Page:The Zoologist, 3rd series, vol 1 (1877).djvu/83

Rh The legs were red, long, and slender, being bare of feathers one inch and a quarter above the knee. I have been particular in describing this species, as I believe it is the first that has occurred in this neighbourhood, although it is reported to have been killed on more than one occasion in Christchurch Harbour. That this species, or any others which love the sea-shore, should sometimes wander up the course of the River Avon, is not to be wondered at, but its occurrence here may perhaps be worth noting.— (Ringwood, Hants).

—On the 29th November last I was shooting about four miles out from Poole Harbour-bar, and amongst a lot of other birds I got a very singular variety of the Guillemot. Its bill and legs were of a bright yellowish red colour; the feet yellow also, with white nails. Mr. Hart, of Christchurch, who is setting up the bird, has sent me the following description of it:—Length, 18 inches 10 lines; breadth, 28 inches; bill, from forehead, 2 in.—from gape, 2 in. 11 lines; a streak running back from the eyes to a distance of 1¾ inch. Upper parts of bird, wings, tail, &c., dusky brownish black; secondaries tipped with white; under parts, white, &c.; legs, yellowish red; webs, dusky; nails, white. In fact, an ordinary full-sized Guillemot in winter plumage. Subjoined is a note from Professor Newton, which will no doubt be interesting to your readers:—"You are lucky to have obtained that very singular variety of the Guillemot. I have heard of a similar example before, but at this moment I only recollect one instance of it. This is noticed in the defunct German ornithological magazine 'Naumania' for 1857 (p. 437), by Dr. Krüper, who was informed by Pastor Jon Jonsson that such a bird was killed on the I3th July, 1843, at Grimsey, North Iceland. It is said to have been just like an ordinary Guillemot, but had a yellowish red (gelbrothen) bill and feet. The young is said to have had white feet, which would most likely have turned yellow with age."— (Westport, Wareham, Dorset).

[This singular variety of the Common Guillemot was exhibited by Prof. Newton at a meeting of the Zoological Society held on the 2nd January last, and attracted considerable attention from the ornithologists then present. The bird is in winter plumage, and, in the absence of any other explanation, the pale colour of the bill and legs must be regarded as a variation akin to albinism, or an absence of the normal colouring matter owing probably to some disease.—]

—The capture of this rare visitant at Killarney, on June 10th, 1875, having been only recorded in 'The Field' of June 19th, 1875, under initials, I beg to offer the following details, in order to establish its authenticity. I was fishing with a friend on the Lanne, a river connecting the Killarney Lakes with the sea at Castlemaine Harbour, and was just nearing a quiet and unfrequented part of the river where the Duntor Woods overshadow it, when my attention was attracted by what