96 CRUISE OF STEAMER CORWIN IN THE ARCTIC OCEAN. 
DAFILA ACUTA (Linn.) Bonap. 
(122.) THe PrnrarL Duck. 
This is perhaps the most abundant fresh-water duck found on the coast of Bering Sea and 
the Arctic shores to the north. It nests yearly in the greatest abundance all along the coast from 
the peninsula of Alaska to the farthest northern extreme of Alaska in the vicinity of Point 
Barrow, being perhaps in greatest abundance on the shores of Norton and Kotzebue Sounds. We 
found them numerous about Kotzebue Sound during our several landings there; and several 
were seen on Saint Lawrence Island in Bering Sea during our visits there. They also occur on 
the north Siberian coast, and, in fact, were noted at almost every place we landed where the 
surrounding country affords them the proper marshy tracts. While at sea, midway between the 
Aleutian Islands and San Francisco on October 15, 1881, a bird, which at a distance appeared 
very much like the female of this species, was seen circling about overhead for ten or fifteen 
minutes, after which it started off toward the south. Whether this was the present species or 
not it was of course impossible to say, but from its form and motions it was evidently some species 
of fresh-water duck. In autumn these birds become extremely fat and well-flavored, and they are 
the finest table Duck afforded in the north, while their abundance renders them easily obtainable 
and large numbers are secured by the fur traders in aytumn and stored for winter use. They 
move south among the latest of the water fowl, the last ones occurring in October, and they return 
again in spring when the open spaces begin to appear in the ice along the shore—sometimes by 
the first of May, or even before in unusually early seasons. I have seen several of them about one 
of these holes in the ice, caused by several springs on the shore, when the whole country was 
covered with a deep layer of snow and winter still appeared in full force. 
MARECA PENELOPE (Linn.) Selby. 
(123.) THE EUROPEAN WIDGEON. 
The only record of this species in Alaska is that given by Elliott, who secured specimens upon 
the seal islands. He tells us that he saw but a few specimens, and these were apparently solitary 
examples, never in pairs, and the few he observed during his two years’ residence on the fur-seal 
islands were apparently windbound or straggling specimens. This species is also recorded by 
Dall as obtained at Ounalaska on the 12th of October, 1871, who adds that if is not uncommon 
among the Ducks brought in by the native hunters at that season, and tells us that it migrates 
about the Ist of May. It has not been recorded from any other points or islands on the American 
side of the sea. But the records quoted render it highly probable that its capture on the main- 
land is a matter of time and further work in that region. In the vicinity of Saint Michael’s it must 
be extremely rare, as I carefully examined all the Ducks brought in during my residence at that 
place with the hope of securing some of these birds, but failed. 
MARECA AMERICANA (Gmel.) Steph. 
(124.) AMERICAN WIDGEON. 
On the Norton Sound coast of Bering Sea this is a common bird. It is found breeding along 
the entire Alaskan coast of Bering Sea and north to Kotzebue Sound and the Aretie ¢ ast beyond. 
It was not noted by us upon any of the islands visited in the vicinity of Bering Strait during the 
summer of L881, nor on the Siberian shore. But on September 6 of that year, when we visited the 
shore at Hotham Inlet, in Kotzebue Sound, a number were obtained from the natives, who told us 
that they were numerous in that vicinity at the time. They leave for the south a little earlier than 
the Pin-tailed Duck and arrive later in spring. 
SPATULA CLYPEBATA (Linn.) Boie. 
(125.) SPOON-BILLED DUCK. : 
Along the Alaskan coast of Bering Sea, mainly limited to that portion between the head of 
Norton Sound and mouth of the Kuskoguim River, this Duck is not uncommon, although it is 
