32 NATURAL niSTORY COLLECTIONS IX ALASKA. 



which were united iu an enormous flock, forming a continuous band around the outer end of the 

 island for a distance of about 10 miles iu length, and from one-half to three- fourths of a mile iu width. 

 x\s the boat approached them those nearest began to rise heavily by aid of wings and feet from 

 the glassy surface of the gently undulating but calm water. The lirst to rise communicated the 

 alarm to those beyond, uutil as far as could be seen the water was covered with flapping wings, 

 and the air filled with a roar like that of a cataract. The rapid vibrations produced in the air by 

 tens of thousands of wiugs could be plainly felt. 



In all my northern exiierience among the water-fowl which flock there in summer I never saw 

 any appi-oach to the number of large birds gathered here in one flock, nor shall I soon forget the 

 grand effect produced by this enormous body of birds as thfy took wing and swept out to sea iu a 

 great black cloud and settled again a mile or so away. 



The following year early in September 1 found a similar congregation at the same place. On 

 October 9 or 10 each year both young and old, which have joinetl in small flocks, are common all 

 along the coast, and are found until the new-formed ice forces them away a week or so later. 



It was common in summer to see males iu the bimacidata plumage among the large flocks. 



At Uualaska, May 10, 1877, I secured a male as it swam alongside the steamer as we lay at 

 the wharf, and later in this month they became numerous about the bays in that vicinity. In 

 the mating season they have a low, clear whistle for a call note, aud may be readily decoyed within 

 gunshot by imitating it from a blind. They are very curious also at (his time, aud I have seen a 

 flc^ck rise and come up within a few yards of me as I was trying to creep within gunshot of them. 

 The white iris and bizarre coloration of the head of the male render it a very odd and striking 

 species. 



Chen nvPERBOREA (Pall.). Lesser Suow Goose (Esk. ir;7«/y-H). 



The handsome Lesser Snow Goose is uncommon on the coast of Norton Sound and about 

 the Yukon mouth. It arrives in spring from the 5th to the 15th of May, according to the season, 

 and after remaining a very short time passes on to its more northern summer haunts. In the 

 vicinity of Nulato, on the Yukon, Dall found them arriving about May 9, on their way up the 

 Yukon; "they only stop to feed and rest on the marshes during the dusky twilight of the night, 

 and are off with the early light of an Arctic spring." According to Murd och they are occasionally 

 seen at Point Barrow iu spring. This is all seen of these geese in spring throughout Alaska, er- 

 cept perhaps on the extreme northern border, for south of this none breed, and none are found after 

 about May 25. They are far less numerous iu spring than in fall along the coast of Bering Sea, 

 and their spring migration is over so quickly that they are rarely killed at that season. Dr. Adams, 

 while at Saint Michaels in 1851, noted the arrival of these birds from the south iu spring and their 

 departure to the north in fall, agreeing with my own observations, as noted elsewhere. 



Ou September 2, 1878, flocks began to come south, aud up to the 10th of that month they were 

 common. From the unusually early date of this arrival the natives predicted an early approach 

 of winter. They ordinarily arrive from the 5th to the 15th of September, and some remain uutil 

 the 7th or 10th of October iu some seasous. At this season they are iu flocks of from twenty to one 

 hundred or more, and do not mix with other geese ou the feeding grouuds, but keep by themselves. 

 They feed upon the same flats as the other geese, and have no peculiar habits. 



The young are frequently in their grayish immature plumage even when they leave for the 

 south in October. 



There is no record of this bird from any of the Bering Sea islands nor ft'om the southeastern 

 coast, although it must occur in the latter region during the migrations. 



Tbe extraordinary abundance of these geese in California during winter is equaled by the 

 myriads which pass north along the western shore of Hudson's Bay iu spring. Hearue rates them 

 as the most abundant bird found at the northern part of this bay, and states that daring the height 

 of the season when they settle to feed the ground appears as if covered with snow. The same 

 author records the killing of from five to six thousand birds during oue spring at Fort Churchill. 

 This was before 17'J5, and in view of the continual slaughter these and the other geese are forced to 

 undergo annually, it appears strange that they should continue to exist iu such great numbers. 



