82 NATURAL HISTORY COLLECTIO]S'S IN ALASKA. 



which were united in an enormous flock, forming a continuous band around the outer end of the 

 island for a distance of about 10 miles in length, and from one-half to three-fourths of a mile in width. 

 As the boat approached them those nearest began to rise heavily by aid of wings and feet from 

 the glassy surface of the gently undulating but calm water. The first to rise communicated the 

 alarm to those beyond, until as far as could be seen the water was covered with flapping wings, 

 and the air filled with a roar like that of a cataract. The rapid vibrations produced in the air by 

 tens of thousands of wings could be plainly felt. 



In all my northern exjierience among the water-fowl which flock there in summer I never saw 

 any approach to the number of large birds gathered here in one flock, nor shall I soon forget the 

 grand ett'ect produced by this enormous body of birds as they took wing and swept out to sea in a 

 great black cloud and settled again a mile or so away. 



Tlie following year early in September 1 found a similar congregation at the same place. On 

 October 9 or 10 each year both young and old, which have joine<l in small flocks, are common all 

 along the coast, and are found until the new-formed ice forces them away a week or so later. 



It was common in summer to see males in the himaculafa plumage among the large flocks. 



At LTnalaska, JVlay 10, 1877, I secured a male as it swam alongside the steamer as we lay at 

 the wharf, and Later iu this month they became numerous about the bays in that vicinity. lu 

 the mating season they have a low, clear whistle for a call note, and may be readily decoyed within 

 gunshot by imitating it from a blind. They are very curious also at this time, and I have seen a 

 flock rise and come up within a few yards of me as I was trying to creep within gunshot of them. 

 The white iris and bizarre coloration of the head of the male render it a very odd and striking 

 species. 



Chen hyperbokea (Pall.). Lesser Snow Goose i,Esk. Kiliuj-ii). 



The handsome Lesser Snow Goose is uncommon on the coast of Norton Sound and about 

 the Yukon mouth. It arrives in spring from the oth to the 1.5th of May, according to the season, 

 and after remaining a very short time passes on to its more northern summer haunts In the 

 vicinity of Nulato, on the Yukon, Dall found them arriving about May 9, on their way up the 

 Yukon ; "they only stop to feed and rest on the marshes during the dusky twilight of the night, 

 and are off with the early light of an Arctic spring." According to Mnrd och they are occasionally 

 seen at Point Barrow iu spring. This is all seen of these geese in spring throughout Alaska, ex- 

 cept perhaps on the extrtme northern border, for south of this none breed, and none are found after 

 about May 25. They are far less numerous in spring than in fall along the coast of Bering Sea, 

 and tlieir spring migration is over so quickly tiiat they are rarely killed at that season. Dr. Adams, 

 while at Saint Michaels in 1851, noted the arrival of these birds from the south in spring and their 

 dei>artare to the north iu fall, agreeing with my own observations, as noted elsewhere. 



On September 2, 1878, flocks began to come south, and up to the lOth of that month they were 

 common. From the unusually early date of this arrival the natives predicted an early approach 

 of winter. They ordinarily arrive from the 5th to the 15th of September, and some remain until 

 the 7tli or 10th of October in some seasons. At this season they are iu flocks of from twenty to one 

 hundred or more, and do not mix with other geese on the feeding grounds, but keej) by themselves. 

 They feed upon the same flats as the other geese, and have no peculiar habits. 



The young are frequently in their grayish immature plumage even when they leave for the 

 south in October. 



There is no record of this bird from any of the Bering Sea islands nor ftom the southeastern 

 coast, although it must occur in the latter region during the migrations. 



Tlie extraordinary abundance of these geese in California during winter is equaled by the 

 myriads which pass north along the western shore of Hudson's Bay in spring. Hearne rates them 

 as the most abundant bird found at the northern part of this bay, and states that during the height 

 of the season when they settle to feed the ground appears as if covered with snow. The same 

 author records the killing of from five to six thousand birds during one spring at Fort Churciiill. 

 This was before 1795, and in view of the continual slaughter these and the other geese are forced to^ 

 undergo annually, it appears strange that they should continue to exist in such great numbers. 



