126 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE NATURAL HISTORY OF ALASKA. 



Along the Aleutian Islands it occurs in greater numbers, but is generally in the less accessible 

 places. I obtained a specimen at Unalasbka Island in the winter (December 14) of 1878. I did not 

 observe it so often in the eastern islands of the Aleutian cliain. It occurs plentifully round San- 

 nakh, the Shumagin Islands, and Kadiak, and abundant on tbe Nearer Group. I did not obtain 

 eggs of this species, though it doubtless breeds along tbe entire coast of the territory south of 

 Bering Strait. %. 



55. Larus brachyrhynchus Rich. Short-billed Gull. 



The Short -billed Gull arrives at Saint Michael's according to the openness of the season. It 

 comes in few numbers as soon as large cracks are made in the ice. This may be early as the first 

 of May or as late as the 25th. The season of 1874 was unusually open. Upon our arrival at Saint 

 Michael's, on May 25, hundreds of these gulls were flying over the bay. In the course of a few days 

 they became less, so that by the middle of June only few pairs were seen. In later years they were 

 not abundant at any time, though the breaking up of the ice was accompanied with visits of num- 

 bers of them. During the breeding season these Gulls resort to the higher bluffs and cliffs. Such 

 locations are not found in the vicinity of Saint Michael's, and but few pairs were known to breed 

 there. Sometimes they breed on Whale Island near there. 



Among the Aleutian Islands these birds congregate in many thousands on the cliffs to breed. 



On the islands where I haA r e been stationed natives also live. They and the foxes keep, to a 

 great extent, these, and in fact nearly all other water birds, from breeding near the settlements. It 

 is to the uninhabited islands that the majority of the birds resort, hence did not obtain the eggs of 

 this species. 



At Atkha Island, in the earl} 7 part of August, 1879, a small species of fish (Mallotus villosus) 

 was thrown up by the waves onto the beach. These fish cast their spawn in the sand and is cov- 

 ered by the next wave. 



The Gulls of this species follow the wake of these fishes, and during the spawning season 

 devour many thousands of them. 



At Amchitka Island I observed this species frequenting the beach at low tide and securing the 

 sea-urchins (Strovgylocentratus drobachiensis A. Ag.) which occur plentifully. The birds seize the 

 prey, cany it several yards into the air and then drop it on the rocks; or, as it frequently happens, 

 into the little pools left by the receding tide. These pools are of variable depth, but when of not 

 more than a few inches deep, the bird again took the object to drop it, perhaps into the same place ; 

 evidently not with the intention of washing any objectionable matter from its surface, but simply 

 from the fact that the bird had not yet learned to calculate the law of falling bodies, yet when the 

 shell-fish was dropped on the rocks and broken open the bird greedily devoured the well tilled ovaries. 

 These Gulls and the Ravens, frequently carry the shells far to the inland and there break them open 

 with their beaks. The old shells may be frequently found on a knoll of ground or tuft of grass. 



During the winter these birds retire to some other locality but not distant, as they return early 

 in March to the western Aleutian Islands. 



The flesh is said to be very good ; the Aleuts eat it either raw or cooked. The bill, feet, and 

 toes of this species are greenish yellow, the web yellowish, eyelids crimson, iris dark hazel. 



60. Larus Philadelphia (Ord). Bonaparte's Gull. 



Individuals of this species were procured and seen only at the mouth of the Kuskokvim River, 

 June 17, 1879. 



At that date the twilight lingers throughout the entire night, and during this time I wandered 

 along the banks of a large lake, lying several hundred yards distaut from the warehouse, used to 

 store the trader's annual supplies in if he does not happen to meet the vessel when she arrives in 

 the spring. I secured three specimens of this Gull, but was unable to preserve them on account of 

 bad weather coming on the next day, causing other feelings than a desire to skin birds. 



This is the only locality where I saw this Gull. 



62. Xema sabinii (Sab.). Sabine's Gull. 

 This Gull is found abundantly in the vicinity of Saint Michael's. A few miles farther south it 

 is very numerous. It breeds along the low grounds from Saint Michael's to Bristol Bay. 





