CRUISE OF STEAMER CORWIN IN THE ARCTIC OCEAN. 117 



BRACHYRHAMPHtrS KITTLITZI Brandt 

 (187.) KiTTLITZ'S (tUILLEMOT. 



This extioiiiel.v rare bird was observed by me at Unalaska in the spring of 1877, where I 

 secured a single specimen in the breeding phimage. It was also taken towards the western end 

 of this chain by Mr. Turner a few years later, and with these two specimens ends the known 

 history of tiiis species on these islands up to the present date. 



TJRIAGRYLLE (Linn.) Brunn. 



(188.) Black Guillemot. 



These birds occur throughout Bering Sea and are numerous. They extend their range also 

 well into the Arctic, reaching Herald and Wrangel Islands, and specimens were noted by the 

 naturalist of the Jeannette, who records them in the vicinity of those islands, discovered during 

 the explorations made by the people of that vessel. 



In that portion of the Arctic north of the Atlantic the Black (ruiliemot is found breeding 

 north to 8(»o in some cases, although it is more numerous south of this. It was found nesting 

 with Brunuich's Guillemot in longitude 113° east by Nordenskiold during his voyage. During 

 the drift of the Jeannette it was seen passing to the westward on May 1, 1880, and at various 

 other places was observed. Upon Bennett Island it was found nesting in great numbers the L'Oth 

 of July, 1880. On April fi, 1881, it was found in about latitude 76°, longitude 161° east. During 

 its resiihMic<> in these high latitudes it is reported to feed upon the small Arctic torn cod, wliirh 

 the naturalist of the Jeannette reports to have seen the bird kill by beating them upon the wnter 

 and shaking them in their bills. These birds were quite numerous at Herald Island. As we 

 ap]>roached through the ice on the .30th of July flock after flock of them, joined with the Murre 

 came ott' towards the Corwin. When we were making a landing large numbers of them were seen 

 bringing tish, fi'om three to four indies in length, to their young, and as the waters snrrouiuling 

 this island were seen to swarm with crustaceans, there appeared to be an abundance of food. 



URIA COLUMBA (Pall.) Cass. 



(18;>.) Pigeon Guillemot. 



This is the most abundant of the snuill Guillemots throughout the North, from the Aleutian 

 Islands to those of Wrangel and Herald, where we found it breeding abundantly during our visit 

 there on the Corwin. We found it near Cape Serdze Kamen, where it was nesting, and also in 

 great abundance upon Herald Island, where it was perhaps the most abundant bird present, far 

 outnumbering the Murre. It was also nesting nymu East Cape, the Diomede Islands, and along 

 the entire portion of the Siberian coast wherever cliffs and mountainous slopes occurred fronting 

 the sea. None was observed on the western portion of the New Siberian Islands by Norden. 

 skiold, but the Chukchees reported it to him as wintering at Tapkau, wherever open water was 

 found during that season. 



LOMVIA TROILE CALIFORNICA (Bryant) Coues. 



(190.) California Guillemot. 



These birds are found along the Pacific coast, reaching to the Aleutian Islands, beyond which 

 it is uncertain how far their range extends. They were not observed by us during the cruise of the 

 Corwin in the Arctic, although among the millions of Murres which breed upon the cliffs on the 

 shores of this sea, both north and south of Bering Strait, it is very probable they may occur. 



LOMVI ARRA (Pall.) Bp. 



(191.) Thick-billed Guillemot. 



This bird occurs in greatest abundance throughout Bering Sea and the adjoining portions or 

 the Arctic, reaching Herald and Wrangel Islands, where we found it breeding by thousands. 



