124 EXPEDITION TO POINT BARROW, ALASKA. 



They appeared in large, loose Hocks, coming in from tlie sea and from the southwest, all appar- 

 ently traveling to the northeast. Most of the flocks whirled in at the mouth of our lagoon and 

 circled round the station with a peculiarly graceful, wavering flight, and many were shot close to 

 the house. A cold easterly wind was blowing at tho time. 



They continued plenty for several days while the east wind blew all following the same 

 track, moving up the shore, and making short excursions inland at each of the beach lagoons. 



After September 28 they disappeared until October G, when for several days there was a large 

 llight. On October 9, in particular, there was a continuous stream of them all day long moving 

 up the shore a short distance from the beach and occasionally swinging in over the land. Xonc 

 were seen io return. 



The nature of our duties at the station prevented any investigation as to where they came 

 from or whither they went. They appeared to come in from the sea, to the west or northwest, and 

 traveled along the coast to the northeast. 



They were not observed on Wraugel Island by either the Jeaunette, the Oorwiu, or the 

 Rodgers, and yet the direction from which they come to Point Barrow in the fall points to a 

 breeding-ground somewhere in that part of the world. May it not be that some laud yet to be 

 discovered, and north of Wrangel Island, will one day yield a glorious harvest of the eggs of this 

 splendid species ? 



It is difficult to form any idea of what becomes of the thousands that pass Point Barrow to 

 the northeast in the autumn. It is certain that they do not return along the shore as they went. 

 Nevertheless, at that season of the year they must of necessity soon seek lower latitudes. 



Perhaps the most plausible supposition is that soon after leaving Point Barrow, perhaps when 

 they iirst encounter the main ice-pack, they turn and retrace their steps so far out at sea as to be 

 unnoticed from the land, and pass the winter at the edge of the ice-field, proceeding north to their 

 breeding-ground as the pack travels north in the spring. 



Capt. Everett Smith, of the steam whaler Bowhead, who is a trustworthy witness, reports that 

 when he was in the loose ice, 70 miles northwest of Point Hope, on June 10, 1883, he saw large 

 numbers of these birds. 



The greater number of the birds we obtained were immature, and probably the young of the 

 year, though in a stage slightly more advanced than the young bird taken by Mr. Nelson at St. 

 Michael's. The few adults that we captured were iu a plumage hitherto undescribed, and one in 

 particular was especially beautiful. The following is a description of this specimen : 



Museum No. 93321, Rliodostethia rosea $ . White parts everywhere tinged with rose color, 

 except the tail feathers ; rose color somewhat blotchy and approaching salmon color, especially on the 

 crissum. Mantle pearly blue, extending as mottled markings to the back of the head. No traces 

 of the black collar ; a few black marks round the eye. Edge of wing from shoulder to wrist bright 

 rose. First four primaries rose-shafted beneath, third tho brightest ; outer web of first primary 

 black nearly to the tip ; fifth to last primary and first secondary, white-tipped ; remaining secon- 

 daries rose-tipped. A few small obscure black markings on the breast. Feet, <: terra-cotta" red, 

 with brown knuckles and webs. Bill, black. 



The above description was taken from the freshly-killed bird. The beautiful blush-rose tinge 

 had not, however, faded perceptibly, when the skin was examined a year later. The other adults 

 were in almost the same plumage, but tho rose color was much paler and confined to the under 

 parts from the throat to the under tail-coverts. The only adult female secured was the least pink 

 of any of the adults. One specimen. No. 933G4, shows a few dark feathers among the upper wing- 

 coverts. Mr. Ridgway makes the rather reasonable suggestion that this is a bird in its second 

 year. 



Mr. Howard Samulers, in " Ibis " for 1875, has given an excellent description of the immature 

 plumage from two young birds in the Vienna Museum. As, however, these birds differ in some 

 respects from those we collected, I will venture to give a detailed description of our large series. 



Three specimens (Museum Nos. 933285, 93353 <J , and 93354 $ ) present a stage of plumage 

 which is possibly a little yonnger than the great majority of the birds collected. 



The following is a description of this stage : 



