BRIDLED GUILLEMOT. 327 



to a distinct species, it is not known at what age they assume 

 these markings, or whether the young are similar to the 

 adult, or the young of both species indistinguishable. The 

 descriptions given by British writers are so loose that they 

 convey little information, and certainly afford no convic- 

 tion. Until the history of the Ring-eyed Guillemot is as 

 correctly detailed as that of the common species, it must 

 remain doubtful whether it be distinct or not. I have seen 

 many Guillemots Avith ringed eyes, some of them obtained in 

 the Firth of Forth, some seen dead on the sandy beaches 

 between Aberdeen and Ythan Mouth ; but, having considered 

 them simply as Common Guillemots, I paid little attention to 

 them, and, on searching in my collection, find only one 

 specimen, Avhich, however, is very interesting, it being a 

 young bird in its first winter plumage, thus proving that the 

 ring is not peculiar to old birds, as had been supposed. 



Adult in Summer. — In one of my note-books I find the 

 following statements : — " Uria Troile. April 28, 1824. A 

 specimen shot in the Firth of Forth a few days ago. Exa- 

 mined when fresh. Beak deep black, tinged with bluish- 

 green ; angle (that is, the skin at the opening of the mouthj 

 yelloAvish. Edge of orbit (eyelids) black, very small. Eye 

 hazel. Feet dusky, fore part of tarsus and toes brownish- 

 yellow ; claws bluish-black, pale at the end. Eye encircled 

 with pure white, a line of which extends downwards along 

 the side of the neck for an inch and a half, where there is a 

 natural division of the feathers, the lower edge of which only 

 is white. Head and neck to half way down anteriorly deep 

 brown, tinged with grey ; the hind-neck dark grey colour, 

 being continued from the head over the back, including the 

 tail and wings. Tips of secondaries, excepting two first and 

 two last, white. Upper and fore edge of wings pale brown ; 

 primaries of the same dark-brown, glossed with greenish. 

 Tail very short. Dimensions — beak If ; length 17 ; tarse 

 H ; toe 2^ ; extent 28. 



" Uria Troile. Another specimen shot at the same time. 

 The colours are exactly the same, but there is no white round 

 the eye, nor along the line which extends down-wards from it," 



