ALASKA. 1 89 



luale specimen was taken by F. Bischoff at Fort Kenai, Alaska, 

 May 18, 18G1>, and is now in the Smithsonian. (See Vigors, 

 Zool. Jouru., iv, 356 ; and Zool. Voy. Blossom, 28.) 



A single specimen only of the Esquimaux curlew was taken 

 by Mr. Elliott on Saint Paul's Island, June, 1872. iS'one other 

 than this one was seen by him. 



4&2. PliilJicte oaiiaSBC^? (Sevast.) Bxsy;. —Empcroi' Goose. Fainted 

 Goonc. 

 Anas canayica, Skvast. Nov. Act. Acad. St. Peters., xiii, 340, pi. 



10, (leou.) 



Jnser canafjicus, Brandt. Ball. Sc. St. Peters., i, 37, (1836.) 

 Brandt. Descr. et Ic. Ad. Eosso-As., 7, pi. 1, (183G.) 



ChIocpha(ja canaffka, Bonap. Comptes Rendns, (185G.)— Baird. 

 B. X. A., 768, (1858.)— Dall and Bann. Trans. Chic. Acad., 

 i, 296, (1869.)— Dall. Proc. Cala. Acad., (Feb., 1873.) 



riiilacte canagica, Bann. Proc. Pbila. Acad., 131, (1870.)— 

 CouES. Key, 283, (1872.) 



A set of five eggs, taken by Mr. Dall in Kuselvak Slough, 

 June 20, 1868 are much elongated and nearly equal at either 

 end. The color is white, but with fine pale-brown dotting, giv- 

 ing a general light dirty-brown aspect. Specimens measure 

 3.33 X 3.10 ; 3.40 x 2.90, &c. 



] " Visits the islands only as a straggler, sometimes landing 

 so exhausted that the natives capture a whole flock in open 

 chase over the grass, the birds being unable to use their wings 

 for flight. I found the flesh of this bird, contrary to report, free 

 from any unpleasant flavor, and, in fact, very good. The objec- 

 tionable quality is only skin-deep, and may be got rid of by due 

 care in the preparation of the bird for the table.-' 



Mr. Dall's interesting note may be appended, iu further illus- 

 tration of the history of this species : 



" This magnificent bird abounds in profusion in the Kuselvak 

 Slough, or mouth of the Yukon, to the exclusion of all other 

 species. My endeavors to reach that point being unavailing, 

 I was obliged to do my best to obtain specimens elsewhere. It 

 is quite scarce around the Kwichpak Slough and on the sea- 

 coast. By offering a large reward, I obtained four fine speci- 

 mens from the marshes around Kutlik. It is the largest of the 

 geese of the country, and the delicate colors of the body, with 

 the head and nape snow-white, tipped with rich amber-yellow^ 

 are a beautiful sight. The eye is dark-brown ; feet, flesh-color. 

 The eggs are larger and longer than those of A. [/ambcJl, and 

 rather brown fulvous, the color being in minute dots. It lajs- 



