. Birds of other lands, reptiles, fishes, jointed animals and lower forms;. Zoology; Birds; Reptiles; Fishes. CHAPTER IV AUKS, GULLS, AND PLOI'ERS THE AUK TRIBE THE Guillemot is found all around Britain, and breeds wherever the sea is fringed by cliffs affording ledges for the reception of the eggs. It breeds in colonies often num- bering many thousands, and lays but one egg, which is large and pear-shaped. Since the guillemot builds no nest, but lays its egg on the bare rock, this peculiar shape is advanta- geous, since it revolves on itself, when disturbed, instead of rolling off the ledge i
. Birds of other lands, reptiles, fishes, jointed animals and lower forms;. Zoology; Birds; Reptiles; Fishes. CHAPTER IV AUKS, GULLS, AND PLOI'ERS THE AUK TRIBE THE Guillemot is found all around Britain, and breeds wherever the sea is fringed by cliffs affording ledges for the reception of the eggs. It breeds in colonies often num- bering many thousands, and lays but one egg, which is large and pear-shaped. Since the guillemot builds no nest, but lays its egg on the bare rock, this peculiar shape is advanta- geous, since it revolves on itself, when disturbed, instead of rolling off the ledge into the sea. At the same time thousands of eggs fall into the sea every year owing to the bird's leaving the egg, whilst incubating, in too great a hurry. At Luncly Island one of the sources of amusement for the gap- ing tourist was that of firing a shot to frighten the birds, with the result that, at each shot, showers of eggs were knocked off the ledges on to the rocks below. The colour of the egg varies infinitely, no two being quite alike. This, it has been suggested, is useful, as the mother is thereb)' enabled to identify her own egg, even when surrounded by hundreds of others. The }'0ung are covered with long down, and when big enough, but still unable to fly, are taken down by the mother to the sea, being carried, some say, on her back: others say the chick is seized by the wing and carried down. The Razor-bill is nearly, if not quite, as com- mon on the coasts of Britain as the guillemot, from which it may be readily distinguished by its beak, which is much compressed from side to side — hence its name of Razor-bill — and deeply grooved. In. Br pirmunan if th, Hon. If'alltr Rothschild, Tri WHITE TERN T/iere are t-zoo specie^ of luhite tern, almost Southern Hemiiphere •stricteJ to the habits it very closely resembles the guillemot, but in one respect at least it is a more interesting bird, inasmuch as it is related to and closely resembles the now extinct Great Au
Size: 1542px × 1621px
Photo credit: © The Book Worm / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecad, booksubjectfishes, booksubjectzoology
