122 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE NATURAL HISTORY OF ALASKA. 



30a. Ukia troilb californica (Bryant). California Murre. 



The California Guillemot occurs sparingly among tbe places resorted to by IT. lomvia arra, and 

 is so intimately associated with that species, in mode of life, as to call for no separate description. 

 The only difference in the birds is the character of the bill. 



I am not aware of the extreme northern range of this species; this could be determined only 

 by an indiscriminate slaughter of all tbe genus obtainable. I did not procure it at Saint Michael's, 

 but observed it as far north as Saint Mathew's Island. 



31a. Uria lomvia arra (Pall.). Pallas's Murre. 



Pallas's Guillemot arrives at Saint Michael's as soon as the ice has moved sufficiently to show 

 water in the cracks or about the bases of the small, outlying islets. This date is rarely later than 

 the 25th of May. This species is not abundant in the immediate vicinity of Saint Michael's. At 

 Egg Island, about ten miles from the entrance to the harbor, many of these birds breed every year 

 on the bluffs and ledges. The egg is laid on the bare rock without pretense of nest. Only one egg is 

 laid in a season if undisturbed, but will be renewed if the season is not too far advanced. The egg 

 is very large, having a bluish-green ground with dark, brown mottlings of variable outline. The 

 shell is exceedingly strong and may be rolled around in such manner as to astonish any one not 

 familiar with it. It is very palatable and remains fresh for a long time. 



At Cape Newenham, on the north side of Bristol Bay, I saw thousands of these birds repair- 

 ing to the cliffs of that cape. They were especially numerous in other localities along the northern 

 side of Aliaska. Along the entire Aleutian chain these birds are to be found. At Bogoslov 

 Island millions of them breed every summer. I was in a boat within few yards of that island in 

 June, 1880, and passed within 300 yards of it in a vessel in June, 1881. A large colony of sea- 

 lions breed here every year. Some of the crew fired rifle shots at some of the sea-lions, and when 

 tbe sound of tbe report was reverberated against the bluff the air was filled with these birds. 

 The entire surface of the island, from 100 feet from its base to its top, was made white with the 

 breasts of these birds. The island is about 000 feet high, and conical, composed of disintegrating, 

 angular pieces, constantly being detached, by action of the weather, from the mass which composes 

 the island. When the birds flew from their nests small pieces of stone were thrown clown, and 

 these again started others, that on one occasion caused, by the great mass of fine rock falling on it, 

 a huge rock to come bounding down its side right in tbe midst of one of the principal places where 

 the sea-lions were lying. The large rock that fell was not less than twelve feet square, and weighed 

 over a hundred tons. The thundering noise caused the hundreds of sea-lions to take to tbe water, 

 and in their baste many were so injured as to be incapable of regaining their places when their 

 alarm had subsided. The rock rolled on several, and mashed them flat. The birds took flight, 

 and darkened tbe air with their numbers. 



These birds are very quarrelsome during the breeding season, and many are killed by being 

 dashed on the rocks below the nests. I have frequently, after a hard storm, found these birds 

 dead on tbe beach where the waves had thrown them. 



On tbe water these birds ride gracefully and have the habit of swimming on one side ouly. I 

 had observed this feature in several of them, and suspected the birds to have been wounded, but 

 on chasing them I found to the contrary. They have two notes, one of which is like the bleat of an 

 old ram, the other is like calling a-a to some one at a distance. From the latter note is derived 

 the specific name of the bird. The Eskimo call them Ahl pa. Tbe Russians call them Arra, and 

 some writers have supposed this to be tbe origiu of the specific name, but in all the lauguages of 

 the people neighboring to these birds the vernacular is derived from the note a a, and in these 

 languages the name invariably begins with a. The iris and bill of this bird are black, the feet are 

 dusky. Tbe flesh is palatable and is eagerly eaten by the natives. 



This bird is quite plentiful among all the Aleutian Islands, and is a winter resident from Una- 

 lashka to the end of the chain. 



36. Stercoraritjs pomarinus (Temm.). Pomarine Jaeger. 

 The Pomarine Jaeger arrives at Saiut Michael's by the first week in June, or it may arrive by 

 the 23d of Ma.y if the season is sufficiently advanced. This species is an inhabitant of the drier 



