Razorbill,
Alca torda, Linn. Faiin. Suec., p. 49.
—— pica, Linn. Syst. Nat., tom. i. p. 210.
Balthica et unisulcata, Brüntí.-'Orn. Bor., pp. 101, 102.
glacialis, Brehm. Vög. Deutsch., p. 1004,
Islándica, Brenm, ib., p. 1005, tab. 46. fig. 2.
Utamania torda et pica, Lea0h, Syst. Cat. of Indig. Mamm. and Biui in
Now that the Great.Auk (Alca, impctimit) is gone, and will no more cleave die waters o f the great deep, the
Razorbill is the sole representative of a genus forming a part of a great family of seabirds peculiar to the
northern hemisphere. Unlike its celebrated: a)l}\ if is still yery numerous, and wilt doubtless for a long
time remain to gladdenjjbe waters with its presence,was it does the sea-girt rocks along our shores at the
season o f reproduction numbers must’be yearly diminishing ; for hundreds arc wantonly killed by
persons living .in íh.et:^jg.'iháítFhfS)d o f its breeding-places, or by excursionists who visit its rookeries during
the month» ft. The wild and savage scenery o f these romantic places doubtless have
many charms for pfoas ure-seekers ; but 1 wish they, were njore"frientfly to this and the other rock-resorting
birds tliafcjcouie to our const dating the season o f reproduction. To enumerate all the places in the
British Islands where :$his bird may be found from May until August would be superfluous. The
Londoner who flies to oitg southern coasts to invigorate his frame must have seen it at the Foreland,
or on thet,.cliffs o f the famed : Reachy Head ; .and the>- visitor to the Isle o f Wight* at the Needles; while
Weymouth and¿fevery rocky'promontory thence to the Scilly Islands will afford the same gratification to
those%ho' máy wish for it; far round to the westward, too, along the shores of Cornwall, Wales, Scotland,
and Ireland,ritis everywhere to be met with. Besides the British Islands,' the Razor-bill frequents the rocky
shores o f Norway and Iceland, but, according to Mr. Alfred Newtom, does not proceed so far north as
Spitsbergen, or at leáfSt no authenticated specimens have been procured in^fhat high northern locality. It ';V>
has been seen in Davises Straits, and it is pne o f the commonest o f the rock-birds S f Nova Scotia and other
parts o f North Atméricâ as far south as New York ; that it also extends its range to the north-west of
America is likely ; for we learn from the ‘Fauna Japónica’ that an'individual was procured by the Dutch
voyagers bn the coast o f Japan. Southwardi©f Britain it proceeds as far as the Mediterranean; but I
q u e s t i t be met with any further in this direction.
The grip hie description o f the habits o f this species given by Macgillivray is by far the best that has yet
appeared ; and as I believe it is comparatively unknown, Isshall offer no excuse for transferring it to my pages.
■' In autumn great numbers q£ Razorbills make their appearance on the bays and*èstuaries o f most parts
of Scptfottd and England,. As the season advances they become more numerous to the southward, and in
winter the northern coasts are almost deserted by them. In; the firths and other inlets, whets frequented by
shoals o f Wrnngs orfofcher fishes, they are often seen in great abundance, and Jp fiue weather are
often met with hi the- sea». Toward tf>c et d M spring thev collect into par'. - and proceed to certain
bfiëfediog-places , w% •• ■v» abrupt cliffs along the shores, ce précipitons islands, where they nestle
aloug with the Guiiieundfe 4>‘ this kind are St, J&b * Head in Berwickshire, the Bass
Ilock. aud Fowlsheugh n e a r ; •. ■; ! î>e > íeUMafo* afford many such retreats, one of the most interesting
o f whi< h'-is the little island ••••< IW-or-. ,■ f e r n y Head, about w m t j miles from the
col®; o f Ireland on the one hand, and 8 t. Kíídn •;«$» ?.&* oükff. tmf of » of isfets named the South
Isles of Bdrray. The Island of Berneray is of an elliptical •••' . hi ■ - : a , in length, and upwards of half
a mile in breadth. It Resents the appeátonce o f a mass o f k5 considerably inclined, the northern side
dipping into the water, and the southem exhibiting an abrupt section rising to the height o f several hundred
feet. Viewed from the sea the rock presents an imposing spectacle, exhibiting masses o f inclined, perpendicular,
and projecting cliffs, smooth, largely cleft, or minutely fissured. Wheu I visited it the whole face .
o f the precipice, to the extent o f half a mile, was covered with birds, which had assembled there for the
purpose of breeding. Only four species were seen by me— the Guillemot] the Razorbill Ault, the Puffin,
*nd the Kittiwake. These birds inhabit the cliffs not promiscuously, but with a degree o f regularity and
distinction which seems not a littlejA’ondcrful. On the grassy summits breed the Puffins, burrowing in the
turf. From thence to halfway down is the space selected by the Auks, while in the remaining division are
stationed the Guillemots and Kittiwakes, the latter coming almost to high-water mark. The Auks and
Guillemots lay each a single egg, which is placed on the bare rock. On a shelf about three yards tu length,