CRUISE OF STEAMER CORWIN IN^ TH15 AliOTlU OCEAN. 103 



reported to be coiniuon 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 nnable 

 to give me any information concerning it, notwithstanding repeated inipiines made both at the 

 Yukon mouth and in the vicinity of Saint Michaers; 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 Cor win. 



MERGUS SERRATOR Linn. 



(141.) Red-breaster 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 Arachitka. Along the Alaskan 

 coast of the Arctic to Poiut Barrow it is also found iu 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. 



(14:2.) Hooded Sheldrake. 



A single large flock of this handsome bird was seen by Mr. Bannister in the vicinity of 

 Saint Michael's iu 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 ou 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.E. CORMORANTS. 

 PHALACROCORAX VIOLACEUS (Gmel.) Ridgw. 



(143.) 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 iu 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 2t), 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 Auierican shore in the 

 vicinity of Cape Beaufort, on July 37 ; but as they were shy at all these localities no specimens 

 were secured, and it was impossible to ascertain definitely to which s])ecies they should be referred. 



PHALACROCORAX BICRISTATUS PaU. 



, {Hi.) Red-faced Cormorant. 



Nordenskiold records the capture of several of these birds at Nortii Cape, Siberia, where they 

 were nesting upon the Clifis in large numbers at the time of the Vega's visit there on September 



