

ALCID.K — THE AUKS — UIIIA. 



481 



Yarrell states that he has seen in the -watt'i- at tlio base of liigli cliffs, In tho Isle 

 of Wight, young (luilleniots so small that they eoiild not have made the descent 

 from tlie lofty site of their birthplace without having been killed. Yet these little 

 birds knew perfectly well how to take care of thi'uiselves, and on the approach of a 

 boat woidd swim and dive in various din'r'tions. Early in Sejjtember these birds, 

 young and old, quit the foot of the rocks near their breeding-iilaces for the open 

 ocean, where they remain until the following May. 



This bird is said to remain about the rocks and bays of Orkney and Shetland all 

 the year; and also on the coast of Iceland and nmong the Fame Islands. It was 

 found by Sir Edward Parry and Sir James C. Ivoss, in their journey over the ice, as 

 high as latitude 81°. 



Una ringvia. 



The claim of this form, which so closely resembles the common Guillemot, to be 

 ranked as of specific significance, is generally challenged by writers. Certainly there 

 is no difference noticeable in the habits, and but little in the distril)ution, of the two 

 birds. When found at all, it is almost invariably in company with the troUe ; but 

 the latter is usually present in much the larger numbers. According to Gould, the 

 ringvia is particularly common on the coast of Wales, where, as he was informed, 

 the Bridled Guillemot is quite as numerous as the other form. It was first described 

 in 1822, from a specimen obtained at Newfoundland by A. Valenciennes. It is 

 considered a distinct species from the tmile by Temminck, Thienemann, and other 

 naturalists, both French and German. Pegland and Gerbe give it as being only 

 a variety of the common species. Temminck (TV. 577) remarks that Faber and 

 Graba, who have resided both in Iceland and the Fariic Islands, are jjositive that 

 both this form and the Thick-billed are oniy varieties of the common species. While 

 allowing due weight to the oi)inions of two such competent judges, based upon obser- 

 vations made on the spot, he is unconvinced, especially as l>riinnich's Guillemot is 

 also reduced to a mere variety of tmile, and not regarded a good species. 



Audubon figures the riurjv'm as the male of the ti'o'Ue, evidently not appreciating 

 the fact that the difference is not one of sex. 



Dr. Bryant, who met with this bird on Gannet Ivock, says in regard to it: "As 

 this bird was unfortunately confounded by Audubou with the preceding species 

 [tro'de], it is at present impossible to ascertain what were its limits or numbers at 

 the time of his visit. There can be little doubt, however, that it was not at all rare 

 on the Labrador shore. Xone of these birds were seen by me at any place, except on 

 Gannet Rock, though I think it must breed at other points on the coast. The eggs 

 are said by Naumann to be larger than those of the Foolish Guillemot, the shell to 

 be smooth, and the spots to be seldom large, etc. The largest Guillemot egg found 

 by me was one of the present species ; but in respect to coloration I notice no jiartic- 

 .ular mark by which they could be distinguished from the others. The largest and 

 handsomest egg procured is one of the green variety, and marked over the whole 

 surface with lines presenting very much the appearance of Chinese characters ; it 

 resembles, however, specimens of the eggs of Uria troile, and I see no character by 

 which it could be distinguished from them." 



Degland and Gerbe, while treating this form as a variety, state that it inhabits the 

 Arctics regions generally, including Iceland, the Fariies, and Newfoundland ; and is 

 a migratory visitor on the coast of France, individuals having lieen found dead on 

 the shores of the English Channel, and others killed along the French coast. On 

 the 7th of June, 184G, a nuile and two females were shot — so ^I. Degland was 



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