32 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA. 



This species abounds in the interior of the Northwest Terri- 

 tories and on the shores of the Arctic Sea, where it breeds. 

 {Richardson^ First observed in the Strait of Belle Isle on our 

 outward passage in August, 1877 ; from this point northward they 

 were constantly with us and extremely abundant until the ice 

 covered the water ; they are altogether absent from Cumberland 

 Gulf in spring and summer. {Kumelin.) 



MUSEUM SPECIMENS. 



In our egg collection we have two specimens, one taken on 

 Disco Island, Greenland, by Inspector Anderson in 1894 ; another 

 in Davis Strait ; both received from Prof. D'Arcy Thompson. 



40a. Pacific Kittiwake. 



Rissa tridactyla pollicaris Ridgw. 1884. 



Found along the coast of Vancouver Island and in the Gulf of 

 Georgia. {Lord.) The entire coast line of Alaska, with all its 

 numerous islands, both near the mainland and far out at sea, are 

 inhabited by this beautiful gull ; it nests abundantly at the head 

 of Norton Bay. (Nelson.) A common bird at St. Michael when 

 the ice breaks up after the middle of May. The great breeding 

 ground of the species is further south ; on the Prybiloff Islands 

 and some of the western Aleutian Islands this species breeds in 

 thousands ; breeds sparingly at St. Michael. {Turner^ 



Breeding Notes. — This bird has the same habits as R. brevi- 

 rostris. In building its nests it uses more grass and less mud- 

 cement than that species does. The eggs are more pointed at 

 the smaller end and lighter in ground colour, with numerous 

 splotches of dark brown colour. (Elliott^ 



MUSEUM SPECIMENS. 



Two fine specimens taken on St. Paul Island, Behring Sea, by 

 Mr. J. M. Macoun. 



41. Red-legged Kitiwake. 



Rissa brevirostris (Bruch) Lawr. 1858. 



Seen in considerable numbers at Unalaska, May 26, 1877; 

 abundant on the Prybiloff Islands, especially on St. George 

 Island, where they congregate in thousands and breed. (^Nelson.) 

 Not a common bird at St. Michael ; the Aleutian and Prybiloff 

 islands are its home. {Turner.) 



