Their Eggs and Nests. 201 



RINGED GUILLEMOT— (6^r/^ lacrymans). 



Bridled Guillemot. — There has heen .some doubt 

 whether this bird is to be considered a distinct species, 

 or merely a variety of the Common Guillemot. It is 

 now hardly admitted as a good species. It occurs in 

 company with the other Guillemot on various parts 

 of our coasts, and in Wales is said to be equally 

 numerous with it. The eprgs are scarcely distinguish- 

 able from those of the other two species already named, 

 and exhibit precisely similar characteristics. 



BLACK GUILLEMOT— (^;7^^^0^//^). 



Tyste, Scraber, Greenland Dove, Sea Turtle. — 

 Sensibly less in size than the Common Guillemot, and 

 not found commonly on our more southerly coasts. 

 Shetland, the Orkneys and Western Isles are all 

 frequented by them, and their quick and lively 

 motions are pleasant enough to witness. These birds 

 lay two eggs each instead of one, in holes or crevices 

 of precipitous rocks, and at some distance from the 

 aperture ; sometimes, where no such nest-sites are 

 available, on the bare ground, under or between frag- 

 ments of rock or large stones. They are most 

 commonly white, more or less tinged with blue, 

 speckled, spotted, and blotched or marbled with chest- 

 nut brown, very dark brown and a kind of neutral 

 imi.—Fig. Z, plate X, 



LITTLE K^3\\.—{Merg7dus allc ; formerly, M, 

 vielanolcucos). 



I have rarely seen any bird, much more a very 



