166 BRITISH BIRDS. fvon. XI. 
for the present doubtful, because many individuals 
are not separable from Norwegian ones, and hecause — 
the material available is too small. 
3. Fratercula arctica grabe Brehm. 
4. The doubtful F. arctica meridionalis Jordans, based 
on birds wintering in the Mediterranean, the breeding 
place of which is unknown. 
This is the state in which TI should like to leave these birds 
at present. The three forms F. a. arctica, nawmanni and 
qgrabe are, in my opinion, certainly distinct, but it seems 
better to hesitate and not to split any more at present : 
no doubt TI shall be accused of being over-hesitating and 
anxious to “lump,” and someone else will think that he can 
see more and know better than I, but reckless splitting is 
not advisable. On the other hand, if a form is, by comparing 
series with series. different. we must separate it, 7.e: express 
this fact by the short formula of giving it a name. It is not 
a question whether one “ prefers”? to regard the British 
form as typical arctica, but whether it is the same or not. 
I may add that it is not at all ‘‘ doubtful whether the 
bird breeds on the Swedish coasts,” but that there are at 
least two breeding colonies on the Swedish coasts. both in 
Bohus. According to Mr. Jourdain’s measurements, eggs of 
grabe average less than those of arctica.—ERNST HARTERT. ~ 
[The distinctive characters of the Spitsbergen Puffin 
were clearly recognized by that very cautious and conserva- 
tive ornithologist, the late Professor Newton, who was then 
editor of the Jhis, as far back as 1865. In the Jbis for that 
year, not only are tables given showing the different dimensions - 
of this form (p. 522), but it is also figured as a distinct species 
(Pl. vt). Over thirty years later Mr. Ogilvie-Grant, in the 
Cat. Birds, XXVI., pp. 616-620, though aware of these 
differences, refused to recognize any subspecies of Fratercula 
arctica.” but lumped Spitsbergen, American, Iceland and 
British birds under this name, remarking that ‘“ The 
Spitsbergen birds can only be regarded as a larger Northern 
race,” and quoting all citations of Fratercula glacialis as 
svnonvms of F. arctica. In the same volume, however. 
Mr. Grant admits the principle of subspecific distinction 
in the case of Phalacrocorax graculus and other species, so 
that to ascribe the recognition of the Spitsbergen Puffin to 
him is misleading, to say the least of it. As the Iceland 
Puffin is well represented in the British Museum, it is strange 
that no specimens were measured by Messrs. Sclater and 
Praed. F. C. R. Jourdan ] 
a EE ES ME a ES 

