232 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA 61, FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE 



Aghileen Pinnacles, Frosty Peak, and Amak Island, where young 

 birds were flying about on July 10. 



In 1911, Wetmore found pipits to be common at the east base 

 of Frosty Peak, Morzhovoi Bay, and King Cove, where they 

 nested above the alder growth on mountain sides. He also found 

 them to be common at Unga. Gianini (1917) observed them at 

 Stepovak Bay. 



In 1940, Gabrielson noted a pipit above timberline on Kodiak 

 Island, noted four or five at Morzhovoi Bay, and noted one on 

 Metrofania Island. In subsequent years, he found them to be 

 rather common in many localities, including Akutan and Una- 

 laska. 



Howell (1948) found the pipits on Kodiak on the open grassy 

 slopes above 1,500 feet. A nest sunk in the ground with its rim 

 flush with the surface, containing four well-incubated eggs, was 

 found on June 17. 



Nelson (1887) observed pipits on Unalaska Island and says 

 that specimens have been obtained on Kodiak. Laing (1925) col- 

 lected pipits on Unalaska. McGregor (1906) found them at Dutch 

 Harbor, Unimak Island, and Aektok Island. Swarth (1934) re- 

 ports specimens taken by Harrold on Akutan, where it was 

 common. 



We found pipits to be fairly numerous on Unimak and Una- 

 laska, but they were scarce farther west. One was seen on 

 Amchitka Island on July 24, 1936. The chief of Attu was fa- 

 miliar with the bird and gave us the native name. 



Turner (1886) reports it throughout the Aleutian Islands 

 and specifically mentions Unalaska, Atka, and Attu. We did not 

 see the species in the Near Islands. 



Cahn reports for Unalaska that "Pipits arrive in early May 

 (earliest date, May 3, 1944), and remain until mid-September." 



Nesting 



In general, pipits nest chiefly on high ground, above the alder 

 zone where such growth occurs, and on the more or less barren 

 mountain tops or ridges of the western islands. They occasionally 

 occur on lower ground, however, even in the nesting season. After 

 the nesting season, when they begin to form small flocks, they 

 often feed on the beaches, among the tide-rolled masses of dead 

 kelp. 



Swarth (1934) mentions a nest with six eggs found by Har- 

 rold on Akutan on a "bare wind-swept ridge about 1,000 feet 

 above the sea." Swarth also mentions another nest with six 



