182 Anthony, Stray Notes from Alaska. [April 



that the first Snowflakes made their appearance at the base of the 

 Kiguliks, and then but a pair were seen, twittering a suggestion of 

 their spring song; they became abundant but little later than the 

 Redpolls. On March 27 a Dryobates, of the size of pubescens, was 

 seen among some dwarf willows at the base of the Kiguliks and 

 was the only representative of the order that I met with at any time. 

 The same day I saw a Golden Eagle, and from inquiry of the Eski- 

 mos learned that the species is resident but not common. 



On several occasions between March 15 and May 1 Gyrfalcons 

 were seen along the bayous and sloughs, where they were doubtless 

 hunting Willow Ptarmigan. They were by no means wild but 

 maintained a discreet distance. The natives state that along the 

 Tuxsuk River, connecting Salt Lake with Grantly Harbor, "white" 

 Gyrfalcons nest quite commonly, feeding on the water fowl that 

 nest about Salt Lake. 



On May 3 a Rough-legged Hawk was noted at the hot springs, 

 and on the 23d, while en route to Nome, I found a nest that had 

 been despoiled of its three fresh eggs by a prospector the day before. 

 The nest was a bulky structure of sticks on a ledge, but quite acces- 

 sible. In the cottonwoods about the hot springs were many hawk 

 nests but up to the date of my leaving the only species seen other 

 than the above was a single Marsh Hawk on May 8. 



The Eskimos assured me that the first water fowl to arrive would 

 be the geese which, regardless of weather, would be seen within a 

 day or two of May 1. It was therefore with considerable interest 

 that I watched the open water below the hot springs. May was 

 ushered in with a thermometer 25° below zero, and as much snow 

 and ice as at any time during the winter. Some bare tundra could 

 be seen where an April thaw had promised an early spring, but 

 otherwise winter reigned supreme. It was clear that since the 

 only open water was at my station, early water fowl must sooner 

 or later report in my region. The bad weather continued, however, 

 until the 6th when the north wind abated somewhat and in the 

 A. M. three geese, of the size of Hutchins's came in from the west 

 and alighted after circling the pond. Another was reported the 

 same day as passing on to the north. No others were seen until 

 warmer weather set in, on the 10th, when migrants fairly swarmed. 

 At 11 a. M. two Whistling Swans arrived from the west, and after 



