204 NATURAL HISTORY COLLECTIONS IN ALASKA. 



Seiurus noveboeacensis (Gmel.). Water Thrush (Esk. CMf-chi-wo-giik). 



From about May 25 to Juue 1 these Water Thrushes reach the mouth of the Yukon, aud at 

 this time their clear, sweet songs may be heard from along the bush-grown banks of the river 

 and its numerous tributaries. The barren coast of Bering Sea north and south from this point 

 affords it but little shelter at this season, hence its extreme rarity there in spring. It occurs in 

 spring where the dense growth of bushes about Kotzebue Sound atlbrds it available breeding 

 places, la the wooded interior, as at the Yukon mouth, it is abundant, and, in fact, is one of the 

 most common bush-frequenting birds throughout the entire fur countries, extending north even 

 beyond the tree limit. In the autumn migration it is found scattered about the country more gen- 

 erally than in spring, visiting even such points on the sea-coast as Saint Michaels, where, entirely 

 outside of its usual range, it is found iu friendly companionship with the Titlarks aud Yellow Wag- 

 tails, frequenting the borders of daaip spots and muddy paths close to the buildings, where its only 

 shelter is afforded by the overhanging grasses. Its presence, however, at this place is to be looked 

 for only from about the 25th of July to the 15th of August, after which time it passes south. I 

 have found no record of its occurrence on the southeast coast of the Territory. At Fort Yukon 

 Dall found a nest containing two eggs, iu a bushy spruce, on the 1st of June ; but he saw none of 

 the birds at Nulato, and considered it uncommon. My own experience at the Yukon mouth proves 

 the bird to be one of the commonest species breeding at that place. Its favorite haunts, in the 

 midst of dense thickets, shelter it from the observation of one not accustomed to its song, which, 

 however, is one of the most striking that reaches the ear of the traveler iu that region; but the 

 songster, perched on some low branch, is quick to take alarm, and skulks away beyond the sight 

 of one penetrating its haunts. 



At Fort Y''ukon Lockhart shot a bird from its nest on Juue 21. This nest was concealed under 

 a small pile of drift close to the river bank, under a large willow tree. Another nest taken near 

 by was similarly placed aud made of moss lined with very tine grass. In the National Museum 

 collection is a uest containing five eggs, from Peale's River, whicJi is composed of moss aud gi-ass 

 and lined with mouse and rabbit fur. There are also other eggs in the same collection, which 

 were obtained from Fort Yukon daring the middle of June. 



Sylvania pusilla (Wils.). Wilson's Warbler. 



The movements of this handsome little species agree closely with those of the Yellow Warbler, 

 as does its distribution, at least, so far as is shown by my exi)erience in the north. On the 

 Upper Yukon its nest aud eggs have been taken by May 20, aud by the middle of this juonth, 

 or soon after, its presence is noted on the coast of Bering Sea, where it is a summer resident, 

 occupying the same alder-thickets as the Yellow Warbler. It first makes its appearance, like 

 the latter, about the houses in spring, but soon strays away to its summer haunts on the 

 hill sides, where it is confined until the nesting season has passed and, about the end of July 

 and 1st of August, it returns with its young to pay a last visit to the solitary group of houses 

 on the open seashore at Saint ]\Iichaels before it passes to the south. It is one of the commonest 

 of the bush-frequenting species iu the north and extends its breeding range to the shores of tlie 

 Arctic Ocean, where it is found breeding about Kotzebue Sound as well as along the entire' coast • 

 of Norton Sound wherever shelter is afforded. Like most others of the wood-frequenting species, 

 this bird is not knowu on the barren rocky islands of Bering Sea, but on the mainland it forms a 

 striking and pleasant addition to the fauna so strangely attracted to these apparently forbidding 

 regions during the short and unpleasant Arctic summer. Its range iu the Territory is confined, like 

 that of H. cehita, to the region north of the Alaskan Mountains, aud like the latter it is represented 

 to the south of these mountains by a closely-allied geographical race. 



Sylvania tusilla pileolata (Pall.). Pileolated Warl)ler. 



Early in May these birds have been found in Oregon, aud by the 12th of this month some were 

 feeding their yonng there. From this region it extends north aud occupies the entire Pacific 

 shore of the Alaskan mainland. It is common according to Bean at Yakutat Bav and Kadiak iu 



