20 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA. 
XI. SYNTHLIBORAMPHUS Branpr. 1837. 
21. Ancient Murrelet. Grey-headed Auk. 
Syathhiboramphus antiquus. (GMEL.) BRANDT, 1837. 
St. George island, one of the Pribilof group, and at Sitka ; 
breeds abundantly on the Nearer islands where a few are resident; 
also at the Chica islets, in Akutan pass, near Unalaska. (JVelson.) 
One specimen obtained at Atka island, June rath, 1879; breeds 
in holes made in the turf in the northeast part of the island. 
(Zurner.) Sitka bay, Alaska. (Dr. Bean.) One specimen taken 
at Cape Beale, on the west coast of Vancouver island in Novem- 
ber, 1888. (Fannin.) Not common ;. west coast of Vancouver 
island and taken in the straits near Victoria. Rev. J. H. Keen 
reports it rare on Queen Charlotte islands. (ermode.) 
BREEDING Hapsits.—I have a series of 20 eggs of this bird that 
were taken on Sannak island, Alaska, on June 26th, 1894. Up 
to that time very few eggs of this bird had been taken. Mr. 
Littlejohn found the nests under bunches of rank, matted grass, 
the nests consisting of a slight excavation, and the eggs resting 
on a few blades of grass. The eggs of this species consist of 
two to the clutch and are unlike the eggs of any other sea-bird. 
The ground colour is a deep buff, with small longitudinal 
markings of light-brown and lavender-grey, size, 2.35x1.45. The 
bird sits close on its eggs and in some cases has to be forced off 
the nest with a stick. (aze.) 
I was informed that this species breeds plentifully on Atka 
island, one of the Aleutian islands. They breed in holes made 
In the turf or sod overhanging the brow of the cliffs. (Zzrner.) 
XII. BRACHYRAMPHUS Branpt. 1837. 
23. Marbled Murrelet. 
Brachyramphus marmoratus (GMEL.) BRANDT. 1837. 
Large numbers of this species were taken at Sitka by Bischoff; 
Dall found them in the Aleutian islands ; and the writer found 
them near Unalaska in May, 1877. They probably reach their 
northern limit in this chain, where they breed. (Vedson.) Common 
and breeds on several of the islands of Kachimak bay, Alaska. 
