CRUISE OF STEAMER CORWIN IN THE ARCTIC OCEAN, 93 
CHEN HYPERBORBEUS (Pall.) Boie. 
(115.) Snow GOosE. 
On the American coast of the Arctic and Bering Sea this bird is not very abundant. It occurs 
however, in considerable flocks fora few days during the spring and fall migrations; and each 
season a few are killed in the vicinity of Saint Michael’s on Norton Sound. Its occurrence upon the 
north coast of Asia is attested by specimens captured by Nordenskiéld’s party at Tapkan in the 
spring of 1879. These birds are, at present, like the Swan, unknown from the islands of Bering Sea, 
their migration apparently taking an inland course rather than along the shore lines. Although 
the Snow Geese are known to nest in the greatest abundance in the Anderson River and surrounding 
region along the northern coast of British America, yet their nesting place in Alaska is unknown. 
They certainly do not remain to nest anywhere along the Bering Sea coast, and we did not see any 
of these birds along the Arctic shore to Point Barrow;-so that if they nest at allin this region it 
must be on those flats bordering the Arctic shore east of Point Barrow. In autumn they leave for 
the South among the last of the migrant geese, finding their way to the vicinity of Saint Michael’s 
towards the end of September, although in some seasous they appear before the middle of this 
month; they linger here in autumn from ten days to three weeks, depending upon the weather to 
a great extent. 
The great abundance of this bird in California during the winter season would testify to its 
breeding in great numbers somewhere to the north of this region. But according to my observations 
on the Bering Sea coast of Alaska the bird must take some other route towards its northern 
breeding ground, and it must undoubtedly pass north from California, and soon after cross the 
mountain ranges to reach their eastern slope, after which the geese pass to the Arctic by an inland 
course; otherwise the Snow Geese would be foundin greater abundance on the coasts of this northern 
territory. 
ANSER ALBIFROUS GAMBELI (Harti.) Coues. 
(116.) THE AMERICAN WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE. 
This is the most widely distributed and abundant Goose throughout Northern Alaska, extending 
its habitat across to the Siberian coast of Bering Sea, and nesting as well upon Saint Lawrence 
Island. We found it in considerable numbers at the head of Kotzebue Sound the middle of July, 
1881, and found many of the adults with their wing feathers molted and unable to fly, and the 
young still in downy plumage at that time. It is extremely common from the mouth of the Kusko- 
quim River to the head of Kotzebue Sound, nesting everywhere; thence north to the extreme 
Arctic coast of the territory. Wherever one goes, in suitable places, this bird is certain to be 
found. During the spring and fall migrations the White-fronted Goose is found occurring rather 
sparingly throughout the Aleutian chain, having been taken at Attou, Ounalaska, and Sanak; but 
their visits are only made at this season, as none are known to remain and breed. 
BERNICLA CANADENSIS LEUCOPARIA (Brandt) Cass. 
(117.) THE WHITE-CHEEKED GOOSE. 
The distribution of this bird along the shores of Northern Alaska is almost identical with that 
of the White-fronted Goose, with the addition, however, of the Aleutian chain, which is contained 
within the breeding range of the present bird. Like the last species, it was found molting at the 
head of Kotzebue Sound on July 15, 1881, where it was very numerous. It occurs in the greatest 
abundance in the vicinity of the Yukon mouth and along the adjoining portion of that coast. 
There is no record of its presence on Saint Lawrence Island, but on the western portion of the 
Aleutian chain it is a regular summer resident, rearing its young in considerable numbers upon 
the isolated islands there. 
The natives at these western islands have domesticated considerable numbers of these birds, 
and whether caused by confinement or otherwise, the white collar on the neck, dividing the brown 
