48 University of California Publications in Zoology. [Vol. 7 



Lobipes lobatus (Linnaeus). Northern Phalarope. 



A single bird shot from the launch at the mouth of Affleck 

 Arm, Kuiu Island, on May 19, was the only one seen during the 

 spring migration. The species was not observed again until 

 August 23, when several small flocks, all in the gray winter 

 plumage, were encountered in the open water of Stephens Pass- 

 age. On the way south to Seattle, October 1 to 4, many flocks 

 were seen from the steamer at various points in the sheltered 

 waters of the inner passage, all rapidly moving in a southerly 

 direction. 



The bird secured (no. 9882) is in freshly acquired summer 

 plumage throughout. The molt has obviously been barely 

 accomplished, for the slaty black feathers of the sides of the 

 neck and the dorsum are flnely edged with white, while the 

 tertials and lesser coverts have very broad white edges. These 

 edgings appear to wear off very rapidly, for in other specimens 

 taken about the same time of the year, or but a week or two 

 later, they have entirely disappeared. 



Gallinago delicata (Ord). Wilson Snipe. 



A "Wilson snipe was flushed by Hasselborg at Three-mile 

 Arm, Kuiu Island, on April 26, but was not secured. This was 

 the only bird of the species seen until August 21, when I shot a 

 single specimen at Thomas Bay (no. 9797). On the Taku Eiver, 

 September 4 to 28, snipe were fairly abundant on the flooded, 

 grassy meadows. There were certain favorite spots where they 

 could always be found, but there were vast stretches of country, 

 apparently very similar in appearance, where the birds were 

 never seen. They were, as they usually are, very erratic in 

 their actions; one day all the birds in a meadow taking fright 

 and leaving at the report of the gun, while on the next, perhaps, 

 they would be flushed with the utmost difficulty. Certain aerial 

 gymnastics were gone through daily. These have been described 

 as a part of the mating process in the spring, but this was in 

 September, during the fall migration. 



Six specimens were secured at this point (nos. 9798-9803), 

 all in fresh autumnal plumage. The series exhibits no apparent 

 peculiarities of color or proportions. 



