1886.] PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED 8TATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 659 



men which is missing: ("Amended List of the Birds of Japan," London, 

 January, 1884). 



Xo. 24, In the present list this name has been changed, and appears 

 in the fourth column, as Mr. Stejneger has identified his specimen from 

 Bering Islands soj and he remarks: " Schlegel has already pointed 

 out that the Japanese white-fronted geese belong to the large American 

 form" gambcH, which, however, he says can be considered "only a race 

 or sub-species of alhifrons, while the latter may be regarded as specifi- 

 cally distinct from erythropusy The examination of a large number of 

 specimens will be necessary before a point like this can be decided, as 

 both forms may occur in Japan. 



No. 26. It may be that this species will have to be split up iuto two 

 races according to size, as with the White-fronted and Bean Goose. 



No. 35. There is little to remark on the true fresh-water ducks, but 

 it may be mentioned that Nos. 31, 32, 33, and 34 are not known from 

 Kamtschatka, and 40 and 42 are somewhat doubtful, while but a single 

 species, Mareca americana (Gmel.), outside the Japan list, has occurred, 

 which Mr. Stejneger considered a storm-blown bird that he found dead 

 on Bering Island. 



No. 44. This duck is considered the representative in Eastern Asia 

 of the Lesser Scauj) of North America, while No. 43 is the true Large 

 Scaup of the Palaearctic Eegion, represented in America by A. marila 

 nearctica, given a sub-specific distinction by Mr. Stejneger. In this 

 division of the ducks, Nos. 44, 46, and 47 of the Japan list are wanting 

 in Kamtschatka. On the other hand, the Buffle-headed Duck, C. albeola 

 (Linn.), of the American continent, the Pacific Eider S. v-nigra (Gray), 

 and the King Eider, S. spectabilis (Linn.), which are found on the penin- 

 sula or the adjacent Commander Islands, are unknown in Japan. It 

 should be noted likewise that, although Nos. 50 and 51 are on the Japan 

 list, they are confined to the north, the former not having been found 

 south of Yezo, while the only examples of the latter are from the Kuril 

 Islands. 



No. 52. Regarding the Scoters inhabiting the eastern coasts of Asia, 

 the black-winged sub-genus maybe disposed of by saying that the Amer- 

 ican species, 0. americcma (Sw. & Eich.), is that found in Japan and 

 Kamtschatka, 0. nigra (Linn.) of Europe not having occurred. The 

 Surf Scoter, Oidemia [Pelionetta] persjpicil'ata (Linn.), may also be 

 got out of the way by mentioning that it has not been found on the 

 western shores of the Pacific. There remain, therefore, the two white- 

 winged species, placed in the sub-genus 2Ielanitta, but Icnown as Oide- 

 mia fusca (Linn.) and deglandi Bonap. {=velvetina Oassin), the specific 

 distinction between which is limited (?) to a slight difference in the bill. 

 While the first is European, with accidental (?) occurrence on the Amer- 

 ican continent, the other is North American, unknown in Europe. Tlio 

 question is what are the East Asiatic birds, and do they embrace both 

 species! Mr. Stejneger has, without hesitation, referred his Bering Isl- 



