176 BIRDS OF GUERNSEY. 



plumage, but it does not occur so frequently in that 

 plumage as it does on the south coast of Devon and 

 Dorset ; indeed I have never found either this bird 

 or the Great Northern Diver so common in the 

 Channel Islands as they are about Exmouth and 

 Teignmouth, even in the ordinary winter plumage ; 

 probably the mouths of rivers were more attractive 

 to them as producing more food than the wild open 

 seas of the Channel Islands. Owing to its various 

 changes of plumage, from age or time of year, the 

 Eed-throated Diver has been made to do duty as 

 more than one species, and is the Speckled Diver 

 of Pennant, Montagu and Bewick. 



It is mentioned in Professor Ansted's list, but 

 marked as only occurring in Guernsey. There is 

 no specimen at present in the Museum. 



156. Guillemot. Alca troile, Linnaeus. French, 

 " Guillemot a capuchon," " Guillemot troile." — 

 The Guillemot is very common about the Channel 

 Islands in Autumn and winter, but is seldom seen 

 during the summer season except near its breeding 

 stations, which, as far as m}^ district is concerned, 

 are very few. It does not breed in Guernsey, Sark, 

 or Herm, or even on the rocky islands to the north 

 of Herm. In Alderney, I am told, it has one small 

 station on the mainland on the side nearest the 

 French coast. I was told of this by the person 

 who shot the Greenland Falcon, and by one or two 



