428 Mr. E. Adams on the Birds of Michalaski. 



and during tlie two following days they were passing over 

 in large flocks of from 100 to 300. Immense numbers passed 

 over on these two days ; and after that only a few stragglers 

 were to he seen. The flocks followed one another quickly, 

 and as soon as one large flock had gone another was seen 

 advancing. The natives^ as well as the Russians, told me 

 that they pass over every year in this manner, and again 

 return at the end of September, and at each season are only 

 seen for three days (except a few stragglers). But the sin- 

 gular thing is that in the spring their flight is directed 

 towards the south, and in the autumn to the north. The 

 coast at this pai-t of the Sound rvms nearly north and south ; 

 and in the spring migration the Geese come from the north 

 and cut across the marshy land to the south of Michalaski, 

 and then proceed down the coast. I have no doubt of the 

 truth of the report, as I got the same tale from all, and saw 

 them myself in the spring ; but the cause I could not discover, 

 and can only imagine it to be a slight deviation from their 

 direct northerl}'^ course, caused by the conformation of the 

 land. None of the other Geese are seen in such numbers as 

 these, nor are they so regular in their flight. The Snow- 

 Geese generally pass over at a considerable height, and seldom 

 alight except at night ; but the stragglers generally fly low, 

 and are easily shot. Every bird seemed to be in full plumage, 

 and in good condition. None of them remain to breed. 



The Russians complained that there were very few Geese 

 this year : one man shot eighteen one night, which was the 

 only case of a large number being taken ; but they say they 

 often get twenty or thirty in a single night in other years. 



White-fronted Goose. Anser albifrons. 



Luk-luk, Eski. 



[Probably A.gambeli of Dall & Bannister's paper (p. 294.)] 



A few of these birds arrived as early as the 23rd of April ; 

 but it was not until the first week in May that they became 

 numerous. They do not congregate in such large flocks as 

 most of the other Geese, and are more often met with singly 

 or in small parties. A few remained to breed in company 



