126 
Allen’s naturalist’s library. 
such rapidity that it is very difficult to shoot at a long range, 
as it disappears at the flash of the gun, and is safe from danger 
ere the shot strikes the water where it was sitting a moment 
before. The flight of the Black Guillemot is rapid, straight, 
often considerably prolonged, performed by incessant beatings 
of the small narrow wings, and is seldom elevated more than a 
few feet above the surface of the water. As it approaches the 
rocks the bird gradually rises in a straight line from the sea 
and alights abruptly on the cliffs. Flocks of a dozen or more 
of the birds may frequently be seen flying rapidly in strings 
over the surface of the water, bound to or from a favourite 
fishing-ground. It ivalks but little on the land, though capable 
of doing so rather quickly, and it sits on the rocks like a 
Guillemot, resting on the tarsus as well as on the foot. The 
Black Guillemot does not appear to wander about so much as 
the Common Guillemot, and obtains most of its food near 
home. It is abroad late in the evening, for it may often be 
seen fishing in the dusk, and it is one of the earliest birds astir 
at dawn. Many birds pass the whole night on the sea, sleep- 
ing safely on the water, but usually they retire to the neigh- 
bouring rocks at dusk. In winter it almost exclusively lives "on 
the sea, only occasionally visiting the land. 
“ The food of the Black Guillemot is principally composed of 
the fry of fish, especially of the coal-fish and herring, which 
literally swarm in many Scotch waters. In search of these fry 
it explores the water quite close to tlie rocks, often seeming 
only very narrowly to escape being dashed on them by the 
force of the waves. It also feeds largely on crustaceans and 
very small shellfish.^ I'he note of the Black Guillemot is 
described by Capt. Feilden as a plaintive whine ; and Saxby 
describes that of the young birds as shrill but rather plaintive.” 
Nest. — None, the eggs being generally placed in the crevice 
of a rock, sometimes at the base of a cliff, at other times at a 
height of several hundred feet, while occasionally the bird is 
found breeding far inland. 
Eggs. — Two in number. Ground-colour white or greenish- 
white, with black spots generally distributed over the egg, and 
with very distinct underlying spots of purplish-grey, which 
sometimes form large blotches. The black markings are often 
