4 
CO^IMON GUILLE^IOT. 
and-twenty feet across, entirely precluded them from gaining sufficient impetus to top the fence or the willows 
surrounding the enclosure. Eventually accidents, rather than natural death, cleared olf the greater number of 
these interesting little strangers ; their companions the Gannets were responsible on more than one occasion 
the last survivor being swallowed by one of these voracious birds, and only thrown up again on the followin^^ 
day after decomposition had partly set in*. Such mishaps I learned have also befallen this species in tlie 
Zoological Gardens : the keeper who looked after a pair informed me, at the latter end of January 1874, that 
these birds were now and then moved to the enclosure in which a Pelican was confined, in order to enjoy a 
larger bath than their own domicile afforded ; all had gone well at first, but at length the rightful owner 
resented the intrusion to his pond and snapped one of the offenders, and it Avas only with the greatest difficulty 
that the unfortunate was rescued from the pouch beneath his beak. While in confinement these birds appear 
exceedingly attached to one another, roosting and resting side by side, sitting on the ground together with their 
heads buried in one another’s plumage, and occasionally preening the feathers on the throats of their mates. 
While this little amusement is going on, the birds utter a succession of low murmuring notes, the one operated 
upon evidently being gratified by the attention and returning the compliment on the first opportunity. 
Eight or nine years ago I turned out half a dozen adult Guillemots in one of the large tanks at the 
Prighton Aquarium, and these birds soon proved one of the greatest attractions to the place. The last time I 
visited them they u'ere busily engaged in diving alongside a large skate that was sloAvly swimming up and 
down the tank. Some air-bubbles escaping from the gills of the fish appeared to afford great amusement to 
the birds, as first one and then another dived down and caught them before they rose to the surface. The old 
birds I presented have all died in due course, but their places have been filled by others procured by the 
company from various parts of the British Islands. 
By the introduction of Guillemots and Razorbills to the tanks of the Aquarium, an excellent opportunity 
was obtained for ascertaining the amount of air conveyed around their feathers when beloAv the surface of the 
water. While diving in pursuit of food, these birds make use of their wings as if on flight, and also propel 
themselves with their feet, dashing forward at times with great speed, and occasionally moving slowly with a 
jaunty undulating motion. If closely watched while passing round the tank, the whole of the plumage of the 
body as well as that of the head and wings Avill be seen thickly coated with air, Avhich glistens in the light with 
a glassy appearance. As they proceed, a continued stream of sih^ery bubbles bursts out from their feathers, 
and lights up the track they follow with a brilliancy that would scarcely be imagined. The plumage of the 
back may be seen opening as the air escapes, and the bubbles stream up the feathers till they reach the 
extremity of the tail, when they pass upwards to the surface of the water. The greater number of these 
luminous bubbles are somewhat less than a pea, and others, larger and more attractive, vary in size from 
threepenny or sixpenny pieces up to a shilling, and assume all manner of shapes and forms when released from 
the feathers and rising towards the surface. 
Though considered a species and figured as such by several authors in former days, the Ringed, or Bridled, 
Guillemot ( Z"r/a lacrymans) has now been pronounced by the greatest authorities to he merely a variety of the 
common form. ith this decision I certainly agree, having carefully watched the two forms paired at A^arious 
breeding-stations. At the Eern Islands the Ringed Guillemot is exceedingly numerous, some tvA^enty or thirty 
often being in vieAV at once on the Pinnacles ; the confusion here, hoAvever, is so great Avhen an alarm is given 
that it is seldom possible to make any accurate obseiwations as to the pairing of the birds. On the north face 
of the Bass Rock one may remain concealed on some of the larger ledges, and by the help of powerful glasses 
inspect all the pairs of Guillemots Avithin vieAV Avhile engaged in conveying food to their young. In August 
1874, Avhile Avatching for this form, I marked an adult Avith the ring and bridle Avell developed brooding over a 
downy youngster, and having procured the ropes secured the juvenile, Avdio exhibited not the slightest difference 
* These facts are fully referred to in the paragraph commencing line 7 on page 14 of the Gannet. 
