ORNITHOLOGICAL EXPLORATIONS. 31 



and a narrow space round the base of the lower one milky white, with a faint shade of bhie, strongly 

 contrasting with the red; feet bluish gray, tinged with violet; joints, darker gray; webs and soles 

 blackish. Eggs in ovarium swollen, the largest one 4h""" in diameter. Stomach and crop, empty. 

 Lean. New feathers protruding, especially on belly, neck, and head. 



No. 92974. — Iris, inner ring, bluish gray, narrow ; outer one, faint bluish white ; when alive the pupil 

 was contracted and very small. Bill, blackish brown, underneath the nostrils lighter grayish, as is 

 also the lower mandible ; feet, light bluish gray ; joints, brownish ; webs, dark gray ; soles, blackish ; 

 colors from the Zicnir/ bird Testes, very small and undeveloped. JBones, well ossitied. Most feathers 

 yet in their shcaihs Ni>t f.it 



No. 89099. — Iris vvhiic, with a faint yellowish tinge. Bill, reddish black, lighter at base. Feet, violet, 

 bluish in front, reddish on sides, black behind and below, as are also the webs. Interior of mouth 

 whitish. 



No. 9J97C. — Iris, inner ling, narrow, bluish gray ; outer one, light bluish white. Bill dark browni.sh 

 gray : upper mandible almost blackish ; a faint violet tinge below the nostrils, and on the lower man- 

 dible towards the base. Feet, gray, strongly tinged with violet; joints darker brownish; webs dark 

 gray, below, blackish. Extremely fat. 



No. 92977.— Iris clear gray with a taint bluish tinge. Bill blackish gray; culnien and middle por- 

 tion of h)\ver mandible lighter, somewhat violet-gray ; nasal cuirass and angle of mouth, blackish, as 

 is also the naked eye ring. Feet light gray, with a violet bluish tinge; joints darker gray ; claws 

 light, horny gray, with blackish tips ; tarsus and toes underneath, blackish gray. Testes, recognizable. 

 Crop, filled with Gammarids ; very fat. 



This little Auk, certainly the prettiest species of the whole family, 

 has apparently the center of its distribution ou the islands visited by 

 me. On Bering Island it is rather rare, however, though it breeds in 

 the crevices of the outlying islet Arij Kamen, in a i^recipice near the 

 fishing-place Saranua, and probably in several places on the southern 

 part of the island, for instance, at Dikij Mys. Copper Island, with 

 its steep rocky shores, is the favorite home of this bird, however. It 

 may be found breeding all around the coast where suitable holes and 

 crevices occur. I know of nesting places near the main village, at 

 Karabelnij, and on Tschornij Mys. At the latter place it occupied 

 holes in the basaltic cliff along side those of Oceanodroma furcata, the 

 latter inhabiting the deeper ones. It could be told at once liy the 

 peculiar smell emanating from the caverns of the latter bird, which 

 species was to be found inside. 



Notwithstanding the fact that the birds are rather common, it must 

 be considered good luck to meet them and get opportunity of observing 

 them, for they are rather shy and live quite retired in their deep holes. 



They are early breeders, in that respect being considerably ahead of 

 their allies, for instance, Lunda cirrhata; so early, in fact, that no eggs 

 could be procured in the latter part of June, when I had the opportunity 

 to go in search of them. The nests at that time already contained 

 young ones. These remain in the nest until full fledged. A specimen 

 having left ihe nest only a few days previous, was taken alive on board 

 the steamer when at anchor at Glinka, Copper Island, July 18. This 

 bird was found early in the morning, concealed in a fold of one of the 

 sails, the inexperienced youth having proba.bly mistaken it for the 



