The Zoologist — August, 1870. 2253 



Adult in winter. — As before ; the white of the under parts extending 

 on the neck and throat to the bill, on the sides of the head to the level 

 of the rictus, on the sides of the nape over the auriculars (where it is 

 somewhat marbled with black), or even to the middle of the nape, 

 more or less confluent with that of the other side. 



Young, first winter. — Recognizable by its smaller and weaker bill, 

 by the duller and more brownish black of the upper parts, almost 

 wanting in gloss, and by the greater extension of the white upon the 

 sides of the hind head and neck. The scapulars and coverts are 

 conspicuously marked with white, as in the adult. The feet are mostly 

 dusky. 



Length 8*50; wing 4'75; tail 1*50; tarsus '80; middle toe and 

 claw 1*20, outer do. US, inner do. '85; bill along culmen -50, 

 rictus TOO, gonys '20; its depth at base '35, its width at same point 

 about the same. 



When in mature plumage this is a very beautiful species. No other 

 Alcidine has such lustre of the dorsal plumage, traces of which are 

 even found in adult winter specimens. In the latter the extent of the 

 black upon the throat is indicated by a dusky clouding of the bases of 

 the feathers of the parts. The species is ordinarily subject to only 

 moderate variation in size or colours. The condition of albinism has 

 been described. 



The first chronicles of this species are of great antiquity. It appears 

 to have shared for a time with Uria grylle the soubriquet of " Columba 

 grosnlandica." Since its description as Alca alle, by Linnaeus, it has 

 been the basis of very few synonyms. Alca Candida, of Briinnich is 

 this species in the albino state. Mergulus melanoleucus, Ray, is 

 adopted by many authors. Mr. G. R. Gray adopts Moehring's generic 

 appellation. 



(To be continued.) 



On a Shark captured in Mount's Bay on June 11, 1870, supposed 

 to he identical with the Basking Shark of Pennant and the 

 Brondheaded Gazer of Couch. By Thomas Cornish, Esq. 



On the 11th of June, about half a mile off Penzance pier-head, in 

 less than three fathoms of water, I captured in my trammel a shark 

 nine feet long and of very peculiar appearance. The fish had rolled 



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