BIRDS. 93 



rises, breaks iuto uuiuerous fragments, and the birds scatter over the wide flats on every side. 

 On one occasion a pair of old birds, witli four young, was standing on the grassy margin of this 

 lake, and I approached to within about 100 yards, beyond which the ground was perfectly open. 

 Preparing myself, I suddenly started and ran at full speed towards the birds, which gazed at me 

 with great curiosity as they walked slowly toward the water, their heads turned back, to get a 

 fuller view, until they stumbled into the lake. Then they started to take wing, but 1 was already 

 within range, and choosing two young birds secured both of them. 



Toward the end of September these birds begin to gather into flocks, preparatory to migrating, 

 and from the last of this month to the Gth or 8th of October all leave for the south, the exact date 

 varying with the season. When they start they move off in flocks of from ten to seventy-tive 

 or more, and keep up a continual noise, as though bidding farewell to the hospitable marshes 

 which have sheltered them during the summer. With the geese these birds pass to the east from 

 Saint Michaels, crossing to the Yukon at once, along which, according to Dall, the swans make 

 their road of migration. 



This swan is rare at Point Barrow in summer and an occasional visitor to the Near Islands iu 

 winter. Stejueger took a single specimen of this bird on the Commander Islands ou November 3, 

 1882, an immature bird of the year. 



There is no record of this bird from the Siberian shore of Bering Sea nor from any of the 

 islands in the same water. Mr. Dall reports their occurrence on Sauak Island, in September, 1872, 

 although they are not known from any other of the Aleutian Islands. It is found common and 

 nesting along the entire course of the Yukon, and iu suitable places over all the remainder of the 

 Territory, except upon the islands. 



The young birds of the year frequently retain the immature i)lumage until the last of September, 

 A specimen in this plumage, taken ou September 19, had its bill purplish flesh color, the nail and 

 a border along the gape black : the iris hazel, and the feet and tarsi livid flesh-color. The plumage 

 of this bird, which is now before me, is sooty brownish with a plumbeous shade about the top and 

 sides of the head ; neck and throat all around dull plumbeous ashy of a light shade ; back, tertials, 

 and wing-coverts dull plumbeous ashy with a silvery gray luster, especially upon the wings. 

 Eump white, lightly washed with ashy, which increases to dull plumbeous ashy on the tail coverts 

 and rectrices. Quills white, heavily mottled with ashy gray on their terminal third, but almost 

 immaculate toward bases. Under surface white, washed with dingy gray. 



From the Fauna BoreaU- Americana we learn that these birds nest within the Arctic Circle, ou 

 the northern border of the British fur countries. As quoted by Richardson [op. cit.), Captain Lyon, 

 who accompanied Parry on his second voyage, describes its nest as built of moss-peat and nearly 

 G by i'l feet in area, with a height of 2 feet and a cavity IJ feet ia diameter. When first laid the 

 eggs of this bird are white like those of geese, bat become soiled in a very short time. 



Olor buccinator (Rich.). Trumpeter Swan. 



A specimen of this little known swan is noted by Mr. Dall as having been secured, with 

 its eggs, at Fort Yukon, by Mr. Lockhart, thus rendering it an Alaskan species. There is no 

 further record of its presence in the Territory. This is owing, undoubtedly, to the fact that the 

 interior I'emains almost unexplored, so far as its suuuuer birds are concerned. There is no 

 reason to suppose this swan ever reaches the shore of Bering Sea, where it appears to be en- 

 tirely replaced by the other species. There is no record of either bird being found on the south- 

 eastern coast of the Territory, where, however, both are likely to be found during the migrations. 

 Richardson gives this species a breeding range from latitude 01° north to well within the 

 Ai'ctic Circle. Hearne tells us that both species of swans usually breed ou the islands in the lakes 

 northwest of Hudson's Bay, and the eggs of the larger species (or the Trumpeter) are so big " that 

 one of them is a sufficient meal for a moderate man, without bread or any other addition.'' The 

 same author notes the arrival, about Hudson's Bay, of this species earlier than any other species of 

 water-fowl. Some years they arrive in March, before the ice is broken iu the rivers, and they are 

 forced to gather about the open water, near falls and rapids, where the Indians secure large num- 

 bers of them. He adds, furthermore, that " the flesh of both is excollent eating, and, wheu roasted, 

 is equal in flavor to young heifer beef, and the cygnets are very delicate." 



