BIRDS. 131 



gravelly river bauk, early iu tbe morning, during pleasant weather in spring and summer, and 

 falls an easy prey to the native hunters, who watch for it iu these locations. It is so quiet and 

 retiring iu the woods that it is rarely seeu. I also found it at the headwaters of the Innoko Eiver in 

 midwinter, where, however, it did uot appear to be very common. It has been taken on the island of 

 Kadiak, and its range therefore extends from the islands bordering the coast of the North Atlantic 

 to those iu the North Pacific. Specimens were brought me from the headwaters of the Yukon 

 takeu iu autumn, and Eichardson and others have traced it dowu the Mackenzie to the delta of 

 this river, well within the Arctic Circle. It also extends its range to Southeastei'u Alaska, where 

 the xnT. franliini might be sujjposed to usurp its place. Thus Hartlaub records it from Portage 

 Bay and Ohilcat. The above author notes that specimens from these localities differ in nowise 

 from the bird of the uortheast, and hence are true canadensis. 



My specimens also, from various points iu the northern portion of the Territory, compared 

 with the series of birds from the more southern and eastern locations on the continent, show them 

 to be identical. In addition to the above records is one from Fort Kenai, ou the southeastern 

 mainlaud shore of the Territory, where Bischoff secured a specimen in May. On Peale's River, 

 and near the delta of the Mackenzie, Richardson found these birds frequenting the marshy parts 

 of the forest. 



BoNASA UMBELLUS U5IBELL0IDES (Dougl.). Gray Eufl'ed Grouse (Esk. Kli-iuk). 



Like the Spruce Grouse, and sharing with the latter its range in Northern Alaska, this bird is 

 found everywhere where wooded laud occurs, reaching the head of Nortou Sound and vicinity of 

 Bering Straits, following the belts of timber as they approach the sea iu this portion of the Terri- 

 tory. It is not nucommon in the vicinity of Nulato, where it frequents the deep spruce growths, 

 and feeds exclusively upon the buds of these trees, its flesh being tainted in consequence. Dall 

 found it nesting there in May, and a set of eggs was found iu a willow stump. Ldie the Spruce 

 Grouse, this bird is found wherever spruces occur, and both species range well into the Kaviak 

 Peninsula, so that they are found within a very short distance of Bering Straits. It is about 

 as numerous as the Spruce Grouse, giving place, however, in the southern coast of the Territory, 

 to the closely-allied form mentioned under the next heading. 



As I bad no opportunity to observe this bird I have nothing to add to the record of its habits. 

 Specimens were brought me by the fur traders from various points along the Yukon and adjoining 

 region, so that evidently it is of common occurrence throughout that portion of the country. All 

 the specimens of Bonasa north of Great Slave Lake, excepting the dark coast form found along 

 the Pacific, are referable to the gray northern form. There is considerable individual variation, 

 in Ruffed Grouse from any particular locality, aud the races grade from one to the other in an un- 

 broken series. 



Bonasa ujibellus sabini (Dougl.). Oregon Eufted Grouse. 



A few specimens of this bird have been taken about Sitka by Bischoff, and others have been 

 found in British Columbia, so that there is no doubt it occurs along the northwest coast as far as 

 the heavily wooded region in the vicinity of Kadiak and the adjoining mainland. The typical 

 form of this bird appears to be rather strictly limited to the Pacific slope, as Mr. Heushaw found 

 that birds taken east of the Cascade Mountains in Oregon were referable to sabini, although 

 they were not typical of the latter form, and showed an approach to the eastern race, losing that 

 intensity of coloration which is characteristic of the northwest coast birds. 



Lagopus lagopus (Linn.). Willow Ptarmigan (Esk. l-Mih-(jtl). 



Throughout the northern portion of Alaska this bird is a resident in summer, frequenting the 

 extensive oi^en country, aud being most abundant along the barren sea-coast region of Bering Sea 

 aud the Arctic. It breeds also south of the peninsula on the Shumagin Islands, whence Dr. Bean 

 obtained a female in mid-summer plumage during his visit to those islands in the summer of 18S0. 

 Oiher records of albus in the Aleutian chain are referable to var. nelsoni or atlcJicnsis, according 

 to locality. 



