X VOYAGE TO SPITZBEEGEN, ETC. 153 



and tail appear proportionately larger, as also are its solid power- 

 ful claws. "Whether these points are sufficient to entitle the 

 Spitzbergen bird to specific rank appears an open question. Its 

 affinities, however, appear to incline more to the form Z. rupes- 

 tris of Iceland and Arctic America than to the European types. 

 The specimens shot 27th July were in summer dress, but their 

 plumage was exceedingly worn and ragged. In colour, how- 

 ever, it harmonises admirably with the stony ground they fre- 

 quent. After creeping close up, well within shot of the four 

 above mentioned, I had the greatest difficulty in making them out 

 among the rough stones, though they were accurately "marked." 

 Their call note resembles that of a Grouse cock, but not nearly 

 so loud. 



4. Numenius phceopus. — We picked up a single specimen, 

 dead, on an island in Yan Mijen's Bay, Bel Sound, on 31st July. 

 It was an adult, and from the worn state of its plumage had pro- 

 bably been killed or died in the month of June. 



5. Strepsilas interpres. — A newly -fledged bird of the year 

 was shot in Ice Fjord, on August 4th. 



The two last-named are the first of their respective species 

 which have been recorded as obtained in Spitzbergen. On the 

 other hand, CEgialitis hiaticula and Phalaropus fuUcarius, pre- 

 viously obtained, the latter not uncommonly, were not observed 

 by us. 



6. Tringa maritima. — Very common in flocks along the rocky 

 shores, and in pairs u]d the valleys, where they were breeding 

 in marshy spots. A nest found 27th July contained four eggs, 

 much incubated. Two were broken in transit to the steamer, 

 the other two are in my possession. They resemble those of a 

 Snipe, but are smaller. On August 1st I found a newly -hatched 

 brood in a valley ofl "Van Keulen's Bay. Their upper parts 

 were clothed in velvetty black down with a purple sheen, and 

 beautifully spotted with gold. 



7. Somateria molUssima. — Yery abundant in all the Sounds, 

 and numbers were shot, though the old drakes were always diffi- 

 cult to get at. In size they are somewhat smaller, and the 



