150 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE NATURAL HISTORY OF ALASKA. 



the beach at Massacre Bay, on the south side of Attu Island, in the early part of October, 1880. 

 I had no gun with me, so could not procure them. They were then (October 3) in their winter 

 plumage. 



274. ./Egialitis semipalmata Bonap. Semipalmated Plover. 



A single specimen of this bird was obtained at Saint Michael's in the yard. It was shot Octo- 

 ber 1st, during a freezing rain. It was the fattest bird that ever came under my notice. 



This bird does not appear to be numerous in this vicinity, although in the interior along the 

 Yukon River it is plentiful and abundant at Fort Yukon, whence I obtained most of my specimens. 



This species was not observed on any of the Aleutian Islands. 



282. Aphriza virgata (Gmel.). Surf Bird. 



The Surf Bird was not observed at Saint Michael's, though it doubtless occurs there during the 

 summer. At Sanuakh Island in 1878, and at Kadiak in 1881, 1 saw several individuals of this 

 species, but under circumstances which rendered it an impossibility to collect them. It has much 

 the same habits as A. melanocephala. 



• 



283. Arenaria iNlERPRES(Linn.). Turnstone. 



The Turnstone is of more frequent ocurrence on the region about the shores of Bristol Bay, 

 the Aliaska Peninsula, and the Aleutian Islands; perhaps more common on the western islands of 

 that chain than to the eastward. I saw individuals at Attu, Amchitka, Atkha, and in the vicinity 

 of Belkovsky village. What appeared strange to me was the fact that but one could be found at 

 a time, and then most unexpectedly as it Hushed from the crevices of the rough-edged shore; occa- 

 sionally venturing along the sandy beach where the long waves roll slowly up and down the strand 

 washing, here and there, a mollusk or crustacean from under the flat, thin stones, and eagerly 

 seized by the birds ever on the alert for a morsel of food. In these situations the manner of the 

 bird caused it to appear out of its usual haunts, hence timid and shy, taking flight long before one 

 is within gun range; yet among t"he crevices of the rocks it often relies upon its coloration to con. 

 ceal it from view. Its noise is not at all charming enough to be called pleasant; a rattling, discord- 

 ant, harsh note, apt to startle one if the bird flushes directly from your feet. 



I observed the bird at times and under such conditions that I could not doubt the proximity 

 of a nest. 



They do not arrive on the Aleutian Islands until the middle of May, and none were observed 

 anywhere after the 1st of October. 



284. Arenaria melanocephala (Vig.). Black Turnstone. 



The Black Turnstone is one of the earliest arrivals in the vicinity of Saint Michael's. The 

 13th of May was the earliest date recorded. It arrives with the earlier geese, and for the first few 

 weeks frequents the edges of the low ponds, which are the first to be freed from ice in spring. 

 After the sea ice has left the shores it repairs to the rocky beach and seeks its food among the 

 stones and seaweeds. It is ever on the alert for a venturesome slug, which may be exposed as the 

 waves roll the stones back and forth on the beach. This bird then follows the wave until another 

 causes it to retreat. They are often netted in these instances. They usually squat on the place 

 where they may be when alarmed, but on taking flight they utter a rattling scream that is quite 

 enervating when they are suddenly come upon. They are mostly solitary in their habits, rarely 

 more than one is seen at a time. 



I did not discover the nest and eggs of this bird, but it breeds along the entire coast of the 

 mainland. I saw two of these birds at the mouth of the Kuskokvim Eiver in June, 1878. They 

 occur on the south side of the peninsula of Aliaska, as I saw one at Belkovsky in the early part 

 of August, 1881. 



They are reported to be plentiful on Unga Island and Sannakh Island. The sea-otter hunters 

 both native and white, detest this bird as it frequents the places most resorted to by marine mam- 

 mals and is certain to give alarm to the otter or sealt which he hunter is endeavoring to approach. 



