96 CEUISE OF STEAMEK COJKWIN LS THE AKCTIC OCEAiN. 



DAFILA ACUTA (Linn, i Bonap. 



(122.) Thk Pintail Dick. 



This is perliajis tlie most abundant fresli- water duclc foiiiid on tlie coast of Bering Sea and 

 the Arctic sliores to the north. It nests yearly in the greatest abundance all along the coast from 

 the peninsula of Alaska to the farthest northern extreme of Alaska in the vicinity of Point 

 Barrow, being perliai)s in greatest abundance on the shores of Norton and Kotzebue Sounds. We 

 found them numerous about Kotzebue Sound during our several landings there; and several 

 were seen on Saint Lawrence Island in Bering Sea during our visits there. Tiiey also occur on 

 the north Siberian coast, and, in fact, were noted at almost every place we landed where the 

 surrounding country atfords them the proper marshy tracts. Wliile at sea, midway between the 

 Aleutian Islands and San Francisco on October l~>, 1881, a bird, which at a distance appeared 

 very much like the female of this species, was seen circling about ovcsrhead for ten or fifteen 

 minutes, after which it starteil oft' toward the south. Wliether tliis was the i>reseut species or 

 not it was of course impossible to say, but from its form and motions it was evidently some species 

 of fresh-water duck. In autumn these birds become extrenK^ly fat and well-tlavored, and they are 

 the finest table Duck afforded in the north, while their abundance renders them easily obtainable 

 and large numbers are secured by the fur traders in autumn and stored for winter use. They 

 move south among the latest of the water fowl, the last ones occurring in October, and they return 

 again in spring when the open spaces begin to appear in the ice along the shore — .sometimes by 

 the first of May, or eveu before iu unusually early seasons. I have seen several of them about one 

 of these holes in the ice, caused by ses^eral springs on the shore, wheu the whole country was 

 covered with a deep layer of snow and winter still appeared in full force. 



MARECA PENELOPE (Linn.) Selby. 



(123.) The European Widgeon. 



The only record of this species iu Alaska is that given by Elliott, who secured specimens upon 

 the seal islands. He tells us that he saw but a few si)ecimens, ami these were apparently solitary 

 examples, never iu pairs, and the few he observed during his two years' residence on the fur-seal 

 islands were apparently windbound or straggling specimens. This species is also recorded by 

 Dall as obtained at Ounalaska on the 12th of October, ISVl, who adds that it is not uncommon 

 among the Ducks brought in by the native hunters at that season, and tells us that it migrates 

 about the 1st of May. It has not been recorded from any other points or islands on the American 

 side of the sea. But the records fpioted render it highly probable that its capture on the main- 

 land is a matter of time and further work in that region. In the vicinity of Saint Michael's it must 

 be extremely rare, as I carefully examined all the Ducks brought in during my residence at that 

 place with the hope of securing some of these birds, but failed. 



MARECA AMERICANA (GmeLj Steph. 



(12-t.) American Widgeon. 



On the Xorton Sound coast of Bering Sea this is a common bird. It is founil breeding along 

 the entire Alaskan coast of Bering Sea and north to Kotzebue Sound and the xVrctic cmst beyond. 

 It was not noted l)y us upon any of the islands visited iu the vicinity of Bering Strait during the 

 summer of 1881, nor on the Siberian shore. But on Sei)tember 6 of that year, when we visited the 

 shore at Hotliam Inlet, in Kotzebue Sound, a number were obtained from the natives, who told us 

 that they were numerous in that vicinity at the time. They leave for the south a little earlier than 

 the Pin-tailed Duck and arrive later in spring. 



SPATULA CLYPEATA (Linn/I Boie. 



(125.) Spoon BILLED Dt^CK. 



Along the Alaskan coast of Bering Sea, mainly limited to that portion between the head of 

 Norton Sound and mouth of the Kuskoquim River, this Duck is not uncommon, although it is 



