FAUNA AND FLORA. 29 



north. There are no suitable feeding-grounds for this animal on 

 the Kuril Islands. 



Occasionally the small grey seal (Jloe red), which frequents the 

 north-western part of the Okhotsk, gets down to the Kurils on the 

 ice-floes, but it does not remain. 



Avifauna. — Bird life on the Kuril Islands is represented by 

 about a hundred and sixty or a hundred and seventy species, 

 the greater proportion of which is found on the southern islands, 

 Kunashir and Yetorup, both of which are well wooded, and in close 

 proximity to Yezo. The islands to the northward of Urup, being 

 without trees, have very few land-birds. Amongst those to be found, 

 wagtails and flycatchers are the most common. Ravens and 

 peregrine falcons are seen on nearly every island, and eagles are to 

 be found on most. The willow grouse, which is very plentiful on 

 Kamchatka, has been noticed as far down the chain as Ekarma. 



The Kuril Islands are used but to a very limited extent as a 

 migratory route. Long-tailed ducks, and divers in considerable 

 numbers, however, are to be seen in early spring, making their way 

 to their northern breeding-grounds along this route. A few swans, 

 geese, and ducks, and a limited number of the Limicolce also pass 

 along this way, together with a very few land-birds. 



The vast majority of the birds which migrate to the more 

 northern regions in spring take the Saghalin route, which is over 

 a wooded country, with numerous swamps, lagoons, and lakes. 



Probably three-fourths of the birds which are to be found on 

 the islands in summer leave as winter approaches. 



The following is a list of the birds frequenting the Kurils. It 

 is probably most complete as regards the sea-fowl. 



The numbers refer to Blakiston and Fryer's " Catalogue of the 

 Birds of Japan," published in the Transactions of the Asiatic Society 

 of Japan in 1882. The birds with no numbers against them are 

 not in B. and P.'s list. 



(1) Mormon cirrkatum, tufted puffin. Very plentiful all 

 alon": the Kurils in summer. This bird begins to arrive at the 

 islands about first week in May. Commences laying about 

 June 15. Lays one egg, white, with very faint markings. Nests in 

 holes, burrowed out of the soft ground on the tops of clitts and 

 islets. Leaves the islands soon after the middle of September. 



(2) Mormon cornicidatiim, horned puffin. Usually found in 



