94 EGGS OF BRITISH BIRDS. 



length from 3'5 to 3'0 inches, and in breadth from 2 to 1"85 

 inch. Abnormally large eggs and very small varieties are some- 

 times met with. 



The Ringed Guillemot (Alca ring via) I consider to be merely 

 a variety of the Common species. 



BRUNNICH'S GUILLEMOT. 

 (Alca brilnnichi.)* 



Plate 20, Figs. 5, 6. 



This species is a rare winter visitor to the British coasts. 

 It breeds in Greenland above lat. 64°, and on the coasts of 

 North America, as well as in vast numbers on Spitsbergen, Jan 

 Mayen, Franz-Josef Land, and Novaya Zemlya. 



The eggs of this species resemble, as might be expected, those 

 of the Common Guillemot, and Mr. H. J. Pearson, who took a 

 number of eggs on Novaya Zemlya, says that they pass from 

 pure white to the browns of the Razor-bill, and every variety of 

 yellow and blue-greens, some being very handsomely blotched 

 with black. 



THE BLACK GUILLEMOT. 

 {Alca grylle.)\ 



Plate 26, Fig. 4. 



The stronghold of the Black Guillemot in Great Britain is the 

 west coast of Scotland, including the Hebrides, Orkneys, and 

 Shetland. It is not known to breed with certainty on the east 

 coast of Scotland south of Sutherland. In Ireland it has deserted 

 some of its former breeding-places, but still has colonies on the 

 north coast. 



The Black Guillemot breeds in the Bay of Fundy, on the 

 coasts of Newfoundland, Labrador, South Greenland, Iceland, 

 the Faroes, Ireland, Scotland, Denmark and the Baltic, on the 

 Norwegian coasts, and eastwards as far as the AVhite Sea. 



It is a rather late breeder, its eggs being seldom deposited in 

 Scotland before the end of May or the first week in June, and 

 fresh eggs may be obtained all through the latter month. 



* Uria bruennichi — Saunders, Manual, p. 685. 

 f Uria gryllc — Saunders, Manual, p, 686. 



