1889. | Bisuop on Birds of the Magdalen Islands. 4 
s 45 
them. Teal were observed on two occasions by Mr. Robbins, 
but he was unable to determine the species. I have endeavored 
to give as nearly as possible the dates of breeding of the differ- 
ent species, hoping that they may be of assistance to odlogists 
intending to visit these islands. ‘The Magdalen Islands are so 
well known to naturalists that any description of them here would 
be out of place, and the present status of the different species 
breeding at the Bird Rocks has been so well defined by Mr. Lucas 
in ‘The Auk’ for April, 1888, that any further comment is un- 
necessary. 
e 
1. Colymbus auritus. HorNep GREBE.—One seenin a small pond 
at East Point on June 29, and the fragments of an egg of some species of 
Grebe were found on the beach near by. The people living on the islands 
call this bird the Water-witch. It undoubtedly breeds, but is not at all 
common. 
2. Urinatorimber. Loon.—One seen in the waters of the Gulf off 
Grosse Isle on June 25. Probably breeds. 
3. Fratercula arctica. Purrin.—Breeds abundantly in twisting bur- 
rows on the top of Great Bird Rock, and in the crevices of the cliffs on 
Bryon Island. 
4. Cepphus grylle. BLAcK GuILLEMoT.—Breeds abundantly in scat- 
tered colonies on most of the islands of the group. None were seen on 
the Bird Rocks. 
5. Uriatroile. Murre.—Common. Breeds on Bryon Island and the 
Bird Rocks. Aboutadozen specimens of the lately eliminated species 
U. ringvia, or, as at present considered, phase of plumage of U. frozle, 
were breeding on the cliffs of Great Bird Rock. As far as we were able to 
judge trom the limited time at our disposal they were in pairs, and seemed 
to be entitled to the rank ofa distinct species. An egg obtained by Mr. 
Robbins from one of these peculiarly marked birds could not be distin- 
guished from those of the other Murres. 
6. Urialomvia. Brunnicu’s Murre.—Breeds abundantly on Great 
Bird Rock. Six Murres shot from the top of the Rock were of this species, 
and none of the common Murres were seen there. 
7. Alcatorda. RAZOR-BILLED AuK.—Breeds, but notin large numbers, 
on Great Bird Rock, Bryon Island, and Entry Island. On Great Bird Rock 
this species with Fratercula arctica breeds principally near the top of the 
cliffs, leaving the lower ledges for the Gannets, Kittiwakes and Murres. 
8. Rissa tridactyla. KirTiwAKe.—Breeds abundantly on Great Bird 
Rock, but was not observed elsewhere among the islands. 
g. Larus marinus. GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL.—A flock of between 
twenty and thirty in the adult plumage was observed on asand bar on the 
West Point of Amherst Island, July 9. No evidence of the breeding of 
this species could be obtained. 
