216 ORNITHOLOGICAL EXPLORATIONS. 



of Bering Island, to which island it then comes as an accidental visitor 

 only. It should especially be looked for toward the northern part of 

 Ivanitschatka, since in that country there is a vague rumor that white- 

 bellied eagles live on the great Karaginski Island. It must be borne 

 in mind that Kamtschatka is peculiar for the development of the white 

 color in the plumage of its birds, a very interesting instance of which 

 is the pure white Astur candidissinius Dyb. 



The negative fact that I did not procure more than the single speci- 

 men is therefore no evidence against the validity of the species. It will 

 be seen that nothing has happened since the establishment of the name 

 that changes its status. The same reasons for supposing it to be dis- 

 tinct then, exist to-day. 



Haliceetus hypoleueus is therefore retained for further attention and 

 investigation. 



96. Haliaeetusalbicilla (Lin.). 



1758.— Fa/co aJbicilla Lix., S. N., 10 ed., I, p. 89.— Kittl., Kupfert., I, p. 4, pi. ii, fig. 2 

 (1832).— Id., Denkwiird., II, p. 278 (18.j8). — Aquila a. Pallas, Zoogr. Ross. 

 As., I, p. 347 (1826).— Halicetus a. Temm. & Schl., Faun. Jap. Av. (p. 13) 

 (1847).— SCHUENCK, Reis. Amurl., I, p. 223(18G0).— Taczax., Bull. Soc. Zool. 

 France, 1876, p. 120.— M, ibid., 1883, p. 321).— Blakist. & Pkykk, Ibis, 1878, i>. 

 2A7.— lid., Tr. As. Soc. Jap., VIII, 1880, p. 237.— /id., ibid., X, 1882, p. 180.— 

 BOLAU, J. f. Orn. 1880, p. 114.— Blakist., CbrysantLemiim, 1882, p. 427.— 

 Id., Amend. List B. Jap., pp. 19, (56 (1884).— Dvbowski, Bull. Soc. Zool. 

 France, 1883, p. 351.— Stejneger, Natureu, 1884, p. 8. 



I did not myself succeed in getting a specimen of this species during 

 my sojourn at the islands, and was consequently highly gratified by re- 

 ceiving the following year a specimen from Mr. Grebnitski. This was 

 the more welcome as it was an adult male, so that there cannot be any 

 possible doubt as to the identity of the species. On Bering Island the 

 species is only an occasional visitor from Kamtschatka. 



The specimen was particularly acceptable, since I was thereby enabled 

 to ascertain the value of the statement of Kittlitz, that the Kamtschat- 

 kan sijecimens, collected by him, were much paler than European birds. 

 I was the more prepared to suspect the eastern birds of being distinct, 

 since Pallas, in speaking of a Kamtschatkan variety which he consid- 

 eres different, asks : "An species distincta ? " 



The specimen collected by Mr. Grebnitski contradicts entirely the 

 statements of v. Kittlitz and Schrenck {I. c), it being so far from lighter 

 than average European specimens that the new feathers which are 

 coming out seem to be unusually dark. The remains of the old plum- 

 age are very bleached, however, and as v. Kittlitz's specimens prob- 



