THE BLACK GUILLEMOT. 
215 
established themselves. I saw only one pair on the northern 
shores, and could not ascertain whether they bred there or not. 
At their breeding-haunts on the southern shore they were very 
wary, and could scarcely be approached ; but the day I visited the 
immediate vicinity of the spot alluded to, was so stormy and the 
sea ran so high, that I dared not keep the boat closer to the 
rocks, in order to examine their breeding-places more particularly. 
The black guillemots were easily distinguished from all the others 
by the dark plumage, and the white spot on the wings.” 
Nnumbers annually resort to the cliffs at Horn Head, and 
deposit their eggs “ under stones out of sight and reach.” They 
are stated by persons best informed on such subjects to remain 
there all the year. They breed at the Bills Eock off Achil.* The 
Eev. G. Eobinson, who visited the western coast in the summer of 
1814 in company with Dr. C. Earran, found these birds to be com- 
mon in Birterbuy Bay (Galway), where his companion reckoned 
above sixty in company. The fishermen state that they remain 
during the year, and appear to be “ bay birds,” being seldom 
seen on the open sea. Their nests are placed on some of the 
rocky isles at or near the entrance of the bay. When rearing 
their young, they fly up the bay, continue fishing until sufficient 
food is procured, and then return to the nestlings with their 
burthen; — in an incredibly short time they are again busily en- 
gaged at the same occupation : this coming and going is continued 
throughout the day. 
Mr. Eobinson informs me, that they were generally wild, and 
would not admit the approach of a boat within sixty yards without 
taking flight, which was their invariable mode of escape. When pur- 
sued, they always flew towards the open sea, and by his managing 
to keep to the sea-side of them while in the bay, they were obliged 
to fly within shot of his boat, from which he killed fifteen on the 
1st of August. All except one were old birds, in which the 
white feathers of the winter plumage were beginning to appear 
near the tail. When flying from the bay each had generally a 
* Lieut. Reynolds, R.N., 1834. 
