144 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



bar tlirougli eyes and across clieeks, tbe barf as wide as orbit 5 vertical 

 fins with irregular cross series of brown dots. 



Several specimens of this species were collected by Prof. S. A. Forbes 

 in the streams of Southern Illinois. A single specimen, 2 inches long 

 (Xo. 29GGG, U. S. Kat. Mus.), from Cache Eiver, serves as the type of 

 the species. 



NOTES OIV BIRDS COL.f.ECTEl> DIRINO THE SIMMER OF ISSO IIV 

 ALASKA AND SDBERIA. 



By TARI.ET01V H. BEAW. 



The collection which is the subject of the present paper was made by 

 the writer while investigating the fish and fisheries of Alaska for the 

 TJuired States Fish Commissioner, in company with the Coast Survey 

 party commanded by Mr. W. H. DalL 



Owing to the engrossing nature of the primary object of my inquiry 

 and the limited number ot days jiassed in port, there was little oppor- 

 tunity for collecting and observing birds. However, as fish were not 

 plentiful north of the Arctic circle and birds were comparatively abund- 

 ant and desirable for the Museum, much of my time was devoted to 

 making bird skins while in that region. Especial eifort was made, also, 

 to procure a good series of skins of the species of Melofunza, inhabiting 

 the mainland and islands of the Territory. The region in w hich M. fas- 

 ciata rufina occurs is so interesting and rich ichthyologically that birds 

 were necessarily neglected, and this sparrow is represented by only a 

 few skins. The' insular species {einerea), on the other hand, came in for 

 a larger share of attention. 



In order to give an idea of the time which one may ordinarily' devote 

 to bird-collecting who is not sent upon that special duty, I will state 

 here the number of days which were devoted mainly or partly to that 

 work during the six months of our cruise : May, 2 days ; June, 11; July, 

 11 ; August, 9 ; September, 9 ; October, 7 ; in all 49 days. 



Although the number of species secured is small (less than a third of 

 the whole number known to occur in Alaska), there are some interesting 

 features about the collection. Many of the species here mentioned are 

 from localities north of the Ar<;tic circle, and some of them were not 

 previously recorded from the Territory. The specimen of Ui(rinorhyuchi(s 

 liygmwus obtained by our party in Plover Bay was the first secured for 

 an American museum, and is in a plumage wdjich has not yet been illus- 

 trated. Six young individuals of Saxicola ananthe were found between 

 Port Clarence and Cape Lisburne. Empidonax (lifficilis and Buteo bore- 

 alis calm us were obtained for the first time in the Territorj\ The range 

 oH Actodromas acuminata was extended northward to Port Clarence. 



Larus marinus was found to be common on Unalaslika Island, though 

 previously unknown in Alaska. 



Bioincdea melanophrys was seen within 1,000 miles west of Cape Men- 



