CRUISE OF STEAMER CORAYIN IN THE ARCTIC OCEAN. 93 



CHEN HYPERBOREUS (Pall.) Boie. 



(115.) Snow (Joose. 



On the American coast of the Arctic and Ucrins; Sea this bird is not very abuudant. It occurs 

 however, in considerable tlocks for a few days duri»s the spriu- and fall migrations; and each 

 season a f. w are killed in the vicinity of Saint INlichaers on Norton Sound. Its occurrence upon the 

 north coast of Asia is attested by specimens captured by Nordenskiiild's party at Tapkan in the 

 sprino- of 1879 These birds are, at present, like the Swan, unknown from the islands of Bering Sea, 

 their migration apparently taking an inland course rather than along the shore lines. Although 

 the Snow Geese are known to nest in the greatest abundance in the Ander.son River aud surrounding 

 reoion alono- the northern coast of British America, yet their nesting place in Alaska is unknown. 

 They certainly do not remain to nest anywhere along the Bering Sea coast, and we did not see any 

 of these birds along the Arctic shore to Point Barrow; so that if they nest at all in this region it 

 must be ou those flats bordering the Arctic shore east of Point Barrow. In autumn they leave for 

 the South among the last of the migrant geese, finding their way to the viciuity of Saint Michael s 

 towards the end of September, although in some seasons they appear before the middle of this 

 month; they linger here in autumn from ten days to three weeks, depending upon the weather to 



a great extent. . 1 1 ^ <.<• * ;f 



The <rreat abundance of this bird in California during the winter season would testify to its 

 breedino-ln great numbers somewhere to the north of this region. But according to my observations 

 on the Beriuo- Sea coast of Alaska the bird must take some other route towards its northern 

 breedin<^ oround, and it must undoubtedly pass north from California, and soon after cross the 

 mountahi ranges to reach their eastern slope, after which the geese pass to the Arctic by an inland 

 course; otherwise the Snow Geese would be found in greater abundance on the coastsof this northern 

 territory. 



ANSER ALBIFROUS GAMBELI (Haiti.) Coues. 



(116.) The American Whitefronteb Goose. 



This is the most widelv distributed and abundant Goose throughout Northern Alaska, extending 

 its habitat across to the Siberian coast of Bering Sea, and nesting as well upon Saint Lawrence 

 Island We found it in considerable numbers at the head of Kotzebue Sound the middle ot July. 

 1881, and found mauv of the adults with their wing feathers molted aud unable to fly, and the 

 vouno- still in downy plumage at that time. It is extremely common from the mouth of the Kusko- 

 quim''River to the head of Kotzebue Sound, nesting everywhere; thence north to the extreme 

 Arctic coast of the territorv. Wherever one goes, in suitable places, this bird is certain to be 

 found. During the spring and fall migrations the White-fronted Goose is found occurring rather 

 sparingly throughout the Aleutian chain, having been taken at Attou, Ounalaska, and Sauak: but 

 their visits are only made at this season, as none arc known to remain and breed. 

 BERNICLA CANADENSIS LEUCOPARIA (Brandt) Cass. 



(117.) The White-cheeked Goose. 



The distribution of this bird along the shores of Northern Alaska is almost identical with that 

 of the White-frouted Goose, with the addition, however, of the Aleutian chain, which is contained 

 within the breeding range of the present bird. Like the last species, it was found .'"« ^^''S j^ "^^ 

 head of Kotzebue Sound ou July 15, 18SI, where it was very numerous. It occmrs m the g.eatest 

 abundance in the vicinity of the Yukon mouth and along the ad.oining poiiion of that < oast 

 There is no record of its presence on Saint Lawrence Island, but on the western portion ot the 

 Aleutian chain it is a regular summer resident, rearing its y..iing in considerable numbers upon 



the isolated islands there. i . , .f fi,«<.. hints! 



The natives at these western islamls have domesticated considerable numbers of the^e bud., 



aud whether caused by confinement or otherwise, the white collar on the neck, dividing the browu 



