CRUISE OF STEAMER CORWIN IN THE ARCTIC OCEAN. 101 
SOMATERIA V-NIGRA Gray. 
(135.) PactFic EMER. 
This species of Eider is found everywhere about the shores and islands of Bering Sea, ana 
nests throughout nearly all this range. While at Sanakh Island, near the eastern end of the 
Aleutian chain, the middle of May, 1877, considerable numbers of these birds were found upon 
the outlying reefs and exposed rocks. They were then in decreased numbers, as we were told by the 
residents that they visit this portien of the Territory in greatest abundance during the winter 
season. As is well known, the nesting range of this bird extends from its highest northern point 
south to the Farallon Islands, off San Francisco, and perhaps still farther to the south. My. Dall 
reports them as wintering abundantly at Ounalaska and breeding in large numbers along the 
western portion of the Aleutian chain during the summer. At Plover Bay, on the Siberian shore, 
June 26, 1881, a few pairs were seen, and again the first of July at East Cape, Siberia. It was 
found sparingly along the entire northeastern Siberian shore from Plover Bay around through 
the Straits and nests nearly to Cape North. 
As previously mentioned, it was joined with the King Hider and Steller’s Duck in the immense 
flocks of these birds which were frequenting the estuary of the river near Cape Wankarem, but 
the present species was very decidedly in the minority. A few of these birds were also found at 
Point Barrow, Alaska, on August 16, 1881, and thence south along the coast they were found 
much less numerous than the King Kider until Kotzebue Sound is reached ; and thence south 
along the coast of Alaska the King Hider is replaced almost entirely during the summer by the 
present species. 
The last of August, 1881, as we left Point Hope, Alaska, and were midway between that place 
and Bering Strait,several of these Biders passed us on their way South, showing that the autumnal 
migration commences very early in the season with them. 
This species is said to be extremely abundant on the north coast of British America, 
especially between the mouths of the Mackenzie and Coppermine Rivers, where it is said to occur 
in greatest numbers. From the western limit of that portion of the Arctic bordering the Bering 
Strait region, west to Spitzbergen and the North Atlantic, the common eider duck is found 
replacing the Pacific Hider. On Spitzbergen it nests in colonies, and the Walrus hunters of that 
sea credit the females with stealing eggs from one another. The male bird is said to remain in 
the vicinity and watches while the female sits upon the eggs, giving the alarm at the approach of 
any danger. 
SOMATERIA SPECTABILIS (Linn.) Boie. 
(136.) THE Kin@ EIDER. 
The King Eider is found in great abundance along the Aleutian Islands during winter, some 
remaining to breed, and thence north in summer along the Siberian coast of Bering Sea and the 
northeastern Arctic shore of Siberia. Although so numerous on the Siberian coast in summer, 
yet on the Bering Sea coast of Alaska it is a very rare bird, occurring only as a straggler. 
Among the large number of Hiders secured by me during my residence at Saint Michael’s not a 
single individual of this bird was obtained, although it was well known to the natives and reported 
by them as being seen occasionally while they were seal hunting far off shore. After Bering Strait 
is passed, however, following along the north Alaskan shore in the Arctic to Point Barrow, the 
King Hider is found to be very abundant, becoming more and more numerous the farther north 
we reached, until along the stretch of coast between Iey Cape and Point Barrow we found them 
in large flocks in the summer of 1881. Off Cape Serdze Kamen, Siberia, northwest of the Strait, 
large numbers of these birds were seen on July 9, 1881, and they were again found at various 
points along that coast where we touched. Nordenskiéld reports it as occurring at Spitzbergen, 
but as being more numerous on the shores of Nova Zemlya. 
August 11,1881, as the Corwin was making her way towards Wrangel Island, a number of 
these birds were seen sitting upon the ice, and remained gazing stupidly at the vessel until she 
