BIRDS OF ALASKA. 



COLYMBUS HOLBCELLii (Eeiiib.). nolball's Grebe (Esk. Etutd-tul;). 



This species was not uucommon along the coast of Norton Sound in the fall, and a few isolated 

 pairs nested each summer iu the marshes. Along the course of the Yukon they are much 

 more commou, and breed iu considerable numbers. They w^ie taken also at Sitka by Bischoff, 

 and they breed north to Kotzebue Sound at least. Selawik Lake, at the head of the sound just 

 named, is the point of greatest abundance there. It is a rare straggler to the Commander Islands- 

 In the vicinity of Saint Michaels they occur in fall from the end of August to the middle of Octo- 

 ber. In spring the species was lirst seen in June. Eggs from the Yukon measure from 2.10 to 

 2.35 in length by 1.25 to 1.45 in breadth, with the usual elongated form. The colors of bill and 

 feet vary somewhat. Specimens taken the middle of October had the upper mandible greenish- 

 black, the lower greenish-yellow : the legs and feet black on the outer side, and dull greenish- 

 yellow on the inside; the toe- webs orange-yellow. Others taken the same season had the outside 

 of feet and legs blackish; the inside of same of a more or less bright orange-yellow; greater 

 part of lower mandible orange yellow, changing to greenish yellow on lower edge of upper man- 

 dible, and then to greenish-black along upper half of the same. Iris always bright yellow. 

 The specimen of Grebe taken at Uualaska on December 14 and cited by Mr. Dall as P. cooperi is 

 probably a young bird of this species. 



The only specimen of Grebe taken upon the Fur Seal Islands by Mr. Elliott and identified by 

 Dr. Coues as the true grisigena is really an immature specimen of the present species. 



CoLYMBUS AURITUS Liun. Horned Grebe (Esk. Eta-td-tuk). 



Like the preceding bird this handsome species occurs along the eastern shore of Bering Sea 

 in very small numbers during the breeding season, but is not rare iu autumn. 



It is also a common summer resident along the Yukon. It occurs rarely on the Commander 

 Islands. One skin was secured for me at Fort Eeliance, on May 14, and others were taken the 

 same month lower down the river. The last ones were seen along the coast of Norton Sound the 

 middle of October. At Nulato they were taken by Dall the last of May, and in June he secured 

 a parent bird and two eggs from an Indian at Fort Yukon. The eyes of the specimens taken at 

 Nulato contained the following brilliant colors: The ball of the eye white, a bright scarlet areola 

 around the outer edge of the iris, which latter is defined by a white line. The iris proper is bright 

 crimson, with its inner edge brilliant white shaded with pink. The pupil consists of a central 

 black spot, with a broad ring of dark purple. In the National Museum collection is a skin of this 

 bird taken at Sitka in the winter of 1882. 



Urinator iMBER (GuuH.). Loou (Esk. Tu-hM(ju-nuli). 



This Loon is less common on the shore of Bering Sea than either the Eed or the Black-throated 

 species, but it is far from rare at most places. They usually began to arrive about the shore of 

 Norton Sound immediately alter the ponds and marshy streams opened iu spring, from the middle 

 to 25th of May, and some passed still further, north, while others reuiained to breed in the vicinity. 



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