460 ALCAD.E. 



slender than that of the Common Guillemot, which would 

 scarcely be expected to happen if the Brunnich's Guillemot 

 were one of the parents ; and secondly, by the well-known 

 fact that the Ringed Guillemots are abundantly fertile, 

 breeding by themselves. 



But M. Temminck, in his fourth part already cited, fur- 

 ther says : " M. Thieneman, qui a egalement parcouru 

 Flslande et le Nord, dans le but d'etudier les productions 

 de ces contrees, est d'avis que ces oiseaux forment trois 

 especes distinctes ; il indique meme des differences con- 

 stantes dans la couleur des ceufs." In reference to the 

 value of the opinion of M. Thieneman, I can quote that of 

 Mr. Proctor of Durham, who, having visited the breeding- 

 stations of these birds at Iceland, agrees with him pre- 

 cisely. 



I am indebted to Mr. Proctor, the subcurator of the 

 Durham University Museum, for the opportunity of ex- 

 amining specimens of these three Guillemots, all brought 

 from Iceland, and obtained at the same time. Mr. Proc- 

 tor went to Iceland a few summers since to collect birds, 

 and on enquiring for the Ringed Guillemot, was told by 

 fishermen that they knew the bird very well, and that it 

 would be found breeding at Grimsey, an island about forty 

 miles north of Iceland. An arrangement to visit Grimsey 

 was made, and on reaching the island the species of Guille- 

 mots were found then breeding on the different rocks, and 

 were considered by the inhabitants of the island to be 

 distinct species. Brunnich's Guillemot was the most nu- 

 merous, and was called by them Stutnefia. The Common 

 Guillemot was the next in order of quantity, and was 

 called Langnefia. The Ringed Guillemot was the least 

 numerous, and its name was Hringlangnefia. The eggs of 

 all the three species were obtained, and the distinctions 



