ON THE LESSEU GUILLEMOT 
sion may also not be useless, in illustrating some of those 
sources of error and precipitancy of observation, which 
have so much obstructed the advancement of zoology. If 
species so much in our way have been so long erroneously 
known, it is not surprising that others less numerous sind 
accessible should be also so. The great influence, too, of 
Montagu, in questions of British Ornithology, required 
that the few errors into which he had been unconsciously 
led by partial observation should be fully understood. 
The habits of the Razor-Bill and Guillemot are similar, 
and very interesting ; they are gregarious, more or less, all 
the year round. They occupy the same kind of cliffs du- 
ring the breeding-season, though the two species do not 
indiscriminately mingle on the same rock. They select 
long parallel ledges in the precipices about half-way from 
their summits, where they may be seen in large flocks, sit= 
ting close together, and ranged above each other in regular 
rows; their white breasts, black heads, and erect forms, 
giving them a peculiar and orderly appearance. 
They live in the most cordial harmony with each other, 
and display uncommon aifection for their young. These 
are taken to sea long before they seem capable of flying, 
and when their wings can be employed chiefly in assisting 
their motions under water. The fishermen assert, that the 
old birds carry them on their backs to the sea ; but this 
seems unnecessary. I have seen some quit the rock for the 
first time ; they were not one-third of the size of the adult 
birds; and all that the wings seemed able to efl'ect, was a 
kind of balancing motion, to weaken their fall in the water. 
When they reached it, they immediately dived, and, al- 
though visiting it only for the first time, swam well, and 
kept long under it; and some even dexterously eluded, 
after the manner of their species, shots fired at them, by 
diving on the flp.sh of the }^ao. The parent-birds were near, 
