Nelson on some Birds of St. Michael's, Alaska, 35 



the southern slope of the island, I was pleased to find some old 

 acquaintances in the form of several Summer Warblers [Dendroeca 

 cestiva) and Wilson's Black-caps [Myiodioctes pusillus), whose bright 

 plumage, glancing from bush to bush, recalled many pleasant days 

 in far distant fields. Entering the bushes I encountered the angry 

 remonstrances of a colony of Tree ^-^axvowSiiSjnzeUa monticola), whose 

 sharp tsip, tsip, tsip, arose on all sides. From the midst of the bushes 

 started a Fox-colored Sparrow [Passerella iliaca) ; but just then I 

 caught a glimpse of a beautiful specimen of Sabine's Gull [Xema 

 sahinei) coasting along the rocks near my kyak, and at a break-neck 

 pace I rushed down and embarked — in time to see it disappear in 

 the distance. Being under way, I proceeded to the other island, a 

 small conical rock of the same structure as the one first visited, which, 

 being more isolated, is better populated by Sea Birds. The great 

 angular masses of fallen rock about the water's edge were sur- 

 mounted by rows of Horned Puffins sitting side by side, their white 

 breasts gleaming in sharp contrast to the dark, rugged background. 

 Here and there among them could be distinguished a Tufted Puffin, 

 while on the more elevated projections and spiirs on the face of the 

 island were perched about a dozen Violet-green Cormorants [Gra- 

 cidus violaceus). The seaward face of the island, inclining gradually 

 to the water's edge, was occupied by a large flock of Larus l-otzehuei 

 and a number of L. glaucus. As I approached all took flight, the 

 Puffins and Gulls circling about until several were shot, when they 

 took refuge on the open water to seaward, where they were preceded 

 by the Cormorants, which I have invariably found vei'y shy in this 

 vicinity. A number of Wandering Tattlers were feeding uncon- 

 cernedly along the half-submerged stones, but as I drew nearer 

 flitted gracefully from stone to stone, choosing successively higher 

 positions, now and then pausing to look suspiciously back, until the 

 first gained the upper point of the ledge, when, after a moment's 

 pause, it uttered the usual loud ringing Ma" Ma" Ma', and darted 

 around the island followed by all the others. Taking positions 

 along the rocks near the water, they stood like statuettes until the 

 merciless gun broke the spell, when amid a chorus of cries a general 

 but straggling flight to safer hunting-grounds ensued. At the same 

 time a small party of Red-breasted Mergansers [Mergus serrato7-) 

 arose from under the lee of the island and made directly for the 

 lakes inland. 



The wind freshening, I turned back, and, passing around the point 



