12 COLLETT AND NANSEN. ACCOUNT OF THE BIRDS. [NORW. POL. EXP. 



and which is still preserved in the St. Petersburg Museum, belongs to this 

 variety. 



Pagophila eburnea, (Phipps) 1774. 



The first specimens seen were on Taimur Island, between August 29th 

 and September 2nd (76 3(Y N. Lat.); they all appeared to be adults, with 

 white plumage. Some few specimens were subsequently seen on the 

 Chelyuskin Peninsula, on September 7th (King Oscar Peninsula), but none 

 later in the autumn in the ice. 



Stercorariiis crepidatus, (Banks) 1773. 



This species was observed at several places along the Siberian coast, 

 from Yugor Strait up to Cape Chelyuskin. 



On July 29th, a specimen was shot on a small lake close to Khaba- 

 rova; its still downy young one was also shot as it swam out to hide among 

 the rushes. The full-grown bird was while-bellied. 



On Reno (Kjellman Islands), on August 20th and 21st, both this and 

 the following species were observed, but the latter in the greater number. 



On September 2nd, a good many skuas were still to be seen at Cape 

 Laptev on Taimur Island; and on the 4th, Nansen saw several, in the 

 sound called by Nordenskiold the Taimur Sound, persistently chasing a 

 Canis lagopus. When they became aware of Nansen's presence, they flew 

 straight at his head, and thenceforth divided their attack between him and 

 the fox. A considerable quantity of snow had already fallen, and most of 

 the birds of passage had disappeared; there were also very few of either 

 gulls or kittiwakes. Most of the specimens of Richardson's Skua, observed 

 during the expedition, were light-bellied. 



Stercorarius longicaudus, (Vieill.) 1819. 



Observed frequently (in some cases minglng with the preceding species) 

 as far as Cape Chelyuskin. 



A few were even seen in the Kara Sea during the early days of August; 

 but they did not occur with any frequency until August llth on the 

 Yalmal Peninsula, and subsequently along the Taimur coast (numerous speci- 

 mens were observed on August 19th). In several places, e. g. Reno 



