A LIST OF THE BIRDS OBSERVED IN ALASKA AND 



NORTHEASTERN SIBERIA DURING 



THE SUMMER OF 1914 



By F. SEYMOUR HERSEY 



During the summer of 191 4 the writer had the good fortune to 

 make a rather extended trip along the Alaskan coast. Besides brief 

 visits to one or two points in southern Alaska and the Aleutian 

 Islands, stops of varying extent, but mostly of brief duration, were 

 made at practically every village between the mouth of the Yukon 

 River and Barrow, as well as several of the islands in Bering Sea 

 and four points on the Siberian coast. The trip was made in the 

 interest of Mr. A. C. Bent, to obtain data, and especially nesting 

 photographs, for his work on the '' Life Histories of North American 

 Birds." 



We left Seattle May 12 on the Revenue Cutter Bear, and for four 

 days steamed slowly northward through the narrow and often tor- 

 tuous channels of the " Inside Passage." The scenery was delightful. 

 Mountains, clothed with the luxuriant evergreen growth so char- 

 acteristic of the northwest coast, rose abruptly from the water's edge, 

 with here and there a loftier peak, capped with snow, towering above 

 its neighbors. Wooded islands were sighted and left behind, and 

 once or twice we passed a small steamer. Finally we dropped anchor 

 at Ketchikan on the afternoon of May 16. 



This part of the country is heavily wooded with great evergreens. 

 Beneath the trees the partly decayed trunks of fallen trees are numer- 

 ous ; these and the ground itself being covered with a heavy growth 

 of green mosses, and everything dripping with moisture. Small birds 

 did not appear to be plentiful, but our stay was too short to allow 

 of any extended work. Northern Bald Eagles were common and we 

 found one or two species here which were not seen at any other place. 



We left Ketchikan that night and passed out through Dixon's 

 Entrance, heading for Unalaska. Although the weather was fine, a 

 heavy swell caused us to roll badly. Soon after leaving the land 

 behind, I began to notice various members of the Tubinares. These 

 became more abundant as we neared the " pass." Sooty Shearwaters 



Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections, Vol 66 No. 2 



