68 APPENDIX :* NOS. XLIV.—XLV. 
suppose the white-marked birds to be old ones, but I rather incline 
to the idea that if the distinction is one of age, they are young birds, 
especially as it is the character of young Guillemots of the year to 
have most white about them. But had it not been for a private invi- 
tation from a gentleman much interested in the subject, I should not 
have ventured to intrude my opinions upon the readers of the ‘ Zoolo- 
gist.” Ina question certainly not easy of proof, opinion will always 
go with acknowledged authorities, and I cannot expect my convictions 
to be of any use in settling the question. Almost the only proof of 
which the matter is capable, is perhaps the keeping specimens in 
confinement, when if the Ringed changed to Common birds, or 
vice versd, I suppose every one would be satisfied, on the fact being 
properly attested; but if they did not change, unfortunately nothing 
would be proved. The only alternative would be the marking of 
wild birds, but without unusual opportunities this method could not 
be followed out. Mr. Newton’s paper is headed “ British Species of 
Guillemot,” but as no mention is made of Briinnich’s, that gentle- 
man or Mr. Newman very probably does not consider it worth 
mentioning, and in truth, as a British bird, it scarcely is. It 
certainly does not breed anywhere round our islands, and I could 
see or hear nothing of it in the Faroe Islands, although it has 
been mentioned amongst these [qu. their ?] birds. Mr. Hancock 
tells me there is no other species in Baffin’s Bay ; but whether it is 
to be considered distinct, or a local race, I am not sufficiently 
familiar with the bird to have formed any opinion. In conclusion 
I may mention that the substance of the above remarks on Uria 
lachrymans was introduced into a paper by myself on the “ Birds of 
the Faroe Islands,” read at the meeting of the British Association 
at Edinburgh, and printed at length by Sir W. Jardine, in his 
‘ Ornithological Notes.’ 
May 1852. 
Rav. 
On THE GREAT BusTARD IN SPAIN. 
[Extract from a letter to Mr. YARRELL printed by him in his paper “ On the Habits 
and Structure of the Great Bustard (Otis tarda of Linnzus),” read before the 
Linnean Society 18 January, 1853. (Trans. Linn. Soc. xxi. pp. 156, 157.)] 
“ My very little acquaintance with North Africa does not extend 
beyond the neighbourhood of Tangier, and there I did not see the 
Great Bustard, nor have I receiv ed its eggs from that quarter in the 
several packets which have been forwarded to me; but this proves 
nothing; it only renders it probable that this bird i is not common in 
the immediate vicinity of that town. 
“Of Spain I have almost equally little to say. One day, about 
