The Zoologist — October, 1870. 2329 



along gonys '55, height opposite base of nostrils -25, width at same 

 point -20. . 



This species was originally described by Pennant as the " marbled 

 guillemot," whence Colymbus marnioratus of Gmelin. His description 

 is that of the adult, in breeding plumage, but has been almost 

 universally supposed to refer only to the young; and a very different 

 species has been usually held to be the adult, as shown in the next 

 article. It is also evidently the Cepphus perdix of Pallas. 



Audubon's figure and description of the supposed young of this bird, 

 under the name of Uria Townsendii, is really that of the adult. His 

 figure of the supposed adult appears rather to represent Wrangeli. 



It is difficult, perhaps impossible, to determine Uria brevirostris of 

 Vigors. This is evidently, as far as can be judged by the description, 

 a young bird. It belongs to the short-legged group of the present 

 genus ; but whether it is the young of marmoratus or of Wrangeli, is 

 a point which cannot be decided. The expression " capite dorsoque 

 albo-notatis," and the absence of any mention of rust-colour in the 

 description, would lead one to assign it rather to Wrangeli. 



Brachyrhamphus Kittlitzii of Brandt is another bird which has 

 not been identified since its original description. Like U. brevirostris 

 it is evidently a young bird, of the short-legged group ; and the 

 expression " fusco-flavescente undulata" induces the presumption 

 that it is really only a young marmoratus. But it is possible that 

 both it and B. brevirostris may be the young of the same species, or 

 of two different species, which yet remain to be identified. It is not 

 probable, however, that either of these names represent valid species, 

 distinct from each one of those recognized in this paper. 



Brachyrhamphus Wrangeli, Brandt. — Habitat : Aleutian Islands, 

 and north-west coast of America ; south to Puget's Sound, and perhaps 

 further. Numerous specimens in the Museum of the Smithsonian 

 Institute. 



Description (from a perfectly adult male specimen in the Museum 

 of the Smithsonian Institute, from Sitka, March, 1866).— With the 

 size and proportions of the several members as in marmoratus ; the 

 bill absolutely shorter, relatively rather stouter. Bill scarcely as long 

 as the tarsus. Tarsus much less than middle toe without claw. 



Adult.— Entire upper parts, except the scapulars, very dark cine- 

 reous ; the centre of the feathers, particularly on the back and rump, 

 blackish, causing these parts to appear obsoletely waved with blackish 

 and cinereous; the crown of the head, the wings and the tail, almost 



