CRUISE OF STEAMER CORWIN IN THE ARCTIC OCEAN. 109 
XEMA SABINEI (J. Sabine) Leach. 
(157.) SABINE’S GULL. 
From the Peninsula of Aliaska, north, along the Alaskan shore to Kotzebue Sound, this is a 
very common Gull. It is especially numerous during the breeding season on the low marshy coast 
between the Yukon mouth and Saint Michael’s, where it breeds. It is common, however, at 
various other points along the American coast, and across to Saint Lawrence Island and the 
Siberian shore of Bering Sea, whence specimens have been secured by various parties visiting 
that coast. It was seen at Saint Lawrence Bay by the naturalist of the Jeannette on August 29, 
1879; and when we neared Wrangel Island the Ist of August, 1881, two young gulls about the 
size of this bird came off and kept about the vessel for some time. They were in dark, mottled, 
immature plumage, and kept at such a distance that it was impossible to be positive of the species. 
From the frequent occurrence of Rosse’s Gull to the north of this land, as noted by the naturalist 
of the Jeannette, and the fact that no adult Sabine’s Gulls were seen either along the 
adjoining shore of Siberia or in this vicinity, the chances are that these two young birds were 
Rosse’s Gulls; but at the time I identified them as being the young of Sabine’s Gull, as their size 
and the general appearance of their coloration as seen at a distance indicated. It was not noted 
by us during the cruise of the Corwin anywhere around the shore of the Arctic, unless the two 
immature birds seen off Wrangel Island belong to this species. 
STERNA CASPIA Pall. 
(158.) CASPIAN TERN. 
This large Tern is extremelyrare in the north. It was only observed by me at the Yukon 
mouth on two occasions, both times escaping without injury in spite of my attempts to secure 
it. The natives were well acquainted with the bird, however, but alwys insisted that it was 
very uncommon. They have a name for the common Arctic Tern which they also apply to this 
large species with the termination ‘“puk,” meaning great or large, showing that there is little 
doubt as to the bird’s correct identification. There is no record of its occurrence to the north of 
Saint Michael’s, which is the most northern point whence I have any information of its oceurring ; 
nor is it known from the islands of Bering Sea or the*Siberian shore. 
STERNA MACRURA Naum. 
> (159.) THE ARcTIC TERN. 
Along both shores of Bering Sea and upon both shores of the adjoining Arctic waters this 
bird is very common. It was noted in the vicinity of Point Barrow during our visit there in 
_ August, 1881, and along all of the north Siberian coast visited, and is a well-known resident of the 
Bering Sea shores. It nests wherever found in this region, and occurs indifferently either in the 
interior along the courses of the rivers, or on the salt marshes and barren islands on the sea coast. 
This is one of the cireumpolar species, which is familiar to all voyagers in these northern regions. 
It nests on some of the sterile islands of the North, in flocks, upon the bare sandy or pebbly gronnd, 
with no trace of any artificial nest. It is common upon Spitzbergen but scarce on Nova Zemlya, 
and was noted in the vicinity of the New Siberian Islands by Nordenskiéld. On the eastern shore 
of Bering Sea [ have only found it nesting singly, in pairs scattered here and there over the 
marshes, and in one instance three pairs were found occupying the same small island in a lake, 
which is the largest number | found nesting iv close proximity. In this, however, as in many 
other instances, the birds’ habits vary greatly with the locality. 
STERNA ALEUTICA Baird. 
(160.) THE ALEUTIAN TERN. 
This handsome Alaskan Tern has an extremely limited distribution, being found from Kodiak 
Island north to Bering Strait on the American mainland shore, and occasionally crossing to the 
