244 THE WILDERNESS OF THE UPPER YUKON 



short hours of sleep and the strain of the two previous 

 days. New fields of exploration were to be undertaken 

 and I resolved to return to the Pelly River as soon as the 

 skins should be dried enough for packing. It required 

 all day to prepare them, and I wanted good clear weather 

 for their drying, but was disappointed. 



August 9-12. The next three days were damp; mists, 

 showers, and clear sky alternating. The fourth was clear, 

 and a large fire near the skins dried them sufficiently 

 for packing. During those four days I occupied myself 

 with unsuccessful efforts at catching mice. 



The bird life at timber-line was limited. Along the 

 creeks I had heard the tinkling notes of the water-ousel. 

 An occasional spotted sandpiper had skipped along the 

 bars, or a harlequin duck had dodged among the rocks. 

 The golden eagle was always in sight. Ravens were 

 entirely absent, having gone to the salmon rivers to feast 

 on dead salmon. I did not hear the hoot of an owl. 

 Several pigeon-hawks were in the woods near camp, and 

 once I saw two of them following an eagle, darting at it 

 again and again. Rough-legged hawks were about the 

 high mountains. Juncos, and Alaska jays were abundant. 

 The last did not come near the camp but once, and then 

 only for a few moments. Rock ptarmigan were on the 

 mountains, but nearly all the willow ptarmigan were 

 below with their young in the brush. I did not see a 

 grouse until returning along the Lapie River. An occa- 

 sional marsh-hawk appeared there as everywhere else in 

 the Territory; chickadees were always present, usually in 

 small flocks. The Western tree sparrow and the Gambel's 



