166 

 NOTES ON THE BIRDS OP lONA. 



BY HENRY D, GRAHAM^ ESQ. 



( Continued from page Z.) 



The Black Guillemot, (Uria Grylle.) 



The Black Guillemot is a constant resident around our coasts, and in every 

 boating excursion it may be frequently met with, both in summer and winter. 

 Perhaps it is rather more numerous in summer, for then small flocks are to 

 be found clustering around all the more unfrequented islets, which are haunted 

 by them for the purpose of incubation. 



Here, during the breeding-season, they will be seen in full activity, diving 

 in pursuit of small fry, and flitting to and fro between their nests and the 

 surface of the water; while others sit erect, ranged along the rocks overhanging 

 the sea, gasping out a plaintive, wheezing noise, something like the complaining 

 of a set of very young kittens. This seems to be their only cry, for, except 

 at this time of year, they are entirely mute. 



The nests are concealed in all manner of out-of-the-way holes, under large 

 detached rocks, in deep crevices, or in small caves; and in general the nest 

 is so far in as to be beyond reach, after the place of its concealment has 

 been discovered, except with the assistance of a boat-hook, or something 

 similar. I have never found the number of eggs to exceed two, which have 

 some resemblance in colour and marking to some of the small Gulls' eggs; 

 but there is a characteristic peculiarity about their appearance which easily 

 distinguishes them from those. The young are covered with brownish black 

 down, and will greedily take bits of fish from the hand soon after their 

 capture, and may easily be reared. 



The plumage of the old birds now is black, with a greenish gloss, or rather 

 a perfect bottle-green, beautifully relieved by the pure white patch upon the 

 wing, and further enlivened by the brilliantly red feet: the inside of the 

 mouth is also of a very rich tint of orange. The birds are not all equally 

 beautiful, some (probably the hens and younger males,) are of a dull brownish 

 black, and the white patch on the wing is obscured. 



In winter their appearance is totally changed; they are then to be seen 

 about the coast a little way out at sea, but seldom coming very near to land; 

 and. the variety of plumage to be observed among different individuals is very 

 great, for scarcely two are to be seen exactly similar. In the depth of winter 

 the whitest ones are to be got. These are entirely pure white, except a small 

 portion ' of grey upon the back, connecting the wings, which remain black, as 

 in summer. The appellation of Greenland Dove is much more appropriate 

 than that of Black Guillemot, when seen under this aspect. But it is only 

 a few that acquire this degree of purity; the upper parts are generally more 

 or less marked with grey, or sometimes black, while the under parts are 

 mottled with black and white; some even retain their black d^ess entirely. 

 The young birds are blackish brown above, and white underneath; the upper 



