CRUISE OF THE STEAMEE COEWET. 125 



COLYMBID^. LOONS. 



80. Colymbustorquatus Briinn [73<5]. The Loon. 



This species is the most ancoinmon diverin northern Alaska. It was noted on a few occasions, 

 howerer, but I am inclined to think it rare. It i.s largely outnumbered by the black-throated 

 8i)ecie8. I saw an occasional skin among the natives and learned from them that it occurs at rare 

 intervals only. The Loon is much more common on the Bering Sea coast. 



81. Colymbus adamsi Gray [737]. The Great White- billed Loon. 



The above-mentioned species is the largest representative of the Colymhidrv, and is a well-known 

 resident of this region. It is not abundant in any section, however, but is more common than the 

 preceding. They nest in the great marshes of the delta, but do not range above the head. I saw 

 several skins among the natives, which were usefully employed as " ditty bags." 



82. Colymbus arcticus Linn. [7^8]. The Ulack-throateti Divek. 



Tiironghout the interior, along the shores of Ilotham Inlet and Kotzebue Sound, the black- 

 throated species is extremely abundant. Here it is found more common than in any other section 

 of the north. In this latitude it associates in large flocks, and we see them in every marsh and 

 lagoon along the river. 



During the hoars of the night the wild cry of the loon alone breaks the stillness, and always 

 imparts to one a sense of inde.scribable loneliness. 



This loon nests in the impenetrable marshes of this region duriug the latter part of May, and 

 leaves when its haunts are closed with ice. 



83. Coljrmbus septentrionalis Linn. [740]. The Red-throated Diveb. 



The haunts and habits of this bird are almost identical with those of the preceding species. It 

 is much more uncommon, however, and not more than one in ten specimens can be referred to this 

 species. 



NOTES ON THE DOWNY YOUNG OF THE PARROT AUK AND OF THE CRESTED AUK. 



By Leonard Ste.jnegek. 



(Two plates.) 



, During the cruise of the Concin, 1884, several downy young were collected by Mr. J. E. Lutz 

 on Otter Island. They are of special interest, since the newly hatched chicks of the two species 

 collected have never been received at any museum, so far as known, nor have they ever before 

 been described or figured. 



Cyclorrhynchus psittactaus (Pa».) Ridffic. [747]. The Parrot Auk. (Plate I.) 



Baird, Brewer, and Ridgway, Water Birds of North America, 1, p. 51.5. 



Boicny young (U. S. Nat. Mus., Xo. 100378: J. E. Lutz, coll., No. 27, Otter Island, Jul;,- 17. 1884.) 

 The bill exhibits all the curious peculiarities which characterize the genus Cyclonhynchiis, the 

 "recurved" commi.'?sure, the falcate shape of the lower mandible, and the sidewise compression of 

 the whole beak. In fact, the bill is very similar to that of the adult bird, of which Mr. Cassin 

 said that "it seems to attain a maximum of oddity amongst the queer bills of this family of birds, 

 the whole affair looking as if it might be a nose of wax badly pinched upwards, especially to the 

 disadvantage of the under mandible." The chief diflference is that in the chick the upper mandi- 

 ble is bent more abruptly towards the point, which, on account of the knob for breaking the egg 

 shell still remaining, presents a truncate profile. The characteristic notch behind the tip is present. 

 The nostrils are pervious. The color of the bill is a horny brownish g^ay, more dusky towards 

 the tip; corner of mouth in the fresh bird probably whitish. 



