RAZOR-BILL.
CARFIL GYEFlNUnU, OF THE ANCIENT BRITISH.
RAZOR-BILL AUK. BLAOK-BILLSD AUK. AUK. -Ml'RltE. FALK.
MARRO T. BXOBT. COOTER.
A/ai torda, PENNANT. MONTAGU. BEWICK.
" pica, MONTAGU. BEWICK.
Alca— ? 7bn/a •• Quaere, a corruption from Tarda slow.
T H I S bird is plentiful on the shores of the islands in the Arctic
seas of Europe, Asia, and America, from Canada, Labrador, and
Greenland, to Iceland, Norway, and Kamtschatka. It is seen also
in Denmark, Holstein, Prussia, France, and Spain, and has occurred
on the northern coast of Africa, namely at Tangiers. In America
a few occasionally go as far south as New York.
The Razor-hill breeds in Yorkshire, at 1* lamborough Head, the
well-known promontory near Burlington; also on the Fern Islands,
the rocky cliffs of the Moray Firth, and other suitable places, the
Great Orme's Head, off the Welsh coast, etc., etc. It. occurs occasionally
at Yarmouth, Norfolk, and along the coast, the young birds more
commonly, and the old ones less so at all times of the year except
in summer.
The species has occurred in Oxfordshire—for this I have the
authority of the Hon. T . L. Powys. In Cornwall it is not uncommon
near Gwyllynvasc, Swanpool Bay, and Falmouth. One found dead
by Mr. Cocks on the 3rd. of January, 1849. A young bird was
shot there by Mr. May, January 9th., 1819. In Hampshire it has
occurred at the Isle of Wight, not uncommonly I believe: also in
Devonshire and Dorsetshire.
I n February and March, 1858, the beach about Morfa, By chaw, a nd
Harlech, in North Wales, was strewed with dead birds of this kind.