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Mr. G. E. H. Barrett-Hamilton on 
seems to have been made by birds. The absence of so many 
generally-distributed Circumpolar and Palsearctic birds leads 
Dr. Stejneger to suppose that the peninsula has been for long 
isolated, and that its colonization has been both accidental 
and recent, a supposition which he does not think invalidated 
by the development into distinct forms of so many birds, 
since their specialization is chiefly only an intensification 
of the general tendency of the birds inhabiting the whole 
region of which Kamtschatka only forms a province/'’ while 
their isolation is absolute, so that no assumption of a very 
long period seems to be needed in explanation. 
Summing up his remarks. Dr. Stejneger concludes that 
the peninsula forms a very well-circumscribed ornitho- 
geographical province, remarkable not only for a number of 
peculiarly modified’ forms, but also for a surprising absence 
of many of the most characteristic forms of the northern 
Palsearctic and Circumpolar ornis.” 
A full account of my own experiences in Kamchatka has 
already been published in other Journals *, so that I think it 
will be sufficient if, in the present instance, I give an account 
of the birds met with, and refrain from all but the briefest 
allusions to the country and its scenery. It is with 
very real pleasure that I record my great indebtedness 
to Capt. Winsloe, of* H.M.S. f Spartan/ Capt. Sparkes, 
of H.M.S. f Linnet/ and their officers, to whom I owe 
all my opportunities of collecting, as well as many of my 
specimens f. 
Not a few interesting birds were observed on our voyage 
up the coast to Petropavlovsk, on July 14th, 1896, of which 
two species at least were new to me on this journey, viz. 
Richardson/s Skua and the Grey Phalarope. The latter 
was reported early in the morning by the officer of the 
watch, who was much puzzled by the sight of an unknown 
* See the Royal Geographical Journal, Sept. 1898, pp. 280-299 (with 
illustrations and a map), and the Scottish Geographical Magazine, 
May 1899, pp. 225-256 (with illustrations and a map). 
t The type of Nucifraga kamchatkensis was shot by Dr. Bishop, of 
H.M.S. ‘ Linnet.’ 
