ALCIDiE — THE AUKS — 8YNTHLIB0KAMPIIUS, 500 



The Black-throated Guillemot is anotlier of the strikingly peculiar forms of deei>- 



sea-goiiig birds found exclusively in the Pacific Ocean, visiting the islands and the 

 coasts of both the American and the Asiatic mainland. They occur with some irregu- 

 larity in their distribution, and being })robably, like most of tneir family, of nocturnal 

 habits, we know but little of their specific peculiarities of manner. They are found 

 as far south as Japan, and as far north as Sitka and the Island of Amak. 



Several specimens were taken by Mr. H. AVhitely in Hakodadi Harbor, Japan, in 

 May. Most of them had lost either their right or their left foot ; these had been 

 apparently bitten off some time previously, as the place Avas healed and the skin 

 grown over it. Mr. Blakiston speaks of it as common in the game market of Yoko- 

 hama in Avinter, and Swinhoe found it common in Yezo from October to May. 



Mr. Dall states that this species, called by the Kussians " Starik," is common at 

 St. George's, and also at Amak Island, north of the peninsula of Aliaska. Speci- 

 mens were also obtained at Sitka by Bischoff. 



In his Notes on the Avifauna of the Aleutian Islands, lying east of Unalashka, 

 Mr. Dall states that this species was obtained breeding, with the eggs, at the Chica 

 Islets, Akutau Pass, near Unalashka, June 2, 1872. They Avere caught sitting on 

 their nests, Avhich are in holes in the bank, similar to those of the Petrels — Oceano- 

 drotna fttrcata. There Avere tAvo eggs in each nest, and in several cases the male 

 bird Avas sitting on the eggs. He did not meet Avith this species in any other place, 

 yet it may be abundant, notwithstanding. 



AfterAvard, in his Notes on the Birds of the Islands Avest of Unalashka, Mr. Dall 

 speaks of finding it abundant throughout the islands, especially in certain localities. 

 He obtained it from Kyska eastAvard. While it congregates off shore in very great 

 numbers, it also frequents the bays and harbors much more than any of the other 

 small Auks. The iris of this bird is Avhite. 



Among other specimens of the young form, Mr. Dall obtained one at Amchitka 

 Avith a malformation of the loAver mandible, Avhich Avas nearly one half shorter than 

 the upper one. The bird Avas fat and healthy. 



Specimens of the eggs of this species are in the Smithsonian collection, obtained 

 from Chico Island, Sitka, and Aliaska. Their ground-color is a pale buff ; over this 

 are very generally and equally distributed small longitudinal markings, somewhat 

 subdued, of lavender-gray and a light brown. Pour eggs measure as folloA\-s : 2.15 

 by 1.45 inches ; 2.35 by 1.55 ; 2.45 by 1.55 ; 2.50 by 1.40. 



Synthliboramplius wumizusume. 



TEMMINCK'S GUILLEMOT. 



Uria wumizummc, Temm. PL Col. .^JTO (1838). — Tkmm. & Sciileg. Fauna Jap. 184.5, pi. 79. 

 Annhnpton (Sijnthlihoramphus) tcumi'zu.mme, Bonap. Compt. Een<l. XLII. 1S56, 774. 

 Sijnlhl'iborhamiihus wiirmizusume, CouES, Pr. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad. 1868, 58 ; Key, 1872, 344 ; Check 



List, 1873, no. 628. — Ridgw. Nom. N. Am. B. 1881, no. 754. 

 Synlhliborhamphus vmizusumc, Coues, 2(1 Check List, 1882, no. 865. 

 Si/nthliboramphus Tcmminckii, Brandt, Bull. Ac. St. Petcrsb. IL 1837, 347. 

 Brachymmphus Tcmminckii, Cass, in Baird's B. N. Am. 1858, 916. — Bairp, Cat. N. Am. B. 1859, 



no. 737. 



Hab. Coasts and islands of the North Pacific, from Washington Territory to .Tapan. 



Sp. Char. Adult, hreeding-plumage : Forehead, centre of crown, nape, and side.s of nock Mack, 

 this color continued down the sides to the flanks ; nape sometimes marked witli scattered short 

 Avhite streaks ; fore part of crown with a loose crest of slender, much elongated feathei-s, slightly 



A'OL. II. — 04 



