and as many feet in breadth, one may often see fifty or sixty crowded into a solid mass, and eaeh sitting on 
its OAvn egg. Such masses are of frequent occurrence, the shelves being larger or smaller ; hut in general 
two, or three, or four are seen together ; and sometimes an individual is seen sitting solitarily, if one may 
say so when it is surrounded by others at no greater distance than three or four feet at furthest. When a 
shot was fired, most of the birds in the neighbourhood left their nests and flew about, Avhile some, in their 
hurry, fell into the sea, and, on emerging, raised with their wings an uninterrupted splashing of the water 
some hundred yards from the base of the rocks. After a suecession of shots almost the whole body 
seemed to be on wing, presenting the a})pearance of a kind of cloud, which occupied a quarter of a mile 
square, and through which one could scarcely distinguish the blue sky from the flakes of white vapour. In 
their flight the birds did not cross much, hut generally moved in the same direction, wheeling in a circle. 
This disposition probably arose from their number being so great that they could not conveniently fly at 
random. Their mingling screams produce a general mass of harsh sound, in which the cries of individuals 
cannot he distinguished. 
“ The noise and bustle of these winged inhabitants of the rocky isle reminded me of the stir of some 
great city, and their prodigious numbers I could compare to nothing but the shoals of some species of fish. 
Many were fishing on the smooth sea around the island, many flying from the rocks, many returning to 
their eggs, many resting on shelves and crags along the edge of the water; hut by far the greater number 
were seated on their eggs. Such was the appearance of the place when the birds were not disturbed : and 
they were not very excitable ; for, unless after a shot, none stirred on our account, however close the boat 
came. It was not uncommon to see them arranged in a line extending several yards along a fissure ; and 
this formed a very pretty sight, especially when their white breasts appeared ; for they stand nearly erect. 
“ It is jfleasant, at a distance from their breeding-places, to see these birds flying over the sea in small 
troops, generally in single file, Avith a direct and rapid flight, beating their short wings without intermission, 
hut frequently turning a little to either side, so as at one time to present the breast, at another the back, to 
the spectator. In flying, the head, body, and tail are direct, the wings extended, and never brought close 
to the sides, hut acting in alternate movements in a nearly vertical direction. In alighting, they settle 
abruptly ; hut as they neA^er alight from above, they sustain no injury from the slight shock. On the rocks 
they have an awkward and hobbling motion, and can scarcely he said to be capable of walking. I have 
never seen them alight on a sandy beach or on pasture-grounds. 
“ It is usually on the open sea, around their breeding-plaees, hut often at the distance of many miles from 
them, that they search for their food, which consists chiefly of small fishes — young herrings for example — 
and Crustacea, which they procure by diving. In swimming, tliey keep the body nearly horizontal, the neck 
retracted, and, as they proceed, frequently immerse their head, as if exploring the deep. In diAing, they 
suddenly elevate the hind part of the body, spread out their Avlngs a little, plunge wltli great force, and thus 
fly off, using their AA'ings under water mueh in the same maimer as when flying in the air. They can 
remain a considerable time under, and are often seen to rise at a great distance. In general it is not 
difficult to approach them on the water, as they alloAV a boat to come Avlthin shooting-distance ; hut, as they 
dive very suddenly, it is not ahvays easy to shoot them. I have neA^er heard them emit any other cry than 
a low croaking sound. If a AA'ounded bird be seized, it bites severely, and is with diffieulty disengaged. 
“ The egg, which is laid in the beginning of May, is excessively large, of an oblong shape, somewhat 
pyriform, but more rounded at the small end than that of the Guillemot, its average length 3 inches, or 
rather less, its greatest breadth 2 inehes. The ground-colour is white, greyish white, or brownish 
Avhite, largely blotched or clouded, and spotted and sprinkled, Avith deep hroAAUi or black, Avith spots of 
paler brown and light purplish blue interspersed.” 
The chick is covered with down, AAdiieh is white on the head and neck, and of a dark hroAvn on the upjAer 
surface, and has the hill slaty blaek, Avith a small knob of white near the tip. 
The sexes are alike in plumage Avhen adult, and in summer have a narrow line from the bill to the eye, 
the under surface, and the tips of the greater AAung-coverts white, the chin and the remainder of the 
plumage being black ; bill black, crossed about the middle by a nearly vertical narroAv band of Avhlte ; 
legs and feet dark leaden grey, becoming lighter on the toes ; and the nails black. 
The throat, AAdiich is black in summer, becomes pure white in winter, and the Avhlte hair-like line hetAveen 
the bill and the eye less distinct, if not altogether absent. Dr. Saxby states, in his ‘ Ornithological Notes 
from Shetland,’ that he shot a female at Balta Sound on the 17th of December, the entire plumage of AAdiich 
Avas precisely similar to that deserihed as “ peculiar to this species in Aviuter, Avith the single exception 
of there being no Avhite line between the base of the hill and the eye,” and remarks, “ I am unable to account 
for its absence ; for, so far as I am able to aseertain, such a mark becomes apparent even in young birds soon 
after they leaA'e the rocks, and is distinct during the first AA'inter.” (‘ Zoologist,’ 1865, p. 9520.) 
The Plate represents an adult of the size of life, and a young bird about two days old. 
