P 
CORDEAUX : BIRD-NOTES FROM THE HUMBER DISTRICT. 119 
retains much of the black on the throat and breast characteristic 
of the summer plumage. In some the white of the throat and 
cheeks extends to the back of the neck and forms a continuous 
collar, but no two birds are quite alike, the variations being extra- 
ordinary, even their bills differing in size. All observers agree that 
they fly with great rapidity, with the speed of Rock Doves, and 
in a direct line; at the same time they can turn or rise to 
a higher level with the greatest ease. We do not think that 
these great flights, this storm of Iceland Auks, as the fishermen 
call them, have come direct to the east coast from Arctic 
latitudes. Sailors and fishermen say they meet with them 
sometimes at sea in the winter months, and often in great 
numbers. Continuous heavy gales, which prevent them feeding, 
will in time force them to the land; but they do not voluntarily 
approach the coast except under stress of weather, and after 
a succession of such storms as we have had this winter. 
A Flamborough fisherman told me he had seen a single Little 
Auk off the headland on March 7th. 
Uria bruennichi E. Sabine. Briinnich’s Guillemot. One, an 
adult male, was shot on the North Bay, Scarborough, on 
January 7th, by a loafer who did not take the trouble to pick 
it from the water; fortunately it was secured by an onlooker 
and taken to Mr. W. J. Clarke, naturalist, who at once 
recognised its rarity. The bird was exhibited by Mr. Harting 
at the meeting of the Linnean Society of London on Jan. 17th. 
Another, a remarkably fine bird, also a male, was got at Filey on 
January 30th, by Mr. Oxley Grabham, who picked it up on the 
sands, This measured 19} inches in length and 284 inches in 
expanse of wing. There was a white edge to the basal half of the 
upper mandible, and the bird was very dark-coloured on the head 
and back ; legs yellowish-olive. A third, of which Mr. Grabham_ 
has the skin, a female, was obtained at Filey about the same 
ime. It is probable that this species is of more frequent 
occurrence off the coast in some winters than we have hitherto 
supposed. It is a very likely bird to be overlooked. All these 
three Yorkshire examples were got from the shore, and when 
we consider how seldom it is that the Common Guillemot is 
driven on the coast we may reasonably suppose those occur- 
rences must be very exceptional in which this large and robust 
Arctic bird is incapable of keeping the sea. 
The three Yorkshire specimens have been sent to Lord 
Lilford, and we are glad to learn Briinnich’s Guillemot will be the 
subject of a plate in his beautiful ‘ Illustrations of British Birds.’ 
April 1895. 
