THE BIRDS OF SPITSBERGEN. 250 
6. BERNICLA LEUCOPSIS (Bechst.).—Bernicle Goose. 
Not uncommon. I never was able absolutely to identify 
this bird. At Dane’s Gat on July 23 a flock of some dozen 
geese passed the steamer. They were flying low and at 
some distance, but I got my binoculars on them, and believed 
them to be Bernicles. Alsoon August 3, when out in a small 
boat in Advent Bay six geese very like Bernicles flew over- 
head, but too high up for me to see clearly. Therefore I 
do not include this bird in my own list. 
7. HARELDA GLACIALIS (Linn.).—Long-tailed Duck. 
Though said to be fairly common, seems to be scarce. Sir 
Martin Conway’s party in 1896 only saw one specimen. I 
never saw this bird. 
*8, SOMATERIA MOLLISSIMA (Linn.).—Eider Duck. 
Very common all round the coasts. Flocks of twenty or 
thirty ducks fed nearly every day at low tide on the mud- 
flats at the top of Advent Bay, some with their broods, 
some without. The drakes always kept by themselves. 
Through binoculars, large flocks of them, in their very con- 
spicuous plumage, were often visible well out at sea. They 
sometimes flew along the coast-line in twos and threes, but 
were far shyer than the ducks. By August 1 all the young 
were far enough advanced to swim strongly in rough seas. 
9. SOMATERIA SPECTABILIS (Linn,).—King Eider. 
Said to be fairly common, often mingling with the 
ordinary Eiders. But though I kept a very sharp lookout, 
I never saw this bird. 
*10. LAGOPUS HEMILEUCURUS, Gould.—Spitsbergen 
Ptarmigan. 
Thinly distributed all over Spitsbergen. Two were seen 
within two hours of landing at Advent Bay on July 22, 
one near the sea level, the other on the top of the plateau, 
