Published online by Cambridge University Press: 20 November 2018
Let   $C$  and
 $C$  and   $D$  be digraphs. A mapping
 $D$  be digraphs. A mapping   $f:V\left( D \right)\to V\left( C \right)$  is a
 $f:V\left( D \right)\to V\left( C \right)$  is a   $C$ -colouring if for every arc
 $C$ -colouring if for every arc   $uv$  of
 $uv$  of   $D$ , either
 $D$ , either   $f\left( u \right)f\left( v \right)$  is an arc of
 $f\left( u \right)f\left( v \right)$  is an arc of   $C$  or
 $C$  or   $f\left( u \right)=f\left( v \right)$ , and the preimage of every vertex of
 $f\left( u \right)=f\left( v \right)$ , and the preimage of every vertex of   $C$  induces an acyclic subdigraph in
 $C$  induces an acyclic subdigraph in   $D$ . We say that
 $D$ . We say that   $D$  is
 $D$  is   $C$ -colourable if it admits a
 $C$ -colourable if it admits a   $C$ -colouring and that
 $C$ -colouring and that   $D$  is uniquely
 $D$  is uniquely   $C$ -colourable if it is surjectively
 $C$ -colourable if it is surjectively   $C$ -colourable and any two
 $C$ -colourable and any two   $C$ -colourings of
 $C$ -colourings of   $D$  differ by an automorphism of
 $D$  differ by an automorphism of   $C$ . We prove that if a digraph
 $C$ . We prove that if a digraph   $D$  is not
 $D$  is not   $C$ -colourable, then there exist digraphs of arbitrarily large girth that are
 $C$ -colourable, then there exist digraphs of arbitrarily large girth that are   $D$ -colourable but not
 $D$ -colourable but not   $C$ -colourable. Moreover, for every digraph
 $C$ -colourable. Moreover, for every digraph   $D$  that is uniquely
 $D$  that is uniquely   $D$ -colourable, there exists a uniquely
 $D$ -colourable, there exists a uniquely   $D$ -colourable digraph of arbitrarily large girth. In particular, this implies that for every rational number
 $D$ -colourable digraph of arbitrarily large girth. In particular, this implies that for every rational number   $r\ge 1$ , there are uniquely circularly
 $r\ge 1$ , there are uniquely circularly   $r$ -colourable digraphs with arbitrarily large girth.
 $r$ -colourable digraphs with arbitrarily large girth.