276 THE BLACK GUILLEMOT. 



one rainy afternoon, over a great swell of the sea. The entrance of the 

 fissure was opened, and a stick pushed into the hole, when I had the pleasure 

 of seeing both birds, although apparently in a state of distress, run out by 

 me, and at once fly to the water. 



The flight of the Black Guillemot is rapid and continued. As they 

 proceed in their course, they alternately shew the black of their lower parts 

 and the white of their wings. They walk on the rocks with considerable 

 ease, using short steps, and whenever they wish to remove from one crag or 

 block to another, make use of their wings. When their nests are very high 

 above the water, they fly directly into them; and from such heights, if 

 necessity demands it, they at once dive towards the water. 



I kept many alive on board the Ripley. They ran on the floor in an erect 

 position for a few yards, fell down on their breasts, rose again, and continued 

 their exertions to escape until they got fairly concealed behind a chest or 

 barrel. 



The winter plumage of this species differs so greatly from that of summer, 

 that I have been induced to present you with a figure of the bird in both 

 states. It is difficult to perceive any external difference between the sexes, 

 only the males are rather larger than the females. Their flesh, although 

 black and tough, is not very unpalatable. 



The trachea is flattened, with numerous close, transparent rings. The 

 gullet, as in all the other species of this genus, is very dilatable. The 

 gizzard, which is small, has its inner membrane thin and of a yellow colour. 

 The intestines are about the thickness of a goose quill, and measure two feet 

 eight inches in length. 



Uria Grylle, Bonap. Syn., p. 423. 



Uria Grylle, Black Guillemot, Nutt. Man., vol. ii. p. 523. 



Black Guillemot, Uria Grylle, Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. iii. p. 148; vol. v. p. 627. 



Adult, 13$, 2l£. 



Accidental as far south, on the eastern coast, as New York; not rare from 

 thence eastward, during winter. Breeds from the Bay of Fundy along all 

 the rocky shores, to Labrador, and the highest latitudes, where considerable 

 numbers even spend the winter. 



Adult in summer. 



Bill shorter than the head, straight, rather stout, tapering, compressed, 

 acute. Upper mandible with the dorsal line nearly straight and sloping, 

 towards the tip slightly arched, the sides sloping and towards the end a little 

 convex, the edges sharp and slightly inflected. Nostrils basal, lateral, 

 linear, partially concealed by the feathers. Lower mandible with the angle 



