174 
BRITISH BIRDS® 
OF THE GUILLEMOT 
The bills of birds of this genus^ though of a 
flender fliape^ are firm^ ftrong, and pointed: the 
upper mandible llightly bending towards the end : 
bafe covered with foft fliort feathers : noftrils lodg- 
ed in a hollow near the bafe : tongue ilender, al- 
moft the length of the bill : thighs placed in the 
abdomen : no back toe. 
The Guillemots appear to be a ftupid race of 
birds : they do notj like many other kinds, become 
cautious from experience, but fuffer themfelves re- 
peatedly to be fliot at, as if they did not know 
danger, or care for life ; for notwithflanding they 
have feen their affociates drop at every fire, they 
ftill continue to wheel about in the fame circle, and 
to alight again on the fame place whence they were 
at firft difturbed. 
Thefe birds are numeroufly fpread over various 
parts of the northern world, whence they are driven 
by the approach of winter to feek more temperate 
climes. At that feafon they arrive on the Britilh 
fhores, where they remain until they have reared 
their young. 
