1898.] NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 129 



20. Simorhynchus pusillus. Least Auklet. 



From latitude about 60° north until we reached Bering Strait, 

 these little birds were quite common, usually seen in pairs on the 

 water. They were very tame and our vessel would almost run them 

 down before they would dive or fly. A number were shot near 

 King's Island. Three specimens, one male and two females, were 

 taken at St. George Island July, 1897, by Messrs. Greely and 

 Snodgrass. The male bird of this species shows a very decided in- 

 crease in size over the female on the measurement of bill, tarsus and 

 wing. Hab., coasts of the North Pacific, from Japan and southern 

 Alaska to the Aleutian and Pribyloff Islands. Nelson found these 

 birds abundant on the Diomede Islands in Bering Strait. 



29. Cepphus columba. Pigeon Guillemot. 



With the exception of a few specimens seen near King's Island, 

 the Pigeon Guillemots were not observed until we entered the Arc- 

 tic Ocean. At Icy Cape they were common on the water August 

 4th, their bright red legs, white wing bars and black bill making 

 them quite conspicuous. Few were met north of this point. Hab., 

 coast of the North Pacific, from southern California to Icy Cape, 

 Alaska, Aleutian Islands, Kamtschatka, and northern Japan. 



30. Uria troile californica. California Murre. 



June 16th a solitary California Murre was observed on the water, 

 longitude 150° W., latitude 51° 56' N. ; this was the first specimen 

 seen. Three days later eight more of this species were observed. 

 These birds, like the Tufted Puffin, were very curious about our 

 vessel and would usually circle around us a number of times before 

 going on their way. One even flew through our rigging four times, 

 acting very much as if trying to alight on the yards. Murres were 

 again met with June 20th, when a band of twenty-two passed us. 

 June 22d they were quite common in longitude 164° 55' W., 

 latitude 52° 9' N. Hab.. Pacific coast of North America, south to 

 Southern California. Nelson found this bird abundant on Wrangel 

 and Herald Islands. 



31. Uria lomvia arra. Pallas' Murre, "Ice Duck." 



These birds were met with in great abundance after entering 

 Bering Sea. The sailors call this murre the "Ice Duck," and its 

 appearance in large numbers is regarded as an indication of a near- 

 ness to ice. And indeed in the present case at least, this proved to 

 be true, for on the following day, June 27th, longitude 170° W., 



