THE BIRDS OF THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 389 



eight taken on St. Paul on June 5, 1890, the largest is 1.60 by 1.20, the smallest 1.55 

 by 1.08. They are always white. 



25. Synthliboramphus antiquus (Gmel.). Black-throated, or Ancient Murrelet. "Starik." 



Brachyrhamphus antiquus, Dall and Bann., Trans. Chic. Ac. Sci. 1869, 310. 

 Synthliborampliaa antiquus, Nelson, Bds. Alaska, 1887, 43.— Coubs, Key, 1890, 811.— A. O. U. Ch. 

 List, 1895, 8.— EiDGWAY, Man. 189G, 14.— Grant, Cat. B. Br. Mns., 1898, 596. 



In the List of the Birds of Alaska, Dr. Dall tells us (p. 310) that this species is 

 "common at St. Greorge," etc. It is found throughout the Aleutian Islands, also on 

 the Commander group. It may occur on the Pribilofs, but I can not find any further 

 definite information nor specimens, and Dr. Dall is unable at this late date to furnish 

 conclusive evidence of its occurrence. 



26. Cepphus coiumba Pall. Pigeon Guillemot. 



Ulria'] coluviJia, CouES, Key, 1890, 815.— Grant, Cat. B. Br. Mns., 1898, 586. 

 Cepphus coiumba, Nelson, Bds. Alaska, 1887, 44. — A. O. tJ. Ch. List, 1895, 8. — Eidgway, Man. 

 1896, 17. 



I have no information of this species breeding on the islands but they probably 

 do. I only observed them once, on June 13, while on a boat trip to Walrus Island, 

 when they were quite common to the southward of "that place, but very sby, Elliott 

 does not mention them, but Nelson says "they nest on the fur seal islands," and he 

 tells me that he certainly saw them under the cliffs of St. George. The blackness of 

 the bird and the white wing patch render them conspicuous objects on the sea. Their 

 breeding places are among rocks near the water's edge and they may possibly breed 

 on Walrus Island, and perhaps at Polovina on St. Paul, and on St. George. They lay 

 two white eggs, which measure about "2.41 by 1.64." — (Bidgway). 



27. TTria troile californica (Bryant). California Murre. "Arrie." 



Zomvia troile var. californica. Cooes, in Elliott's Kpt. AS. Alaska, 1873; Beprint, 1875, 210; 



Elliott, Mon. Seal Ids., 1882, 135; Key, 1890, 817. 

 Uria troile californica, Nelson, Bds. Alaska, 1887, 45. — A. O. U. Ch. List, 1895, 11. — Ridgway, 



Man. 1896, 18. 

 Uria troile, Grant, Cat. B. Br. Mns., 1898, 573 (part). 



Occurs in small squads on the cliffs of St. Paul and St. George. Seen from the 

 edge of the cliffs above, I found that I could readily distinguish them from the other 

 darker and more robust species. They are much slenderer, with smaller and sharper 

 bills; the upper parts are a light brownish ash color as seen from above when one is 

 directly over them. I could thus readily distinguish them when mixed with the 

 thousands of arra. On a visit to Walrus Island, on June 13, 1 saw none of these 

 birds, those taken being the next species, and my visit being confined to the western 

 and northern parts of the island; but on landing again, on August 7, on the south- 

 eastern part, I was astonished by their abundance, none of the other species being 

 seen. Thus the two forms were occupying different portions of the available space 

 and breeding by thousands. On this last date, from the water's edge, extending, back 

 perhaps 30 yards and along on either side for a considerable distance, were thousands 

 of murres, which opened before me and, rushing over the rocks, threw themselves off 

 into the sea by thousands. Some hundreds of eggs nearly ready to hatch were to 

 be seen and young of various sizes were numerous. In some cases an old bird 

 sheltered under her wings several young of different ages. The rocks were very wet 

 and dirty, but by sudden rushes I succeeded in capturing several adults by grasping 



