CRUISE OF STEAMER CORWIN IN THE ARCTIC OCEAN. 69 
the bare weather-worn sides of the mountains surrounding Plover Bay and East Cape, Siberia; 
the rocky wind-swept islands in Bering Strait, as well as the lonely shores of Herald and Wrangel 
Islands, and the shingle-strewn beaches along the north coast of Asia and Alaska all appear 
to be chosen as the favorite summer homes of this bird. When we landed at any of these places 
we were certain to be greeted by the clear, sharp note of the Snow Bunting, which would be 
seen running busily aout searching for food or wheeling about from place to place, its sharply 
contrasted black and white plumage quickly attracting the eye and usually the first sign of life. 
On the mountain sides at Plover Bay its mellow note was heard on June 26, uttering the long, clear, 
and rather hard song, full of a wild and exhilarating melody fitted to the surroundings. This song 
consists of four or five clear whistling notes, shorter than the song of the Long Spur, and uttered 
from a rocky point or the top of some jutting ledge. At Saint Lawrence Island, on June 24, we 
found them common and nesting, and some native children showed us anest about 100 yards back 
of their huts. This nest contained one egg, which was obtained, with the female. After the latter 
was shot the male kept flying about our heads, or from rock to rock close by, and continually 
uttering a loud p-cher, p-cher, p-cher, p-cher, in such a plaintive tone that I was glad when we 
were out of ear-shot. As long as we remained in the vicinity this bird followed us from place to 
place, hovering about, not taking the slighest notice of his rifled nest after the female was shot. 
He showed by his actions that he was fully aware of our having his mate in our possession. 
I do not remember ever having seen a bird show such affectionate solicitude for his mate as was 
exhibited on this occasion. 
As we landed upon the shore of Wrangel Island, on August 12, were found a pair of these birds, 
with their full-grown young, upon the beach, and a number of others we found nesting upon Herald 
Island. This bird arrived at Tapkan on April 23, 1879, according to Nordenskiéld, and it is known 
to breed commonly on Spitzbergen and Nova Zembla, as well as throughout the Aleutian Islands 
and wherever the Arctic coasts to the north of Continental America have been visited. 
CENTROPHANES LAPPONICUS (Linn.) Caban. 
(35.) THE LAPLAND Lone Spur. 
One of the most numerous among the summer residents of the Alaskan mainland, but occurs 
more sparingly on the adjacent islands and along the shores of Asia. This bird generally 
frequents portions of the coast least sought by the preceding. Its northern range appears 
to be limited, and we do not find it either on Wrangel or Herald Island, although on the 
mainland of Alaska it extends to Point Barrow, where full-grown young were seen in August. It 
is much more numerous on the Alaskan shore than on the adjoining Asiatic coast. It breeds 
commonly upon Saint Lawrence Island, but is uncommon at Plover Bay, on the Asiatic shore, only 
about ninety miles distant. There are flats and other places there which appear suitable as local 
habitations, yet the birds were not found. 
The Long Spur occurs in the greatest numbers on the grassy and moss-covered stretches of 
level or rolling tundra along the American coast. It was found sparingly along the north 
shore of Asia, where grassy flats afford suitable retreats; but everywhere along the American 
coast the bird appears to be a very common summer resident, and most plentiful where the full 
harshness of the aretic summer was not felt. Along the shores of Norton and Kotzebue Sounds, 
where the seasons are comparatively mild, it is found in greatest abundance. Thousands 
of the birds appear on every hand as one strolls about during the breeding Season, and in 
early spring, at the commencement of mating, the air is filled with music. During the 
winter the Long Spur is not found in the country north of the Aleutian Islands, in which 
latter region, bowever, the bird is a permanent resident. Although the Long Spur apparently 
favors a milder or subarctic portion of the continent, it ranges far to the north, as is shown by 
being found nesting upon Spitzbergen, southern portions of Nova Zembla, and other far northern 
lands. Its southern breeding range in Alaska appears to be along the Aleutian chain, where it 
has been found raising its young, by Mr. Dall and others. 
