NATURAL SCIENCES OP PHILADELPHIA. 255 



The flesh of the Puffin, though not ill-flavored, is so excessively tough as to 

 be eatable only in cases of necessity. It is most commonly knoven as the 

 " Parrakeet," (Paroquet) as it is pronounced ; they are also called " Sea- 

 parrots," and are sometimes designated by their proper name of Puffin. 



Uria (Uria) grylle Latham. — Black Guillemot. — " Sea-pigeon." 



Uria ffrt/lle, Aud., Birds Amer. vii. 272, pi. 474. 

 Uria ( Uria) grylle, Cassin, Gea. Rep. 911. 



The history of the Black Guillemot is an interesting one. In the extraordi- 

 nary changes of plumage it undergoes, in its extensive breeding range, and the 

 many entirely peculiar habits it possesses, it differs vridely from all birds of the 

 family on the eastern coast of America. The most remarkable fact connected 

 with it is, that it breeds abundantly in the interior of the continent, being 

 found in great numbers on the southern shores of Hudson's Bay, while the other 

 species of Alcidce are probably without an exception exclusively marine. It is 

 very plentiful throughout the extent of Labrador, where many remain during 

 the whole winter ; in fact, with the exception of the Auks, Murres, and Puffins, 

 which congregate in such immense numbers at certain places, it is the most 

 common and generally distributed bird, breeding along the whole coast. I 

 obtained eggs at Sloop Harbor, the first locality visited, and at Groswater 

 Bay they were still more abundant. Audubon speaks of finding them at the 

 Magdaline Islands, and I have seen specimens from Greenland, which, with 

 the fact of its breeding plentifully on Hudson's Bay, prove for it a breeding 

 range remarkable among the Alcidce. It is a hardy bird, remaining through- 

 out the year in Labrador. The changes of plumage which it undergoes are 

 very great. About the middle of August, or as soon as the duties of rearing 

 the young are concluded, the change commences, with the moult. lu a very 

 short time thej^ have become most curiously mottled with pure white, and the 

 change goes on till the body becomes almost entirely white — the wings and 

 tail mostly remaining black. In this state of plumage, which is shared also 

 by the young for the first year, they continue during the winter, and until the 

 breeding dress is again assumed the following spring. While undergoing the 

 change, they are entirely unable to fly, from the loss of the primary quills. 



The Black Guillemot chooses for its breeding place the most rocky, broken 

 and precipitous islands along the coast, in the numerous fissures and caverns of 

 the eggs are deposited. Wherever there are rough jagged rocks sloping 

 down in huge masses to the water, there the Black Guillemot will always be 

 found breeding in greater or less abundance. Though they never congregate 

 at one spot in such immense numbers as the Puffins and Murres are wont to do, 

 yet there are some islands which, from their peculiar adaptation to their 

 wants, are taken complete possession of by the birds. These islands, wher- 

 ever found, are known to the natives as " Sea-pigeon Islands." Here they 

 breed in great numbers, every fissure and cavern being occupied by one or 

 more pair. They show marked preference for the most tortuous and deej^est 

 crevices, at the extremity of which the eggs are deposited. They are most 

 usually two in number; never more, so far as my own observations extend; 

 but as Audubon, on the best of authority, personal observation, expressly 

 states that the number is sometimes three, the fact must be considered as es- 

 tablished. They measure nearly or quite two inches and three-eighths in length 

 by one and five-eighths in greatest diameter, and are, in size and shape — which 

 latter is nearly elliptical — pretty constant, much more so than is usual in the 

 family. The shell is rough ; its ground color a very light greenish or earthy 

 white ; it is irregularly spotted and blotched with two shades of brown, one very 

 dark, and with light purplish. The markings are mostly attracted into a ring 

 about the larger end, though they vary much in their disposition, sometimes 

 being very regularly distributed over the whole surface. 'The egg is never, I 

 1861.] 



