100 THE OSPREY. 



The "Chikie," as the natives call this bird, is not as easily attracted by a 

 handkerchief or a noise as are the Kittiwakes. 



11. Xcrim sdbinii. Sabine's Gull. 



I saw them occasionally on both St. Paul and St. George, and secured 

 several. 



12. Oceanodroma furcata. Fork-tailed Petrel. 



One drifted ashore on St. Paul on July 12, 1895, which I picked up and 

 preserved. 



13. Phalacrocorax urile. Ked-faced Cormorant. 



Occasionally seen by me along the clilfs and rocks, along shore usually 

 and on both islands. They seem to be getting scarce. 



14. Ilarelda hycmalis. Old Squaw. 



Quite numerous on the larger lakes of St. Paul, near which they breed. 

 By the end of August the adults were mostly gone from the island though the 

 young were somewhat numerous. 



15. Histrionicus histrionicus. Harlequin Duck. 



This duck was quite common and could almost always be found on the 

 south side of St. George where there was a rocky shore or cliff coming down 

 to the water's edge. They seem to enjoy diving under the breakers and always 

 wait until the last moment before taking to this means of avoiding the combers, 

 when the whole flock disappear together. They congregate in flocks of from 

 eight or ten to 150. I never saw them leave the water except to sit in rows 

 on the low rocks along the open water. I never saw them fly even a few feet. 

 They evidently breed here but I did not find their nests. 



16. Crymophihis fuUca/rius. Red Phalarope. 



Very abundant. I saw the first flock about July 9. They are very tame; 

 alighting on the shallow ponds as lightly as a feather, they are continually 

 bobbing their heads and picking things from the surface of the water. They 

 will spin round and round while sitting, then stopping they commence to feed. 

 I crept up quite close to one while he was turning around and watched him 

 for a while. I then scared him off and examined the place where he had been. 

 The water was about five inches deep and immediately around where he was 

 sitting, mud and truck were suspended in the water which he had stirred up. 

 I think they do this by creating a rotary current, thus stirring up the mud of 

 the bottom and catching the insects and Crustacea as they approach the sur- 

 face.* The native boys have quite an ingenious method of getting these birds; 



*I saw the same disturbance of the water but did not realize the cause. In this obser- 

 vation we probably see the cause which produced the peculiar lobing of the feet of these 

 birds.— fK. P. 



