I 883 -] 409 [Brewster. 



" At first we saw only a few Guillemots flying about or bobbing like corks 

 on the blue water seaward. But as we neared the base of the precipice the 

 sound of the oars and of our voices brought many sitting birds from their 

 nests in the lower crevices. They took wing rather clumsily, slanting down 

 towards the surf with feet and tails wide spread, but they drew up their feet 

 and closed their tails when they got fairly under way, and flew directly out 

 to sea. In a short time, however, they would return and circle about us, 

 occasionally dashing past within a i'ew yards, but ordinarily taking care to 

 keep beyond gun range. They were tamest when sitting on the lower ledges 

 or shelves of the cliff, where they frequently alighted. A shelf onlv a few 

 feet above the water was usually chosen, and the bird upon closino- its wino-s 

 would maintain an erect position for a moment or two and then lie quietly 

 down. Often upon rounding a projection of the cliff we came upon two or 

 three thus engaged. On such occasions they would cower close to the rock, ap- 

 parently too much frightened to fly, but every now and then uttering a shrill 

 pee-e-ee, that sounded remarkably like the alarm note of the Wood Duck. 

 Once we ran the boat almost within arm's length of a pair before they took 

 wing. 



" These Guillemots seemed to be breeding in the greatest numbers in the 

 caves already referred to. We entered one of these places at some risk 

 of crushing our boat, for there was a heavy sea running. The interior was 

 a long vault-like passage with an arched roof above and an uncertain depth 

 of water beneath. The walls were smooth and slimy and fairly honey- 

 combed with holes, some of which apparently connected with neio-h bor- 

 ing caves, for we could hear the water rushing through or catch an occa- 

 sional gleam of distant light. In this grewsome place the ; Sea Pigeons ' 

 fairly swarmed, and every crevice seemed to have its occupant. A few 

 scrambled from their holes and dashed past our heads making directly for 

 the arch of light that marked the entrance, but the greater number re- 

 mained quietly in their strongholds. Nor was such action ill-judged for 

 owing partly to the depth of the crevices, partly to the sea-slime that 

 made it impossible to climb the walls, we did not succeed in reaching a sin- 

 gle nest. The fate of these cave dwellers and their eggs durino- a storm is an 

 interesting subject of speculation, for there must be times, even in summer 

 when the caves are entirely submerged. Probably the old birds escape 

 without much trouble, but many eggs and young must be destroyed." 



89. Lomvia troile, Linn. — Common Guillemot. 



Although stragglers were seen in various parts of the gulf, we 

 found this species breeding at only two localities, Bird Rocks and 

 Perroquet Island. At Bird Rocks I had a good opportunity of 

 studying its habits, but observed nothing that is not already 

 known. The birds still breed there in amazing numbers, but they 



