410 THE FUR SEALS OF THE PRIBILOF ISLANDS. 



dered by the dusky of breast and sides of face. Sides of face generally brownish, 

 drab gray, broken under eyes, with white inclosing drab spots, and by a black trian- 

 gular spot in front of eyes, paler brown drab gray at base of mandibles and on fore- 

 head. Bill slaty black ; legs deep orange, blackish around joints. 



ImmaUire 9 , first plumage. — Similar to 3 , slightly duller and larger. 



Wearing rapidly darkens the plumage so that migrating birds vary, some being 

 darker than others. Birds in their second summer are usually smaller than the fully 

 adult, and the black of the breast is less extensive, being then very similar in area 

 and appearance to the following species. Sometimes the chestnut of the wing cov- 

 erts is entirely wanting in the males, as in the females, the winter coverts persisting. 



This bird differs from its American relative by its more extensive black areas 

 and much less amount of chestnut. It is larger and the feet and legs are more 

 strongly colored. A comparison of a good series of Pacific birds from the Pribilofs, 

 Japan, and other points, with a fine series from eastern America shows their unlike 

 ness; and a comparison of these Pacific birds with birds from Eurape, Greenland 

 and Africa shows a great general resemblance; in fact, two Greenland adult speci- 

 mens kindly loaned me by Mr. F. M. Chapman are indistinguishable from interpres 

 though easily so from our eastern bird. Female birds from the Pacific seem to be 

 blacker than the European bird, but whether a good comparable series of these last 

 taken in spring and summer would show it I am unable to say, my series not being 

 extensive enough. All Alaskan and Greenland specimens that I have seen, about 

 forty, are readily distinguished from our common eastern American species. Alas- 

 kan and TJnalaskan specimens are a trifle smaller than Japanese or Pribilof birds, but 

 they may be younger. I am not aware that this species occurs in spring on the 

 Pribilofs, but there would seem to be no reason why they should not. 



It is an abundant fall migrant on the Pribilofs. I saw none in May or June, 

 except four at Unalaska May 19. On July 12, 1890, I saw probably the first birb 

 that landed on St. Paul during the fall migration. From that date they daily 

 increased rapidly until by the end of July they swarmed everywhere. They reach 

 the island by way of the northeastern shore and in straggling flocks or singly fly 

 southward through the island during the day, banking up in large numbers when the 

 village killing ground is reached. They spread out on the slopes, resting on the 

 rocks and little hillocks during the day. They soon find the feast awaiting them on 

 the killing ground, and the marks of their work around nearly every seal carcass is 

 soon noticeable. As the water disappears by soakage and evaporation in the village 

 pond they turn up the black sand in thousands of little hillocks, each with a narrow 

 depression made by their bill beside it. At low tide the lagoon beaches are a favor- 

 ite resting and feeding place. By the end of July many become so fat that they are 

 run down and captured by the young Aleuts. Their departure from St. Paul is 

 quite a feature of the avifaunan exhibition. About G in the evening a small flock of 

 perhaps forty birds will rise into the air from about the village pond and uttering 

 loud shrill cries will fly up to near the head of the lagoon. Here making a wide 

 sweep they return, gathering fresh recruits on their way, until the vicinity of the 

 pond is again reached. Sweeping around in a constantly ascending course they 

 return up the lagoon, and turning once more, screaming as they go, and adding 

 to their numbers, they make a straight course high over the village hill and on out to 



