586 



6 



rank ; for, as far as I can see, this latter gentleman is quite correct in the distinctive characters 

 pointed out by him (Ibis, 1865, p. 519), by which the four species can be separated; but he 

 omits to name that TJria columba always has the under wing-coverts smoky grey, and not white. 



The four species may be briefly characterized as follows : — 



TJria grylle. General colour black ; a large space on the wing white, these feathers forming 

 the white patch, having the basal portion black ; no white about the head ; under wing-coverts 

 and axillaries white. The range of this species is given above. 



TJria mandti. Resembles TJria grylle, but has a more slender bill, and the feathers forming 

 the white patch on the wing are pure white without any black on the basal portion. Inhabits 

 Spitzbergen and Novaya Zemlya. 



TJria columba (Pall.) (Zoogr. Rosso-As. ii. p. 348). General colour black ; a large white 

 patch on the wing divided by a triangular black patch ; under wing-coverts dark sooty grey, not 

 white. Inhabits the Asiatic and American coasts of the North Pacific. 



TJria carbo (Pall.) (Zoogr. Bosso-As. ii. p. 350, pi. 79). General colour black; no white 

 patch on the wings ; feathers around and behind the eye, and at the base of the bill, white ; in 

 size larger than the preceding species, the bill especially being longer and stouter. Inhabits the 

 Aleutian Isles, Kamtschatka, and Japan. 



I may here remark that the best distinction between TJria columba and TJria grylle is the 

 difference in coloration of the under surface of the wing; for the division in the white patch on 

 the wings is scarcely characteristic. I have now before me a specimen of TJria grylle from 

 Orkney, in full summer dress, which has the wing-patch divided through the centre by a broad 

 stripe of black. Indeed in many of my specimens this stripe is more or less developed ; but in 

 most it is concealed, though it can always be seen if the feathers are moved. 



I have omitted from the synonyms of the present species TJria unicolor, Brehm (Isis, 1826, 

 p. 988), which appears to be a somewhat doubtful species, and is described as being larger than 

 TJ. grylle, and entirely black. This supposed species appears to be the same as TJria motzfeldi, 

 Benicken (Isis, 1824, pp. 888, 889), and is supposed to come from Iceland. As stated by Professor 

 Newton (I. c), there is in the British Museum a Guillemot entirely black all over, which was 

 purchased from Mr. Argent, and is said to have come from Iceland ; but it may possibly be a 

 variety of TJria carbo lacking the white eye-patch. 



The specimens figured are the adults in summer plumage and in winter dress above 

 described, and are in my own collection. 



In the preparation of the above article I have examined the following specimens : — 



E Mus. H. E. Dresser. 



a, cj ad. Greenland (Dr. Kutter). b, 6 , summer, c, adult in change, d,juv. Greenland (Erichsen) . e, $ ad. 



Lichtenfels, S. Greenland, July 21st, 1874 (Dr. O.Flnsch). f, d. Lichtenfels, December 10th, 1874 



(0. F.). g, 6, h, ?. Orkney, summer, i, ? ad. in spring, k, ad. in change, I, ? ad. winter, m, juv. 



Orkney (Dunn), n, 6 ad. Sutherlandshire, May 31st, 1869, taken off nest, with two eggs (/. A. Harvie- 



Brown) . 



E Mus. A. et E. Newton. 

 a, 6 . Fuglenses, Qualo, Norway, July 1st, 1864 (A. N.). 



