78 THE CONDOR Vol. XVI even more abundant during migrations. According to Merrill, occurs also in winter. - 0idemia perspicillata. Surf Scoter. Seen occasionally during the summer months. Becomes more plentiful about August ?5, and is abundant by the middle of September. Merrill states that it winters in considerable numbers. Accord-- ing to Dall and Bannister (?869, p. 3oo), Bischoff obtained the eggs of this bird near Sitka. Anser albifrons garnbeli. White-fronted Goose. Rather common in migra- tions, which occur mostly in October and April. Merrill has taken several speci- mens and seen many others that were killed in the vicinity. I saw two birds that were shot by Brightman on Swan Lake, September 29, I9?3. 1tranta canade?sis ?anade?sis. Canada Goose. Two specimens taken at Sitka by Bischoff (Dall & Bannister, ?869, p. 295). 1tra?ta eanade?sis oeeidentalis. White-cheeked Goose. Fairly common summer resident, breeding around fresh water lakes and ponds. More plentiful during migrations. Known to nest in several localities near Sitka, also on Chi- chagof and Kruzof islands. By early September was plentiful in small flocks at the mouths of streams, but was exceedingly wild, and no specimens were obtained by me, though I saw several brought into Sitka that had been shot by Indians with rifles. These birds are easily domesticated and several small flocks have been reared by local people. l'hilacte canagica. Emperor Goose. The A. O. U. Check-List (z9?o, p. 88) mentions Sitka as a record station of this species. Professor Cook informs me that this is based on the fact that Dresser (?9o3, p. 598) lists Sitka as a record locality for the species., There is no intimation anywhere in this work, however, to show what the basis of the record was. As this goose has occurred in winter in British Columbia and' has .even been recorded at this season from northern California, it is not at all unlikely that it should occur occasionally at Sitka. For this reason I have followed the example of the A. O. U. Committee and included the species in this list, although the e?-i- dence as to its actual occurrence in the locality, as given above, must be considered weak unless it can be further substantiated. 01or columbianus. Whistling Swan. According to Merrill, the Whistling Swan is rather a common migrant, the migrations taking place mostly in Oc- tober and early November, and in April. During the fall migration, flocks fre- quently alight on lakes and ponds, but in spring they uually pass over without stopping. Merrill has seen flocks passing high above the mountain ranges during the spring migration. He secured a specimen October 3 o, ?912, and knew of seven birds being taken by an Indian in October and N'ovember, ?9?o. Brightman saw a flock of about twenty-five swans going over Sitka, September 28, ?9?3 . The flesh of this bird is much prized by the Indians, who cut it into strips and smoke it. They also use the skins with the down for mat0ing articles of clothing. Ardea herodias fannini. Northwestern Coast Heron. Occasionally seen in many different localities. Partial to timber-bordered streams and kelp patches. I saw several of these birds that were brought into Sitka by boys and sold to a local Chinaman. They are highly prized as a delicacy by this race. Orus canadensis. Little Brown Crane. According to Merrill and Brightman, a regular migrant but usually passing over without stopping. The latter gentle- man has taken specimens near Killisnoo, west side of Admiralty Island. Fulica americana. Coot. Rare straggler. Merrill took a specimen near
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