NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 
255 
The flesh of the Puffin, though not ill-flavored, is so excessively tough as to 
he eatable only in cases of necessity. It is most commonly known as the 
“ Parrakeet,” (Paroquet) as it is pronounced; they are also called “Sea- 
parrots,” and are sometimes designated by their proper name of Puffin. 
Uria (Uria) grylle Latham. — Black Guillemot . — u Sea-pigeon.” 
XJria grylle , Aud., Birds Amer. vii. 272, pi. 474. 
Uria [Uria) grylle , Cassin, Gen. Rep. 911. 
The history of the Black Guillemot is an interesting one. In the extraordi- 
nary changes of plumage it undergoes, in its extensive breeding range, and the 
many entirely peculiar habits it possesses, it differs widely from all birds of the 
family on the eastern coast of America. The most remarkable fact connected 
with it is, that it breeds abundantly in the interior of the continent, being 
fouud in great numbers on the southern shores of Hudson’s Bay, while the other 
species of Alcidce are probably without an exception exclusively marine. It is 
very plentiful throughout the extent of Labrador, where many remain during 
the whole winter ; in fact, with the exception of the Auks, Murres, and Puffins, 
which congregate in such immense numbers at certain places, it is the most 
common and generally distributed bird, breeding along the whole coast. I 
obtained eggs at Sloop Harbor, the first locality visited, and at Groswater 
Bay they were still more abundant. Audubon speaks of finding them at the 
Magdaline Islands, and I have seen specimens from Greenland, which, with 
the fact of its breeding plentifully on Hudson’s Bay, prove for it a breeding 
range remarkable among the Alcidce. It is a hardy bird, remaining through- 
out the year in Labrador. The changes of plumage which it undergoes are 
very great. About the middle of August, or as soon as the duties of rearing 
the young are concluded, the change commences, with the moult. In a very 
short time they have become most curiously mottled with pure white, and the 
change goes on till the body becomes almost entirely white — the wings and 
tail mostly remaining black. In this state of plumage, which is shared also 
by the young for the first year, they continue during the winter, and until the 
breeding dress is again assumed the following spring. While undergoing the 
change, they are entirely unable to fly, from the loss of the primary quills. 
The Black Guillemot chooses for its breeding place the most rocky, broken, 
and precipitous islands along the coast, in the numerous fissures and caverns of 
the eggs are deposited. Wherever there are rough jagged rocks sloping 
down in huge masses to the water, there the Black Guillemot will always be 
found breeding in greater or less abundance. Though they never congregate 
at one spot in such immense numbers as the Puffins and Murres are wont to do, 
yet there are some islands which, from their peculiar adaptation to their 
wants, are taken complete possession of by the birds. These islands, wher- 
ever found, are known to the natives as “ Sea-pigeon Islands.” Here they 
breed in great numbers, every fissure and cavern being occupied by one or 
more pair. They show marked preference for the most tortuous and deepest 
crevices, at the extremity of which the eggs are deposited. They are most 
usually two in number ; never more, so far as my own observations extend; 
but as Audubon, on the best of authority, personal observation, expressly 
states that the number is sometimes three, the fact must be considered as es- 
tablished. They measure nearly or quite two inches and three-eighths in length 
by one and five-eighths in greatest diameter, and are, in size and shape — which 
latter is nearly elliptical — pretty constant, much more so than is usual in the 
family. The shell is rough ; its ground color a very light greenish or earthy 
white ; it is irregularly spotted and blotched with two shades of brown, one very 
dark, and with light purplish. The markings are mostly attracted into a ring 
about the larger end, though they vary much in their disposition, sometimes 
being very regularly distributed over the whole surface. The egg is never, I 
1861 .] 
