216 ALCIDiE. 



jBsli in its bill ; — a spotted bleuny [Blennius yminellus) was found 

 in the stomach of one. 



Earlj in July 1834, we met with the black guillemot, about the 

 largest of the Isles of Arran, off Galway Bay, and on the coast 

 of Clare. Mr. T. JP. Neligan, when mentioning its breeding on 

 the Kerry coast in 1887, where it then was and still is numerous, 

 added, that, in a nest containing two eggs, which he had found, 

 the male bird was captured, and exhibited two patches bare of 

 feathers, caused by his incubation."^ The species has been shot 

 near Yalentia Island in winter. On the coast of Cork it breeds 

 at the Reannies, &c., in company with the common guillemot and 

 razorbiU ;t — on the cliffs of Ardmore (Waterford), and others 

 in the south, it builds; also at Bray Head, county Wicklow. 

 On my visiting (with Mr. E. Ball) the island of Ireland's Eye, 

 off Howth, in April 1835 and early in July 1837, and cross- 

 ing to Lambay Island on the 5th of June, 1838, several were 

 seen : — they nidify at both islands. J When il\ing, the white 

 patch on the wing is very conspicuous. 



The late Mr. J. Montgomery noted this species as " beginning 

 to arrive after the breeding season at the bay of Strangford ou 

 the 29th of July, 1822 : they were all in black plumage [there- 

 fore adults], not a grey or speckled one being amongst them." 

 It was added, that " when rising on wing, this bird assists itself 

 by striking the water rapidly with its feet." Specimens killed 

 almost every year, at various times during the winter, on the 

 marine loughs of Lame, Belfast, and Strangford, have come 



* Mr. Audubon remarks — " The black guillemot, to cover ber tbree eggs [this 

 number be fouud in all of the many nests tbat came uuder his observation ou the 

 American coast], and to warm them all at once, plucks a space bare quite across her 

 belly. * * * The males [of the black, common, and Brunnich's guillemot, as 

 well as of the razorbill] incubate as weU as the females, although the latter are more 

 assiduous" (vol. iii. j). 145). This author, commencing at p. 148, gives a very good 

 description of the habits, &c., of the black guillemot, marred, however, by the in- 

 troduction of extraneous matter. 



t Mr. R. "WaiTen, jun. ; — who has never seen more than thi'ee or four pair there 

 in a day. 



% Mr. R. J. Montgomery wrote to me after visiting Lambay in June 1849, that they 

 build on the south side of the island, where there are no cliffs, but that he was 

 unable to find their esgs. 



