LETM5 



THE PLUMAGES OF THE GUILLEMOT AND RAZORBILL. 



To the Editors of British Birds. 



Sirs, — While it must be well known that the " fledgling " Guillemot 

 (Uria troile) and Razorbill {AIca torda) resemble in all essentials of 

 their coloration the adults of their respective species when in summer- 

 plumage, extending even to the white strijDe in front of the eye in the 

 case of the Razorbill, it does not seem to have been recognized that 

 this plumage answers to the " mesoptyle " or second generation of 

 down-plumage in other birds, e.g. the Tawny Owl. Yet this, I believe, 

 to be a fact, and accordingly I draw the attention thereto of the readers 

 of British Birds, who are interested in all that pertains to 

 ])lumage3 and their changes. I am not sure, yet, as to what obtains 

 in the case of the young Black Guillemot {Uria grylle) of the same age, 

 which seems to resemble the adults in the winter dress, but the plumage 

 of such young birds will, I believe, also prove to be of the " mesoptyle " 

 generation. The young Little Auk, like the Guillemot and Razorbill, 

 resembles the adult in summer, and wears a " mesoptyle " plumage. 

 The long woolly down of the Puffin, which differs so conspicuously 

 from that of its congeners will jjrove, I believe, to be made up of a 

 " protoptyle " and degenerate " mesoptyle " down. It would seem 

 therefore that my contention, that the " mesoptyle "plumage answers to 

 a more or less degenerate adult dress, is well founded. 



Pressure of other work makes it impossible for me to go minutely 

 into the questions here raised just now ; accordingly I draw the attention 

 of others to the matter, in order that, if possible, fresh material may 

 even yet be obtained this summer for the final settlement of the points 

 I have raised. W. P. Pycraft 



" ON A PECULIAR TYPE OF FEATHER IN THE WATER-RAIL." 



To the Editors of British Birds. 



Sirs, — Referring to my article in last month's British Birds " On. 

 a Peculiar Type of Feather in the Water-Rail" (pp. 42-44), my attention 

 has since been drawn to a short notice by the Rev. M. C. H. Bird in 

 the Transactions of the Norfolk and Norwich NaturaHsts'' Society, 

 Vol. VI., p. 117, in which he makes mention of these feathers. I much 

 regret that this note was not known to me before, as I had, of course, 

 no intention of depriving Mr. Bird of the credit of having been the 

 first to point out this peculiarity in the Water-Rail. 



J. Lewis Bonhote. 



