BRITISH BIRDS. 
171 
Thefe birds are fpread over various parts of the 
northern world, and are met with on almoft all the 
rocky cliffs on the coafts of Britain and Ireland, 
and on many of the furrounding ifles, in immenfe 
numbers. They congregate in flocks of a magni- 
tude regulated by the accommodations afforded 
them at their breeding places, at which they firfl: 
affemble early in April, but do not fettle to prepare 
for the bufmefs of incubation till May. They hatch 
their young in the beginning of July ; from which 
time until nearly the middle of Augufl they are em- 
ployed in nurturing and rearing their brood : when 
this is accomplifhed, the whole aflbciated fwarm 
leaves the place at once, and purfues its route to 
other regions, more fuited to their future exigencies, 
there to fpend the remainder of the varied year. 
The foregoing figure and defcription were taken 
from a perfect fpecimen of an old bird, the prefent 
of Mrs Cheney, late Mifs Harriot Carr, of Dunfton- 
Bank ; and on comparing it with feveral others, it 
appeared evident that their bills increafe in fize with 
their age. 
Y 2 
