No. 382.] ANIMALS OF NORTHWESTERN ALASKA. 733 
long-tailed ducks, oldsquaw (Clangula hyemalis), flying high, 
with great clamor, and many of these remained to build about 
the ponds and little pools. At these pools were also some- 
times found the curious spectacled eider (Arctonetta fischeri) 
and the beautiful little Steller’s duck (Eniconetta stelleri). 
Three species of geese were also rather plenty and bred. These 
were Anser albifrons gambelt, Chen hyperboreus, and Branta 
nigricans, and we rarely saw swans. All through the open 
season the large burgomaster-like gull, which Mr. Ridgway 
has described as the Point Barrow gull (Larus barrovianus), 
was very abundant, and the rare and beautiful rosy gull (R%odo- 
stethia rosea) appeared in multitudes for a short time each 
autumn. Less common were the ivory gull (Gavza alba) and 
Sabine’s gull (Xema sabinii), while round the sandspits lived 
many Arctic terns (Sterna paradisea). All of these birds, 
especially the larger ones, were used for food, and each had its 
distinctive Eskimo name. Of less importance were the three 
species of loons, the few guillemots and skuas, and the many 
species of wading birds, such as the plovers and sandpipers. 
Of land birds, the most familiar are the little snow bunting 
(Plectrophenax nivalis), the first bird of the Arctic spring, the 
little bird who “ by and by,” said they, “ will sit upon a stake 
and talk loud,” the Lapland longspur (Ca/carias laponicus), and 
two species of grouse, the willow grouse (Lagopus lagopus) and 
the rock ptarmigan (Lagopus rupestris), both of which remain 
all winter, turning white for protection, like the foxes. When 
the lemmings come, the snowy owls follow them. 
As I have already said, the Eskimos paid but little system- 
atic attention to the birds. They shot them when opportunity 
offered, and the women and children collected all the eggs they 
could find near their summer camps, but as a general thing 
the men were too busy to waste time on birds. Towards the 
end of the summer, however, when they were all gathered at 
the camp ground, just where the sandspit of Point Barrow 
leaves the mainland, they really devoted themselves to duck 
shooting in the intervals of dancing, feasting, and trading with 
their visitors from the Colville and the sailors from the ships. 
At this season the ducks are returning in large flocks from the 
