COMMON GUILLEMOT 
UllIA TROILE. 
In former days this species was known in many parts of the country as the Eoolish Gnillemot, its confiding 
nature and utter disregard of danger having led to this uncomplimentary appellation — to imagine everyone 
a rogue till proved to he a fool (by no means an unsafe rule to folloAv) having evidently been the creed of 
those who bestowed the title. Tlie birds that frequent many of the southern breeding-stations in the British 
Islands have greatly diminished in numbers of late years, owing to the persecution to which they have been 
exposed by thoughtless gunners, whose only object was useless slaughter. Among the islands off the Western 
Highlands, and also along the western and northern coasts of the mainland, they, however, still hold their 
own in colonies of countless thousands, and little fear need he entertained of any diminution taking place 
unless by disease. 
During autumn, winter, and early spring I have often observed large flocks of Guillemots off different 
parts of our southern and eastern coasts. At times these bodies appear stationary for a day or tA\ o, moving 
backwards and forwards with the tide, or following the course taken by the shoals of herrings or sprats ; as 
a rule, however, they generally make their way steadily in one direction. These movements are regulated 
by the season— south in autumn over tlie North Sea, and then passing on west through the Channel, the 
course is reversed in the spring. IMany, however, must remain behind off the shores of the Highlands and 
still furtlier north, as a day or two previous to stormy weather setting in during winter they become 
exceedingly restless, and large bodies of this species, together with Bazorhills and Red- throated Divers, may 
he seen a few miles at sea, in the Channel, following one another in rapid succession, all moving towards 
the west. 
On the 19th of August, 1874, while staying at Canty Bay, in East Lothian, I remarked that immense 
numbers of adult and immature birds were to he seen on the water in the firth, all the ledges on the Bass 
Rock being then deserted by them. This was, however, by no means an early start from their breeding- 
quarters, as I find in my notes for 1873, under date of August 9th, that the water outside the Cross Sands 
off Yarmouth, and again almost as far north as Cromer, was in some parts almost black with these birds 
and Razorbills. The whole of the sea-fowl at the time we passed tiiem were evidently resting quietly on the 
waves ; no general movement was undertaken on this occasion, the shoals of fish gradually working south 
being doubtless the attraction to this favourite feeding-ground. 
On the 23rd of April', 1874, thousands of this species were observed in tlie Channel, some nine or ten miles 
out at sea, off Brighton. Several large flocks flew east during the day, hut the majority were floating motionless 
on the glassy surface of the water, unruffled by a breath oE air. These birds were, with but few exceptions, 
in full summer plumage, only a single specimen in the perfect winter dress being noticed. 
Considering the size of the pinions, the speed at which this species makes its way when once on wing is 
surprising. To rise from the water is, however, a somewhat lengtliened operation, the feet of the bird flapping 
