304 BULLETIN 196, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



white or else both types occur. The bluethroat that occurs in western 

 Alaska is treated binomially in the A. O. U. Check-list, but it may 

 be assumed to be the east Siberian race, C. s. robusta (Buturlin). 

 This is a large, dark, richly colored race with a wing measurement, 

 according to Hartert (1910), of 75-80 millimeters. Grinnell (1900) 

 found this bird evidently breeding near Cape Blossom, Kotzebue 

 Sound, and the A. O. U. list also records breeding at Meade Point on 

 the authority of Bishop, in litt. No further particulars about the 

 latter record are available to the writer, and as GrinnelTs account 

 appears to be the only one published it may be quoted in full. He 

 writes: 



I met with this species in the vicinity of Cape Blossom on July 3, '99. The 

 locality was the side of a ravine between two hills of the first range, about a mile 

 back of the Mission. This hillside was of a gentle slope, and was clothed with 

 thick patches of dwarf willows one or two feet in height. I was tramping along 

 the bed of the ravine when I heard a harsh note, entirely unfamiliar to me, from 

 the brush a little to my right. I started up the slope so as to be in more open 

 ground and get a better view, when I caught a moment's glimpse of the author 

 of the strange note, as he flew hurriedly close along the ground to a distant bush. 

 The note and bearing of the bird reminded me more of those of a wren, and not 

 until I finally had the bird in hand did I have any idea of its identity. By hiding 

 and making squeaking noises I succeeded in attracting the bird within range, and 

 secured it. It had an insect in its bill, and so I judged there must have been a 

 nest in the vicinity. But after waiting a long time I failed to see or hear any 

 other Bluethroat, and as it was late in the day I started on my return to camp. 

 I had proceeded about a quarter of a mile when I heard that faint harsh note, 

 unmistakable after once learned, among the calls of Tree and Savannah Sparrows 

 and Yellow Wagtails, on a similar hillside. I soon obtained a good view of this 

 Bluethroat, and it, too, had an insect in its bill. It was less shy than the first 

 one. I had no doubt of a nest this time, and selecting a point of observation 

 behind a bush, waited and watched. At last I gave it up, intending to return 

 the next day. But that proved to be my last day with the birds at Cape Blos- 

 som * * *. The single specimen obtained of Cyanecula suecica is an adult 

 male in somewhat worn plumage. That this species was breeding at Cape 

 Blossom, I have no doubt, and I can easily see how I could have previously 

 entirely overlooked it, on account of its unfamiliar habits and notes. 



Others have seen birds which may have been only vagrants. Thus, 

 Nelson (1887) records a party of seven, of which one was obtained, 

 met with by Dr. Adams at St. Michael on June 5, 1851. They were 

 not seen again and the natives were said not to be familiar with them. 

 Again, Bailey (1926) found birds fairly common on Wales Mountain 

 on June 10, but none were noted after June 11, and Friedmann (1937) 

 records one from St. Lawrence Island in August. 



[Author's note: The latest information comes from Henry C. 

 Kyllingstad, of Mountain Village, Alaska, who writes to me as 

 follows: "The following may be an addition to the known range of 

 this bird. On July 11, 1943, a small bird with a nervous manner 



