CRUISE OF STEAMER CORWIN IN THE ARCTIC OCEAN. 103 
reported to be common in winter at the seal islands. This is probably an error, as Elliott makes 
no corroboration of this. I have not observed this species anywhere along the Alaskan or 
Siberian coasts, and it must be exceedingly rare upon the former coast, as the natives were unable 
to give me any information concerning it, notwithstanding repeated inquiries made both at the 
Yukon mouth and in the vicinity of Saint Michael’s; nor was it observed anywhere at the various 
points we landed, both on the Siberian and the American coasts of Bering Sea and the Arctic 
during the cruise of the Corwin. 
MERGUS SERRATOR Linn. 
(141.) RED-BREASTED FIsH Duck. 
This is the commonest species of sheldrake, occurring upon both shores of Bering Sea. It 
nests upon Saint Lawrence Island and along both the American and Siberian coasts. On the 
former coast it is common, and in many places is an abundant bird. It has also been taken 
upon the Aleutian Islands by Dall, who secured specimens at Amehitka. Along the Alaskan 
coast of the Arctic to Point Barrow it is also found in varying abundance. Although we did not 
observe it on the Siberian coast of the Arctic during the summer of 1881, yet its known distribu- 
tion on the adjoining shores and islands would indicate that it is found there as well. 
LOPHODYTES CUCULLATUS (Linn.) Reich. 
(142.) HOODED SHELDRAKE. 
A single large flock of this handsome bird was seen by Mr. Bannister in the vicinity of 
Saint Michael’s in October, 1865, just before the harbor became frozen over. This is the only 
record I possess of the occurrence of this bird in the waters of Bering Sea. It was not seen by 
us during the cruise of the Corwin on either shore, and as not a single example was observed 
during my residence at Saint Michael’s the species is undoubtedly extremely rare on the western 
coast of Alaska. 
GROCULID. CORMORANTS. 
PHALACROCORAX VIOLACEUS (Gmel.) Ridgw. 
(145.) VIOLET-GREEN CORMORANT. 
This handsomely colored Cormorant is the commonest of its kind along the Aleutian chain 
and about the shores of the various islands in Bering Sea, visiting both shores in addition wherever 
the coast assumes a bold, rocky character, affording the birds suitable nesting places. It is found 
sparingly on the islands in Bering Strait, and thence extends through into the Arctic, being found 
upon both shores there as in bering Sea. It is not numerous in the vicinity of Saint Michael’s 
and the Yukon mouth, mainly owing to the low character of the coast, but towards the head of 
Norton Sound it nests in large numbers upon the bold cliffs fronting the sea in that vicinity. 
At Plover Bay during our visits in June and July, 1881, these birds were very numerous, and 
were noted at various other points along the coast. On June 29, scattered individuals of a 
species of Cormorant to which I refer this bird were seen in the sea off Cape Serdze Kamen, but 
none were secured. A species of Cormorant, either this or the following, was seen at Herald 
Island, and again one or two individuals near Wrangel Island and on the American shore in the 
vicinity of Cape Beaufort, on July 27; but as they were shy at all these localities no specimens 
were secured, and it was impossible to ascertain definitely to which species they should be referred. 
PHALACROCORAX BICRISTATUS Pall. 
(144.) RED-FACED CORMORANT. 
Nordenskidld records the capture of several of these birds at North Cape, Siberia, where they 
were nesting upon the cliffs in large numbers at the time of the Vega’s visit there on September 
