42 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL UU&EUM. vol.38 



one night was about 100 miles northeast of the last-named island. 

 On August 16, in the Linschoten Islands, a single bird, apparently of 

 this species, was observed. 



Salvin " mentions a specimen from the Kurils in the British 

 Museum with some white at the base of the outer rectrices and also 

 along the outer web of the outermost feathers. A specimen from 

 Copper Island in my collection exhibits this peculiarity, but Kurilian 

 birds have no more white on the tail than others in the National 

 Museum collection from the North Atlantic; so I believe it to be 

 merely a ease of individual variation, as, except for this one example, 

 there is no difference between my birds and a series from the north 

 Atlantic. 



OCEANODROMA HOMOCHROA (Coues). 

 ASHY PETREL. 



A few of these birds were seen when we were well out from San 

 Francisco, and occasionally during the next day. 



Order STEGANOPODES. 

 Family PI1 AKTIIOXTTRE. 



PHAETHON CANDIDUS (Draper). 

 WHITE TROPIC BIRD. 



On August 1"), when we were in the Linschoten Islands, two pairs 

 and a single bird of this species, at different times, came close to the 

 ship and, after circling about a few times, disappeared in the direct ion 

 of the islands. 



PHAETHON RUBRICAUDA Boddaert. 

 RED-TAILED TROPIC BIRD. 



One example of this handsome species was observed on August 

 14, while we were in the Linschoten Islands. It can hardly he 

 doubted that both these species are much more common about 

 southern Japan than is commonly supposed. 



Family SLLID/E. 



SULA LEUCOGASTRA Boddaert. 

 BOOBY. 



A single Booby passed low over the hows of the ship in the afternoon 

 of August I I, when we were among the Linschoten Islands. It was 

 the only one seen. 



So far as I know, this group of islands has never been visited by an 

 ornithologist. From their geographical position, as well as the 

 greatly diversified conditions which obtain there, it would be sur- 

 prising if a thorough survey did not yield extremely interesting results. 



"Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. S>, L896, p. :'>!!». 





