FAUNA OF THE ALEUTIAN ISLANDS AND ALASKA PENINSULA 257 



Calcarius lapponicus: Lapland Longspur 



Calcarius lapponicus clascensis 

 Attu : Chir-loch 

 Atka: Chi-loch 



Unalaska: Chelookh (Wetmore) 

 Commander Islands: Tschelutschjek (Stejneger) 

 Chukchi: Tumkup (Palmen) 



This is one of the most common passerine birds throughout 

 the Aleutian chain, the Alaska Peninsula, and adjacent islands, 

 and it also occurs on Nunivak Island and the Pribilofs. The 

 Alaska longspurs probably inhabit every island in this district 

 at some time of the year. Furthermore, this bird has a well- 

 distributed habitat, ranging from the beach line to the upper 

 mountain sides and lava beds, although it evidently prefers 

 grassy flats and slopes. We saw them on the flat lowlands at 

 Ugashik River, on the sand dunes at Urilia Bay, as well as on 

 the' slopes of such islands as Amak, Ananiuliak, and Uliaga. 



The Attu chief stated that longspurs leave Attu in August and 

 return early in April. This is fairly well verified by Beals and 

 Longworth, who reported in 1941 that the first longspur was 

 seen on Unimak Island on April 16. They further stated that 

 none were seen when they returned to the island, August 31. 

 We noted longspurs on Sanak Island as late as August 28. 



In 1925, I had an opportunity to note the progress of the nest- 

 ing season at Unimak Island and Alaska Peninsula. The first 

 longspurs, two small groups, appeared among the sand dunes at 

 Urilia Bay on April 30. A few were seen each day afterward; 

 they were heard singing on May 3 ; they were common and were 

 heard singing on May 5; and they were numerous on May 8. 

 On May 1 6, they were noted as common at False Pass ; they were 

 common at St. Catherine Cove on May 17; and were common on 

 May 28 at Izembek Bay. On June 14, a nest of four eggs was 

 found on Hazen Point, Izembek Bay, and, the following day, a 

 number of specimens were taken. The females of this group of 

 specimens had brood patches, which were absent on the males. 



On June 18, 1936, we found a nest on Seguam Island. It was 

 sunk in the vegetation and was built of. fine dried grass stems 

 with few longspur feathers. There were four young, with yellow 

 down. 



On May 24, 1937, longspurs were common on Dolgoi Island ; 

 they were singing, and some of them evidently were nesting. On 

 June 1, they were very active, singing, on Atka Island — this 

 probably was at the height of the nesting period. On June 22, I 

 found a nest with 5 eggs in a clump of anemones on Little Kiska 



