19^^ 



AUK GROUP 



of these birds was actually hooked and captured on an artificial minnow 

 which was being used in pollack-fishing on the Cornish coast. 



Like most of its relatives, the female guillemot lays only a single 

 egg ; but the eggs collectively are remarkable for the extraordinary 

 amount of variation the}' display both as regards colouring and mark- 

 ings, although it may be presumed that each bird always lays eggs of 

 the same type. As the present work is not written to meet the re- 

 quirements of the collector, and more especially since a fine series is 



exhibited to the public in the 

 Natural Histor}' Branch of the 

 British Museum at South Ken- 

 sington, it will be unnecessary to 

 enumerate all the variations pre- 

 sented by eggs of this species. 

 And it will accordingly suffice 

 to mention that while the 

 ground-colour may vary from 

 white and greenish blue to 

 greenish, and again from cream 

 and creamy buff to rufous buff 

 and even red, the markings 

 may be of almost any conceiv- 

 able form of spots, blotches, and 

 scribblings, ranging in colour 

 from chestnut to black, and at 

 other times may be almost com- 

 pletely wanting. Blown eggs 

 of the guillemot may generally 

 be distinguished from those of 

 the razorbill, when viewed through the blowing-hole against the light, 

 by appearing of a greenish yellow, in place of a greenish tint. The 

 length of the egg varies from 3 to 3^ inches. 



The so-called bridled, or better, spectacled guillemot, distinguished 

 from the typical form by the presence of a white ring surrounding the 

 eye, and a line extending backwards in the direction of the ear, is 

 frequently described as a distinct species, under the name C/rui ringi'ia. 

 It seems best regarded, however, as a peculiar colour-phase of the 

 ordinary species, with which it invariably consorts in an indiscriminate 

 manner. 



With regard to Brimnich's, or, as it might well be called, the 

 Arctic guillemot {Una bruennichi), there is great doubt whether more 



Oi il.l.l-..M(ji. 



