71 
season the middle and greater coverts form 
a very large speculum of pure white ; beak 
black ; inside of the beak and legs bright 
red. At the same season the plumage of 
thefemaleis of a less deep black, the white 
speculum less extensive and less pure. At 
the two periodical moultings, birds of both 
sexes are seen with white feathers in greater 
or less numbers upon the inferior parts. In 
this state it is the Spotted Guillemot of 
authors 
Considerable difference of opinion having 
been maintained by authors concerning this 
species, we insert the following extract 
from Capt. Sabine's paper on the birds of 
the Arctic regions, which we have no doubt 
will satisfy our readers, that the Black and 
Spotted Guillemot is the same bird. " A 
male specimen killed in November at Shet- 
land, having the wing spot mottled, shows 
that this circumstance is not peculiar to the 
females, as has been supposed. In the 
spring the plumage gradually re-assumes 
* We have given portraits of the mature bird, and like- 
wise the bird in change of plumage, from beautiful specimens 
in the collection of E. Lombe, Esq. 
