THE GUILLEMOT. 
285 
tliougli still some weeks before laying commences ; after the 
second or third week of August it has almost entirely disap- 
peared from the coasts. 1 have now ascertained that during 
the interval a very large number, though perhaps not the whole 
flock, are scattered throughout the neighbouring seas, stray in- 
dividuals frequently occurring near the shore. Indeed they 
cannot be very far distant, otherwise they would not so soon 
appear after a gale from seaward. It is at such a time that 
the reason of the bird’s preference for the open sea becomes 
apparent. No doubt many of them know better than to tempt 
danger too far; but some — perhaps the weakest, for these 
examples are always in poor condition,' — suffer themselves to 
drift with the wind until they get among the breakers, against 
which and beneath which they bravely and perseveringly 
struggle and dive until compelled through exhaustion to resign 
themselves to their fate. This I have very frequently observed, 
though only in the case of solitary birds ; but large numbers 
are often found dead along the shore, thus giving rise to the 
idea of epidemics, owing to the miserable condition of the 
birds and the absence of food from the stomachs. In the 
winter-time I used occasionally to be greatly perplexed by 
seeing a live Guillemot quietly drift ashore in the voe at Balta 
Sound during a slight breeze from seaward, but on referring 
to my notes afterwards I found that this only happened after 
the subsidence of a gale, and that the poor bird was in a 
starving condition. 
The examination of specimens obtained between the end of 
January and the end of April leads to the supposition that 
either young birds alone frequent the coasts in winter, or that 
the bills and feet of the old ones undergo a change, and are 
coloured similarly to those of the young at that season. With 
the Black Guillemot the latter is certainly the case, as will 
afterwards be proved. I never saw a Common Guillemot 
with the bill and feet black in winter, but from dissection I 
have satisfied myself, as well as I was able by that means 
alone, that many of the specimens then procured were in the 
