172 ORNITHOLOGICAL EXPLORATIONS. 



Steller's Duck made its appearance in 1882, about the 1st of Novem- 

 ber, at which time large flocks were observed, but no specimen was 

 secured before the 2()th, although several were shot, because the cur- 

 rent would carry them away. They remained all winter round the 

 coast, preferring the rockiest parts and the places where the breakers 

 were most violent. Although very numerous during the whole winter 

 in spring their number was enormously increased, and immense flocks, 

 covering many acres, could be seen floating on the sea, a quarter to 

 a half of a mile off the shore, during April. The favorite places at 

 that time were Tonkij Mys on the western coast, and the whole line of 

 reefs from Staraja Gavan to Tolstoj Mys on the eastern side. Towards 

 the end of this month their number decreased considerably, and I find 

 among my notes that on the 20th of April, and the 2d, 4th, and 5th of 

 May only a few were seen. On the 8th, half a dozen males and females 

 were observed at Toporkofl' Islet, but on the 10th large flocks were again 

 met with between Kamennij Keschka and Tonkij Mjs. They disap- 

 peared altogether about the 25th of May. 



Prof. W. H. Dall, in a very important paper on the Avifauna of the 

 Aleutian Islands, from Unalaschka eastward (p. 6), speaks of this bird 

 as a resident and breeding bird of the Aleutian Islands, and more espe- 

 cially of Unalaschka. I cannot help thinking, however, that there is 

 some mistake concerning the identification of the species. It is alto- 

 gether improbable that this bird, which is known as a breeding bird 

 from very high Arctic latitudes, should rear its young on the eastern 

 Aleutian Islands. If the egg found on the 18th of May, 1872, really 

 belonged to this species, the occurrence can only be regarded as a very 

 anomalous one. I am not aware that later observations corroborate 

 Professor Dall's statement. 



During its stay at Bering Island, Steller's Duck is, next to Clangula 

 glaucion, the shyest bird of the whole duck tribe. Usually the adult 

 males keep apart from the females and the younger males, and their 

 flocks are almost always farther out at sea than those of the lat- 

 ter. 



As to the change of plumage in this species I have only a few remarks' 

 to offer. The young males in November had not yet all the new feathers 

 of their first winter plumage fully developed. At the end of April the 

 females were in full moult, while the males were not, and among the 

 many thousands not a single young male was observed at that time to 

 show a trace of a new white plumage. 



