Pe eye: 
THE GUILLEMOT. 567 
well as on the sides. In many instances, two birds are 
found sitting each on its egg in the same hole. Both birds 
work in digging& the hole, using their bills and feet: they 
also sit alternately on their egg, although the female engages 
more industriously in this occupation, while the male labors 
harder at the burrow. But one egg is laid: this is at first 
pure-white ; but it soon becomes soiled and stained, and 
appears to be a dirty yellowish-white. Its form is a pure 
ovoidal. A number of specimens in my collection are from 
2.48 to 2.30 inches in length, and from 1.70 to 1.65 inch in 
their greatest breadth. Some specimens are marked with 
spots and blotches of brownish-red,—the proportion of 
marked ones being about two in five. 
Sub-Family Urinz.— The Guillemots. 
URIA, Mornrine. 
Uria, Morrurne, Av. Gen. (1752). (Type Colymbus grylle, L.) 
General form short and robust; head moderate; bill rather long, straight, some- 
what compressed, pointed, angle of the under mandible distinct; nostrils in a groove 
at base of upper mandible, the membrane of which is covered with short velvet-like 
feathers; wings short, pointed; tail short; legs short and robust; tarsus shorter than 
the middle toe, compressed ; toes rather long, fully webbed; claws rather strong, 
curved. 
URIA GRYLLE, — Latham. 
The Guillemot. 
Alca grylle, Linneus. Syst. Nat., I. (1758) 180. 
Uria grylle, Audubon. Orn. Biog., III. (1835) 148; V. 627. 
DESCRIPTION. 
Bill straight, pointed; wing rather short, weak; first quill longest; tail short; 
a large oval transverse space on the wing white, which is also the color of the under 
wing coverts and axillary feathers, outer edge of the wing and shoulder brownish- 
black; all other parts of the plumage brownish-black, with a greenish tinge, and 
darker on the back; bill black ; feet red. 
Younger.— Under parts, neck, and rump, white; head above and back dark- 
brown; large space of white on the wing. 
Total length, about thirteen inches; wing, six and half; tail, two inches. 
