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 elypeata. Shoveller. Rare migrant. Merrill saw two birds that were shot near Sitka in the fall of 19o4, and Brightman ?ook a specimen on Ad- miralty Island in 1898. According to hunters, fairly plentiful along the mainland shore near 'Juneau. Dafila aeuta. Pintail. Fairly conlmon 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 and 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 jnvenile obtained July 15, I896. I found these birds common in flocks among the islands throughout the summer. 01angela islandiea. 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 (Dall 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 Islaud. Neither of these two observers, however, were able to inform me as to which species of golden-eye these birds were re- ferable. Swarth (I9II, p. 43) records C. c. americana 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 americana, 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. Burfie-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 (Dall & Bannister, 1869, p. 29?3_). 1tarekla hyemali.?. Old-squaw. According to Merrill, the Old-squa?v, 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, I913, I several times noted this species near Sitka. It was, however, not plentiful, being greatly outnum- bered by the two following. 0idemia deglandi. White-winged Scoter. The most abundant of the surf ducks in this' section. Plentiful on the salt water throughout the s. ummer? and
