ALASKA. 205 



]:5^ot only on account of the form of the bill, which, though 

 singular among Alcidce, is not more different from that of some 

 others than these are among themselves, but also in conse- 

 quence of a different mode of life, to which the shape of the bill 

 fits it, as attested by various observers, we now place the bird 

 in a separate genus from Simorhynchus, under which we formerly 

 included it. The species is said to live chiefly upon bivalve 

 mollusks, such as Mytilus, &c., for opening which its bill is 

 adapted; and Professor Brandt notes the curious analogy 

 afforded, in this respect, with Hcematopus, as compared with 

 allied Charadrine genera. 



Mr. Gray adduces a reference to the unexpected occurrence 

 of this species in Sweden. 



"This quaintly-beaked bird is quite common on the PrybiloT 

 Group, and can be obtained at Saint George's in considerable 

 numbers. It comes here early in May, and locates in a deep 

 chink or crevice of some inaccessible cliff, where it lays a single 

 egg and rears its young. It is very quiet and undemonstrative 

 during the pairing-season, its only note being a low, sonorous, 

 vibrating whistle. Like SimorliyncMs cristatellus, it will breed 

 in company with the ' ohoochkie,' but will not follow that lively 

 relative back upon the uplands, the ' baillie brushkie ' being 

 always found on the shore-line, and there only. 



" The egg, which is laid upon the bare earth or rock, is pure 

 white, oblong-ovate, measuring 2J by 1^ inches. It is exceed- 

 ingly difacult to obtain, owing to the birds' great caution in 

 hiding, and care in selecting some deep and winding crevice in 

 the face of the cliff. At the entrance to this nesting-cavern the 

 parents will sometimes squat down and sit silently for hours at 

 a time, if undisturbed. 



" It does not fly about the islands in flocks, and seems to lead 

 a quiet, independent life by itself, caring nothing for the society 

 of its kind. The young, when first hatched, I have not seen, 

 but by the 10th to the 15th of August they may be observed 

 coming out for the first time from their secure retreats, and 

 taking to wing as fully fledged and as large as their parents. 



" They take their departure from the 20th of August to the 

 1st of September, and go out upon the ISTorth Pacific for the 

 winter, where they find their food, which consists of ampMpoda 

 and fish-fry. I have never seen one among the thousands that 

 were around me when on the islands ' opening ' the bivalve- 

 shells, such as mussels, &c., as stated by Professor Brandt. It. 



