1895.] ON Å MELANISTIC PHASE OF URIA GRYLLE. 7 
The bill is like that in U. grylle, and exhibits in its shape 
nothing different to that species. The length only is å shade 
greater than in any of the specimens of U. grylle to which I at 
present have access. In U. grylle, the length from the fore 
border of the nostrils is generally only 25 mm. (often a few 
millimetres shorter), while in our specimen, it is 27 mm. 
The length of the tarsus, as well as the shape and size of 
the feet, is the same as in U. grylle. 'The claws are black and 
rather broad; the same formation occurs in solitary specimens 
of U. grylle, but in the greater number of that species they are 
longer and narrower. 
There are 12 tail-feathers, just as in U. grylle. The wiugs 
and tail are of the same length as in that species. 
The bill is black, the feet red; after drying, the web be- 
came darker. The claws had a light brown tinge on each side 
of the centre keel: this is not the case with any of the speci- 
mens of U. grylle hitherto examined, where the colour of the 
claw is black. 
The general impression received is: Size and structure as å 
whole exactly similar to that given by U. grylle; the bill is per- 
haps a trifle longer; the number of tail-feathers, 12. The colour 
is black all over, the ground of the feathers almost imperceptibly 
lighter; base of inner web of the wing-feathers, whitish. The 
under side of the wings blackish brown, the colour of the bill 
and feet as in U. grylle, the claws å horny brown. 
This specimen was found in company with several normally 
coloured U. grylle, but lay at some distance from these; it was 
immediately recognisable by its black garb, while all the other 
specimens were in their winter dress with the lower parts white. 
Unlike the others, it was extremely shy, and would not 
allow of a nearer approach than 200—260 feet, so it was åa 
mere chance that the first shot took effect. 
| 
. Total length, 372 mm. Wing, 172 mm. Tail, 54 mm. OChristia- 
nia Fjord, 9th May, 1884. 
. Total length, 325 mm. Wing, 158 mm. Tail 48 mm. Bergen 
17th March, 1888. Both specimens were males. 
[ne] 
