CKUISE OF STEAMEli COR WIN IN THE ARCTIC OCEAN. 113 



the Slender-billed si)ecies, although it was iin])ossible to identify them positively, since no 

 specimens were secured. 



As we approached Ouualaska in September, large numbers of darkplumaged Fr.lniars were 

 also seen in company with the common si)ecies {rodgcrsi), but then, as before, it was impossible to 

 secure specimens. The intensity of the dark coloring in many of these specimens seemed to 

 preclude the idea of their being referable to Rodger's Fulmar, and it is to be hoped that any 

 naturalist visiting the Territory hereafter may pay especial attention to securing some of these 

 birds, and thus settle the iroint; for if these dark-colored Irirds were the slender-billed species 

 it must be a very common bird, notwithstanding its having escaped the notice of every naturalist 

 who has visiteil the Territory within the last ten or fifteen years. 



CYMOCHOREA LEUCORRHOA (Vieill) Coues. 



(167.) Leache's Petrel, 



These birds are very numerous in the vicinity of the Aleutian Islands, but are soon lost sight 

 of when these ishinds are left in passing to the north. South from these islands they occur over 

 the entire Pacific, from the Aleutian chain to San Francisco. They are yet unknown, even north 

 to the fur-seal islands, although they undoubtedly reach that group occasionally. 



CYMOCHOREA MBL^NA (Bp.) Coues. 



(1G8.) The Black Petrel. ? 



As we left the Aleutian Islands on our way to San Francisco in October, and tlieuce on for 

 several hundred miles, a large Black Petrel was repeatedly seen. The size of this bird would 

 indicate that it was the species mentioned above, although no specimens were secured. It was 

 repeatedly seen in company with Leache's Petrel and the Forked-tailed species, and excellent 

 opportunities were aftbrded forjudging of its relative size. 



OCEANODROMA FURCATA (Gmel.) gp. 



(I(j9.) Forked-tailed Petrel. 



This elegant Petrel is found over all Bering Sea, reaching Saint Michael's, and about the 

 head of Norton's Sound, as well as Bering Strait. It was found nesting on some islets in the 

 middle of Unimak Pass, near Ounalaska, by Mr. Dall, and is numerous along the entire Aleutian 

 chain. To the north the bird is less and less abundant the farther one goes, and periiaps never 

 penetrates to the Arctic side of Bering Strait. Several specimens were secured in the vicinity of 

 Saint Michael's during my residence there, and they are well known to the natives, wlio tind them 

 while they are seal huliting, far otf shore, the birds rarely coming close (o the coast. These are 

 anjong the most beautiful of the Petrels. The delicate shade of the entire plumage and the bird's 

 gracelul motions are marked even among this group of birds, proverbial for their grace and 

 elegance upon the wing. 



PREGETTA GRALLARIA (Vieill.) Bp. 



(170.) White-bellied Petrel. 



From the time we left the Aleutian Islands in October, until we were eight or nine hundred 

 milts distant to the south, scarcely a day passed but a Petrel with the belly white, and answering 

 closely in all its markings to the description given of this bird, was seen circling about. They 

 were frequently quite close to the vessel, and were carefully examined with glasses, and the 

 peculiar markings were such as to distinguish them from the other Petrels almost as far as they 

 could be seen. They were in company with other Petrels and appeared less numerous than any 

 of the other species. 



H. Ex. 105 15 



