FAUNA OF THE ALEUTIAN ISLANDS AND ALASKA PENINSULA 103 



of white-winged scoters in Nushagak Bay. These probably were 

 migrants. On May 29, several flocks were flying about at the 

 mouth of Ugashik River, and on the adjacent marshes two pairs 

 were discovered among the ponds, the males whistling. Ap- 

 parently, these birds were preparing to nest. 



Jaques (1930) observed them "about Moller Bay and on fresh- 

 water pools on the tundra, May 23 to June 20 — not common." 

 This, too, suggests nesting. 



In 1925, I saw this species at the western end of Alaska Penin- 

 sula — a flock of both sexes at King Cove, April 25, and a few 

 at False Pass on April 28. On June 13, small bands were flying 

 about on Izembek Bay, whistling. By June 20, the birds were 

 generally paired; on June 13, a female, taken for a specimen, 

 contained a perfectly formed, hard-shelled egg. There can be no 

 question about these birds nesting at Izembek Bay, chiefly at 

 Hazen Point. 



At Unimak Island we were told that this duck nests at Swanson 

 Lagoon, which would be expected. 



Laing (1925) observed this duck at Dolgoi Bay, March 23, 

 and says: "From Unalaska, where twenty-five were seen on 

 March 26, the species was present in most of the harbors as 

 far as Hitokappu in the southern Kurils, May 7. It was noted 

 at Copper Island, Oest, Kamchatka, or Petropavlovsk." This 

 statement indicates that it was noted along the Aleutian chain. 



Bishop (1900) recorded a number of these ducks off Unalaska, 

 October 5, 1899. 



The Atka natives stated that this scoter winters sparingly in 

 the Aleutians, while the Attu natives said that it was abundant 

 there in winter. This is also borne out by Gabrielson's observa- 

 tions on wintering birds from Kodiak to Atka. 



Beals and Longworth noted common scoters quite often in vari- 

 ous places about the east end of Unimak Island from January 19 

 to June 12, 1941. 



Cahn (1947) reported for Unalaska Island: "Common in very 

 large flocks in all the major bays from December to February, 

 inclusive." Taber (1946), writing of Adak for the winter of 

 1945-46, states, "This was the most common bird of the area; 

 it was seen in groups of 2 to 70 on the salt lagoon and the open 

 sea." Sutton and Wilson (1946) found it wintering commonly 



at Attu. 



Bent (1925) records this bird as nesting in the Aleutian 

 Islands ; this is verified by the A.O.U. Check-List (fourth edition) . 

 It is possible that both statements are based on Turner's account. 



