16 COLLETT AND NANSEN. ACCOUNT OF THE BIRDS, [norw. pol. EXP. 



Later in the morning came a third, which was also shot. It fell into a 

 narrow channel in the ice, and when it was lifted up, it dropped out of its 

 mouth two or three large shrimps, which, however, fell into the water. 



On August 6th, a few specimens were again seen flying round the 

 ship. First one came in the morning, but flew away again in a north- 

 easterly direction, after having circled two or three times round the ship. 

 In the afternoon, one appeared once more (possibly the same one), and was 

 shot while seated on a piece of ice. In the evening, another specimen was 

 shot (by Sverdrup). This, like the others, came from the NE. 



On August 8th, three specimens came flying towards the ship, high up 

 in the air. They were all shot, and were the last seen that year. 



As already mentioned, they were all young birds of that year, and just 

 old enough to fly. Most of those whose arrival could be observed, seemed 

 to come from the NE. As clear weather had just set in after a long time 

 of thick weather, this was possibly the reason of their making towards 

 the ship. 



In flight they most resembled the kittiwake, theirs, however, being still 

 lighter, though sometimes appearing somewhat uncertain and, as it were, 

 wavering (a circumstance which may be explained by their youth). They 

 disported themselves in airy and playful movements, sometimes chasing one 

 another, and now and then uttering a peculiar, faint cry, but generally silent. 

 They were not shy, but often flew about in close proximity to the men; they 

 seldom alighted on the ice, but apparently preferred hovering above the 

 channels. 



The youngest specimen of this species hitherto known and described, 

 was one that was shot on October 10th, 1879, in Alaska (near St. Mi- 

 chael's, Norton Sound). This bird has been treated of in detail by Nelson 

 in 'Birds of the Behring Sea and the Arctic Ocean' (Cruise of the Revenue 

 Steamer 'Corwin' in Alaska, etc. 1881)^; and a figure of the specimen is 

 introduced into the same author's 'Report upon Natural History Collections 

 made in Alaska', 1877—81, No. III^. 



1 Washington, 1&8.3, p. 106. 



" Washington, 1887, p. .55, PI. III. 



