52 
ALCAD/E. 
The food of the Razor-bill is fish, such as young 
herrings, sprats, &c., and Crustacea, the latter of ■which 
it obtains by diving to a considerable depth. 
The breeding places of the Razor-bill are in the before 
enumerated northern countries, including Great Britain; 
and the localities are invariably the most perpendicular 
rocks on the coast, facing the sea. In the month of 
April, the birds choose a spot in which to deposit their 
single egg, which is laid in a slight hollow on the bare 
rock, and, if possible, under cover of some overhanging 
stone or shelf. In many instances the egg is broken, or 
the sitting-bird killed by the falling of stones from above, 
which are thrown down by strong winds, or by the 
innumerable sea-birds that frequent the upper shelves or 
ledges. 
The parent birds are very much attached to their 
young, which they feed with small fishes. In July the 
young Razor-bills may be seen on the rocks, and about 
the end of that month they are able to come down to 
the sea, when they immediately shift for themselves. The 
manner in which the young birds descend to the surface 
of the water is peculiar, and consequently a very anxious 
time for the parent birds : when the young are ready 
to enter upon the business of their existence, they waddle 
to the edge of the rock, and are instructed, apparently, 
by their parents, to take a leap forward in order to clear 
any impediment in their descent; if they reach the water 
uninjured, they swim immediately about, and very soon 
dive as if they had been accustomed to do so; but it 
also frequently happens that they are dashed against a 
projection of the rock, or are killed by falling upon a 
stone, under which circumstances the parent birds have 
been seen to swim about in great desperation. Many 
