•J^O*^ THE FUR SEALS OF THE PRIRILOF ISLANDS. 



to find after cousiderable search two small young clingiug to the sedges, Thej' had 

 evidently made their way through the scanty sedge growth for fully 30 feet from the 

 shore. Ever and anon as I was watching the old birds would swim near the place, 

 constantly turning in all directions with head and neck erect. Suddenly tlie bill 

 would be tlirust into the water, a nutritious morsel would be swallowed and the 

 turning and paddling continued. Jfo. 11875G, ad. S , July 24, 1890, St. Paul, W. P., is 

 beginning to molt; there are a few new white feathers appearing on the sca])ulars 

 and scattered all over the head and neck. Stomach contents: one specimen '^mauv 

 diptera."— *S. D.J. 



Family SCOLOPACIDAE. Snipes, Sandpipers, etc. 



43. Tringa ptilocnemis Cones. Pribilof Saudpiper. " Kie-Uts-kie." 



Tringa crassiro.sfris, Dall, Proc. Cal. Ac. Sci. 1873,28; Am. Nat. VII, 1873, 634.— Couks, in 



Elliott's Rpt. Seal Ids. 1873; Ueprini, 1875, 182. 

 Tri7u/a ptilocnemis, Couks, in Elliott's Rpt. Art'. Alaska, 1873 (note) ; Beprint, 1875, 182; Aiu. Nat. 



VIII, 1871,500.— Elliott, Mon. Seal Ids. 1882, 129.— Nelson, Bd.s. Al.aska, 1887, 105.— Hakt- 



LAUB, .Jour, fiir Orn. 1883, 279.— A. O. U. Cb. List, 1895, 87.— Ridgway, Man. 1896, 154 — 



Palmek, Nidioloj^ist, 1, 1894, 175. 

 Tringa gracilis IIakitno, P. Z. S. 1874, 243, PI. XL. 

 Tringa maritima, Dall and Bannlstkk, Trans. Cliic. Ac. Sci. 1869, 291 ; Proc. Cal. Ac. Sci 1874 



275. 



Tringa maritima plilocnemis, Elliot, N. Am. Sh. Bds. 1895, 72. 



Tlringa] m[aritima] jitilocncmi/s, Elliot, N. Am. Sh. Bds. 1895, 235. 



Alrquatclla] ptilocnemis, Ridgway, Bull. Nntt. Oin. Clnb, 1880, 163.— Couks, Key, 1890, 630. 



Arquatella ptilocnemis, Nelson, Cruise, Corwin, 1883, 86.— Stk.jnegkr, Bull. 29, II'. S. N. M. 1885 



Arquatella maritimiis ptilocnemis, Siiaupk, Cat. B. Br. Mns. XXIV, 1896, .5X4, 



This bird is unquestionably a good species, and is very distin(;t in all plumages 

 from T. marUhuus and T. coucsii. My series of G4 specimens, together with Mr. 

 Elliott's and others in the National Museum collection, show tins conclusively. Com- 

 paring adult breeding birds we find thut ptilocaemls is the largest, is much the whitest, 

 has a strong rufous tinge across the chest, over most of the head and neck, and always 

 has a black pectoral area. The black, however, varies in dilferent degrees, because in 

 all cases the white feathers of the previous pluumge arc persistent about the center of 

 tiie breast and down the abdrmien, and do not drop until replaced again by similar 

 feathers. Tlie rufous tinge is always found, and is especially marked on some speci- 

 mens. In one. No. 11.S776, this ochraceous rufous of the edgings of the back and neck 

 feathers extends strongly across the lower neck between the white of the throat and 

 the black pectoral patch. Tiie scapulars are very broadly edged with the same color. 

 In a few specimens the rufous is confined to a slight tinge around the neck and on 

 the edges of the back feathers, but all specimens show it. While the bill is i>ra(!tically 

 straigiit on most s])ecimens, a few have it slightly decurved near tlie tip. The white- 

 ness is (luite a prominent feature, and is in great contrast to the darker colors of the 

 related forms. As to the causes of the greater wliiteiiess of this species, it may be 

 suggested that it may be due entirely to isolation, with comparative fieethnn from 

 eiiemies, and also from competition with related forms. Ease of acquiring, together 

 with the abundance of food, would also seem to operate. During the summer the 

 adults lead a lazy life. There is abundance of food, easily obtained, and there is very 

 slight cause for activity. They have no competition and no enemies except foxes, from 

 whom it is easy for tiiem to escape. As great activity under contrary conditions teiuls 



