500 LRIA GKYLLE. 



GENUS IV. URIA. T11E GUILLEMOTS. 



GKX. CH. Bill, rather slenJcr, usually shorter than head, pointed at tip, md not much compressed. The bill is not 

 ridged and only slightly curred at tip of upper mandible. There are two species within our limits. 



URIA GRYLLE. 



Black Guillemot. 



Uria gtylle Brnn. , Orn. Bor; 17B4, S8, 



DESCRIPTION. 



SP. Cn. Form, robust. Size, small. COLOR. Adult. Sooty-black throughout, with patch on wing, which is rarely 

 crossed liy a black band, under wing coverts, and axillaries, white. Iris, brown; bill, black; feet, coral-red. 



Winter adult. Wings and tail a* in summer; remainder of plumage, white, more or less mottled with Mack above and 

 in a collar around neck. Ymmy, quite similar but darker above and with white of wing and beneath mottleJ with dusky. 

 ffesl/intfs are covered with a sooty -black down. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



Known by the small size and dark colors in summer; white moldings above in winter. Occurs in summer from Maine, 

 northward, wintering from Grand Menan, southward. 



DD1ENSIONS. 



Average measurements of specimens. Length, 12-50; stretch, 23'50; wing. 5'25; tail, 1'93; bill-. T35; tarsus, 1-25. Long- 

 est specimen, 13-00; greatest extent of wing, 24 - 0:>: bngest wing, 6'35; tail, 2'0:>; bill, T40; tarsus, 1 3(1. Shortest speci- 

 men, 12-00; smallest extent of wing, 23'00; shortest wing, 5'50; tail, 1'90; bill, I "30; tarsus, 1'20. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 



Eggs, placed in holes of cliffs, three or four in number, oval in form, white, creamy, or greenish in color, spotted and 

 blotched with very dark-brown and umber. Dimensions from I'55x2'25 to I'65x2'40. 



HABITS. 



I found the Little Black Guillemots very common on Grand Menan, nesting in fis- 

 sures of the high cliffs on the northern end of the island. Here the eggs were fresh as late 

 as the thirteenth of July, but this was owing to the fact that the birds had been robbed, 

 for I found young, as well as fresh eggs, the last week in June, on the Magdalens; yet it 

 is safe to say, that these birds, even if not molested, lay from the middle of June until the 

 first week in July. The eggs are deposited on the naked rock or earth and are constantly 

 covered by. the male or female. When the entrances of their holes are approached, the 

 birds scramble out and take wing, then they will fly distractedly about, uttering a mourn- 

 ful whistle, besides which they emit a chuckling note. The Black Guillemots sit lightly 

 on the water and, like the larger species, dive with ease, remaining under the surface for 

 a great length of time. They have the habit, shared with many aquatic birds, of dipping 

 the bill into the water when excited. They migrate southward in November. 



URIA TROILE. 



Murre. 

 Uria troile LATH., Ind. Orn. II; 1790, 796. 



DESCRIPTION. 



SP. CB. Form, rather slender. Size, large. COLOR. Adult. Head and neck all around, upper parts, and sides. 

 sooty-brown. Tips of secondaries, and nndor parts, white. Iris and feet, brown; bill, black. 



In winter, and Young. Similar, but beneath, white to bill, with throat occasionally dusky. Nestlings. BInck 

 throughout, sprinkled with yellowish-white. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



Known by the large size and pure white beneath. Distributed in summer from Gulf of St. Lawrence, northward. 

 W inters from Maine to Florida. 



DIMENSIONS 



Average measurements of specimens. Length, 17'5O; stretch, 29-50; win>:. 7-25; tail, 2-25; hill, 1-60; tarsus, 1-45. 

 bmgest specimen, 18-110; greatest extent of wing, 30'(Ki; longest winjr, 8'(X); tail, 2 50; hill, 1'75; tarsus, 1-55. Shortest 

 specimen, 17-00; smallest extent of wing, 29-00; shortest wing, 7'50. tail, 2 X>; bill, 1'ftj; tarsu>. 1'40. 



