Sept., 1920 173 
NEW AND INTERESTING RECORDS OF PRIBILOF ISLAND BIRDS 
By G. DALLAS HANNA 
URING the summer season of 1919 not many new records of birds were 
secured on the Pribilof Islands. This was not due to any supposed sear- 
city of material from which the records could have been made, but was 
the result of a lack of opportunity to make any systematic observations or col- 
lections. On several occasions shore birds were noted which could not be iden- 
tified with any previously recorded species, but a combination of circum- 
stances in every case prevented the securing of specimens. On three separate 
days warblers were seen, and wagtails were observed once. In each of these 
groups there are excellent opportunities to secure new records both for the 
Islands and for North America. And this would add very materially to the 
knowledge of migration of many species. 
Field identifications are not ordinarily believed to be trustworthy for re- 
cords in this locality, where there is so much mixing of the American and Asi- 
atic avifaunas. A firearm should be carried constantly by a person who ex- 
pects to get any considerable number of the valuable specimens which appear. 
Unfortunately this cannot always be done. Although I have been instrumentai 
in the recording of some thirty-eight species from the Islands for the first 
time, including six new to North America, I firmly believe that fully twice 
that number would have been secured had I been abie to go about my regular 
duty ‘‘prepared’’ for birds. 
These little Pribilof Islands, mere atoms in a storm swept sea, form the 
land home for myriads of birds. But in addition to this they are the resting 
place for migrants and wanderers from the entire northern part of the earth. 
Some most unexpected visitors have been found, as a casual inspection of the 
complete list will show. They have come from Alaska, Kamchatka, Siberia, 
Japan, and the northern part of Europe. Whether there is any law which 
governs these extensive wanderings or not: can only be determined by con- 
tinued and careful collecting, which no one thus far has been able to under- 
take. 
_ Complete lists of the breeding birds of each of the five islands of the group 
are offered herewith for the first time. From this it is hoped changes which 
occur from year to year may be noted. Undoubtedly additions will come in 
the future; the islands are very young. 
Limnocryptes gallinula. European Jack-snipe. Some time during the 
spring of 1919, probably in April, a native on St. Paul Island secured one of 
these birds and very kindly kept the skin for me until my arrival. The identi- 
fication was made by Mr. Joseph Mailliard of thé California Academy of Sci- 
ences. This is a new record for the Pribilof Islands and for North America. 
Macrorhamphus griseus scolopaceus. Long-billed Dowitcher. A female 
was taken on St. Paul Island, September 18, 1919. It, the only one seen, was 
secured near the Salt Lagoon. 
Passerella iliaca unalaschcensis. Shumagin Fox Sparrow. On May 20, 
1919, a female fox sparrow was found at North East Point, St. Paul Island, 
feeding among the piles of drift wood. Mr. Mailliard is responsible for the 
identification. 
