416 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



Rotges Hill, Magdalena Bay (29th), probably up hill-top (2000 

 feet). A few pairs still in Green Harbour on our second visit 

 (August 3rd). 



18. Northern Puffin {Fratercula glacialis, Leach). — In com- 

 parison with the last four species, and especially the two latter of 

 these, the Northern Puffin must be considered scarce ; still one 

 or two could generally be detected among the swarming masses 

 of other sea-fowl, the bright red colour on the bill rendering 

 them very conspicuous. Prof. Newton gives careful measure- 

 ments of this and the ordinary species. The apparently much 

 greater size of the northern bird particularly struck all of us on 

 board the ' Pallas ' who had any acquaintance with the common 

 species. On our second visit to Green Harbour (August 3rd), 

 while other species had diminished in numbers from thousands to 

 scores, the Puffins were about in their usual numbers, and were, 

 therefore, comparatively much commoner. Besides these species 

 actually obtained by us (and one or more specimens of each of 

 which I brought home, with the accidental exception of the Pink- 

 footed Goose), the following birds were seen, with more or less 

 certainty : — 



19. Falcon (Falco sp. ?).— "A large, long-winged Falcon" 

 was observed by Chapman soaring high over the water at Van 

 Keulen Bay on the evening of July 30th. He is sure he was not 

 mistaken as to the genus ; two other members of our party were 

 with him, and were equally convinced as to its identification. No 

 diurnal bird of prey has been obtained in Spitzbergen, and 

 only two other instances are on record where one has been 

 seen. The only raptorial bird hitherto obtained in Spitzbergen 

 is the Snowy Owl (Nyctea scandiaca, Newt. ed. Yarr. Brit. B. 

 i., p. 187 ; Dresser, B. Europe), of which a specimen is 

 recorded by Dr. Malm gr en as having been shot between Ver- 

 legen Hook and Shoal Point, 10th July, 1861 (Newton, 'Ibis,' 

 1865). Nordenskiold ('Voyage of the Vega' i., 131) mentions 

 an example obtained at Wijde Bay, in the autumn of 1872; he 

 says " it evidently breeds and winters at the Ptarmigan Fell." 

 Lamont obtained a specimen in Stor Fjord, but I am unable to 

 give the reference. Professor Newton (loc. cit.) says his pilot had 

 known of its occurrence in Spitzbergen previously, and Kjeldsen, 

 one of our ice-pilots, was evidently aware of the same fact. 



20. Long-tailed Duck (Harelda glacialis, Selby). — I believe I 



