352 ALCAD.E. 



Since tlie publication in 1837, of the twenty-second part, 

 the last and concluding portion of Mr. Gould's " Birds of 

 Europe," here quoted, I have learned that this Ringed 

 Guillemot has been taken on the coast, both in Yorkshire 

 and Durham, I have, therefore, here to add the little that is 

 known of this bird, that my readers may form their opinion 

 from the evidence to be advanced, whether it is entitled to 

 be considered distinct, or only a variety. 



In the fourth part of his Manual, page 577, M. Tem- 

 minck says, " MM. Faber et Graba, qui ont scjourne en 

 Islande et a Feroe, assurent que le GuiUanot bride et celui 

 a gros bee ne sont que des varietes du Guillemot a capiichon 

 (Uria troile). Je suis tres-porte a admettre leur opinion, 

 basee sur des observations faites sur les lieux par des juges 

 competens. Toutefois, il se pourrait que ses races voisines 

 fussent melees et confondues exactement par les memes 

 causes et de la meme manierc que celles des Cormis corax 

 et leiicophceus ; Comix et Corone ; Monedula et Spermo- 

 g7ilus ; Fringilla domestica et cisulpina" etc. 



In reference to the first part of this paragraph, it may be 

 stated, that since the true specific distinctions of Brunnich"'s 

 Guillemot have been pointed out, namely, the form and 

 greater size of the anterior portion of the bill, and the broad 

 light-coloured stripe along the posterior half of the margin 

 of the upper mandible, no one that I am aware of has con- 

 sidered it to be only a variety ; and if it is intended that the 

 claims of the Bridled Guillemot to be ranked as a species, 

 are equal to that of the Brunnichii, then will both be entitled 

 to be considered as species and not as varieties. 



The meaning of the latter part of the paragraph is to me 

 also somewhat doubtful ; but that the Ringed Guillemot is 

 not a hybrid produced between the Common Guillemot and 

 the Brunnichii, seems proved by two circumstances ; first, 

 that the beak of the Ringed Guillemot is even rather more 



