278 i\Ir. G. E. li. Barrett-Hamilton on 



sccins to liavc been made by birds. The absence of so many 

 generally-distributed Circum polar and Palsearctic birds leads 

 Dr. Stcjuegcr to suppose that the peninsula has been for long 

 isolated, and that its colonization lias been both accidental 

 and recent, a supposition which he does not think invalidated 

 by the development into distinct forms of so many birds, 

 since their *' specialization is chiefly only an intensification 

 of the general tendency of the birds inhabiting the whole 

 region of which Kamtschatka only forms a province,^' while 

 their isolation is absolute, so that no assumption of a very 

 long period seems to be needed in explanation. 



Summing up his remarks, Dr. Stejueger concludes that 

 " the peninsula forms a very well-circumscribed ornitho- 

 geographical province, remarkable not only for a number of 

 j)eculiarly modified- forms, but also for a surprising absence 

 of many of the most chai'acteristic forms of the northern 

 Palsearctic and Circumpolar ornis." 



A full account of my own experiences in Kamchatka has 

 already been published in other Journals "^^ so that I think it 

 will be suflficient if, in the present instance, I give an account 

 of the birds met with, and refrain from all but the briefest 

 allusions to the country and its scenery. It is with 

 very real pleasure that I record my great indebtedness 

 to Capt. Winsloe, of H.M.S. ' Spartan,' Capt. Sparkes, 

 of H.M.S. ' Linnet,' and their officers, to whom I owe 

 all my opportunities of collecting, as well as many of my 

 specimens t- 



Not a few interesting birds were observed on our voyage 

 up the coast to Petropavlovsk, on July 14th, 1896, of which 

 two species at least were new to me on this journey, viz. 

 Richardson's Skua and the Grey Phalarope. The latter 

 was reported early in the morning by the officer of the 

 watch, who was much puzzled by the sight of an unknown 



* See the Royal Geojjraphical Journal, Sept. 1898, pp. 280-299 (with 

 illustrations and a map), and the Scottish Geographical Magazine, 

 May 1899, pp. 22o-2o6 (with illustrations and a map). 



t The type of Nuci/rat/a kavichuthensis was shot by Dr. Bishop, of 

 II.M.S. ' Linnet.' 



