422 
THE GUILLEMOT. 
a shot in the head. In the throat, which presented the ap- 
pearance of a hag appended to the gullet, were found four- 
teen large perch, quite whole and fresh. Its voracity was 
such, that even after it was evidently wounded, it continued 
to bring up fish when diving, remaining at each immersion 
several minutes under water, and making its way beneath 
the surface from one end of the pool to the other. Another of 
these birds was observed for a considerable length of time on 
a large piece of water at Westwood-park, near Worcester. 
The situation of this lake was very retired : no boat was upon 
it, and scarcely any person allowed to approach. This rare 
visitant seemed to excite as much alarm amongst the other 
wild fowl on the lake, as surprise amongst those who had the 
opportunity of seeing it : for, whenever the stranger ap- 
proached, they hastened out of the way, and at all times kept 
as far off as possible. No attempt was made to capture it, as 
the owner of the water would not allow it to be molested. 
Their extreme shyness and timidity, though on the whole 
contributing to their preservation, is, in some instances, the 
cause of their being taken. Thus, the Ked-throated Diver, 
another species near akin to the above, when met with by the 
natives of the northern inlands, flying, as they often do, from 
one of the small inland lakes to another, are so terrified by 
loud shouts, that they will frequently fall down ; and if they 
drop on the grass or heather, are easily caught by hand, as 
from the awkward position of their legs, which, though well 
suited for water, are by no means adapted for land, they can 
neither walk nor take wing again. 
The Guillemots constitute a family of sea-birds in many 
respects resembling the Divers, hut with wings still shorter ; 
the chief distinction, however, is their having no hind-toe or 
thumb ; they live on fish and crabs, and when on land 
frequent ledges of rocks, where they build their nests. The 
species best known to us is that called the Foolish Guillemot 
( Colymbus troile), a name probably acquired by its apparent 
stupidity, in not only allowing a very near approach, hut 
even frequently remaining within shot, although its com- 
panions may have been killed close to it. These are the 
