148 NATUEAL HISTORY COLLECTIONS I^^ ALASKA. 



the details of their color patterns were easily distiuguished. From this observation, aud that of 

 Mr. Dall at the westward end of the chain, it would seem that this species is not uncommon on 

 these islands; but there is no record of its presence to the north of this point on any of the other 

 islands of Bering Sea, nor ou either coast except south along the American mainland. 



FALC( 



COLUMBAEius Linn. Pigeon Hawk (Bsk. Chi-laibvi-uli-shil-guk). 



The well-known, widely-spread Pigeon Hawk is one of the most numerous and familiar birds 

 of prey throughout the wooded portion of Northern Alaska, ranging during the migrations to the 

 barren coasts of Bering Sea and the Arctic, and perhaps even extending its range to the north- 

 eastern shore of Siberia. The well-known Falco cesalon of the Old World is recorded from the 

 east coast of Asia, in China, and adjoining parts of that continent, and its range might be expected 

 to extend across Bering Strait; but among a considerable number of Pigeon Hawks secured from 

 that region not one is referable to this form. Among a series of eight Alaskan birds only one is in 

 adult plumage; two immature specimens from Norton Sound are darker than the average, and 

 some of the other specimens approach rkliardsoni very closely in the pale cast of their coloration. 

 A Sitkan bird secured by Bischofl' approaches variety suclcleyi very closely in its dark plumage, 

 and it is almost certain that the dark northwestern coast race occurs in this jiart of the Ter- 

 ritory. The nesting range of the common Pigeon Hawk is confined to the wooded portions of the 

 territory. 



The natives prize the feathers of this bird as an ornament and frequently as a fetich, on ac- 

 count of its boldness and powers of flight. It also figures frequently in the totemic system of the 

 Western Eskimo. 



At Fort Eeliance, on the Upper Yukon, Mr. McQuesteu secured a specimen of this bird on 

 April 23, 1878, aud Mr. Dall records it as a permanent resident at Nulato; but this, I am inclined 

 to think, is somewhat doubtful, from statements made me by the fur traders and natives. In the 

 interior of the Territory the Indians value the quills and tail-feathers of these birds for shafting 

 their arrows. According to the naturalist just quoted it occupies the same nest for many succes- 

 sive seasons. The nest is made of sticks and straw in the top of a high tree. In one instance Dall 

 saw one of these birds kill a Ptarmigan. The great size of this grouse as compared with the 

 diminutive size of the hawk shows the i)rowess of the latter. Typical examples of this race have 

 l)een taken at Kadiak Island, and I secured a skin on Sledge Island in Bering Straits. On Octo- 

 ber C, 1878, I saw one of these birds dart down and strike its talons into the back of a Burgomas- 

 ter Gull {Larus glaucus) as the latter was flying over the sea; after holding on for a moment — the 

 gull continuing its flight unimpeded — the falcon let go, and rising almost directly up for 30 or 

 40 yards made off. In the summer after the young are on the wing these birds are not uncommon 

 along the coast near Saint Michaels. Like the other ha\Tks at this season they appear to wander 

 extensively. 



Falco sparveeius Linn. American Sparrow Hawk. 



Mr. Dall records a specimen of this bird from Unalaska in the fall of 1871. Since then it has 

 not been found by the several collectors in Alaska until noted by Dr. Aurel Krause, as numerous 

 on Chilcat River, near the end of August. It is probably a very rare visitor to the more northern 

 sections of Alaska. Perhaps its occurrence at Unalaska is to be regarded as accidental, and it is 

 conflned almost exclusively to the southern portions of the Territory. 



Pandion haliaetus CARolinensis (Gmel.). American Osprey (Esk. Alcum-lai- 

 thldga-yu-li). 



This bird is found nesting on Vancouver Island and in British America, and it has been 

 taken at various points coastwise to the north. Bischoff secured its eggs at Sitka, and it is found 

 rarely along the shore of Norton Sound, and sparingly along the clear streams of the interior, 

 extending its breeding range within the Arctic Circle. On the Y^ukon, as elsewhere in their 

 extended habitat, they make a conspicuously large nest and return to it year after year. They 



