ORNITHOLOGICAL EXPLORATIONS. 

 Table III. — Specimens from Soutlurn Alaska. 



211 



It will be seen that the difference between the dimensions of the 

 specimens of Table I and those of Table II is quite considerable, the 

 females of the latter being about the size of the males of the former. 

 A comparison of the specimens furthermore shows, that there is a not 

 less marked difference in color. The adults from Bering Island lack 

 the peculiar chocolate brown characteristic of the southern birds, the 

 brown of the former being rather a smoky brownish black. 



So far the two apparent forms seem easily distinguishable, but here 

 the specimens, the dimensions of which are given in Table III come in 

 between, and, in this case especially, the uncertainty in regard to the sex 

 interferes, making it impossible to reach a conclusion. Two specimens 

 are labeled " $ ," two others are said to be " 9 ," but here is evidently 

 an error, for it can hardly be doubted that Nos. 70093 and 45838 are of 

 the same sex, notwithstanding the statement of the collectors to the con- 

 trary, and I am strongly inclined to think that all the five birds enumer- 

 ated in Table III belong to 'the same sex. But here is where the 

 difficulty comes in, for it depends upon their sex to which of the above 

 forms they are referable; their size is about that of the males from 

 Bering Island and that of the females from the south, so that they 

 belong to the former group if males, to the latter if females. Nor does 

 the color help us out of the difficulty. The Kodiak and Sitka birds are 

 darker than southern specimens, though still perceptibly "chocolate" 

 brown. At present, however, I am inclined to regard these birds as 

 belonging to the southern race. 



Finally I submit, the "remarks" relating to the specimens collected 

 by me. 



No. 92739. — Bill black ; lower mandible and cere very dark olive gray, corner of 

 loontb orange, Feet vivid yellow, 



