BIRDS. 259 



not yet arrived at their proper colours, I am uncertain ; one 

 thing I am certain of, that I have seen them of both colours late 

 in the winter and early in the spring, so that, in my opinion, the 

 change is not universal, or perhaps it is not in the hardest 

 winters when this happens in general." 



Mergulus alle (L.). Little Auk, 

 Orc.=Eotchie (J. G. M.-H.). 



A common winter visitant, but irregular; its visits depending 

 much on the state of the weather. After a heavy storm Mr. 

 Eanken informs us he has seen them in the Peerie Sea, but 

 they take their departure thence when the weather moderates. 



Mr. Cursiter told us that Mr. T. S. Peace on one occasion, 

 on the 15th of January 1885, found quite a number of Little 

 Auks walking about inside a dyke at the Brought of Lingrow, 

 and that he picked up a dozen of them. 



Fratercula arctica (L.). Puffin, 



Ore. = Tammie-norrie. Tommy-noddy (Low). 



An abundant summer visitant, breeding in many of the islands, 

 but we are not aware of any very large colonies, such as exist 

 in the Outer Hebrides. Up to the time of leaving the rocks in 

 August, there appears to be no change in the formation of the 

 bill, which takes place later on, and which is so admirably 

 shown by Mons. Bureau in his paper. 1 This seems to be the 

 rarest in winter of those Alddce which breed with us. 



Mr. Gilmour of the Pentland Skerries Lighthouse gives 

 April 8th and August 19th as the dates of the arrival and 

 departure of the Puffins in the year 1888. 



Order 8. PYGOPODES. 



Family COLYMBID-E. 

 Colymbus glacialis, L. Great Northern Diver. 



Orc.=Immer Goose. 



A very common winter visitant. We have observed them as early 

 1 De la Mue du bee et des ornements palpebreaux du Macareux Arctique. 



