250 
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF 
island. Another small island on the east side of Esquimaux Bay, has in a like 
manner been deserted, the birds apparently having retired to the Puffin islands 
on the opposite side of the Bay. From these facts, I could not but conclude 
that the birds are slowly but surely retiring before the persecutions of man to 
more northern and inaccessible regions, though thousands still breed as far and 
farther south than Little Mecattina and the Murre Rocks. 
It was at Sloop Harbor, on the third of July, that I first formed acquaintance 
with the Razor-billed Auks. As we dropped anchor in that sheltered cove, a 
large company of them were sitting at a little distance on a flat rock, crowded 
closely together, and all facing towards the sun, then low in the skies. They 
rested perfectly upright on their rumps, occasionally twisting their bodies in a 
curious jerking manner. No sooner, however, had our boat touched the rocky 
shore than they all instantly took flight and dispersed either singly or in small 
flocks. Although so watchful, they seemed to be not at all aware of the nature 
of the danger that threatened them, for they flew directly towards or past us 
as often as in any other direction, and numbers were easily shot. On the fol- 
lowing day, the fourth of July, while searching for the eggs of the Eiders and 
Herring Gulls, I had abundant opportunity for observing their flight and 
general manners, for they bred in considerable numbers in the crevices of all 
the rocky islands in the vicinity. 
Although the Razor-bills cannot be approached while sitting on the rocks, yet 
while flying they evince such a want of caution, or rather so much stupidity, as 
to fly continually directly over and pasta boat at such short distances that they 
are easily shot down. But they are strong and tough birds and carry a great 
deal of shot, requiring a heavy charge to kill them. I have occasionally seen 
one fly off, apparently as strong as ever, leaving a cloud of white feathers 
floating in the air. When only one wing is broken they dive with great ease and 
celerity, and are then difficult to secure. When shot at and not touched, they 
open and shut the tail, swerve from their course and quicken their flight. 
Though they are, I believe, entirely mute while flying, on being wounded 
and taken in hand they utter a loud, rough, hoarse cry, at the samet ime throwing 
themselves on their backs, fighting and scratching most fariously, They bite 
with great force, their strong hooked bills enabling them to inflict a severe 
wound, and they will suffer themselves to be held up by their bite before 
they will relax their hold. The name of Razor-bill is certainly a most appro- 
priate one. 
The flight of this bird is firm, well-sustained, very swift, and, considering 
the heavy body and short wings, very powerful. It is performed with short, 
quick, vigorous flappings* They never sail ; but on one occasion I saw an in- 
dividual endeavor to flap its wings with a slow, measured stroke. It was but 
a few yards, however, and it at once found that mode of flight impracticable. 
On the water they swim lightly and elegantly with the head and tail elevated, 
exactly as represented in the right hand figure of Audubon’s life-like plate. 
When well stewed, their flesh is by no means poor, being, though rather 
tough, well flavored, and not possessing the slightest rank or fishy taste. We 
all ate them whenever they could be procured. 
The situations chosen by the Auks for their breeding places are generally 
the rocky, precipitous islands where there are many caverns and fissures, in 
which the eggs are deposited, often together with those of the Black Guillemot, 
TJria grylle. I have never found more than a single egg, though in the face of 
such authority as Audubon to the contrary, I should not like to assert that 
two are never laid. I have great pleasure in being able to corroborate the 
statement made by this distinguished ornithologist with i*egard to the sagacity 
displayed by the birds in protecting their eggs from the wet. When deposited 
in damp fissures, through which the water is continually percolating, a layer 
of small pebbles is placed beneath the egg, to keep it from the moisture, but 
in sufficiently dry situations, where the caution is no longer necessary, the 
birds never undertake the additional labor. 
[Aug. 
