THE BLACK GUILLEMOT. 
299 
the land after having been wounded. The rocks were about 
sixty yards off, but, partly by aid of its wings, it managed to 
reach a ledge, on being disturbed from which it dived, and 
after rising, dived once more, and we never saw it again. 
Sitting among the rocks about twenty feet above the glassy 
surface of the water, one may pass whole hours watching the 
Tysties feeding, the water being so perfectly clear that every 
movement can be witnessed without the smallest obstruction. 
They procure their food in much the same . manner as the 
Mergansers, swimming quietly from rock to rock by the help 
of feet and wings, turning aside the long weeds with their bills, 
and after each capture of fish or crustacean, coming to the sur- 
face to complete the process, seldom making another dive with- 
out half rising from the water and flapping the wings — to free 
them from superfluous moisture, one would suppose, were it not 
that this occurs far less frequently after unsuccessful dives. 
For some time after the descent is made, the numerous air- 
bubbles clinging to the plumage give the bird a singular but 
remarkably beautiful appearance. The average duration of 
each submergence is as nearly as possible twenty-four seconds, 
the bird making a slight sudden splash with its wings as it 
disappears. Half a dozen Tysties at a time may be seen thus 
engaged, and often as I have watched them I never observed 
anything like an approach to a quarrel among them. One, 
however, evidently a bird of the year, rather excited my pity 
as I sat in my accustomed niche. It never once tried to obtain 
anything for itself, but no sooner did it catch sight of a com- 
panion rising with a fish, than, immediately following, it seemed 
earnestly to beg for a share, though always without success. 
This would seem to indicate that the young bird is in the 
habit of accompanying the parent in its explorations beneath 
the surface, and that here was an orphan bird. There is, so 
to say, a characteristic simplicity in the young Tysties which 
makes them more confiding than wild fowl in general are wont 
to be in early life. I have sometimes had great pleasure in 
