244 GUILLEMOT.

These birds are numerously spread over various parts
of the northern world, whence they are driven by the
approach of winter, to seek more temperate climes. At
that season they arrive on the British shores, where
they remain until they have reared their young. Cuvier
says, “Their wings, less fitted for flying than those of
the other divers, serve them only to flutter with difficulty.”
This is not the fact. They fly well and quickly too,
and seem to have no difficulty whatever. During the
time of nidification they are much on the wing, though
in general they seem to prefer swimming.”

The guillemots approach the lonely island of St. Kilda
about the beginning of February; and by the people
there, who live much on sea-birds, their appearance is
bailed with pleasure. It is said that on their arrival,
they are caught by what seems a very shallow device:
the bird-catcher lies down on a ledge of the rock during
the night, with a piece of white cloth tied round him;
the birds see the cloth more easily than the rock, and
alighting on it one after another, numbers of them are
captured.