212 
ALCINiE. URIA. 
or spots. The young seldom betake themselves to the water 
until of considerable size. Small fishes and Crustacea are 
the food of these birds, which after the breeding season dis- 
perse over the seas, and in winter advance southward. Our 
three species are common to the northern regions of both 
continents. They moult twice in the year, the winter 
plumage being more or less differently coloured from that 
of summer. The eggs afford excellent eating, but the flesh 
is rank. 
i 
279. Uria Brunnichii. Large-billed Guillemot. 
Bill stout, black ; feet dusky, tinged with red ; plumage 
of the head and upper parts greyish-black ; sides of the head 
and throat tinged with brown ; lower parts white, sides 
streaked with greyish-black ; edges of wings and tips of se- 
condaries white. In winter, the sides of the head and neck, 
and the throat, white. In adults, there is on each side of 
the head a white line behind the eye. 
The length of this species is about eighteen inches, its ex- 
tent of wings thirty. The only authority for its occurrence 
in Britain known to me is that of a specimen from Orkney, 
which I found among some skins belonging to the late Mr 
Wilson, janitor of the Edinburgh University. The skin was 
prepared, and is now in the Museum there. 
Uria Brunnichii, Sabine, Temm. Man. d’Ornith. ii. 924. 
—Uria Brunnichii, Large-billed Guillemot, MacGillivray, 
Brit. Birds, v. 
280. Uria Troile, Foolish Guillemot, 
Bill moderately stout, black ; feet black. In summer, the 
upper parts greyish-black ; the sides of the head and the throat 
tinged with brown ; lower parts white, sides streaked with 
greyish-black ; a line of white encircling the eye, and extend- 
ing behind it : edges of wings and tips of secondaries white. 
In winter, the sides of the head and neck, and the fore-part 
of the latter white. Some individuals want the white lines 
on the head. 
Male, 17, SO, 7|r, 1 L ii 5 y? liv? tv* Female, 16|, 30. 
Many individuals of this species remain on our coasts all 
winter. In summer it is met with congregated in vast num- 
bers on particular rocks, whether on the coast or in islands, 
where it breeds. There they may be seen standing in rows, 
nearly erect, on the ledges, or sitting on their egg. No nest 
