20 SMITHSOXIAX MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. 56 



the edges of snow banks on the hillsides and gulches. They are 

 restless, roving birds, sweeping over the mountain tops in long 

 swinging curves, or gathering in small parties on the edges of a 

 melting snow bank to feed on the small insects to be found there, 

 where they are often too shy to approach. About the rocky clififs 

 and summits, where their nests are well concealed in inaccessible 

 crevices, they are tamest ; if one stands still they will come and 

 perch on some near by rock, chirping loudly in protest, or fly 

 about from point to point with their swinging billowy flight, twit- 

 tering all the time. Mr. Wetmore found a nest on Kiska Island on 

 June 18, containing two fully fledged young ; it was in a crevice in 

 the rocks in an almost inaccessible place on the face of a clifl^. This 

 was the only nest found. 



Rosy Finches were occasionally seen on the rocky beaches, but 

 apparently were only feeding there. 



ACANTHIS LINARIA LINARIA 



Redpoll 

 A Redpoll alighted on a spruce tree near Dutch Harbor, on June 

 7, while I was sitting under it eating my supper, but it flew away 

 before I could grab my gun and I never saw it again. No others 

 were seen. 



PLECTROPHENAX NIVALIS TOWNSENDI 



Pribilof Snow Bunting 

 The first Snow Buntings were seen before we had been ashore an 

 hour on Akun Island, and from that time on they were found regu- 

 larly on all the islands visited, but were nowhere abundant or even 

 common. Though occasionally seen on the beaches or low levels, 

 they were confined almost entirely to the mountain tops and rocky 

 ravines, where they were breeding. They were generally rather shy 

 if we attempted to stalk them in the open but were easily approached 

 among the rocks. The males had a pretty little song and a variety 

 of twittering notes. They were not as active as the Rosy Finches 

 and were generally confined to restricted localities which suited their 

 needs. No nests were found, for we had very little time to devote 

 to small land birds. No young were seen on the wing during June. 



CALCARIUS LAPPONICUS ALASCENSIS 



Alaska Longspur 

 Just as the Chestnut-colored Longspur adds a charm to a drive 

 across the inland prairies, so does this beautiful little bird cheer the 

 wanderer over the cold and fog bound tundra of this inhospitable 



