COMMON GUILLEMOT. 723 



the robber returning to the cliffs after each ducking. The 

 average duration of time a Guillemot remains under water 

 when seeking food is, according to my experience, about 

 twenty-five seconds. 



Examples of variation in plumage are perhaps more 

 commonly met with in Yorkshire than elsewhere. Of these 

 may be mentioned several entirely white, others of a cream 

 or sandy hue, two with white wings, and others partially 

 pied. In June 1902 I saw a bird at Bempton with a white 

 head and a narrow collar of black round the throat ; 

 while a perfectly black, or melanic, example was reported 

 in 1897. Mr. J. Whitaker of Rainworth Lodge also possesses 

 several Yorkshire varieties. A well-known Flamborough 

 fisherman, the late Tom Leng, in the year 1885, secured three 

 peculiarly plumaged birds within a week ; one entirely white, 

 another cream-coloured, and the third with white wings ; 

 two other pure white ones were also obtained by him on 

 other occasions. All these specimens passed through the 

 hands of Mr. M. Bailey, to whom I am indebted for this 

 information. One white example, a female, with yellow eyes, 

 was purchased by Mr. J, H. Gurney. 



Of the Bridled, or Ringed, Guillemot, Thomas Allis wrote 

 in 1844, 3.S follows : — 



Uria lacrymans. — Bridled Guillemot — A. Strickland remarks that 

 " It is highly probable some of these species have, from the earliest 

 times, frequented the cliffs here (Flamborough) for breeding, before 

 it was distinctly noticed as a species, but they seeni by no means 

 abundant here, though I have known several specimens obtained ; 

 the egg. I have every reason to believe, is very distinct from that of 

 the common species ; I have no doubt that it will prove a perfect 

 distinct species, though many still hesitate to consider it such." 



It is scarcely necessary to remark that this is not now 

 deemed worthy of even sub-specific rank, but is merely 

 classed as a variety of the common form.* 



It occurs on the Yorkshire cliffs, though not commonly, 



* At the Fame Isles, in the year 1889, I noticed a Ringed and a 

 Common Guillemot paired, both birds taking it in turn to sit on the 

 egg, a green coloured one. 



