260 THE RAZOR BILL. 
the Razor Bills become more numerous to the southward, 
and, in winter, the western coasts are almost entirely- 
deserted by them. In the firths and other inlets, when fre- 
quented by shoals of young herrings or other fishes, they 
RAZOR BILL. 
are often seen in great abundance, and, in fine weather, are 
occasionally met with on the open sea. Towards the end of , 
spring, they collect into parties, and proceed to certain 
breeding-places, which are always abrupt cliiFs along the 
shore, or precipitous islands, where they nestle along with 
the Guillemots and Kitiwakes. 
This species, besides inhabiting the northern parts of 
Europe, and, in winter, appearing on the coasts of Britain, 
Holland, and France, occurs equally in North America, 
where, in winter, it extends as far southward as New York. 
M. Audubon foimd it breeding on the islands of the Gulf 
of St. Lawrence, and on the coast of Labrador. Other 
observers have met with it in Greenland, Iceland, Spitz- 
bei^gen, and, in general, dispersed over the arctic seas. 
The eggs of this bird are laid in the beginning of May ; 
they are excessively large, averaging three inches in length, 
of an oblong shape, somewhat pyriform, but not so pointed 
at the small end as that of the Guillemot. The ground 
colour is greyish or brownish white, much blotched or 
clouded, and spotted and sprinkled with deep brown or 
