116 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE NATURAL HISTORY OF ALASKA. 



9. Urinator ARCTICUS (Linn.). Black-throated Loon. 



The Black-throated Loon is quite common at Saint Michael's, whore it arrives by the middle of 

 May. As soon as the sea-ice is moved these birds resort to the sea, rarely far from land. During 

 the breeding season they retire to the smaller lakes, whose margins are hedged with a growth of 

 rankest grass. A nest was known to be in a pond some distance from the Redoubt. I went there 

 to obtain the eggs. The parent was sitting in the pond and would not fly, but dove and swam 

 round in the water and seemed much distressed by our presence. Several shots were fired into 

 her before she was killed. They are extremely tenacious of life; and when they are killed it is 

 only after the body is riddled with shot. 



These birds are to be found among the Aleutian Islands at any season of the year. At Am- 

 chitka "Island a pair frequently were seen in the bay, during the mouth of June, but always just out 

 of range for a shot. 



They would swim up and down the bay for half a mile and return by the same course. A na- 

 tive boy finally shot one of them, unknown to me until after he had plucked the feathers from the 

 body. The Aleuts value the flesh very highly, but admit that it is tough. 



Many years ago the natives of Saint Michael's vicinity made use of the skins of this species for 

 a number of purposes. I have seen them converted iuto a sort of work-bag; in which small, but 

 valuable tools were kept. The skin in such a case is cut down the back and the flesh removed. 

 The skin is then dried by being worn on the head of the person owning it. Another purpose for 

 which it is used is to form a receptacle for the bunch of fine shavings which are tied together and 

 serve as a flesh-brush while taking a bath; and, for this reason, it is just as well to ask what is in 

 it before investigating its contents on your own accouut, as these people have but little soap and 

 employ something else in lieu of it. 



On the Lower "Yukon River is a village called by the Russians Gagara ShapJca, and means Loon 

 Cap, on account of the natives wearing the skins of these birds as caps. 



The Eskimo name of this species is Tu ? Ivl; and is derived from the note too-cc — a most dis- 

 mal sound heard in the stillness of the night. 



10. Urinator paciflcus (Lawr.). Pacific Loon. 



A single specimen of this Diver was obtained August 25, 1876, at Saint Michael's. It is not 

 common, and was not recognized to a certainty at any other time. This specimen was an adult 

 female and had just passed the breeding season. Where, or how, this bird breeds fe unkuown to 

 me. 



This species was observed in Chichagof Harbor, Attu Island, in the winter of 1880-'81. I did 

 not observe them there at any other season of the year in the vicinity of Attu; yet they breed in 

 considerable numbers on the low grounds of Semichi. 



11. Urinator lumme (Gunn.). Bed throated Loon. 



The Red-throated Diver is quite abundant throughout the Territory. It is common among 

 the tributaries of the Yukon River. 



This Diver arrives by the 20th of May, and immediately repairs to the lagoons and grassy 

 lakes where it breeds. It remains until late in September. 



They obtain much of their food from the sea. They consume small fish, which they obtain by 

 diving. They are very watchful and rely more on their ability to escape danger by diving than 

 by flying. When about to dive they draw the head and neck back, throw the body forward 

 with a plunge, or else, when surprised, they quietly sink in the water in such manner as to leave 

 scarcely a ripple on the surface. 



Among the Aleutian Islands this species is quite abundant. It breeds in nearly all the islands 

 of the chain. At Atkha several pairs were known to breed among the lakes on the highest hills. 



Several young of this bird were brought to me, while at Atkha in 1879, but want of time, when 

 I received them, caused me to put them in an out-building. The next day I went to look for them, 

 and found that the rats had carried them off during the night. 



When the young birds are not yet able to accompany the parents the latter feed them on 

 small fish fry from the sea. A pair which had nested a couple of miles back of the village at 



