FAUNA OF THE ALEUTIAN ISLANDS AND ALASKA PENINSULA 231 



Anfhus spinoletta: Water Pipit 

 Anthus spinoleita pacificus 

 Attu: Assu Ka-vif 



A series of 13 breeding birds and 2 in winter plumage from 

 Unalaska was available for study, as well as one breeding bird 

 each from Fort Kenai, King Cove, Morzhovoi Bay, Chogiung, Nu- 

 shagak, Sanak, and Unimak Island. There was also a series 

 from Sitka, Hoonah Sound, and Ketchikan, Alaska, and White 

 Pass, Yukon Territory, as well as others from interior Alaska and 

 eastern North America. 



The series from Unalaska and other parts of western Alaska 

 is grayer on the back than those from Alberta and Mackenzie, and 

 the under parts of the Alaska birds average paler, though the 

 coloration varies from a definite pinkish buff to rather pale in- 

 dividuals. This is not due to wear, because some of the most-worn 

 specimens are the most buffy. Also, the spotting on the breast 

 varies from very sparse to very heavy. 



In winter plumage, the western Alaskan birds are a little 

 browner, and the Canadian birds are slightly, but noticeably, 

 more olivaceous. 



When compared with a small series from White Pass, Ketchi- 

 kan, and other southeastern localities, which are presumed to be 

 pacificus as described by Todd (1935), the Aleutian birds cor- 

 respond very well and therefore are referred to pacificus. 



It was difficult to separate the birds from Alberta, Canada, at 

 least those used in this study, from the birds described as alticola 

 from Colorado, Idaho, and Wyoming. 



The pipit occurs from the base of Alaska Peninsula to Attu 

 Island, the ugh it is not equally abundant everywhere. Osgood 

 found them near Kakhtul River, McKay obtained specimens at 

 Nushagak, and Hine observed them, and obtained specimens, at 

 Katmai and Kashvik Bays. 



We noted the birds at Ugashik River on May 29, 1936. On 

 May 14, we found them at Chignik, and, on May 16, 2 were heard 

 singing at Unga and 2 were heard at Sand Point, Popof Island. 

 Several were heard singing at Unimak Island on May 19 and 20, 

 and, on May 24, 1937, pipits were commonly seen on Dolgoi Is- 

 land. John Steenis obtained a specimen at Sanak Island on Au- 

 gust 28, 1937, and two were seen on Bogoslof on August 24. 



In 1925, I found pipits to be common on the north side of 

 Alaska Peninsula, mainly in the mountains above the alder 

 growth. There were pipits at False Pass on the mountains near 



