brooks: birds from east Siberia and arctic alaskl\. 399 



A duck hawk seen flying across the tundra at Demarcation Point, 

 June 10, 1914, was probably F. peregrinus anatum Bonaparte. 



Falco columbarius columbarius Linne. 



PIGEON HAWK. 



One was seen at Demarcation Point, May 31, 1914 . 



Strigidae. 

 Asio flammeus flajvimeus (Pontoppidan). 



SHORT-EARED OWL. 



Short-eared Owls were quite common in the vicinity of Demarca- 

 tion and Humphrey Points arriving at the former Point, on May 12. 

 We could find no nests. 



Nyctea nyctea (Linne). 



SNOWY OWL. 



Snowy Owls were seen at Cape Serdze, July 17, 1913, and Big 

 Diomede Island, June 25, 1913. 



On the north coast of Alaska these birds are quite common in sum- 

 mer but scattered, each pair apparently having its own hunting 

 ground. 



A single bird was seen at Humphrey Point, December 5, 1913, 

 flying low over the tundra in the noon twilight. 



None were noted in the spring of 1914 at Demarcation Point until 

 a single bird appeared on May 2. From that time until I left two or 

 three birds would be seen every day but I could find no nest. 



Snowy Owls are very shy and were best taken by means of traps set 

 on poles. Their natural shyness is no doubt augmented by being 

 constantly pursued by Eskimos who think their flesh a great delicacy. 

 I attempted to eat a Snowy Owl that I captured but found it the most 

 loathsome meat I have ever tasted, infinitely worse than fox. 



Practically all the Short-eared Owls I trapped were eaten imme- 

 diately by Snowy Owls so keen is their sight. 



