ALCID^ — TIIK AUKS — URIA. 4 7 'J 



Uria troile. 



The Foolish Guillemot incay be taken as eminently typical of those diving-birds 

 which are at once oceanic and Arctic. It occurs throughout the northern hemisphere, 

 although rare in the Nortli Pacific Ocean. On the American coast it breeds from 

 the mouth of the Bay of Fundy — where it is comparatively rare — northward as far 

 as the land extends. In midwinter it is found in the open sea as far south as the 



U. troile californica, summer adult. 



lower waters of tlie Chesapeake. It is very rarely met witli in bays or land-locked 

 inlets, unless driven there by severe storms and against its own will. 



In Europe it wanders in winter to the ^lediterranean, and breeds from the British 

 Islands northward. It is found throughout the Arctic Ocean, and breeds on nearly 

 all the islands north of Asia, Europe, and America. It was found by Bischoff 

 present, but not abundant, at Kadiak. 



It is given by Professor Reinhardt as being one of the resident species of Green- 

 land. In the summer of 1858 Dr. Walker, in the Expedition of the "Fox," encoun- 

 tered thousands of this species on the coast of Greenland, and afterward in INIelville 

 Bay. 



According to Giraud, tliis bird is to be met with in winter off the coasts of Long 

 Island and New Jersey. Professor Newton states that Dr. ^falmgren found it breed- 

 ing on Bear Island, Spitzbergen, in almost incredible numbers ; and there he found 

 intermingled with it occasional specimens of Uria ringvia, which he regards rather 

 as a variety of this bird than as entitled to specific rank. 



Middendorff met with this species on the Siberian coast, on the margins of the 

 tundras of that desolate region. 



Mr. Howard Saunders states that it is found on the INIediterranean coast of Spain, 

 but that it is of very rare occurrence there. Three specimens only were obtained by 

 him during the winter. Near Gibraltar it was more numerous. ]\Ir. Layard (" Ibis,*' 

 1867, p. 249) mentions that in his voyage from England to Cape Town, when oft" Cai)e 

 Finisterre he fell in with flocks of these birds. ]\Ir. Wright mentions that a single 

 example of this species was taken, about 1852, at jNEalta, and that in 1804 it was still 

 preserved in the museum of Professor Delicatu. 



During the breeding-season these birds assemble by hundreds, or, more freciuently, 

 by thousands, at certain localities, generally on extensive rocky islands, or on clift's, 

 or bold shores. To^vard these points they usually converge early in the month of 

 May. Notwithstanding the immense numbers that sometimes resort to the same 

 rock, and although we often find these birds breeding in company with those of 

 several other species, except when disturbed by the intrusion of man, there is a free- 

 dom from confusion and a prevalence of order and systtnn in their operations that is 

 quite remarkable. As if by mutual aiul common consent, not only do the different 



