Mar., 1914 BIRDS OF SITKA AND VICINITY, SOUTHEASTERN ALASKA 
77 
pany with mallards and pintails around mouths of fresh water streams in Sep- 
tember, 1913. 
Spatula clypeata. Shoveller. Rare migrant. Merrill saw two birds that 
were shot near Sitka in the fall of 1904, and Brightman took a specimen on Ad- 
miralty Island in 1898. According to hunters, fairly plentiful along the mainland 
shore near Juneau. 
Dafila acuta. Pintail. Fairly common migrant. I noted these birds on Sitka 
Bay in late August, 1913, and took two specimens near Sitka, September 26, fol- 
lowing. The birds taken were feeding on a salt water snail {Littorina sitchana), 
and were gorged with the small shells. According to Merrill, occurs in the spring 
in late April and early May. 
Marila marila. Scaup Duck. According to Merrill, abundant in summer anfl 
in migrations, less plentiful in winter. So far has not been found nesting in the 
locality but probably does so occasionally, as Grinnell (1898, p. 126) notes a 
nearly fledged juvenile obtained July 15, 1896. I found these birds common in 
flocks among the islands throughout the summer. 
Clangula islandica. Barrow Golden-eye. Although it is very probable that 
both golden-eyes occur in this locality, the only record I have seen of specimens 
taken and positively identified is of the above species, secured by Bischoff (Dali 
and Bannister, 1869, p. 298). Merrill informs me that golden-eyes are most 
plentiful in spring and fall, but are found in small numbers throughout the year. 
He has taken downy young on Swan Lake, near Sitka, and Brightman has seen 
downy young on Chichagof Island. Neither of these two observers, however, 
were able to inform me as to which species of golden-eye these birds were re- 
ferable. Swarth (1911, p. 43) records C. c. amcricana as quite common during 
April at Keku Straits and at Three-mile Arm, Kuiu Island. They were also 
seen on Prince of Wales Island in early May, following. C. islandica was not 
noted at all in this region. From these facts and from what is further known of 
the ranges of the two species, it is probable that amcricana, though it has so far 
not been definitely recorded from Sitka, will be found to be the commonest of the 
two forms in that locality. 
Charitonetta albeola. Buffle-head. According to Merrill, this duck is plenti- 
ful from October to May, but most abundant during migrations. It was taken at 
Sitka by Bischoff (Dali & Bannister, 1869, p. 298). 
Harelda hyemalis. Old-squaw. According to Merrill, the Old-squaw, or 
Pintail, as it is locally known, is a common winter visitant, not appearing in any 
numbers, however, until early November, and remaining plentiful until May. 
Histrionicus histrionicus. Harlequin Duck. Common throughout the year. 
I noted flocks of these ducks feeding around the rocks in many localities on Sitka 
Sound and neighboring inlets during the summer months. According to Grinnell 
( 1898, p. 126). fully fledged young appear about August 5. The same observer 
saw an adult in June two or three miles up Indian River, where it was probably 
nesting. Deputy U. S. Marshal Goodell informs me that he has seen downy 
young at Old Sitka, and he believes the birds nest along the stream that empties 
into the bay at that point. 
Oidemia americana. Scoter. During September, 1913, I several times noted 
this species near Sitka. It was, however, not plentiful, being greatly outnum- 
bered by the two following. 
Oidemia deglandi. White-winged Scoter. The most abundant of the surf 
ducks in this section. Plentiful on the salt water throughout the summer, and 
