ALCID/E - THE AUKS - BRACHYRAMPHUS. 501 



or if at all, has not been satisfactorily ascertained. According to the observations of 

 Mr. E. Browne, it occurs on the western sea-coast of Vancouver Island. Dr. Cooper, 

 in his Beport on the Birds of Washington Territory, mentions finding it common in 

 winter about the mouth of the Columbia Hirer, and was induced to express the belief 

 that it does not occur farther south — which opinion he was afterward led to modify, 

 having met with a number of these birds in the open water off Monterey in May, 

 1862. Their presence there at that season indicated the probability that they might 

 be breeding in that neighborhood. He had previously to this obtained on the coast, 

 at the mouth of the Columbia, two specimens that had been killed by the storms ; and 

 he had observed, on his way down the coast, birds which he supposed to be of this 

 species, flying from under the steamer. lie could obtain no information as to their 

 habits or place of summer residence. The dead specimen found on the beach at 

 Santa Cruz in January was taken at the most southern point where, so far as he 

 knew, this species had been noticed. 



Under the name of D. Wrangeli Mr. Dall mentions the procuring of several speci- 

 mens of this bird by Bischoff at Sitka; where also many others in the normal 

 plumage were taken. And again referring to this species under that name, Mr. Dall 

 mentions it as being quite common in the Aleutian Islands east of Urialashka. He 

 did not meet with any at the Shumagins, but thinks that it probably abounds there. 

 He does not refer to it in his Notes on the Birds of the Western Aleutian Islands. 



Brachyramphus Kittlitzii. 



KITTLITZ'S GUILLEMOT. 



Brachyramphus Kittlitzii, Brandt, Bull. Ac. St. Petersb. II. 1S37, 346 (young). — Cass, in Baird's 

 13. N. Am. 1858, 917. — Baird, Cat. N. Am. 1!. 1859, no. 735. — Coues, Key, 1872, 344; 

 Check List, 1873, no. 630 ; ed. 2, 1882, no. 867. — Ridgw. Nom. N. Am. B. 1881, no. 756. 



" Una antiqua" (supposed young), Ann. B. Am. VII. 1S14, 263, pi. 470, tig. 2. 



/ ',-,., breviroslris, Vig. Zool. Journ. IV. 1828, 357 (" San Bias ") ; Zool. Beechcy's Voy. 1839, Orn. 

 p. 32. 



?? Brachyrhamphus breviroslris, Arcr. (See foot-note on p. 499.) 



Hab. Kanitsehatka and Aleutian Islands, east to Unalashka, Point Ebolin, and Nushagak Bay. 



Sp. Char. Adult, breeding-plumage: Above, glossy plumbeous-black, everywhere, except on 

 the wings ami tail, thickly spotted with creamy buff, the spots generally having a longitudinal 

 tendency ; wings dusky slate, the middle and greater coverts narrowly bordered with ashy, the 

 inner webs of the secondaries tipped with white ; tail slate-color, the tips of all the feathers, and 

 the inner webs of all except the intermedia 1 , white. Sides of the head and neck, jugulum, sides, 

 and flanks, creamy buff, thickly spotted transversely, except on the head and neck, with dusky, the 

 spots on the jugulum partaking more or less of the form of lunulate liars ; other lower parts white 

 with scattered ami less distinct lunulate bars of dusky, the erissuni and anal region immaculate. 

 Lining of the wing uniform smoky slate, rather darker than in B. marmoratus. Bill uniform 

 black; legs and feet light brownish in the skin, the webs and claws blackish. Adult, winter 

 plv/mage: Pileum, crescentic bar immediately in front of eye, a broad bar extending across the 

 sides of the jugulum (nearly meeting anteriorly), with upper parts generally, plumbeous-slate 

 with a silky gloss ; the feathers of the back and rump narrowly tipped with white, many of them 

 showing a darker shade beneath the surface ; scapulars mostly white, with plumbeous prevailing 

 on the outer webs ; wings much darker than the back, the greater coverts and secondaries dis- 

 tinctly, the remiges and primary coverts very indistinctly, bordered with pale grayish. Lining of 

 the wing and axillars uniform slate-gray. Entire lower parts, and all of the head ami neck except 

 as described, including a collar around the nape, immaculate pure white. Bill uniform black ; 

 feet brownish (in the skin), the webs darker. 



Wing, 5.10-5.80 inches ; culmen, .35-45 ; depth of bill near base (at anterior end of nostril), 

 20-.22, width at same point, .15 ; tarsus, .60-65 ; middle toe, .85-. 95. 



