CRUISE OF STEAMER OORWIN IN THE ARCTIC OCEAN. 77 



SWINIA FUNEREA (Linn.) Rich. & Sw. 



(61.) The American Hawk Owl. 



Like most of the wood-frequentiiig birds, this is also a rare visifaut to the sea-coast of Bering 

 Sea and Kotzebue Sound, where it occurs at intervals in the fall and sining. I secured a fine 

 specimen from the top of the flngstafl'at Saint Michael's, where it sat looldng down upon the people 

 moving about and did not siiow the slightest sign of fear, until it was brought down with a broken 

 wing. When approached it threw itself in an attitude of defense and its unquailing eye 

 commanded one's admiration for bold and undaunted courage. It occurs in about equal frequency 

 with the Horned Owl, and is well known to the Eskimo, who confound it to a certain extent with 

 Richardson's Owl. 



STIRNIA FUNEREA 0LULA (Linn.) Ridgw. 



(62.) The European HawkOwl. 



One specimen of this bird has been taken on the Alaskan coast, by L. M. Turner, near Saint 

 Michael's, in winter. It is known from the Siberian shore and throughout Northern Siberia, 

 frequenting the wooded portions of the country, with occasional stray visits to the sea-coast. Both 

 this and the preceding are totally unknown on the islands of Bering Sea, and of exceediug rarity, 

 if they occur at all, along the neighboring Arctic coast. The approach of the wooded country 

 along the Bering Sea shore aflbrd the i)recediug form more convenient opportunities to reach 

 the neighborhood of the sea, yet their visits in these places are few and very short. 



FALCONID^. HAWKS. 

 HIEROFALCO GYRFALCO CANDICAUS (Gm.) Ridgw. 



(63.) TkE White Gtrfalcon. 



The winter of 1879 I obtained a single skin of this fine Falcon from a native on the Alaskan 

 coast near Bering Strait. This is the oidy instance I have ascertained of its occurrence on our 

 coast, although Mr. Dall learned from the people at Saint Michael's, during his residence there, 

 that the bird occurred at rare intervals; and he adds thsit a little north of Bering Island one of 

 these falcons alighted in the rigging of their vessel and remained with them for some time. 



HIEROFALCO GYRFALCO SACER (Foist.) Ridgw. 



(64.) MacFarlane's Gyrfalcon. 



Although the previous variety is of such rarity on the coast of Bering Sea, the present form is 

 one of the most abundant birds of prey found in this region. A siugle specimen obtained by Elliott 

 on the Seal Islands forms the only record from that group. But Dall found it on *the Aleutian 

 chain and from the Peninsula of Alaska north to Point Barrow on tiie American shore and across 

 the straits, occupying the islands of that region and the coast of Northeastern Siberia. 



This Gyrfalcon is common and is a resident throughout the year. It nests along the clifl's 

 bordering the seashore, or in the interior occupying the bluffs along the river banks. It is most 

 numerous in autumu, when the young are found about almost every rocky cliff on the coast, and 

 it carries destruction among the migrating ptarmigan at this season. It has been claimed that 

 this Falcon has a heavy and slow flight, but after one watches the great ease with which it 

 overhauls a ptarmigan iu full flight its power of wing is readily proved. 



FALCO PEREGRINUS NJEVIUS (Gm.) Ridgw. 



(05.) The American Duck Hawk. 



A very rare species in the interior of Northern Alaska. This Hawk is of still greater rarity 

 on the coast of Bering Sea, where it is found only as an excessively rare visitant in the spring and 

 autumn. It is unknown from the islands and Siberian coast of Bering Sea and from the adjacent 

 coast of the Arctic ou either side. 



