1HS7.] PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 125 



shedding in late autumn. There is to my knowledge no direct indica- 

 tion in the literature that anybody before has observed such a i^rocess, 

 but the various ways in which the authors describe the basal parts point 

 toward the probability that the condition of these is not the same at all 

 seasons, for we find them described by some as a soft membrane, by others 

 as a somewhat hard cere, by others again as a •' horny shield." In look- 

 ing over the material at hand I find other specimens apparently in the 

 first stage of shedding, notably one from Godhavn, Greenland, collected 

 by Governor Fencker, August 15, 1879 (U. S. Nat. Mus. ISo. 79054). 



28 (o3). Stercorarius lougicaudus Vieill. 87. 



An occasional, though by no means uncommon, visitor to the islands 

 during the migrations. 



29 (33.i). stercorarius pomarinus (Temm.) 331. 



By Dybowski given as occurring in Bering Island. Probably only 

 an occasional straggler. 



PROCELLAEOIDE^. 



30 (34). Diomedea albatrus Pall. 69. 



Quite a number of adult and young Albatrosses visit the sea surround- 

 ing the islands during the summer months, the black young ones being 

 in the majority, however, the old ones making their appearance as early 

 as the middle of March. D. nigripes Aud., does not occur, and those re- 

 ported from the islands and Kamtschatka are only the young ones of the 

 present species. 



31 (36). Pulmarus glacialis glupischa Stej>\ 91. 



Both the dark and the light phase occur on the islands, the former 

 breeding in enormous number on both islands, the latter only in small 

 colonies on Copper Island. 



32 (37). Puffinus tenuirostris Temm. 96. 

 Xot common, but probably breeding.* 



33 (3rt). Oceanodroma leucorhoa (Vieill.) 97. 

 Breeds at Tschornij Mys, Copper Island. 



34 (39). Oceanodroma furcata (Gm.) 98. 



Breeds at the same place as the foregoing ; also indifferent other locali- 

 ties in the same island, and doubtless also in Bering Island. A male, 

 shot on Bering Island, October 25, 1S84, has been received from Mr. 

 Grebnitzki (U. S. Nat. Mus. Xo. 106610; Grebnitzki, No. 200). 



SCOLOPACOIDE.^. 



35 (40). Haematopus osculans Swinh. 100. 

 Only occasionally during the migrations. 



" The Mstrolata desolata lueaMoued iu my List of the Birds of Kamtscliatka (Oru. 

 Expl. Kamtscb., p. 316) should probably stand as JE. lencoptera Govlv, being the 

 Procellaria desolata of Kuhl (Beitr., p. 143) and Schlegel, but not of Gmelin. 



