COMMON GUILLEMOT.
ntnl-1vvi'li1y feet across, entirely precluded (hem from gaining - llirirnl impel us I i top the fence or the u illows
surrounding the enclosure. Pvcnl ually accidents, rather than natural death, cleared off the greater uuinlior of
lliese interesting little strangers ; I ir romp-mi lis tin- G mieis were n«p'>nsih|e on more than one occasion,
the last sun ivot being swallowed by one of these voracious birds, and only thrown up again on the following
•lay after deeOM posit ion had partly set in". Such mishaps I learned have also befallen this species in the
Zoological I tardens: the keeper u ho louked after a pair informed me, at the latter end of January 187-1, that
these- birds were BOW and then moved to the enclosure in which a Pelican was cimtiued, in order to enjoy a
larger hath than their own domicile afforded; nil bad gone well at Ant, but at length the rightful owner
resented the intrusion to bis pond and snapped one of the offenders, and it was only with the greatest dillieulty
that the unfortunate was rescued from the pouch beneath his beak. While in eniilinement these birds appeal
exceedingly attached to one another, roosliu"; and resting side by side, sitting on the ground together with their
beads buried in one another's plumage, aud occasionally preening the feathers on the throats of thai mates.
While this little amusement is going on. the birds utter a succession of low murmuring notes, the one operated
upon evidently being grot ilied by the attention aud reluming the compliment on the first opportunity,
Eight or nine years ago I turned out half a dozen adult Guillemots in one of the large tanks at the
Brighton Aquarium, and these birds soon proved one of the greatest attractions to the place. The last time I
visited them they were busily engaged in diving alongside a large skate that was slowly swimming up and
down the tank. Some air-bubbles escaping from the gills of the lish appeared to afford great amusement to
the birds, as fust one aud then another dived down and caught them before they ro-e to ihc surface. The old
birds I presented have all died in due course, hut their places have been tilled by others procured by the
company from various parts of the Hi itisb Islands.
By the introduction of I iuillemots and Razorbills to the tanks of the Aquarium, an excellent opportunity
was obtained for ascertaining the amount of air cum eyed around their feathers when below the surface of the
water. While diving in pursuit of food, these birds make use oE their wings as if on flight, and illnl asupul
themselves with their feet, dashing forward at times with great speed, and occasionally moving slowly with a
jaunty undulating motion. If closely watched while passing round the tank, the whole of the plumage of the
body as well as lhat of the brad and wings will lie seen thickly coated with air, which glistens in the light with
a glassy appearance. As they proceed, a continued stream of silvery bubbles bursts out from their feathers,
and lights up the track they follow wiili a brilliancy that would scarcely he Imagined. The plumage of the
back may he aeon opening as the air escapes, and the bubbles stream up the feathers till they reach the
extremity of thu tail, when they pass upwards to the surface of the water. The greater number of these
luminous bubbles are somewhat less than a pea, and others, larger and more attractive, vary in si/o from
thnepenny or sixpenny pieces up to a shilling, and assume all manner of shapes and forms when released from
the feathers nnd rMng towards the surface.
Though considered a species and figured as such by several authors in former days, the Ringed, or Bridled,
Guillemot (Vr'ut iiicnjmau*) has now been pronounced by the greatest authorities to In- merely a variety of the
common form. Wilh this deci-ion I certainly agree, having carefully watched the two forms paired at various
breeding-stations. At the Peru islands the Hinged Guillemot is exceedingly numerous, some twenty or thirty
often being in view at one on the Pinnacles; the confusion here, however, is so great when an alarm is given
that it is seldom possible to make any accurate observations as to the pairing of the birds. On the north face
of the Bass Hock one may remain concealed on some of the larger ledges, and by the help of powerful glasses
ius]«'el all the pairs of Guillemots within view while engaged in conveying food to their young. In August
is-7 I, while watching for this form, I marked an adult with the ring aud bridle well developed brooding over a
downy youngster, and having procured the ropes secured the juvenile, who exhibited not Ihc slightest dilli reneu
• Thwc BWM or* fully MOMS*! to In QM j.nrafn.ph SSSSSSBSSSf. lino 7 °B pojo 14 of (no SsSBst,
COMMON GUILLEMOT.
from others taken on the same and two or three adjoining ledges. On the immature plumage being assumed
later in the autumn not the slightest signs of the while markings found the eye were exhibited, and though l he
bird surv ived in captivity for three or four years, no change took place. The following year an old bird was
caught with her young one on the Bass by the men who look after the roping business to secure the Gannets,
aad forwarded -aieiy lo Brighton. Both thrived well in confinement, and the adult showed the ring; till her
death about four years afterwards; the young oue, however, was not to be distinguished from several others
procured at the same time. In I he Channel 1 have seen these birds i cry plentiful on several occasions ; numbers
were passed sufficiently near to be identified, and a line pair in perfect breeding-plumage obtained, eight or nine
miles off Brighton, on the 23rd of April, IShi, the water at the time being as smooth as glass and affording
excellent opportunities for observation. I n the perfect winter dress the white ring and bridle are still conspicuous,
a narrow liuc of dull black enclosing the bridle. A bird exhibiting this stage of plumage was shot off
Rolungdeuu on December 17lh, 1878.