THE BIRDS OF THE PKIBILOF ISLANDS. 421 



would stay with us I did not shoot him, but strolled out to the locality every morning 

 and evening until the end of the third day, when I missed him. The natives recog- 

 nized it as a chance visitor, though seen almost every year in this manner." — {Elliott.) 



Family MOTACILLIDAE. Wagtails. 



62. Anthuspensilvanicus (Lath.). American Pipit. 



Antlius pcisylvanicus, Sharps, Cat. B, Br. Mus. X, 1885, 596. 

 Anthus ludoviciamis, COUES, Key, 1890, 286. 



Antlms pensilvanicus, A. O. U. Ch. List, 1895, 289.— Ridgway, Man. 1896, 536.— Nelson, Bds. 

 Alaska, 1887, 208. 



A specimen of this species is in the collection of the National Museum, which was 

 taken on St. George by Dr. W. H. Dall. They probably occur in small numbers every 

 year. No. 54407, S , August 15, 1868, St. George, W. H. D. 



Family TROGLODYTIDAE. Wrens, etc. 



63. Anorthura alascensis Baird. Aleutian Wren. "iimmers7ii»i"^Cliew of tobacco. 



Troglodytes alascenais, Dai.l and Bann. Trans. Chic. Ac. Sci. 1869, 280, PI. XXX, fig. 3. — Baird 

 t.c.315, PI. XXX, fig. 3.— Nelson, Bds. Alaska, 1887, 210.— A. O.U. Ch. List, 1895, 301.— 

 EiDGWAY, Man. 1896, 555. 



Troglodytes hyemalis var. alascensis, Dall, Proc. Cal. Ac. Sci. 1874, 273. 



Troglodytes panndus var. alascensis, Allen, Bull. N. O. C. II, 1877, 82. 



Anorthura troglodytes vai. alascensis, Coues, in Elliott's Ept. Aff. Alaska, 1873; Reprint, 1875, 

 173 ; Key, 1890, 279.— Elliott, Mon. Seal Ids. 1882, 127. 



Anorthura alascensis, Nelson, Cruise, Corivin, 1883, 61. — Sharpb, Cat. B. Br. Mus. VI, 1885, 273. 



The following extracts are the beginnings of the history of this bird : "A single 

 specimen of a very common bird was obtained at St. Georges Island, Bering Sea. A 

 number were shot but were lost in the luxuriant growth of grass and weeds. It is 

 found all the year round on the island; breeds in May, building a nest of moss in the 

 crevices of the rocks, and, according to the Aleuts, lays six eggs." — {Dall.) " This wee 

 bird is not migratory, but remains permanently npon St. George; its nest is built in 

 small, deep holes and crevices of the cliffs. I have not myself seen it, but the natives 

 say that it lays from eight to ten eggs in a nest made of dry grass and feathers, roofed 

 over, with an entrance at the side to the nest chamber, being thus elaborately con- 

 structed. The male is exceedingly gay during the period of mating and incubation, 

 flying incessantly from plant to plant or from rock to rock, and singing a rather loud 

 song for a small bird. * * * Although St. Paul Island is but 27 miles to the 

 northwest, as the crow flies, from St. George, not a single specimen of this little wren 

 has been seen there." — {Elliott.) The specimen taken by Dr. Dall was made the type 

 of a new species by Professor Baird, and has since been ascertained to inhabit most 

 of the Aleutian Islands. It is fairly common on St. George, but, strange to say, no 

 one has ever seen it on St. Paul. I saw five or six on May 28, near the village of St. 

 George, and secured several at the same place on August 11. Dr. J. A. Allen has 

 described the nest and eggs. (Bull. Nutt. Ornith. Club, Vol. II, 1887, p. 82.) They 

 were collected by a native and forwarded by Mr. W. J. Mclntyre. He says: "The 

 nest is quite large and very compactly built, being composed externally of fine moss 

 of a light green color interwoven with fine roots and lined heavily with hair and 

 feathers. Conspicuous among the latter are the rosy-tipped feathers of the Leucosticte 

 griseinucha. The hairs are rather coarse and white, 3 to 4 or 5 inches in length, and 

 appear to be hairs of the Polar bear." But two eggs out of a set of twelve were 



