126 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF [1898. 



NOTES ON ALASKAN WATER BIRDS. 

 BY ALVIN SEALE. 



During the summer of 1896, it was the writer's privilege, in com- 

 pany with Norman B. Scofield, a fellow student at Stanford Uni- 

 versity, to make a trip into the Arctic Seas for the purpose of col- 

 lecting specimens of natural history for the Leland Stanford Junior 

 University of California. 



The expedition was under the patronage of Mr. Timothy Hopkins 

 of Menlo Park, California, to whom great credit is due for the splen- 

 did scientific equipment to which the success of the expedition is 

 largely due. 



We desire also to express our appreciation of the favors extended 

 to us by the Pacific Steam Whaling Company of San Francisco, who 

 furnished free transportation for the expedition, and spared no pains 

 or expense to make our voyage pleasant as well as successful. Val- 

 uable aid was also given us by the commanders and officers of the 

 various whaling vessels of the above company. Special service was 

 rendered us by Captain Townsend of the bark " J. D. Peters," Cap- 

 tain Mason of the S. S. " Jeanie," Captain Cogan of the S. S. 

 " Thrasher," Captain Smith of the S. S. '' Narwhal," and also many 

 others. 



Our voyage extended north to Point Barrow, Alaska, thence east 

 to the Mackenzie River. Collections were made at various points 

 along the coast. 



URINATORIDJE. 



8. Urinator adamsii. Yellow-billed Loon. 



This Loon occurs in abundance at Point Barrow during the early 

 part of September. We are under obligations to Captain Akin of the 

 Rescue Station for a fine specimen, a male in full breeding plumage, 

 taken September 12th. Length 33.75 in. ; bill along culmen 3.5 ; 

 along gape 5 ; height at nostrils 1.2; width .50; tarsus 3.7; wing 

 14.3. Hab., western Arctic America and northeastern Asia. 



11. Urinator lumme. Red-throated Loon. 



The great abundance of divers forms a striking feature of bird 

 life in Alaskan waters. The Red-throated Loon is one of the most 



