RAZORBILL 277 
The Little Grebe is common over Ireland, but in Gallo- 
way is either rare or overlooked. As a breeding bird it is 
not frequent in north-western England, but more common 
and widely distributed in winter. It is common, Mr. Old- 
ham tells me, in Anglesea. It nests in Orkney, but is 
not positively known to do so in Shetland or the Outer 
Hebrides. It is generally rarer in Scotland and northern 
England. 
ALCA TORDA, Linn. RAZORBILL. 
Ducker, Diver, SPRECKLED Brrp, CHANNEL. Manx, Coltrag, 
Caltrag (M.S. D.); Coltrag (Cr.); Coltragh (Kermode) ; 
*Kione-ureck=pied head (J. R. Moore). (Cf. Se. Gaelic, 
Coltrachan= Puffin. ) 
A century ago Feltham remarked on the abundance of 
this species at the Calf, and fifty years later Train, writing 
of the effects of the ‘memorable tempest of the 6th and 
7th January 1839,’ relates that thousands of sea-birds were 
found dead on the beach, chiefly about Spanish Head, and 
that among these the Alca torda, or Razorbill, were very 
numerous. Among the birds wrecked by winter storms on 
our shores it still preponderates. 
Except at their breeding season and breeding place, 
Razorbills are not much seen near the shore, though now 
and again single birds or small parties make their appear- 
ance. Except on the immediate nesting cliff they rarely 
land; yet I have in a few instances seen them seated on 
low rocks by the tide-edge. 
The broken and creviced cliffs of our island are better 
suited to their breeding habits than to those of the Guillemot, 
and they are, if not more abundant, more widely distributed. 
