CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. IQ 



a few blades of grass. The eggs of this species consist of two 

 to the clutch and are unlike the eggs of any other sea-bird. The 

 ground colour is of a deep buff colour, with small longitudinal 

 markings of light-brown and lavender-grey, size, 2'35 x i"45. The 

 bird sits close on its eggs and in some cases has to be forced off 

 the nest with a stick. {Raine.) 



I was informed that this species breeds plentifully on Atka 

 Island, one of the Aleutian Islands. They breed in holes made 

 in the turf or sod overhanging the brow of the cliffs. (Turner). 



XII. BRACHYEAMPHUS Brandt. 183;. 



23. Marbled Murrelet. 



Brachyramphiis marmoraius (Gmel.) Brandt. 1837. 



Large numbers of this species were taken at Sitka by Bischoff ; 

 Dall found them in the Aleutian Islands ; and the writer found 

 them near Unalaska in May, 1877. They probably reach their 

 northern limit in this chain, where they breed. {Nelson^ Found 

 in small flocks in Sitka Bay, Alaska. {Dr. Bean.) An abundant 

 resident along the coast of British Columbia ; breeds on Van- 

 couver Island and on some of the smaller islands in the Gulf of 

 Georgia and on inlets of the mainland. {Fannin.) Abundant in 

 Burrard Inlet, B.C., in April, 1889 ; shot on Barclay Sound, Van- 

 couver Island, August, 1887. (Macoun.) 



MUSEUM SPECIMENS. 



Our collection contains five specimens of this species — four 

 males and one female. Four of the specimens were taken on 

 Burrard Inlet in April, 1889, and the other at Comox, Vancouver 

 Island, June 20th, 1893 — all by Spreadborough. 



24. Kittlitz's Murrelet. 



Brachyramphus kittlitzii Brandt. 1837. 



The first example of this rare bird known to exist in any 

 American museum was secured by the writer in Unalaska har- 

 bour the last of May, 1877. {Nelson.) One specimen was obtained 

 April 24th, 1879, at Iliuliuk Village, Unalaska Island — said by 

 the Indian who brought it to me to be abundant throughout the 

 year at Sannak Island, breeding there ; not rare on Amchitka 

 Island and in the neighbourhood of Old Harbour, on Atka 

 Island, Aleutian Islands. {Turner.) 

 2% 



