BLACK GUILLEMOT. 153 



membrane ; the first toe wanting, the third and fourth about equal, the 

 second shortest ; claws small, arched, compressed, rather obtuse, that of 

 the middle toe with a dilated thin inner edge. 



Plumage soft, close, blended and velvety ; feathers of the head very 

 short, on the back broadly rounded, of the lower parts more elongated. 

 Wings rather small ; primary quiUs curved, the first longest, the second 

 little shorter, the rest rather rapidly diminishing; secondary incurved, 

 broadly rounded. Tail short, narrow, rounded, of twelve rather pointed 

 feathers. 



Bill black, inside of mouth vermilion tinged with carmine. Iris deep 

 brown. Feet of the same colour as the mouth, claws black. The general 

 colour of the plumage is deep black, on the upper part tinged with green, 

 on the lower with red, there being only a large patch on each wing, in- 

 cluding the secondary coverts and some of the smaller feathers pure white, 

 as are the lower wing-coverts. The quills and tail are tinged with brown. 



Length to end of tail 13| inches, to end of claws 16j, to end of 

 wings 13 ; extent of wings 21^ ; wing from flexure 6^, tail 2 ; bill along 

 the ridge 1^, along the gape 1 J ; tarsus 1^%, middle toe 1^, its claw |. 

 Weight 13i oz. 



Adult in winter. Plate CCXIX. Fig. 2. 



The bill and iris are of the same colour as in summer, but the red of 

 the feet is paler. The general colour of the plumage is white, the sides 

 of the head, the neck all round, the lower parts, and the rump being of 

 that colour, more or less shaded with grey. The upper part of the head 

 obscurely mottled with greyish-black ; the back and scapulars black, 

 each feather tipped with greyish-white, those of the latter more broadly. 

 The wings and tail brownish-black, the former with the conspicuous white 

 patch, as in summer. 



Young a few days old. Plate CCXIX. Fig. 3. 



Bill and feet black, the former tinged with red ; iris dark brown. The 

 general colour of the soft thick down with which the whole body is covered 

 is brownish-black. 



