ORNITHOLOGICAL EXPLORATIONS. 43 



The ^^ Bjele-hrusM,^^ i. e., the white-breasts, are common, in suitable 

 places, on both islands, though not very numerous, breeding in steep, 

 cracked, and inaccessible rocks both on Bering ai.d Copper Islands, 

 especially in those places which are called " i!^^epropusk," that is, steep 

 rocks rising straight out of the sea prohibiting any passage aloug the 

 beach. Such places are found near the main villages on both islands, 

 and in both places there are nesting colonies of these birds. 



They arrive in the Commander Islands about the end of April. In 

 1883 the first three were observed on Bering Island at the Eeef Point 

 Nepropusk on April 28. On the 2d of May they were numerous at the 

 same place. It is especially in the early morning that these birds are 

 seen, the best time being about 4 o'clock during the spring, and also at 

 the same hour in the afternoon, as the rest of the day, before the breed- 

 ing has begun, is passed way out at sea, and after that time in the deep 

 holes of the rock, in which the nests are located. At the time mentioned 

 they may be observed sitting on the rocky ledges outside the opening of 

 the nest-cave, usually only solitary pairs, but before the breeding com- 

 mences often in small companies. 



Their voice is a clear vibrating whistle, somewhat resembling that of 

 Cepphus grylle and columha. 



When the full grown young have left the nest all seek the high ocean, 

 disappearing completely from the island, and not a single specimen 

 could be secured during the latter part of the summer. Where do they 

 go in winter? They probably stay on the ocean further south than 

 their allies, for while Simorhynchns cHstatelluSj pygmceus, pusillus^ 

 Lunda cirrhata, and Fratercula corniculata all were obtained during the 

 winter, not a single Bjelebruschka was seen or heard of, nor was it ever 

 during that season picked up dead on the beach after heavy gales. 



14. Lunda cirrhata Pall. 



1769. — Alca cirrhata Pall., Spicil. Zool., V, p. 7, pi. i, et pi. ii, figs. 1, 2, 3. — 

 KiTTL., Denkw. II, p. 205 (1858).— Bolau, J.f. Orn., 18S0, -p. l'S2.— Lunda c. 

 Pall., Zoogr. Ross. Asiat., II, p. 363 (1826).— Coinde, Rev. Mag. Zool., 

 1860, p. 403.— Dybow., Sitzb. Dorpat. Nat. Gee., 1881, p. —.—Id., Oru. 

 Centrbl., 1882, p. 40.— Id., Bull. Soc. Zool. France, 1883, p. 349.— Nelson, 

 Cruise Corwiu, p. 115 (1883). — Stejneger, Natureu, 1884, p. 54. — Turner, 

 Auk, 1885, p. 159.— Mormon c. Kittlitz, Isis., 1831, p. 1104.— Id., Kupfertaf., 

 p. 3, taf. 1, fig. 2 (1832) — Middend., Sibir. Reise, II, 2 (p. 240), (1853).— 

 Schrenck, Reis. Amurl., I, p. 503 (I860).— Swinh., P. Z. S., 1863, p. 331.— 

 Dall & Bannist., Tr. Cbicag. Acad., I, 1869, p. 308.— Dall, Avif. Aleut. 

 Isl. Unal. eastw., p. 10 (1873). — Id., Avif. Aleut. Isl. west Unal., p. 10 

 (1874).— Taczan., J. f. Orn., 1876, p. 203.— M, Orn. Faun. Yost. Sibir., p. 

 75(1877).— Id., Bull. Soc. Zool. France, 1877, p. 52.— Id., ibid., 1882, p. 398.— 



