists between 

 the summer and winter plumages of the adult birds. In summer the head 

 and neck are sooty brown, while the back and wings are black with a greenish 

 gloss ; the beak and the rest of the under-parts, together with a narrow wing- 

 bar, being white. On the other hand, the winter plumage of the adults, like 

 that of the young in summer, is browner above, while the sides of the head 

 and the fore portion of the neck are of the same snowy white as the under- 

 parts of the body. 



The razorbill inhabits the coasts on both sides of the North Atlantic, 

 breeding far up on the Norwegian coast, on those of Iceland and the Faroe 

 Islands, and on the opposite side of the ocean on the shores of Newfoundland, 

 Labrador, and Greenland ; latitude 70 about marking its northward breeding 

 range on the American side, while in Europe the limit is about one degree less. 

 Eastwards the range extends to Jan Mayen Island ; while the southward boundary 

 of the breeding area in Europe appears to be formed by the Brittany coasts. In 

 great Britain these birds breed, in suitable localities, all round the coasts, inclusive 

 of those of the Shetland Islands. These limits do not, however, by any means 

 indicate the whole range of the species, for in winter these birds visit the 

 Mediterranean, and occasionally the Canaries. 



Throughout the year razorbills associate in large flocks, although in 

 autumn the numbers of these colonies are diminished, apparently by a portion 

 of the birds going out to sea. Bempton Cliffs, on the Yorkshire coast, form 

 one of their favourite breeding-places, where the birds congregate in thousands, in 

 company with guillemots, and yield a large harvest of eggs. The laying season 

 commences about the middle of May, but is at its height some days later ; while 

 eggs and young may be found together till late in June. By the end of July 

 the birds have for the most part finished their breeding season, and by the first 

 week in August nearly all have forsaken the cliffs for the sea, which is their 

 true home, and on which they often pass the night. 



