168 



ORNITHOLOGICAL EXPLORATIONS. 



I have compared the birds collected by me, aud numerous specimens 

 from Alaska, with birds obtained from the Atlantic shores, without find- 

 ing any tangible difference. 



List of specimens collected. 



Locality. 



Bering Island 



....do 



....do 



....do 



....do 



....do 



May 18, 1882 

 Nov. 18, 1882 

 Nov. 25, 1882 

 Jan. 20, 1883 

 Marcli 22, 



1883 

 Nov. 18, 1882 



S^ 



3 



mm,. 

 5& 

 60 



No. 89110.— Iris dark hazel. Bill, bluish gray; tip lighter, with a yellowish wash all over; naked 

 skin of mental angle, violet black. Feet brownish gray ; joints darker ; webs blacki.sh. 



IT*. 92802. — Iris dark hazel. Bill bluish white, tinged with yellowish, beeomiug dark, bluish gray 

 behind the middle of the nostrils. Feet grayish brown ; joints darker ; webs blackish. In the crop a 

 Cottus, 50™" long, a small ciab and two Littorince. 



No. 92861.— Iris dark hazel. Bill in front of nostrils, as also the swollen border of the latter, light 

 bluish gray, basal part dark olive gray; nail hardly appreciable (except to the touch, as it is hard 

 while the rest of the bill soft), 14""" long, and faintly tinged with yellowish; chin-angle blackish. 

 Feet grayish brown ; webs and below blackish. 



No. 92863.— Iris dark hazel. Bill dark bluish gray ; toma and borders of nostrils lighter ; chin-an- 

 gle black. Feet light-yellowish gray, with darker joints; targas behind, webs, and below, blackish. 



The color of the soft parts of the adult No. 92862 and the young No. 92863, both males, and shot on 

 the same date, is noteworthy. 



The ^^ Kamemischka,^^ as the Harlequin Duck is styled on the islands, 

 inhabits the rocky shores of the Commander Islands in large numbers 

 all the year rouud, and larger or smaller flocks may almost at any 

 time be seen diving and swimming near the breakers where the high 

 aud inaccessible promontories tower up from the sea, or long, shallow, 

 and stony reefs stretch out from the shore for a quarter of a mile and 

 more. It loves the surf and rocks, and is perhaps more expert in diving 

 "at shot" than any other duck, not being particularly shy, however. 



I Avatched their large assemblages during the whole spriug of 1883, 

 aud noted solid flocks at Bering Island as late as the middle of June, 

 and on Copper Island, on July 1, the latter, however, consisting of adult 

 males, all in their most beautiful plumage. Nevertheless, it is not found 

 breeding on the islands. The uatives or residents knew of no instance 

 of its eggs or small young having ever been taken or seen j nor did I sue- 



