28o HANDBOOK OF BRITISH BIRDS 



of the back between their slightly elevated wings, 

 and on reaching the surface with them at once 

 dive, leaving the young one to float on the sur- 

 face (Zool, 1875, pp. 4342, 4666).' 



The legs and toes of the Guillemot are not, as 

 stated by Yarrell, dark brownish-black, membranes 

 olive, but smoky flesh colour, the webs darker smoke 

 colour. In this respect Gould's plate is inaccurate, 

 the legs and toes being much too dark. The weight 

 of an adult bird is 2 lbs. 5 oz. 



A curious and rare variety of this bird, having the 

 bill and feet yellow, was shot in Poole Harbour, 

 Dorsetshire, by Mr. T. M. Pike in December 1876, 

 and was exhibited by Prof. Newton at a meeting of 

 the Zoological Society on January 2, 1877. (See 

 Field, Dec. 16, 1876, and Zool, 1877, p. 57.) An- 

 other specimen was taken at Scarborough on Dec. 4, 

 1897 (Field, Jan. 1, 1898). 



The so-called Ringed Guillemot ( Uria ringvia, 

 leucophthalmus, or lacrynians, as it has been vari- 

 ously styled) is now regarded as a variety of the 

 common species, from which it differs only in hav- 

 ing a white line encircling and extending behind 

 the eye. (See Newton, Zool., 1852, p. 3425, and 

 Wolley, ZooZ., 1852, p. 3477; also Newton, "Diet. 

 Birds," p. 149, footnote.)' 



Miiller, in his " Bird-fauna of the Faeroes," says, 

 " This is certainly but a variety of troile, for I have 



1 The Wood Duck of Australia transports her young in the same 

 way {Field, May 29, 1897). 



2 An analogous variation is sometimes, but rarely, met with in the 

 Eazorbill {Field, March 23, 1872). 



