212 ALCIN.E. URIA. 



or spots. The young seldom betake themselves to the water 

 until of considerable size. Small fishes and Crustacea are 

 the food of these birds, which after the breeding season dis- 

 perse over the seas, and in winter advance southward. Our 

 three species are common to the northern regions of both 

 continents. They moult twice in the year, the winter 

 plumage being more or less differently coloured from that 

 of summer. The eggs afford excellent eating, but the flesh 

 is rank. 



279. URIA BRUNNICHII. LARGE-BILLED GUILLEMOT. 



Bill stout, black ; feet dusky, tinged with red ; plumage 

 of the head and upper parts greyish-black ; sides of the head 

 and throat tinged with brown ; lower parts white, sides 

 streaked with greyish-black ; edges of wings and tips of se- 

 condaries white. In winter, the sides of the head and neck, 

 and the throat, white. In adults, there is on each side of 

 the head a white line behind the eye. 



The length of this species is about eighteen inches, its ex- 

 tent of wings thirty. The only authority for its occurrence 

 in Britain known to me is that of a specimen from Orkney, 

 which I found among some skins belonging to the late Mr 

 Wilson, janitor of the Edinburgh University. The skin was' 

 prepared, and is now in the Museum there. 



Uria Brunnichii, Sabine, Temm. Man. d'Ornith. ii. 924. 

 Uria Brunnichii, Large-billed Guillemot, MacGillivray, 

 Brit. Birds, v. 



280. URIA TROILE. FOOLISH GUILLEMOT. 



Bill moderately stout, black ; feet black. In summer, the 

 upper parts greyish-black ; the sides of the head and the throat 

 tinged with brown ; lower parts \vhite, sides streaked with 

 greyish-black ; a line of white encircling the eye, and extend- 

 ing behind it ; edges of wings and tips of secondaries white. 

 In winter, the sides of the head and neck, and the fore-part 

 of the latter white. Some individuals want the white lines 

 on the head. 



Male, 17, 30, 7l, H, 1^, 1 T 7 *> A. Female, 1G, 30. 



Many individuals of this species remain on our coasts all 

 winter. In summer it is met with congregated in vast num- 

 bers on particular rocks, whether on the coast or in islands, 

 where it breeds. There they may be seen standing in rows, 

 nearly erect, on the ledges, or sitting on their egg. No nest 



