250 
THE GUILLEMOT. 
almost, though not entirely, to the exclusion of the 
Gulls ; and therein, as if conscious of their safety, 
(it being an inviolable rule never to disturb them,) 
they carry on their usual occupations with the most 
perfect unconcern, permitting an observer to enter 
fully into their domestic arrangements. 
At our last visit, closely jammed, in a lateral 
niche just opposite, sat seventy-two Guillemots, all 
bowing their heads at each other, with a gravity and 
solemnity quite unaccountable. On they went for 
above a quarter of an hour, without intermission; each 
nodding slowly to its neighbour, who, with equal 
composure nodded as slowly in return. Now and 
then, on another ledge, one or two would come in 
from a short excursion, and jostling the whole line, 
send a dozen or two backwards over the dizzy height, 
croaking disapprobation at the intruders, who took 
the vacant places, utterly disregarding the confusion 
they had caused. It was impossible, at first sight, 
to divest oneself of an involuntary shudder, as 
they tumbled backward, headlong, into the abyss, 
where the sea was roaring and lashing the rocks 
below them, their squat plump bodies supported 
only by such comparatively disproportioned wings. 
One felt at every moment a sort of rising excla- 
mation, u Ah, poor bird, nothing can save it ; it must 
be killed !” — when, flapping its little pinions, away 
it went, cleaving the air, making its circuit of a 
mile or so, skimming now and then over the sea, 
but never touching the waves, and then rejoining 
its friends on the ledge, and in its turn jostling the 
line, and causing a similar ejectment of half a dozen 
others. In these solitary flights, however, they now 
