124 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE NATURAL HISTORY OF ALASKA. 



along the Yukon River near Mission. They also breed on the hillsides of the tundra. Several 

 pairs were known to be breeding near Saint Michael's, but I failed to discover their nest. Daring 

 the breeding season they are very shy. In the fall they have sufficient curiosity to allow them to be 

 killed. Should one of their kind be shot and slightly wounded the others will gather round it, and 

 if not frightened away will soon dispatch their comrade. 



I had frequently wounded desirable species of ducks and other birds on the lakes, but when 

 taken out by the wind from my reach 1 had to leave them until I returned, sometimes the next day. 

 On my return I always found that the feathers had been plucked from the breast of the bird and 

 the flesh had been eaten. I suspected the muskrats of having done it until I detected a Jaeger 

 in the act of eating a bird which 1 had left. 



The Loug-tailed Jaeger is rarely seen on the Eastern Aleutian Islands. I saw one at Sannakh 

 Island in July, 1878. I saw a few at Atkha Island in 1879, and two at Attn Island in 1880. They 

 were flying over the water of the bays but never in gunsho£. This species is reported to breed 

 at the Semichi Islands — there among the little knolls of the low ground. Throughout the Terri- 

 tory of Alaska the Jaegers are known to the Russian-speaking population as Ras hoi nik, a word 

 meaning robber, thief. The Eskimo of Norton Sound call this species Yung UJc, and means little 

 man. The Jaegers are all intimately connected with many of the traditions of the Eskimo. 



40vi. Rissa tridaotyla pollicaris Ridgw. Pacific Kittiwake. 



The Pacific Kittiwake is a common bird at Saint Michael's when the ice breaks np, a date which 

 varies from the 15th of May to the middle of June. They remain longer than any of the gull kiud, 

 except L. barrovianus. It is not an abundant bird at any time in this vicinity. Tlie great breeding- 

 grounds of this species is farther south. On the Pribylof Group and some of the western Aleutian 

 Islands this species breeds in thousands. In this locality (Saint Michael's) I am led to infer that 

 it breeds but sparingly. A young female (a bird of the year) was killed October 2, 1874, at Saint 

 Michael's. 



The adult plumage is assumed the first year. This specimen presented the following pattern 

 of coloration : Head pure white with circumorbital space clouded with more or less black. Post- 

 auricular space and a narrow band over hind neck black, succeeded by a grayish baud reaching to 

 the interscapulars. Back dark gull-blue, lightening toward the upper tail coverts, which are pure 

 white. Tail black tipped for little more than an inch. Wing coverts at their insertion blackish with 

 numerous lighter pearl-blue markings which become white on the tips, forming a longitudinal 

 band. Primary coverts black. Primaries black, excepting the inner ones, which are white tinged 

 with blueish. The under side of the primaries is black with white shaft to the quills. The plumage 

 below is pure white. Iris black, bill black, claws black, feet pale flesh. This Kittiwake usually 

 seeks its food against the wind, and if several birds are together they go abreast, stretched out 

 for many yards in line. When an object of food is discerned this bird generally mounts a i'ttw 

 feet and comes down with a plunge, and remains on the water scarcely an instant. I have never 

 seen one sitting for any length of time on the water. They are nearly always on the wing. 



41. Rissa brevirostris (Bruch.). Bed-legged Kittiwake. 



The Red legged Kittiwake is not a common bird in the vicinity of Saint Michael's. The onlj one 

 obtained there was a young female, dated September 18, 1876. Farther south this bird has been 

 observed in thousands. The Aleutian Islands and the Pribylof Group are its home. On Akutan 

 quite a number were observed on a high cliff near the village on that island. In the same year 

 (1878) I saw a few at Sannakh, and in later years I frequently saw them passing the vessel which 

 I was on. To the westward this Kittiwake occurs more plentifully than tridactyla, with which it 

 associates. 



Not having opportunity, during the breeding season, I did not obtain eggs of this bird. 



The rich vermilion of the legs, the crimson eyelids, clear hazel iris, with the pure white of 

 head, neck, and under parts contrast beautifully with the pearl-gray mantle of back and wings. 



The Eskimo name of this bird is Eg Wc, and signifies big throat. 



