NATATORES. 



347 



others of the Uria (jrylle, from Northeastern America and Northern 

 Europe, we find quite sufficient differences constantly presenting them- 

 selves, to induce us to re-establish a species as distinct, under the name 

 given by Pallas, as cited above. Though precisely of the same gene- 

 ral colors as the European bird, and, so far as can be determined from 

 skins, very nearly of the same size, the specimens now before us have 

 the bill more slender, and the white patch on the wing is divided by 

 a well-defined dark band from its lower edge, forming a conspicuous 

 character, and to be instantly detected as peculiar to the present bird. 

 The feet appear to be smaller, but in dried skins of swimming birds, 

 we cannot regard this apparent character as reliable, unless very 

 striking. 



The name given by the distinguished Russian naturalist, to whom 

 we have alluded, there can be little doubt, applies to the species now 

 before us. He states the locality as " In Oceano arctico, pariterque 

 circa Ccantschatcam et in omnifreto inter Siberiam et Americam, abundant, 

 et ubique fistulante voce exaudiunter." 



This bird appears to be of common occurrence on the northwestern 

 coast of America. Both Dr. Pickering and Mr. Peale record having 

 observed it at various points, the latter also notices one of the charac- 

 ters to which we have alluded. His observations are as follows : 



" Several specimens were obtained at Discovery Harbor, on the 

 northwest coast of America, in May, at which time they were in sum- 

 mer plumage, and agree with Mr. Audubon's description, excepting 

 the greater wing-coverts, which are black at the base and tipped with 

 white, which gives them an appearance of having two bars, one broad, 

 and the other narrow, instead of a single white spot on the wings, as 

 represented in his plate. This diiference is constant in all our speci- 

 mens, and is found to be the same in others obtained on the Columbia 

 River near its mouth." 



The figures in Mr. Audubon's plate (Birds of America, PL CCXIX), 

 represent specimens from Eastern America, and of Northern Europe. 

 We give the present bird in our Atlas, rather smaller than the natu- 

 ral size. 



Numerous specimens in the collection of the Expedition are in good 

 preservation and mature plumage, 



