126 



NATURAL HISTORY CULLBCTIONS IN ALASKA. 



proach the coast form iu intensity of coloration. The series of measurements appended will show 

 the relative proportions of these birds from different regions, and at the same time show the 

 differences in the dimensions between /m/i'ks and its American representative: 



C. FULVUS FEOM ESTKALIMITAL LOCALITIES. 



Date. 



Winter, 1862.. 

 April 21, 1881 . 

 Winter 



Do 



Do 



Locality. 



Araoy, China 



Shanghai, China . . . 



Loo Choo ? , 



Honolulu ? 



New South Wales . 



ALASKAN COAST SPECIMENS. 



May 1 



May 30, lesl 



Sep'temher 5, 1877. . 

 September 16, 1877. 



Spring 



June 3 



May 27, 1881 



June 5 



May 18 



May 23 



Seal Islands 



Saint Michaels . 



, do 



do 



Sitka 



Saint Michaels 



do 



do 



Kotlik (Yukon). 

 do 



C. DOMINICCrS. 



May 26, I860.. 



Spring 



June 



May 13 



May 14 



September 24 - 



June 6 



November 12 . 

 September 27 . 

 September 8 . . 



Fort Simpson, n. B. T 



Great Slave Lake 



Barren grounds 



Fort Reliance, Alaska 



do 



Carlisle, Pa 



Hudson's Bav 



Fort Walla Walla 



Souris River 



Hudson's Bay 



? 

 cf 



9 

 d 

 ? 



rf juv. 

 9 juv. 



7.12 

 7.00 

 7.45 

 7.30 

 7.25 

 7.15 

 0.90 

 7.00 

 7.02 

 7.15 



2.75 

 2.85 

 2.80 

 3.08 

 2.72 

 2.65 

 2.65 

 2.70 

 2.83 

 2.70 



1.70 

 1.64 

 1.78 

 1.80 

 1.65 

 1.70 

 1.69 

 1.78 

 1.58 

 1.70 



.95 

 .92 

 .90 

 .98 

 .90 

 1.00 

 .85 

 .89 

 .81 

 .92 



Dr. Streets, iu his contribution to the natural history of the Hawaiian Islands, published iu 

 Bulletin No. 7 of the National Museum, records this bird as being very abundant on the island of 

 Oabu, where he was informed by the inhabitants that they make tbeir appearance about the 

 iSrst of September, arriving very poor and weak, having evidently been a long time without food. 

 During the winter they become very fat, and in March and April they prepare for their departure. 

 At this time they can be seen taking long or short flights out at sea and returning again to the 

 island. This exercise, the doctor thinks, was undoubtedly for the purpose of strengthening 

 themselves for the final effort, their muscles having become flabby and feeble during the 

 inactivity of winter. 



While the Gorwin was midway between the Aleutian Islands and San Francisco, iu October, 

 1881, a small party of birds, undoubtedly of this species, was seen passing high overhead, coming 

 from tbe direction of the Aleutian Islands and passing directly toward the Hawaiian group. This 

 is certainly a remarkable flight for birds of this character to undertake, and its accomplishment 

 indicates great powers of flight, as well as great endurance. 



^GiALiTis SEMIPALMATA Bonap. Semipalmated Plover. 



According to Dall this bird is very common at Nulato and the Yukon month, but his statement 

 of its abundance at Saint Michaels I did not verify, as I found it to be of infrequent occurrence 

 along the Norton Sound coast. It is probably much more numerous in the interior, and I received 

 specimens from various places on the Yukon. It was found rather common at Sitka by Bischoff. 

 On the Asiatic coast at Plover Bay, and again on the north coast near Kolincbiu Bay, I found 

 them rather common about the sandy or gravelly borders of pools near the sea. It also occurs on 

 tlie shore of Kotzebue Sound and northwaixl. Mr. Dall states the number of eggs to be generally 

 two. I have never had an opportunity to learn anything about their breeding habits. It appears 

 to be most abundant along tbe Atlantic, where it is found in great numbers, but on the west coast 

 its numbers are much less, especially in the north. 



