90 CRUISE OF STEAMER CORWIN IN THE ARCTIC OCEAN. 
from the towering cliffs and ledges at the base of which it feeds its peculiar character and 
intonation might lead one to fancy some genie of the rocks was uttering its ery. When the birds 
are approached by boat, as they are feeding along the water’s edge, they ascend gradually, with 
an expression of mild curiosity, and pass from ledge to ledge until they reach a jutting point on 
the face of the cliff or its brow, where they stand in relief, like beautiful, clear-cut statuettes, and 
do not utter a sound or move until they are still further alarmed, when they take flight, uttering 
at the same moment their loud note before mentioned. This bird is as common upon the Bering 
Sea shore of Siberia as it is upon the Alaskan coast, but it is not known to the north of Bering 
Strait on either coast. 
TRYNGITES RUFESCENS (Vieill.) Caban. 
(107.) Tok BUFF-BREASTED SAND PIPER. 
Like the preceding species, this handsomely plumaged bird isa great wanderer. It is found 
over nearly the entire globe, especially the continental portions, and wends its way regularly in 
spring to nest in the far northern regionse On the coasts of Bering Sea it is rare, a single pair 
obtained at Saint Michael’s in spring being the only two that I saw during a four years’ residence 
there. On the north side of Siberia, however, it was found quite common in the vicinity of Cape 
Waukarem early in August, I88l. Although it is so uncommon in the Bering Sea region, it is 
very abundant at various points on the Arctic coast, and the lower course of the Anderson River 
in British America may be especially mentioned, as it has been found breeding there in the 
greatest abundance. 
NUMENIUS HUDSONICUS Lath. 
(108.) THE HuDSONIAN CURLEW. 
This Curlew is mainly known on the shore of Nortou Sound as a migrant in the spring and 
autumn; a few, however, remain to breed there. As the snow disappears in spring towards the 
end of May, the loud clear whistle of this species is a welcome sound, as if announces the mild 
weather of early summer. Remaining but a short time at this season, the majority pass still 
further to the north. In autumn they return early in August or the last of July, and feed upon 
the various ripening berries until into September, when they depart for the south. It is unknown 
on the islands of Bering Sea and adjoining shores of Northeastern Siberia. It is, however, found 
on the Alaskan shore, north to the vicinity of Point Barrow, and undoubtedly visits Saint 
Lawrence Island and the Siberian coast during the summer. 
NUMENIUS BOREALIS (Forst.) Lath. ‘ 
(109.) THr Eskimo CURLEW. 
Though much smaller than the latter, this bird considerably outuumbers it, and is much more 
common during all the summer season on the coast of Norton Sound. Its habits and haunts are 
almost identical with those of its larger relative, except that it breeds more frequently in the 
southern parts of its range. Both forms appear at the Yukon mouth in spring, and sparingly 
during the breeding season. Both reach high northern latitudes, at least to the limit of continental 
lands. At Wankarem, on the North Siberian coast, August 6, 1881, four specimens of this bird 
were seen passing over, and were the only Curlews seen upon the Siberian coast during our various 
visits to that shore. Elliott has recorded its presence on the Seal Islands during the migrations, 
and it probably visits most of the Bering Sea islands at this time. It occurs all along the Arctic 
coast of Alaska, wherever suitable lowlands oceur. 
NUMENIUS TAHITIENSIS (Gmel.) Cass. 
(110.) THe BRIS'TLE-THIGHED CURLEW. 
Although this is the largest Curlew found on the Bering Sea coast of Alaska, it is as well the 
most uncommon. The only record of its presence there rests upon the capture of a single male 
in the spring of 1880, when I saw a pair feeding upon the last year’s berries, which covered the 
