gg THE ASIATIC FUB-SEAL ISLANDS. 



The animals are equally few. Sea lions (Uumetopias stelleri) were formerly 

 nnmerous, but have decreased with the fur seals. Even the birds are represented by 

 only a few breeding species. On August 29 and 31, 1896, 1 saw only the foUowing: 



BIRDS ON ROBBEN ISLAND. 



7. Limosa lapponica baueri. 



8. Seteractitis brevipea. 



9. Fhalaropus lobatus. 



10. Sistrionicus Mstrionious. 



11. Phalacrocorax sp. 



1. Uria lomnia a/rra. 



2. Lams schiatisagus. 



3. Biaaa tridactyla pollicaria, 

 i. Arenaria interprea. 



5. MgiaXitis mongola. 



6. Actodromaa ruficollia. 



Of invertebrate land animals I discovered only very few, in spite of a careful 

 search, viz, a myriapod {Lithohius) and two beetles. Mr. M. L. Linuell examined them 

 later, and informed me that one is a species of Bembidium, possibly new, though he 

 did not venture to describe it until it can be compared with the numerous species 

 from the mainland, which is impracticable at present. The other species belongs to 

 the highly interesting genus JSgialites, of which hitherto only two species were 

 known, both from the Pacific coast of North America. The Eobben Island species 

 the late Mr. Linnell described as new, under the name ^gialites stejnegeri. (OaUad. 

 Entomol., xxx, 1898, p. 74.) 



The climate is naturally more " continental " in its character than on either the 

 Commander Islands or Pribilof Islands, having colder winters and warmer summers, 

 but I am not aware that any regular observations have been published for the island. 

 Mr. 0. Oarpmael, director of the meteorological service of Canada, has furnished a 

 few figures, but they are apparently only based upon curves in the Challenger report 

 and are mere approximations. He states (Fur Seal Arb., viii, p. 511) that according 

 to these the mean temperature for May would be about 42 degrees, but thinks 

 possibly the mean might be as low as 40 degrees. In June it is " probably about 48 

 degrees." In July "probably a little under 60 degrees." In August "it must be 

 nearly 60 degrees." In September "it must be a little below 55 degrees." In October 

 " about 44 degrees." ^ 



I am under great obligations to Capt. E. Egerman, commanding the I. E. V. F. S. 

 Khabarovslc, for a complete transcript of the meteorologic observations made by Lieu- 

 tenant Kolubakiu at Eobben Island during July, August, and part of September, 1896. 

 Only the means are given here, which have all been computed by myself. Dates 

 have been changed to new style and degrees of centigrade converted to Paihrenheit. 

 The percentage of relative humidity is also computed by me. 



ABSTRACT OP METEOROLOGIC OBSERVATIONS MADE BY LIEUTENANT KOLUBAKIN, 

 I. R. N., AT ROBBEN ISLAND, OKHOTSK SEA, FROM JULY 2 TO SEPTEMBER 14, 

 1896 (NEW STYLE). 



The observations were made at 8 a. m., 12 noon, 4 p. m., and 8 p. m., local time. 

 Only the daily means are given here, obtained by adding together these observations 

 and dividing by 4. 



' According to Stamof (Ausland, 1885, p. 537) the mean temperature at Cape Patience, Saghalin, 

 was 52.2° F. for June, and 62.4° F. for July, 1884. 



