ORNITHOLOGICAL EXPLORATIONS. 



19 



perhaps at present the most numerous species of the region, although 

 it is difficult to say whetlier Lunda cirrhata is not just as rich in indi- 

 viduals. Xext come Fulmarus glupisclia and Fhalacrocorax pelagicus. 

 It is by far more numerous, however, on Copper Island than on Bering 

 Island, there being hardly an Are rookery on the whole northern part 

 of the latter island, except on the outlying Arij-Kamen and at the 

 northeastern corner. 



They i>ass the winter away from the shores of the islands, probably 

 on the open sea not far from them, as is indicated by living individuals 

 occasionally appearing during the winter and dead bodies regularly 

 cast ashore after each severe storm of that season. 



About the 1st of April, or a little earlier, their enormous flocks ap- 

 proach the shore and take possession of the rookeries. 



When breeding, the long rows of Ares on the narrow shelves of rock, 

 where they have deposited their many-colored, large, pear-shaped egg, 

 face the rocky wall with their white breasts, turning their black backs 

 to the spectator. When flying off the nest they consequently are com- 

 pelled to first turn round, and, if taken by surprise, this maneuver will 

 often cause them to throw the egg from the shelf into the water. It 

 happened several times when I stealthily approached in a boat under 

 the breeding colonies, that several eggs were thrown into the boat when 

 the birds rushed off the nests, if the bare rock upon which the %gg is 

 placed can be called a nest, and my Aleutian oarsmen were always in a 

 roar of laughter when one of these projectiles exploded on the head of 

 an unfortunate comrade. 



A series of eggs of all shades, from white to deep greenish blue, were 

 collected, and measure as follows : 



