576 



2 



Adult in winter. Differs from the adult in summer in having the upper parts a trifle duller in colour, the 

 chin and throat white, and not hlack. 



Young (Ice Sound, W. Spitsbergen, 16th August). Resembles the adult in summer dress in general colora- 

 tion ; but the colours are duller ; and it is much smaller in size, being scarcely larger than a Little Auk, 

 though fully feathered; bill and legs dark plumbeous. 



This species, differing from its ally the common Guillemot chiefly by its short stout bill, is found 

 in much higher latitudes than that species, being common in the Arctic Seas of both the Old and 

 New World ; and during the winter season it is met with as a straggler to the coasts of Con- 

 tinental Europe, and in the United States as far south as Massachusetts. 



It only occurs on the coasts of Great Britain as a rare straggler during the winter season, 

 and has never been met with breeding with us. Macgillivray says that he never saw but one 

 British-killed example, viz. one belonging to Mr. Wilson, janitor to the Edinburgh University, 

 which was sent amongst some skins from Orkney ; Messrs. Baikie and Heddle say that it has 

 occurred once or twice in Orkney ; Captain Sir James C. Ross reported having seen it off the 

 island of Unst; but Dr. Saxby says that he knows of no instance of one having been obtained 

 there or elsewhere in Shetland, and a reward offered by him to the climbers resulted in failure 

 to obtain one, and they assured him that no such bird existed there. Mr. Robert Gray says 

 (B. of W. of Scotl. p. 422) that one, said to have been obtained in Caithness, was in the collec- 

 tion of Mr. E. S. Sinclair, where it was seen and identified by the late Mr. Wilson, of Woodville ; 

 and Mr. More states (Ibis, 1865, p. 449) that one was obtained by the late Sir William Milner 

 in Sutherlandshire. Mr. Gray also mentions that he had for examination a specimen preserved 

 by a bird-stuffer at Hamilton, and said to have been obtained on the west coast of Scotland. 

 Referring to its having been stated to inhabit St. Kilda, Mr. Gray writes (I. c.) as follows : — 

 " Though this species has been said to be a native of St. Kilda, I can find no reliable informa- 

 tion on the subject of its breeding there. None of my correspondents who have visited St. Kilda 

 appear to have recognized the bird at all." 



Its occurrence in Ireland is somewhat doubtful. Captain Sabine says that he " recognized 

 it in flight" on the coast of Kerry in July 1833, which I cannot believe it is possible to do; and 

 Mr. Thompson writes that Dr. Harvey, of Cork, received a Guillemot, said to be the present 

 species, from Youghal about the 1st of February 1850. 



In Greenland it is, Professor Newton states, doubtless the commonest bird on the coast, but 

 is said not to breed south of lat. 64° N. Holboll met with three specimens, entirely black — two 

 near Godthaab, and one at the Sukkertop, but all in winter. Referring to its occurrence in 

 Iceland, Professor Newton also writes (Notes Orn. Icel. p. 22) as follows : — " Faber seems to 

 have been in doubt whether this was really distinct from the common Guillemot, as he found so 

 great a resemblance in their habits. Olafsen mentions it (pp. 355, 562) in reference to two 

 localities, Snsefellsnes and Latrabjarg ; but in one place he considers it to be the female of the 

 last-mentioned species. He gives a figure of it (tab. xxii), which shows what he is speaking 

 about. Faber appears to consider that it bred, in company with the other species, all round the 

 coast. Mr. Proctor found it at Grimsey. Herr Preyer shot one at Reykjavik. I was told it was 

 occasionally met with at Hafnaberg in the breeding-time ; but I never saw it there, nor, indeed, 

 elsewhere in Iceland. 



