kokwim and Yukon rivers, and their numerous tributaries. 
Early in June . . . the first eggs are laid: by June 20 and 25 
the downy young are usually out, and when approached the female 
crouches close to the ground among her brood. When she sees it is 
impossible to escape notice she rolls and tumbles away as if mortally 
injured, and thus tries to lead one from her chicks. At the same time 
the young try to escape by running away in different directions.” 
The rock ptarmigan, in its typical form, is also a common sum¬ 
mer bird on mountain ranges all over the Territory, as is the sharp¬ 
tailed grouse; the latter, however, does not extend its range west¬ 
ward beyond the Ramparts of the Yukon, and it frequents only the 
more open parts of the country. 
Falcons, Eagles, and Owls 
Birds of prey find a congenial home in these northern forests, 
which abound in small mammals and birds upon which they may 
feed throughout the year; for when the winter’s snows bury the 
mice, lemmings, and ground-squirrels in their underground homes, the 
hardy rabbits, and the ever-present ptarmigans and snow-birds on 
the ground, and grosbeaks, jays, finches, and other winged quarry 
in the trees suffice to feed the few owls and falcons that remain, since 
most of the hawks, at least, migrate southward in autumn. 
The marsh hawk is common wherever open, swampy places at¬ 
tract it. The sharp-shin is present also, and nests in spruces along 
the rivers. The goshawk was seen by Bishop; and Nelson says it is 
a characteristic bird of the northern interior, breeding nearly to the 
Arctic Circle. The skins of these, and of some other small hawks, 
used to be highly prized among the redmen of the region for orna¬ 
mental purposes. The western redtails and the roughleg are com¬ 
monly seen, but Swainson’s hawk is rare. Bishop and Osgood con¬ 
sider the redtail the more abundant. 
Both kinds of eagles inhabit all the wooded parts of Alaska ; and 
occasionally the bald eagle remains here throughout the winter, 
when most of its race migrate to warmer regions, where streams are 
free from ice. The gray gyrfalcon is not numerous, but is resident; and 
the duck hawk is found as far north as the limit of trees, and nests 
numerously along the Yukon and other rivers, laying its eggs so 
promptly that the young are able to fly early in June. Bishop notes 
that in the neighborhood of the eastern boundary these hawks may be 
seen almost daily, and that their eyries are numerous on the ledges 
of the rocky cliffs; but where no such cliffs occur they nest in tall 
18 
