1911] Swart h: Alaska Expedition of 1909. 151 



sent him darting into the grass, he quickly returned, and 

 eventually finished his meal. 



I have referred .all of these shrews collected to longicauda 

 although there is considerable variation in the size and propor- 

 tions of the series from different points. Those from most of the 

 more northern and western islands average rather small and 

 have short tails, as compared with those from more southern 

 island and mainland points. Two examples from Boca de Quadra 

 are particularly large. The largest of these (no. 8409, female) 

 measures : length 140 ; tail vertebrae 62 ; hind foot 17. Various 

 intermediate sizes may be found between this and the smaller, 

 more northern individuals, however. There is no apparent color 

 variation in the series from different points. 



Myotis lucifugus alascensis Miller. Alaska Brown Bat. 



Bats were seen at but two points, at the head of Marten Arm, 

 Boca de Quadra, and at Portage Cove, Revillagigedo Island. At 

 the former place perhaps six or eight were observed, usually 

 flitting about some sheltered corner at the edge of the woods, 

 where it became dark sooner than out in the open meadows. At 

 Portage Cove they were quite numerous, but usually feeding 

 over the surface of the river, and consequently hard to retrieve. 

 I looked for them carefully at the other places visited, but saw 

 none. 



Seventeen specimens were collected (nos. 8362-8364, 9139- 

 9152). At Boca de Quadra I shot one which I made into a skin, 

 and Hasselborg shot two which were put in alcohol. At Portage 

 Cove I made skins of two, and Hasselborg secured twelve which 

 were saved in alcohol. 



DISTEIBUTIONAL CONSIDERATIONS. 



Groups of islands usually present interesting facts and prob- 

 lems in the distribution of animal life, taken in connection with 

 the conditions on the neighboring mainland, and the Alexander 

 Archipelago is no exception to this general rule. The present 

 expedition together with the previous one to this same region, 

 has brought together many specimens and recorded many facts 

 of significance along these lines. The present distribution of 

 animals on these islands is in many cases difficult or impossible 



