256 
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF 
believe, streaked in any manner. Towards the latter part of June or 1st of July 
the eggs are laid, and the young appear the second or third week of that month ; 
but the precise period of incubation I am unable to state. When surprised on the 
nest, the parent, if she be not already there, creeps to the furthermost ex- 
tremity of the fissure, and, as if aware of the safety of her retreat, cannot be 
induced to come out. But if it becomes aware of an approach before the en- 
trance be obstructed, it invariably takes flight, making directly for the water. 
Should the fissure be so shallow that the bird may be reached by the hand, it 
sits quite still, even allowing a noose to be put over its head without strug- 
gling, and on being taken in hand shows a gentleness of disposition, quite the 
opposite of the Puffins. It merely pecks at the hand once or twice feebly, and 
yields itself in silence and without struggling. The young at first are entirely 
of a dull sooty black, and have not the beautiful Vermillion legs of the adult, 
these being of a dusky hue. They constantly utter a low, plaintive “peep,” 
when requiring attention from the parent. On a warm, sunny day, all the 
birds will sometimes leave their eggs and young, and collect in large flocks 
on the water at a little distance from the shore, where they wash and plume 
themselves. So completely are the nests deserted on these occasions, that on 
an island nearly a mile in circumference, I have found but a single bird on 
its nest, though hundreds rested on the water at a little distance. 
The flight of the Black Guillemot is firm, even, and direct, though not pow- 
erful ; performed by quick flappings, when the white of the upper and under 
surfaces of the wings shows as one continuous spot. They invariably, except 
when going to and from their eggs, fly very low over the water ; I never saw 
one more than a few feet over the surface, and they usually just clear the tops 
of the waves. They are rather timid and wary, seldom allowing an open ap- 
proach within shooting distance, and always when flying, wheeling and 
changing their direction just at the right moment. The best way to procure 
them is to sail or row directly down wind upon them, since, being unable to 
rise from the water except against the wind, they are forced to fly in such a 
direction as to afford a good shot. They often dive on being approached, 
when by noting their direction and pursuing in haste, they may be shot the 
instant they rise, or as they fly off. They are most expert divers, easily 
eluding, when on the watch, the shot intended for their destruction. When 
shot at in flight and not touched, they generally plunge at once into the water, 
as if killed, which idea however is quickly dispelled by seeing them reappear 
at a little distance and take flight. Except near large breeding places they are 
seldom seen in companies of more than a dozen, and far oftener they are to be 
found singly, or two or three together. They are universally known to the 
natives and fishermen as “ Sea-pigeons,” the only name I ever heard applied 
to them. 
Uria (Cataractes) lomvia, Briinn. — Foolish Guillemot. Murre. “ Turre.” 
Uria ( Cataractes ) lomvia , Cassin, Gen. Rep. 913. 
On the sixth of July we passed a celebrated breeding place of these birds, 
known as the “ Murre Rocks,” situated a few miles north of the harbor of 
Little Mecattina. They are two small, rocky and very precipitous islands, al- 
most entirely destitute of vegetation ; the sides, which rise abruptly from the 
sea, are composed of successive tiers or ledges of shelving rock, on which the 
eggs are deposited. The birds at this date were breeding on the islands by tens 
of thousands; their number was truly incredible, and yet I was informed that 
these were rather fewer than usual. As we drew near the island, the air 
seemed darkened with the masses that wheeled and circled overhead ; while 
on every flat rock and ledge the birds were densely packed in rows and tiers, 
each sitting, or rather standing (for they seemed to rest perfectly upright on 
their rumps) sentinel over its solitary egg. The birds all seemed to be facing 
in the same direction, and it was with great pleasure that I noticed the curious 
[Aug. 
