592 PROF. GIGLIOLI AND COUNT T. SALVADORI ON [DeC. 6, 



justified in separating this bird from the European Velvet Scoter 

 {(E.fusca), and we can hardly imagine how, when compared, the 

 distinction between the two could have been overlooked. The 

 difference lies principally in the bill, which in CE. deglandi is not 

 only relatively shorter, because more covered by feathers at the 

 base, but has a basal knob of a rounded shape which projects in 

 fully adult males 0-014 m. above the nostrils and bulges out in 

 froiit like that of C. olor. Beside, the black colour surrounds the 

 base of the bill, the rest of which, with the exception of the unguis, 

 is red not orange. In colour the adult males of both species are 

 alike, but in CE. deglandi the white below the eye and on the wing 

 is more extended. 



We are happy to be able to confirm that the American Velvet 

 Scoter inhabits "also the Pacific coast of Eastern Asia, as well as 

 Japan, whence H.R.H. Prince Thomas of Savoy sent specimens 

 captured at Yamada in November 1880. 



The three specimens from Possiette Bay, are very interesting : 

 a is fully adult, but has a frontal knob not quite so prominent as it 

 is in two males from Yamada ; b and c are young males in the act 

 of assuming the black garb of the adult, both are in very dilapidated 

 plumage, the old feathers being of a nearly uniform drab brownish 

 grey. In h the lower back, wings, and tail are moulted ; in c tlie 

 head is better clothed, but the body is in a miserable condition as to 

 feathers, the remiges are quite undeveloped, so that it could 

 certainly not fly. 



The case of this species is an interesting one and requires some 

 further investigation ; it would be desirable to clearly establish 

 whether the Velvet Scoter found on the Atlantic coasts of North 

 America is really identical with the Pacific bird\ 



42. Phalacrocorax carbo (Linn.). 



Phalaerocorax carbo, David et Oust. Ois. Chine, p. 532 (1877). 

 a. Olga Bay, September 1879- 

 h. Possiette Bay, October 1879. 

 c. Gensan, August 16th, 1880. 



All are young birds in imperfect plumage ; specimen a shows the 

 underparts very white. 



43. Larus ridibundus, Linn. 



ChroicocephaJus ridibundus, David et Oust. Ois. Chine, p. 520 



(1877). 



Larus ridibundus, Saund. P. Z. S. 1878, p. 200. 



a. Possiette Bay, October 1879. 



A fully adult bird in winter plumage. 



44. Larus cachinnans, Pall. 



Larus cachinnans, David et Oust. Ois. Chine, p. .019 (1879). 



a. Vladivostok, October 1879. 



1 Since this paper was sent to the Zoological Society of London, vre liave 

 received Mr. Eidgway's ' Manual of North-American Birds,' in which work the 

 North-eastern Asiatic Scoter has been named (Edemia stejnegeri. 



