ZOOLOGY. 285 



lower part of breast and abdomen white ; sides and under wing coverts cinereous ; bill light at base, dark at the end ; feet 

 dark yellow. 



Total length, about 12J inches ; extent, 24 inches ; wing, 6J inches ; tail, If inch ; iris pale hazel. 



Hab. — Steilacooni, Puget sound. 



A single specimen of the cerorliina sxicldeyi was obtained by me at Steilacoom, Puget Sound, 

 January 28, 1856. A description of the bird in detail was noted at the time, and is as follows: 

 Membrane at base of upper mandible grayish dusky black; the hioh slightly more grayish and 

 more soft than the knob of the cerorkincha occidentalis ; middle of both mandibles dingy orange, 

 their tips dusky; iris pale hazel; under surface of the webs of the feet, and the posterior 

 asjject of the tarsi dusky black; upper surface of the toes bluish white, darker about the 

 articulations; nails black ; no hind toe. 



Upper surface of body from forehead to tip of tail, including back of neck, scapulars, and 

 wings, brownish black, almost jet black posterioidy; concealed inner webs of primary and 

 secondary quills dusky; lores, chin, cheeks, and anterior surface of throat and neck dusky 

 brown, paler beneath on the fore part of the breast ; under surface of the wings and sides of 

 the same color; belly and breast white, many of the feathers faintly tipped with pale dusky; 

 neck very full ; no white is seen on the upper surface. 



Although the Indians informed me that the species is not uncommon in the waters of the 

 sound, I never obtained another specimen, and doubt whether I ever saw any others among 

 the many divers, guillemots, <tc., which are so common there in the winter season. 



The individual obtained dived with great facility when wounded, and seemed as much at home 

 under water as a podiceps or loon. It was killed in deep water, about half a mile from the 

 shore. The skin when examined by Mr. Cassin had no knob on the bill. This being fleshy, 

 had probably shrunk so as not to be apparent. — S. 



URIA COLUMBA, (Pallas,) Cassin. 



The W^estern Gnilleinot. 



Ctpphm columha, Pallas, Zoog. Kosso-Asiat. II, p. 348, (1811.) 

 Una mandtii, Licht. Verz. p. 88, (1823) ? 



"Uria manrfrti, LiCHT. Mus. Dresd." — Reich. Vollst. Naturg. Schwimmv. pi. 4, fig. 47. 

 Vria columha, Baikd & Cassin, Gen. Kep. Birds, p. 912. 

 FiaoKKS. — Voy. Yincennes and Peacock, Birds, pi. 38, fig. 1. 



Sp. Ch. — Rather larger than the preceding ; bill larger and stronger. White space on the wing, divided by a band of 

 brownish black running diagonally from the edge of the wing ; under wing coverts dark ashy, frequently tipped with white ; 

 axillary feathers ashy brown. All other parts of the plumage brownish black, with a greenish lustre, and frequently tinged 

 with ashy on I he back. Bill black ; feet red. Younger and uinler plumage : Upper parts brownish black ; under parts white, 

 generally more or less spotted with dark brown ; white space on the wing, as in summer, but frequently lest distinct. 

 'ITie lining membrane of the mouth of adult birds is of a fiery red ; tarsi and feet of a deep red, with a tinge of lake ; bill 

 black ; iris brown ; claws black. A male, killed in August, 1856, measured 14^ inches in length ; extent, 24J ; wing 7. 



£a6.— Western and northwestern co.ast of America. Kamtschatka, (North Pacific Surveying and Exploring Expedition, 

 Captain Rodgers, United States navy.) 



The western guillemot is found abundantly throughout Puget Sound, being generally present 

 at all seasons in greater or less numbers, but least abundant in winter. It breeds in steep, 

 bold banks overhanging the salt water — burrowing out holes which extend two or three feet 

 back from the entrance, and, according to the statements of the Indians, laying several ivhite 

 eggs. By reason of some prejudice the natives will not eat this bird; why, I cannot say, as 

 they are fond of fishy-tasting birds, and prefer eating surf-ducks, of strong rank flavor, to 



