CHICAGO ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 
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Abundant; breeding in the vicinity of St. Michael's. In the early- 
spring, when this species first made its appearance, the sexes appeared 
to be in about equal numbers, and were generally together. In June, 
however, I noticed numerous small flocks composed entirely of males; 
and still later in the season, in the latter part of July, and in August, the 
flocks were apparently all females, though perhaps partly composed of 
males in autumn plumage. Throughout the month of July, however, 
solitary males could often be started on the small, outlying, rocky islands, 
apparently in full spring colors, though generally unable to fly. They 
escaped by rapid swimming and diving, it being very hard to shoot them 
or to follow them in a kayak, unless under very favorable circumstances. 
My observation of this species led me to think that they disliked swim- 
ming in rough water. On windy days I have generally seen the small 
flocks of them squatting at the top of the beach, or swimming only in 
the more sheltered coves and inlets. 
The noise made by this species in the spring is peculiar. When many 
are heard together, as is generally the case, it more resembles a contiu- 
UOU8 grunting than any thing else. B. 
164. Somateria spectabilis Leach. (608.) King Eider ; Pistrak 
(Rus.). Near the Rapids, on the Yukon, I found a specimen of this 
species lying dead on the beach. It was, of course, immediately recog- 
nized by the peculiar bill, which was preserved. A series of eggs from 
St. Michael's, of which the parent was not identified, except as to its 
being an eider, appeared, on comparison, to belong to this species, 
which, it is evident, must be quite rare. D. 
A third species of Eider was often mentioned by the Russian resi- 
dents, but I was unable to identify the bird by their descriptions. It is, 
at any rate, extremely rare; but few have ever seen it. It may possibly 
be the S. spectabilis, as it was described as smaller than the common 
species, S. v -nigra. B. 
165. Mergtis americanus Cas. (611.) Shelldrake. Found at 
Sitka by Bischoff. One specimen obtained at Fort Yukon, by Mr. 
Lockhart. Not observed by any of our party during three years explo- 
rations on the Yukon and its vicinity. D. 
166. Mergus serrator Lin. (612.) Red-bi'easted Merganser. Com- 
mon during the summer months, and the only species of shelldrake 
noticed during that time, at St. Michael's. B. 
Received from Sitka and Kadiak, through Bischofi". Killed one in 
May, near Nulato ; several at St. Michael's, in July. Not a very com- 
mon bird at any locality. On a small island, in the Yukon, near its 
mouth, I found six nests of this species, all carefully concealed under 
dead leaves. They were generally under a log of drift-wood, in a small 
hollow, and lined with down from the breast of the parent; six to ten 
eggs, of a rich cream-color, in each. The parents flew round and round 
tiie island, but out of range. D. 
