2 14 LEONHARD STEJNEGER : 



1 884. — ? Brachyrhamphus wrangeli Seebohm, Ibis, 1 884, p. 3 r 

 (nee Brandt). 



Hab. — Kamtschatka ; northern shore of Okhotsk Sea (Tauisk : 

 about 60 ° N. Lat., 1 50 E. Long. ; Merck, fide Pallas 1. c); r Nor- 

 thern Japan, south, in winter, to Yokohama. 



If only examined superficially, the present species might be 

 mistaken for B. kittlit-ii, although its much longer bill, and uniform 

 secondaries and tail-feathers to the careful observer will at once 

 prove it to be different ; and a closer examination will show that 

 the similarity is only a very superficial one : 



In B. kittlit-ii the ground color of the upper surface is a delicate 

 plumbeous gray, varied with buff, each feather narrowly terminated 

 with black ; whereas in B. perdix the ground color is blackish, the 

 light markings more tawny and not edged with black ; in the former 

 the buff markings are irregulär and somewhat longitudinal, while in 

 the latter they form tolerably regulär cross-bars. Underneath the 

 difference is still greater; throat and fore neck are very similarly 

 mottled with dusky in both, but in B. kittlit-ii the dark markings 

 become narrower and more distant on breast and abdomen, while in 

 ß. perdix, on the contrary, they increase in width and number 

 towards the crissum ; in the former fore neck and flanks are strongly 

 tinged with tawny buff, of which only a very slight wash is pereep- 

 tible in the latter species. 



It is really to B. marmoratus that B. perdix is most nearly related, 

 and without a sufficient material it would be difficult to express a 

 well founded opinion as to its distinetness. But with a very füll 

 series of the former before me, embracing adults and young birds. 

 summer and winter plumages, illustrating both the seasonal and 

 the individual Variation, there can be no doubt about the distinetness 

 of the Kamtschatkan bird. 



The chief distinetion is in the color of the Upper surface 

 isummer plumagej which in B. marmoratus is barred crosswise 

 with rusty umber, in B. perdix with pale tawny and dull buff. My 

 Kamtschatka speeimen of B. perdix is collected in autumn, and some- 



