NO. 2 BIRDS OF ALASKA AND SIBERIA — HERSEY 25 



Sea coast from Norton Sound to the Yukon mouth. Their great 

 abundance, lack of fear and gentle manner combine to make them one 

 of the most charming birds in all that bleak and inhospitable region. 

 As one walks over the tundra the birds are found scattered about 

 everywhere and they run on ahead, if disturbed, with a dainty grace- 

 fulness of carriage that is most pleasing. 



At the army post at St. Michael I have seen them running about on 

 the boardwalks, and especially do I remember one bird that came 

 aboard ship during a heavy rain while we were well out of sight of 

 land. He spent the afternoon running about the deck, wading in the 

 little pools of water that settled near the scuppers and trying to probe 

 the spaces between the deck planks. 



Wherever found the species breeds and many nests were examined. 

 A small series of eggs was collected and several downy young of 

 various ages were obtained. Young just from the shell were noted 

 as early as June lo. 



LIMOSA LAPPONICA BAUERI 



Pacific Godwit 



As a person walks about over the tundra these birds are rather 

 frequently seen. They are not exactly abundant, but are pretty evenly 

 distributed and the total number of individuals must be large. They 

 were most abundant at the mouth of the Yukon and none were seen 

 north of Nome. A fair series was obtained including the young in 

 down. 



HETERACTITIS INCANUS 



Wandering Tatler 



Although constantly on the watch for the Wandering Tatler, the 

 species was encountered but once. On May i8 a Tatler came aboard 

 the Bear and for several minutes rested on the deck. We were at 

 the time in the North Pacific, one day out from Dixon's Entrance. 



NUMENIUS HUDSONICUS 



Hudsonian Curlew 



The day that the Wandering Tatler came aboard, two of these 

 Curlews circled about the ship several times and apparently wished 

 to alight and rest. They finally flew away to the westward. A few 

 were noted at the Yukon mouth but were never plentiful. 



The Bristle-thiehed Curlew was not met with. 



