298 
ALCAD.^. 
dozen yards, it is eagerly pointed out by the crew as offering a 
“ splendid shot.” Black Guillemots being quick at diving to 
the fire, it is not easy to shoot them upon the water at long 
distances ; when they take wing, it is by no means difficult to 
bring them dow, their habit being to fly off in a straight line, 
rising very gradually. I have not seen them fly higher than 
about ten feet above the surface. When threatened with 
immediate danger, both old and young usually prefer diving 
as a means of escape, but the latter are less ready to take wing 
than the older birds, probably having less confidence in their 
own powers of flight. It is certain also that they are less 
willing to rise when a fresh breeze is blowing, or when heavy 
unbroken seas are rolling in. Many a bird is spoiled as a 
specimen by shooting it at too short a distance, in order to 
prevent its escape by diving, but this is the only manner in 
which the people ever attempt to shoot it. The pursuit of a 
winged Tystie is considered by them most excellent sport, and 
I have seen it thoroughly enjoyed by one who used to blame 
me for cruelty in shooting Wild Pigeons for the table. Even 
with one wing broken, the poor bird is still capable of diving with 
extreme rapidity ; but its exertions in a partly disabled state 
compel it to rise to the surface much sooner than usual, the 
intervals becoming shorter and shorter as exhaustion comes on. 
The boatmen easily manage to keep near it, while the 
shooter, armed with a tiller or other convenient weapon, endea- 
vours to strike it before it can dive. This is by no means 
easy, and the shouts of laughter which arise at each unsuccess- 
ful stroke completely nullify the after excuse so frequently 
made, that it would be a sin to let the poor bird go about in 
torture.” This sport, however, is not always attended with 
unpleasant consequences to the bird alone, as can be testified 
by a gentleman of my acquaintance, who, having repeatedly 
missed his victim, miscalculated his distance, and went head- 
long for a dive upon his own account. 
It was towards the close of my residence in the North that, 
for the first and only time, I saw a Black Guillemot make for 
