GUILLEMOT AND GREBES. 29 



available spaces, and a passage can only be effected by tread- 

 ing upon the eggs. They are supposed to lay from two to 

 three eggs, but this is not quite certain, and I am of opinion 

 that they are more prolific, because the amount of eggs 

 gathered in their places of breeding is prodigious. They are 

 of a large size, about one-third larger than that of a turkey, 

 and pointed at one end. In colour they vary greatly, from 

 white to pale blue, with brownish or black spots sprinkled all 

 over, especially in the middle, and representing all sorts of 

 arabesque figures. The young ones are sometimes eaten ; but 

 the flesh of the adults is oily and has a disagreeable taste. 

 They swim with great rapidity, and dive frequently, reappear- 

 ing at a distance of fifty yards or more. They live on fish, 

 crustaceae, and molluscae. 



Latelv thousands of these birds have been killed for the 

 sake of their feathers ; but these have a very low^ market value, 

 and are not worth gathering. 



The Grebe, Podiceps affinis, belongs to the order PvGO- 

 PODES, and to the family of PODICIPIDAE or Divers. It is a 

 web-footed bird of about the size of a water hen, browmish on 

 the upper surface, and pure snow-white underneath. The bill 

 is compressed at the tip, smooth, straight, and pointed. It has 

 short wings, and a short pointed tail, which it uses as a rudder. 

 The backward position of their legs causes them to walk with 

 difficulty, and obliges them to remain upright when out of the 

 water. Most of them fly badly, and their short wings aid them 

 in swimming, so that they may be compared to fins. It swims 

 very sw^iftly and for a long distance under the water. Its food 

 consists of fish, crustaceae, molluscae and such like. They are 

 valued for their white silky plumage. During the last twenty 

 years large quantities of skins of these birds have been sent 

 to the European markets, where they are bought and manu- 

 factured into caps, muffs, pelisses, trimmings, etc. Sometimes 

 they are found in inland waters. Their nests are generally 

 placed among reeds, and rise and fall with the water. Its 

 flesh is rank and nauseous. 



The Sea-lion, Otaria stelleri, belongs to the Fin-footed 

 Carnivorous Mammals, or CarnivORA PiNNIPEDiA, and are 

 distinguished from all the other members of the Order by 

 possessing small external ears, and by being able to bend 

 their hind feet forward under their bodies and to use 

 them for walking on land. Otaria stelleri belongs to 

 the family of Otariidae, which also includes the Northern 



