FAUNA OF THE ALEUTIAN ISLANDS AND ALASKA PENINSULA 109 



alaska, Umnak, and Ananiuliak (the last is a smaller island off 

 the west end of Umnak). Swarth (1934) reports that these 

 hawks were seen almost daily on Akutan from May 17 to June 

 13, 1927, by Harrold, nesting and in both color phases. He 

 also found this species nesting at Unalaska. 



Our own observations, and the published record, show that 

 rough-legged hawks nest along the Alaska Peninsula and on 

 suitable offshore islands, and westward in the Aleutians as far 

 as Ananiuliak Island — but no farther. It is significant that this 

 breeding range coincides exactly with the distribution of rodents, 

 for no rodents originally occupied the Aleutian Islands west of 

 Ananiuliak. Rats and ground squirrels have been introduced on 

 a few islands to the westward, but evidently these introductions 

 have not yet affected the original distribution of the rough- 

 legged hawk. 



Rodents constitute the chief item in the diet of these hawks, 

 as was verified by a number of observations. Speaking of the 

 area about Frosty Peak, Alaska Peninsula, Wetmore reported 

 in 1911 : "The thousands of ground squirrels (Citellus) here fur- 

 nished them an abundant food supply as the crops of those taken 

 testified." 



On Amak Island, in 1925, I found a quantity of mouse fur, 

 three Microtus, and the wing of a Savannah sparrow in a rough- 

 legged hawk's nest. Microtus amakensis is the only rodent there. 

 The stomach of a female hawk collected by Harrold on Akutan 

 Island contained two field mice Microtus. 



Stejneger (1885), speaking of Archibuteo lagopus, said that it 

 was occasionally seen in the Commander Islands, and he thought 

 that it might become established there, because mice had been 

 introduced. 



Aquila chrysaetos: Golden Eagle 

 Aquila chrysaetos canadensis 



Both Turner and Dall reported the golden eagle to be abundant 

 in the Aleutians. Austin H. Clark (1910) reported: "I observed 

 this species once on Unalaska and several times on Atka, where 

 it appears to be rather common." 



Chase Littlejohn (manuscript notes), speaking of the area 

 from the southwest end of Kodiak Island to the end of Alaska 

 Peninsula, including adjacent islands, says, 



Saw quite a number of these fine birds but only obtained one, which was 

 unavoidably lost to my collection. He was caught in a steel trap. A couple 



