File:Britain's birds and their nests (1910) (14568681419).jpg

Identifier: britainsbirdsthe00thom (find matches)
Title: Britain's birds and their nests
Year: 1910 (1910s)
Authors: Thomson, Arthur Landsborough, Sir, 1890- Thomson, J. Arthur (John Arthur), 1861-1933 Rankin, George
Subjects: Birds -- Great Britain Birds -- Nests
Publisher: London : W. & R. Chambers
Contributing Library: American Museum of Natural History Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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taken by parties of four or five men, one of whom is letdown with ropes by his companions. These eggs are saidto be a commercial source of albumen, but it is probablethat all finely marked specimens are sold to collectors ordealers, while many of the others are used locally forculinary purposes. The eggs of the Razorbill and otherspecies found at the same places are, of course, taken atthe same time. The most noticeable difference between the Razorbilland the Guillemot lies in their bills, that of thelatter being slender and dagger-like. When seen at adistance swimming on the water, the Razorbills up-turned tail is the most obvious point of difference. TheGuillemot is a clumsy bird on land; but as it rarelyrequires to do anything in the way of walking, it is atno disadvantage on this account. Its usual attitude onthe cliffs is an upright one, with the shank ^ applied tothe ground, or, strictly speaking, with the whole foot on theground. Most birds stand on the toes only, so that their
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Plate 4. G UIL L E M OT— Uria troile. Length, 18 in. ; wing, 7-5 in. (Alc/E : Alcidae ; Alcinse.)B 8 BRITAINS BIRDS AND THEIR NESTS. 9 ankles are at first sight mistaken for knees. The uprightposition is also the one in which the Guillemot incubates,standing astride of the egg, and generally facing the cliff.On the wing the Guillemot could never be calledclumsy, seeing that the flight is direct and swift; but itis incapable of turning sharply, or of remaining poised onmotionless wings even for a second; rapid, regular, andunceasing wing-beats are characteristic. Generally it fliesa few feet above the waves, often in small parties flyingin single file, the birds so close together as to appear tobe almost touching. When leaving a high cliff theGuillemot first makes a steep descent to its accustomedlevel, and at that level seeks its destination. Of swim-ming, diving, and swimming under water the Guillemotis a past master. When swimming under water the wingsare used, and a considerable

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