286 
ALCAD^. 
adult state.* In my description-book I find tlie following 
examples particularly noticed : — 
Male (January 19tb), in winter plumage — bill short and 
narrow, dark dusky brown, the tip nearly black ; front and 
sides of tarsi and upper surface of toes, light brown, inclining 
to yellow, webs rather darker ; back of tarsi and the claws deep 
dusky brown. This was ascertained beyond all doubt to be a 
young male. 
Male (March 2d), winter plumage — biU short and narrow, 
nearly black, but still darker at tip ; tarsi and feet as in the 
last. 
Female (February 27th), summer plumage commencing — 
bill full-sized, nearly black ; tarsi and feet, olive brown, paler 
and yellowish on inside of former and upper surface of latter. 
Male (March 7th), in transition plumage — bill full-sized, 
and coloured as in last-mentioned specimen, but the light 
colour on tarsi and feet is paler in the present one. 
Female (April 24th), in breeding plumage — bill fuU-sized, 
black ; tarsi and feet nearly black, with a few lighter stains. 
This example was killed at the breeding station, but upon the 
same day, at some miles distance, I saw others with the front 
of the neck still white ; it would therefore appear that those 
in transition plumage weeks previously to that date were old 
birds. 
Macgillivray describes the male in summer, and says that it 
is resembled by the female in winter. He also states that the 
young bird in winter has the feet dull brownish flesh colour. 
Albinoes do occur, but they are extremely scarce. 
Noss Head and Unst are the chief breeding stations of the 
Guillemots, but from all accounts the numbers now will bear 
no comparison with those of fifty years ago, so great has 
been the havoc committed by shooting parties. However, 
to those who never saw the Guillemots in their palmy days, 
the cliffs appear to be tolerably well stocked ; and as the 
* It appears that the size of the hill is not] an infallible guide, although in 
most instances it can he depended upon. 
