Details - Alaska, April 1 - December 23, 1879 - Biodiversity Heritage Library

Alaska, April 1 - December 23, 1879

Title

Alaska, April 1 - December 23, 1879

Related Titles

Contained In: Edward William Nelson and Edward Alphonso Goldman Collection, circa 1873-1946 and undated

Series: SIA RU007364

Series: Smithsonian Field Book Project : an initiative to improve access to field book content that documents natural history

By

Nelson, Edward William, 1855-1934

Type

Book

Material

Archival material

Publication info

1879

Notes

This field book documents Nelson's bird collecting activities in Alaska between 1 April to 23 December 1879. During this time, Nelson was on general assignment in Alaska to study the zoology of the area as well as meteorology, geography, and ethnology. Specimen numbers 1036-1557 and egg set numbers 33-106 are included. Specimen numbers up to 1135 include binomial and sex; numbers 1297-1557 include measurements grouped by bird. Nelson's entries are narratives of his daily activities and birds he observed or collected. His narrative notes also include descriptions of the birds and occasionally include rough sketches. Descriptions of weather conditions, occasionally including the temperature are also included. Locations include Saint Michael, Stebbins, Kegiktowik, Kotlik River, Reboubt Volcano, Stewart Island, and possibly other locations. A list of "Inuit names for birds" is included as is an Inuit song. Although Nelson focuses on birds in this notebook, he also mentions other animals such as seals and foxes. Another set of numbers 121-127, possibly for another type of animal, are also included.