REVIEW. 289 



shot. Larus mariniis was observed on one occasion at Bear 

 Island, the first definite record of this species, although the 

 bird was not shot. Perhaps, however, the most interesting 

 article is that on the Barnacle-Goose, Bernida leucopsis. 

 Hitherto nothing definite has been recorded as to the breeding 

 of this species. Most of the eggs in collections are unauthentic 

 or have been laid in confinement, and the onh^ instance in 

 which the bird is said to have been found nesting in a free 

 state, is the supposed breeding on the Lofoden Isles in 1870. 

 The evidence in this case, however, is not conclusive, and the 

 eggs in Mr. Dresser's collection from this source are small 

 compared with those obtained by Professor Koenig's party. 

 There can, however, be no doubt whatever as to the authen- 

 ticity of the twelve eggs obtained in 1907 and 1908, as the 

 birds were clearly identified and shot from the nests, three 

 of w^hich were taken, containing five, four and three eggs 

 respectively. They were placed on steep rock- bastions on 

 the northern slopes of one of the side-valleys debouching 

 on Advent Bay. These ramparts, separated from one another 

 by water-worn gullies and broken up here and there into 

 isolated stacks, have been formed by the gradual disintegration 

 of the surrounding rock by weather- action, and stand out in 

 succession along the sides of the valley. High up on these 

 bluffs the Barnacle- Geese make their scanty nests and rear 

 their young, secure from the attentions of the arctic foxes 

 which range far and wide over the country. No doubt many 

 pairs breed still higher on the cliffs which crown the upper 

 slopes of the valley, but these nests were quite inaccessible, 

 although in several cases the heads of the brooding birds 

 could be clearly distinguished as they sat on their nests. 

 The male birds were generally on guard beside their mates, 

 but took to flight on the first appearance of danger, with 

 warning cries of " Gra, gra, gra." It is interesting to compare 

 this account with that given by Herr A. L. V. Manniche of 

 the great breeding- place discovered by him on the Trekroner 

 mountain in north-east Greenland, already referred to in 

 these pages {antea, Vol. IV., p. 344). Dr. le Roi gives full 

 details of the eggs taken, from which it appears that though 

 decidedly larger on the average than those of the Brent, the 

 measurements of the eggs of the two species overlap occasion- 

 ally, but that the eggs of the Barnacle are always relatively 

 heavier. Among other interesting records we note that the 

 Starling {Sturnus vulgaris), the Blackbird {Turdus merula), 

 and the Woodcock {Scolopax rusticula) are all recorded for the 

 first time as stragglers to the group on the evidence of remains 

 picked up. Two nests of the King-Eider {Somateria spectahilis) 



