I 26 Grinnell, Summer Birds of Sitka. 1_ April 



June 17. This Petrel outnumbers the last approximately 5 to i. (See 

 'Nidologist,' March, 1S97.) 



Mr. Palmer, on comparing my Sitka birds with Atlantic specimens, 

 finds the former averaging smaller, but otherwise similar. About half 

 have considerable dusky white at the base of the rectrices. 



17. Phalacrocorax pelagicus robustus. Violet-green Cormorant. — 

 Breeding abundantly on the more exposed outlying islands. The imma- 

 ture birds and others not breeding remained in flocks about the rocks and 

 reefs further inland. The nests were usually situated on the shelves of 

 rock on the perpendicular sides of the islands. I noted a row of 15 nests 

 in a single ti-ansverse crevice on the face of a promontory. The nests 

 are deeply saucer-shaped and compactly made of grass and tui-f. The 

 eggs are 3 to 4 in number, oftener 3, and resemble other Cormorants' eggs 

 except in size, being on an average considerably smaller. Six selected 

 sets containing the extremes measure : 2.20 X 1-38, 2.08 X 1.41, 2.19 X 1.50, 

 2.26x146; — 2.05 X 1.40, 2.09 X 1.39,2.17 X 1.44, 2.15 X 1.46; — 2.13 X i.37> 

 2.07x1-38, 2.10 X 1.37; — 2.22 X 1-49' 2.28x1.43. 2.23 X 1.48;— 2.42 X 

 1.47, 2.43 X 1.40, 2.37 X 1.45; — 2.52 X 144. 2-1 1 X 14O' 2.07, X 1.42. The 

 average of fifty eggs is 2.19 X 142. This Cormorant nests late; a few 

 fresh eggs were taken on July 8, and many slightly incubated, on July 28. 



18. Merganser senator. Red-breasted Merganser. — One shot on 

 August 18, by Professor Hindshaw, and others seen. Young in down 

 were brought in by the Indians early in July. 



19. Aythya marila nearctica. American Scaup Duck. — Large num- 

 bers in flocks remained all summer among the inside islands. Apparently 

 but a few bred. A juvenile nearly fledged was brought in on July 15. 



20. Histrionicus histrionicus. Harlequin Duck. Quite numerous 

 on the most exposed outlying reefs about which large flocks of nearly 

 fledged young appeared by August 5, when many were shot. I saw an 

 adult in June, two or three miles up Indian River, where it was probably 

 nesting. 



21. Oidemia deglandi. White-winged Scoter. — Common among 

 the outlying islands in flocks of six to a dozen. No young seen. 



22. Oidemia perspicillata. Surf Scoter. — An adult male, taken 

 July 28, was the only one observed. 



23. Ardea herodias. Great Blue Heron. — Frequent along the 

 secluded inland shores. Nearly fledged young brought in July 2. 



24. Phalaropus lobatus. Northern Phalarope. — Arrived August 3, 

 after which it became very numerous about the kelp-beds and tidedrifts 

 out in the bay. 



25. Tringa bairdii. Baird's Sandpiper. — Prof. Hindshaw took a 

 specimen August 16, the only one observed. 



26. Tringa minutilla. Least Sandpiper. — First specimen taken 

 July 2, after which it became common in small flocks on the sandbar at 

 the mouth of Indian River. 



27. Ereunetes occidentalis. Western Sandpiper. — First specimens 



