^''1891'.' ] PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. 419 



were all built on trees at various heights (from 4 to 15 aud eveu 20 feet) 

 from the ground, and, with one exceptiou, which was composed of dowa 

 iiiid velvety leaves held together by some stringy turf, they were made^ 

 of small sticks aud twigs lined with hay and mosses, etc. The parents- 

 always fly about in close proximity to the nest and scream vehemently 

 when explorers, in the interests of science, are obliged to deprive them 

 of their eggs or young, and not infrequently shoot one of them. They 

 seldom lay more than three eggs. 



62. Xenia sabinii (Sabiue). Sabine'.s Gnll. 



Quite a large number of nests were found on the shores of Franklin 

 Bay, aud a few eggs were also receiv^ed from the Esquimaux of Liver- 

 pool Bay. Several specimens of this beautiful gull were shot at the 

 former point. On the 1st July, 1864, we knocked over three out of a 

 hock of sixty which came circling about our encampment; they then 

 gracefully retired to and alighted in ;i pool of sea- water at a safe dis- 

 tance. One of the three having been merely stunned soon recovered, 

 aud after two ineffectual attempts made by an Indian to choke jjer, she 

 again revived, and I set her at liberty. She flew away slowly to her 

 friends, who received her no doubt with demonstrations of great joy, 

 judging from the noise they made. After a few minutes they all took 

 their departure, probably to their breeding grounds. 



70. Sterna hirundo Linimiis. Conunon Tern. 



It breeds extensively on the shores of the Arctic Sea, as well as ou 

 islets in many of the inland lakes of the forest and "Barrens;" but 

 although its eggs were not desiderata, and we did nil we could to dis- 

 courage their gathering, yet a large number were received for shipment 

 to Washington. 



71. Sterna paradisea Briinn. Arctic Tern. 



This tern is equally common with the foregoing, and we might easily 

 have made a considerable collection ot eggs from various localities. 

 Neither species approves of a close proximity of man to their nests. 



129. Merganser americanus (Ca.ssiu). American Mergan.ser. 



I am strongly- of the belief that this species breeds in small numbers 

 in the couutry to the south of Fort Anderson, and that we received 

 the eggs of one or two nests thereof, which were afterwards lost. 



130. Merganser serrator (Linn.). Red-breasted Merganser. 



Several nests of this not particularly numerous merganser were 

 obtained in the vicinity of Fort Anderson, and also in the wooded parts 

 on both sides of the river, north and south of the post. One was found 

 on the border of the " Barrens " to the east under a fallen tree, close to 



