Occasional Papers of the Museum of Zoology 23 



Vermivora celata celata. Orange-crowned warbler. Summer. 

 Hylocichla alicice alicice. Gray-cheeked thrush. Summer. 

 Planesticus migratorius migratorius. Eastern robin. Summer. 

 Sorex timdrensis. Tundra shrew. 

 Mustcla arcticus arcticus. Arctic weasel. 

 Evotomys dawsonl dawsoni. Dawson red-backed vole. 

 Microtus operarius endcecus. Interior vole. 

 Alces gigas. Alaska moose. 



Extensive areas of forest in interior Alaska have been burned, 

 for fires are common. Forests of both the black spruce type and 

 of the white spruce-paper birch type are destroyed by these fires, 

 and though the trees themselves are seldom burned they are 

 killed by the fire at their bases. In a burned black spruce forest 

 the dead trees may stand for many years, but the larger white 

 spruces are more easily blown down by the wind, and seemingly 

 are more apt to be partially burned. 



Following a fire in a location suitable for the development of a 

 white spruce-paper birch type of forest, the first year herbs seem 

 to take control. Of these herbs the most characteristic is the 

 fireweed, Chamanerion angustifolium. It is not known how long 

 the herbaceous stage continues, but grasses invade the area, and 

 then willows and alders; paper birch finally succeeds the alders; 

 and under the birches white spruces develop. 



Following a fire in a black spruce forest the sphagnum moss is 

 very slow to return. No burned forest of this type was studied 

 in the first year following a fire, but it is probable that there is a 

 herbaceous or fireweed stage here also. The tussock grasses of 

 the niggerhead type appear after a time, and then willows, alders, 

 blueberries, dwarf birch, and sphagnum. Ultimately, after the 

 lapse of many years, the black spruce forest will be re-established. 



The burn habitat as here considered includes all the stages 

 following a fire until the new forest begins to show its own indi- 

 viduality. , 



Cultivated-field habitat and association: 



Aulhits spinoletla rubescens. Pipit. Summer. 



