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



stead of the rounded ones of the common Eider. The neck 

 is shorter and thicker, and the body larger and stouter. Alto- 

 gether it has a heavier and more clumsy appearance than 

 Somateria mollissima. 



The eggs, generally six or seven in number, are of a pale 

 sea-green colour, with a tinge of olive. 



They seldom weigh less than four pounds, but sometimes 

 six pounds. 



Ked-brbasted Merganser. Mergus serrator. 



Pi-gek, Eski. 



[Mergus serrator, Dall & Bann. p. 301.] 



Only a few of these birds visited Michalaski, and did not 

 remain to breed. A female was shot on the 24th of May ; 

 and on the 14th of June I shot a fine male out of a flock. 

 On the same day I saw two other flocks ; they were all flying 

 northwards along the line of the sea-beach. According to 

 the natives they are only met with occasionally in scattered 

 flocks. 



Willow-Grouse. Tetrao saliceti (Swains.). 



Ar-ko-zik-ook (winter plumage) , Ko-park-tok (summer plu- 

 mage), Eski. 



[Lagopus albus, Dall & Bann. p. 287.] 



This is the only Grouse found in the vicinity of Michalaski. 

 It is met with in small and scattered packs about the hills in 

 winter, until about the end of February, when several of the 

 packs join and form one large one. 



The first change of plumage I noticed was on the 3rd of 

 May ; it was a male bird, and had the greater part of the 

 head and neck coloured. 



They seem to breed principally about the numerous dry 

 hills in the marshes. The eggs vary very much in colour.- 

 The ground is a pale stone-colour, and spotted and blotched 

 with shades of brown, from a dark red-brown (almost a black) 

 to a light yellowish brown. 



The natives catch them in large numbers in the winter, 

 by setting snares round a few bushes, amongst which they 

 scatter berries. In summer they use a draw-net, 30 feet long 

 by 15 inches high. This is placed on the brow of a hill where 



