COMMON GUILLEMOT. 723 



the robber returning to the cliffs after each ducking. The 

 average duration of time a Guillemot remains under water 

 when seeking food is, according to my experience, about 

 twenty-five seconds. 



Examples of variation in plumage are perhaps more 

 commonly met with in Yorkshire than elsewhere. Of these 

 may be mentioned several entirely white, others of a cream 

 or sandy hue, two with white wings, and others partially 

 pied. In June 1902 I saw a bird at Bempton with a white 

 head and a narrow collar of black round the throat ; 

 while a perfectly black, or melanic, example was reported 

 in 1897. Mr. J. Whitaker of Rainworth Lodge also possesses 

 several Yorkshire varieties. A well-known Flamborough 

 fisherman, the late Tom Leng, in the year 1885, secured three 

 peculiarly plumaged birds within a week ; one entirely white, 

 another cream-coloured, and the third with white wings ; 

 two other pure white ones were also obtained by him on 

 other occasions. All these specimens passed through the 

 hands of Mr. M. Bailey, to whom I am indebted for this 

 information. One white example, a female, with yellow eyes, 

 was purchased by Mr. J. H. Gurney. 



Of the Bridled, or Ringed, Guillemot, Thomas Allis wrote 

 in 1844, as follows : 



Uria lacrymans. Bridled Guillemot A. Strickland remarks that 

 "It is highly probable some of these species have, from the earliest 

 times, frequented the cliffs here (Flamborough) for breeding, before 

 it was distinctly noticed as a species, but they seem by no means 

 abundant here, though I have known several specimens obtained ; 

 the egg, I have every reason to believe, is very distinct from that of 

 the common species ; I have no doubt that it will prove a perfect 

 distinct species, though many still hesitate to consider it such." 



It is scarcely necessary to remark that this is not now 

 deemed worthy of even sub-specific rank, but is merely 

 classed as a variety of the common form.* 



It occurs on the Yorkshire cliffs, though not commonly, 



* At the Fame Isles, in the year 1889, I noticed a Ringed and a 

 Common Guillemot paired, both birds taking it in turn to sit on the 

 egg, a green coloured one. 



