62 PROCEEDINGS OP THE ACADEMY OF 



? Uria hrevirostris, Vigors,* Zool. Journ. iv, 1828, p. 357, and Zool. Beechey'a 

 Toy. Blossom, 1839, Ornilh, p. 32. Evidently a young bird ; may be of this 

 species, or of B. Wran(/eli, 



? Brachyrhamphm Kialit2u,f Brandt, Bull. Acad. So. St. Petersburg, ii. 1837, p. 

 346. Young bird ; may be of this species, or of Wrangeli^ or a distinct 



species. 



Coasts and Islands of the North Pacific. On the American side, south in 

 winter to California ; breeds as far south as Vancouver's Island. Numerous 

 specimens in Mus. Acad. Philada., Mus. Smiths. Inst., Cab. G. N. Lawrence. 



Form typical of the genus as just described. Bill along culmen just the 

 length of the tarsus, tarsus scarcely three-fourths the middle toe without its 

 claw. 



Adult, breeding plumage. (Description from No. 49655, Mus. Smiths. Inst,, ^, 

 June 9, 1867, Vancouver's Island. ;]: Bill black. Tarsi posteriorly and both 

 surfaces of the webs blackish ; legs anteriorly and toes superiorly livid flesh 

 color, or dull bluish gray. Iris brown. Entire upper parts brownish black, 

 everywhere transversely barred with chestnut brown, or bright rust color, 

 except on the wings, which are uniform brownish black, the primaries darkest, 

 their inner webs brownish grey towards the base. Under surface of wings 

 smoky brownish black. A few whitish feathfers variegated with chestnut and 

 dusky on the scapulars. Entire under parts, including sides of head, neck 

 and body, marbled with sooty brownish black and white. The feathers are 

 white, with the tips of the dark color. The white rather predominates on the 

 middle of the breast and belly, the dusky on the other parts ; the latter color 

 being nearly uniform across the throat, and on the long feathers of the sides 

 and flanks. 



Specimens vary a great deal in the precise amount of rusty brown on the 

 upper parts, and of dusky mottling on the lower ; but, so far as known, are 

 never without this distinctive coloration in some degree ; and it becomes 

 heightened at the breeding season.. 



Length about 10-00 ; extent about 18-00 ; wing 5-00; tail 1-50 ; tarsus -70 ; 

 middle toe 1-00, its claw -20 ; outer toe and claw 1-15, inner do. -90 ; bill along 

 culmen -70, along rictus 1-35, along gonys -55, heighth opposite base of nos- 

 trils -25, width at same point -20. 



This species was originally described by Pennant as the Marbled Guillemot, 

 whence Colymbus marmoratus, Gm. His description is that of the adult, in 

 breeding plumage, but has been almost universally supposed to refer only to 

 the young; and a very different species has been usually held to be the adult, 

 as shown in the next article. It is also evidently the Cepphus perdix of 

 Pallas. 



* " U. suprk griseo-fusca, capite, dorsoque albo notati.s ; subtus alba, fusco undulatim 

 maculata, rectricibns albi.s, duabiis mediis fuseo-notatis, rostro brevi, gracili. — AUe supri 

 et infrk, teetricesque iuferiore.s fusepe. Rostrum nigrum. Pedes flavi, membrani.s ungui- 

 busque brunneis. Longitude corporis 9 ; rostri ad frontem }^, ad rictum IJ/g, alse 5^/4 ; 

 caudse 1 ; tarsi 34." Vigors, 1. c. From San Bias. 



f' Supra cinerea nigrioante et pallide e fusco-flavescente undulata et submaeulata. 

 Subtus alba, subfuscescente tenuissime lavata, nigro etquidemin pectore frequentius un- 

 dulata. Alse e einerascente et fasco nigrie. Rostrum brevissimum, capitis longitudinis 

 tertiam partem circiter ad;iequans. Tarsi digito medio breviores. Longitudo a rostri 

 apice ad caudse apicem 9. Patria Kamtschatka," — Brandt, 1. c. 



X The following is an extract from a letter to Prof. Baird, from J. Hepburn, Esq., dated 

 Victoria, Septs 5, 18(17, which accompanied a lot of specimens of which No. 49655 was one. 

 It confirms the views maintained in the present paper, and gives some interesting facts : 

 "You will find in the liox a specimen of B. marmoratus. On comparing it with Mr. Cassin's 

 description, (ia Birds N. A.) I find it is what he calls the young bird. In this he is mista- 

 ken. In the first place, if such were the case we should see some red birds among the 

 large numbers that are to be found here, whereas till this year I never saw but one speci- 

 men, * * In the next place, when I fell in with them last May, every bird was in 

 the red plumage, including the one which, as I told you, would have laid an egg in two 

 or three days ; and lastly, proof conclusive, I have shot the young bird, two-thirds grown, 

 in the winter plumage of the adult, except that the breast is more thickly barred tlian in 

 any specimens I have seen in the winter, and at the very time the adults were in their 

 red plumage." 



[Jan. 



