in their economy they much resemble the latter bird ; thej 
arrive in mild seasons from the middle to the latter end of 
April, and fix on their breeding places early in May ; their 
nests are composed of sea-weed, and are placed so close, as 
frequently to touch each other; they are formed on ridges 
or shelves on the rocks, sometimes near an hundred 
together; they lay but one large egg, frequently 
exceedin"- three inches in length, of a greenish colour, 
elegantly miirbled with dusky green and black ; the mark- 
ings and tints are so various, that scarcely two eggs are to 
be seen alike. 
During the time of incubation, the male is very attentive 
to the female, which but seldom leaves the nest, but is fed 
hy the male with small fish. On their first arrival, they 
are very lean, but soon get into good case ; they are not 
easily disturbed or made to quit their nests, but will often 
permit themselves to be taken off the eggs, or knocked on 
the head, without attempting to escape or resist, which has 
given them the common name of Foolish Guillemot. 
They swim very deep, owing to their great weight and 
small bulk of feathers, these are of a silky appearance, ge- 
nerally without webs; when in the water they are very 
active, and are continually diving. They quit our coasts 
towards the end of August, and retire northward ; a large 
part of those that leave our shores, do not return to breed ; 
as the numbers coming and leaving do not bear any kind ©f 
proportion ; the young attain the use of their wings about 
the middle of July, and are then of the same colour as the 
parents ; it is very rare that any are seen here after the 
general departure. 
