CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE NATURAL HISTORY OF ALASKA. 133 



In the evening they assemble in the larger, shallow lakes, and even then sit or dig singly or in 

 pairs, as they are distributed over the surface of the lakes. 



At Anichitka Island their breeding-places are among the tall grasses that grow on the sea- 

 side of sand-banks thrown up by the ocean, or else on the steep slopes of other hills facing 

 the sea. 



The flesh of this bird is excellent and usually fat, except in the middle summer months. 



The Russian name of this species is Cherok. 



140. Anas discors Linn. Blue-winged Teal. 



The Blue-winged Teal was not obtained by me. A native had a specimen which he had killed 

 in the lakes, on the mainland, a short distance from the Redoubt. The bird was minus the greater 

 part of its feathers, excepting the quills of the wing and feathers of the head. The speculum of 

 the wing was sufficient to determine the species. I saw several individuals on the wing in the fall, 

 but could not procure them. 



At Atkha Island, July 7, 1879, 1 saw a female of this species sitting among some seaweeds in 

 a place where I could not approach unobserved. I had cartridges loaded only with No. 12 shot. 

 I waited some time, hoping the bird would approach sufficiently near to kill it with such fine shot, 

 but when fired at they had no effect on the bird. 



I am inclined to believed that this species is a very irregular visitor to the Aleutian Islands, 

 yet the Green-winged Teal abounds there. 



At Saint Michael's it is not at all common, and more plentiful in the spring than fall. It un- 

 doubtedly breeds in the interior. 



142. Spatula cltpeata (Linn.). Shoveler. 



The Shoveler is a rare bird in the vicinity of Saint Michael's. The only specimen obtained 

 by me was shot near the " canal " on the 25th of May, 1877. It is rare from the fact of the many 

 hundreds of birds brought by the natives to the store to sell I never found one of this species 

 among them. 



143. Dafila acuta (Linn.). Pintail. 



The Pintail is a common duck in the Saint Michael's district. It arrives with the earliest 

 birds, early in May, and remains until late in September. It breeds among the lagoons which 

 abound in this locality. 



The Pintail is found sparingly on Unalashka Island in November. It does not winter on the 

 Aleutian Islands to my knowledge, as none were ever observed there later than that month. 



This duck feeds principally on the tender shoots of sedges and other grasses that grow round 

 the margins of the marshes. They become very fat, and are then sluggish and slow to rise. In 

 the spring they are lean and rather shy. They fly faster than any other duck. Their flesh is 

 excellent in the fall. 



This bird is usually found in small flocks or in pairs. 



148. Aythya marila nearctica Stejn. American Scaup Buck. 



The Scaup Duck is not common in the vicinity of Saint Michael's. It prefers localities with 

 higher coasts than there. It is said to be rather plentiful on the outside of Stewart's Island and 

 in the neighborhood of Unalakhlit. 



This bird arrives there as soon as the sea is partially free from ice. In this locality I never 

 found the nest or eggs, but it undoubtedly breeds there. 



It is common along the entire Aleutian Chain, but it is shy and difficult to obtain. It is more 

 abundant in winter than in summer, and remains the entire year. 



150. Aythya collaris (Donov.). Ring-necked Buck. 



This bird is not common in the vicinity of Saint Michael's. It arrives as soon as the sea is par- 

 tially free from ice, this date being variable — May 9 to the last of the month. It also frequents 

 the brackish lagoons in the earlier months. The nest and eggs were not obtained. 



It is rarely seen about the Aleutian Islands. It is so shy as to scarcely permit approach with- 

 in gun-range. 



