1892.] NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 145 



BIRDS COLLECTED BY THE WEST GREENLAND EXPEDITION. 

 BY WITMER STONE. 



The collection of birds herein described was obtained June 26 to 

 August 11, 1891, by the West Greenland Expedition under com- 

 mand of Prof. Angelo Heilprin. The specimens were collected by 

 Dr. William E. Hughes, Ornithologist of the Expedition, and Dr. 

 Benjamin Sharp, Zoologist-in-Charge, the principal localities where 

 collecting was carried on being Disco Island, Duck Island (Lat. 

 73° 57' N.), Melville Bay, Cape York, and McCormick Bay (Lat. 

 77° 43' N.). 



Twenty-one species are represented in the Greenland collection 

 which numbers 147 specimens and there are in addition 16 speci- 

 mens obtained at Sydney, Nova Scotia, Gulf of St. Lawrence and 

 Strait of Belle Isle. 



jNIost of the birds collected w^ere in full breeding plumage and 

 were undoubtedly on their breeding grounds. In the following list 

 I have given the results of careful measurements of all the speci- 

 mens, and notes in regard to peculiarities of plumage, etc. 



1. Cepphus grylle ;L). Black Guillemot. 



Only one specim.^n of this bird was procured, a male shot on the 

 Waigat, Disco Island, August 8. The wing measures 6*50 inches 

 and the culmen 1*44 inches. 



2. Cepphus mandtii (Licht) Mandt's Guillemot. 



Specimens of Mandt's Guillemot were collected in Melville and 

 McCormick Bays and the series obtained shows considerable varia- 

 tion in plumage. One is uniform black while the others are some- 

 what speckled with white feathers below and have many of the 

 feathers of the interscapular region tipped with white. The white 

 wing coverts in these specimens have distinct black tips and some 

 of them are slightly dusky at the extreme base. These mottled 

 birds are possibly one or two years old and the uniform black 

 garb may not be acquired for several years. 



Three nestlings, measuring about six inches in length, are in the 

 collection. They are covered with long and very soft dull black 

 down. The bills have a small white conical projection near the 

 extremity of the upper mandible. 



