THE BIRDS OF JAN MAYEN ISLAND. 15 



in 1883, they were met with in very large numbers ; they were 

 found in fresh-water lagoons and puddles, as well as on low rocks 

 at sea, where they also moulted. Several of these birds attempted 

 to nest, since broken eggs and a nest of Eider-down were 

 found. As happened with all birds breeding in low places, they 

 fell a prey to the Arctic Fox, who can get everywhere in Jan 

 Mayen. Amongst the males shot at Jan Mayen in spring, in May 

 and June, there was found a progressive series of transitions from 

 the brown to the white gala-dress. On two specimens killed on 

 the 30th of June there was a broad white breast-band, of which 

 the individual feathers, however, still showed brownish edges. 

 Various feathers of the back were white, with more or less broad 

 brown edges. Also in the rest of the plumage a more or less 

 strong mixture of white was noticeable. A dark hemming-in of 

 white breast- and back-feathers seems to indicate clearly, as 

 Dr. Finsch has already shown in his second contribution to the 

 * Avifauna of Greenland' (p. 361), that, in addition to the moulting, 

 discoloration of the plumage has taken place. While, as men- 

 tioned, a number of males arrived at Jan Mayen in brown dress, 

 other specimens arrived in full gala- dress. This gala-dress was 

 carried by many specimens until August, when the ' Pola ' left 

 Jan Mayen, while others were in full change, so that they were 

 not in a position to fly. The latter showed a pied colouring of 

 the plumage. 



Somateria spectabilis, L., King Duck. — In the first days of 

 our sojourn in Jan Mayen I saw a pair of males of this species. 



Colymbus glacialis, L., Great Northern Diver. — From the 

 day of our arrival at Jan Mayen I saw this bird swimming about 

 singly in the north lagoon. Both I and Count Palffy shot several 

 times at this Diver, which dived under water every time before 

 the lead told. On the 8th of December the lagoon was already 

 frozen, and the bird gone. On the 11th of January, after 

 the ice had been pushed aside by the E.S.E. wind, I saw a large 

 Diver, but could not decide whether it belonged to this species. 

 From the 24th of May onwards, every time I went to sea I saw 

 " Ice Divers," sometimes singly, sometimes in companies of four, 

 swimming about in sheltered bights. They were also con- 

 tinuously to be found on the fresh-water lagoon. During my 

 boat excursion, lasting fourteen days, towards the southern portion 

 of the island, I daily saw several of these birds moving about in 



