CRUISE OF STEAMER CORWIN IN THE ARCTIC OCEAN. 73 



and paid special attention to its omitliolopy. Neither has the bird been found on any of the 

 eastern islands of the chain, which renders its occurrence here still more improbable. Melospiza 

 cinerea occurs here, however, in three distinct plumages, one of which answers fairly to the very 

 insutBcient description given by Gmelin. The nearest place where Passerclla towmendi has been 

 taken is on the Shuiuagiu Islands, south of the Peninsula of Aliaska. Of necessity the question 

 of the exact application of (iinclin's name must remain a matter of individual oi)inion ; but in view 

 of the bird in cpiestion not having been taken on the Island of Ouualaska or any of the neighboring 

 ones, it seems but fair to consider tlie chance of his description ai)plying to one of the plumages of 

 M. cinerea. I allow the name to remain, as Mr. Ridgway proposes, from the fact that there is 

 little possibility of proving the question for one side or tiie other, but deplore the utilizing of old 

 names, as in this instance, where there is such opportunity for error. 



ICTERID.E. BLACKBIRDS. 

 SCOLECOPHAGUS FERRUGINEUS (Gm. ) Swains. 



(45.) The Rusty Blackbird. 



Along the eastern shore of Bering Sea, both in the spring and autumn migrations, this bird 

 is frequently seen. It nests commonly at the mouths of the Yukon and Kuskoquim, as low down 

 as the growth of bushes aftbrds proper shelter. It is a common summer resideut in suitable places 

 about the Kotzebue Sound region, extending its nesting area far within the circle. It arrives at 

 Saint Michael's about the middle of May and leaves the coast region about the last of August or 

 first of September. It is unknown on the islands of Bering Sea and on the Asiatic coast. 



CORVID^. CROWS, RAVENS. 

 CORVUS CORAX CARNIVORUS (Bartr.) Ridgw. 



(46.) The American Raven. 



This bird is found abundant in many places, and is more or less common everywhere on the 

 islands and about the shores of this region. On the Aleutian Islands it is perhaps in its greatest 

 abundance, and is remarkably familiar, frequenting the roofs of houses and the open ground 

 immediately in front of them, with as little regard for the presence of man as might be expected 

 from the ordinary barnyard fowl. Even in this place, however, it keeps its weather eye out for 

 the deadly gun, and the moment one appears with this implement in his hand the ravens become 

 remarkably scarce in that immediate vicinity. Their curious evolutions high in the air, preceding 

 and during a storm, are curious to witness, and they are one of the most striking features to a 

 new-comer in the islands. Upon the Seal Islands the crow is unaccountably absent, though it is 

 familiar on all the other islands of Bering Sea. The Siberian and American coast alike are 

 frequented by it both summer and winter. Nordenskiold found crows wintering in the vicinity of 

 the Vega, on the Arctic coast, and during my winter journeys along the Alaskan coast I found 

 them everywhere, though less numerous at this season than during the summer. 



PICA RUSTICA HUDSONICA (Scop.) Baird, 



(47.) The Black-Billed Magpie. 



At the head of Bristol Baj- this bird has been taken on a few occasions, and this, so far as my 

 knowledge extends, limits the range of the bird on the coast of Bering Sea, although it is found in 

 the interior much farther north. 



PERISOREUS CANADENSIS FUMIFRONS Ridgw. 



(48.) The Smoky-Fronted Jay. 



In the interior this bird is one of the most common residents, and stray individuals wander to the 

 shore of the Arctic and Bering Sea from Aliaska Peninsula north to the shore of Kotzebue Sound. 

 H. Ex. 105 10 



