28 ORNITHOLOGICAL EXPLORATIONS. 



At this time the brightness of tbe bill has likewise faded awaj', the 

 white tip gets bluish, and the basal parts darken. The upper layers 

 of the horny covering scale off, but I feel satisfied that a regular shed- 

 ing of the basal parts, such as in the Fraterculece does not take j)Iace. 

 In order to sustain this opinion I quote from ray original notes taken 

 down when examining four fresh birds on Copper Island, July 21, 1883 : 

 " The nasal shield is blackish brown, but of a peculiar appearance, as if 

 veiled by a thin translucent crust. This was easily removed with the 

 knife, and when detatched presented a very thin and translucent piece 

 of oval shape, but with lacerated edges. In the same manner the small 

 space between the two ridges behind the nostrils was easily deprived 

 of a similar crust. In two specimens the covering of the terminal part 

 of the bill is scaling off in a similar manner, bursting irregularly near 

 the border of the basal part, and along both sides of the culmen, and 

 the same process seems to begin on the lower jaw also. The layer under- 

 neath is not perceptibly softer." It should be remarked that the basal 

 parts were hard, as they were in all the specimens collected in De- 

 cember and January, and also in the young birds. The reverse was 

 the case in specimens of Lunda civrhata and Fratercula corniculata of 

 corresponding date and age. 



It remains now to point out and correct some minor errors of my 

 predecessors, particularly Messrs. Dr. Dybowski and L. Bureau. As 

 to the latter's statement (B. S. Z. F., 1879, p. 63), " En hiver, ces 

 lamelles [la cuirasse nasale] se detachent sans doute, et laissent a 

 decouvert une simple membrane nasale," it may suffice to refer to my 

 remarks above. In reference to the descriptions given by the former 

 (Orn. Centrbl., 1882, p. 41), it is at once apparent that the colors of 

 the bill and feet are taken from the dried specimens, consequently 

 being quite erroneous. The bill is not "dark violet towards the tip 

 and the tip itself whitish violet" in the fresh or living bird, but turns 

 so after the lapse of some time; nor are the feet "reddish or yellowish 

 ashy gray," but light bluish gray ! 



His description of the different crests and ornamental feathers are 

 not quite correct, as will be seen by comparing them with my figure 

 (PI. lY, Fig. 2), which was drawn and colored from the fresh bird, 

 before siciimed, and with Dr. Dybowski's descriptions lying before me. 

 It is particularly the note, designated by him as D, 4, a, which is in- 

 accurate. Furthermore, he asserts in a very general way, that the 

 white ornamental feathers on the side of the head stand out like 



