CRUISE OF STEAMER CORWIN IN THE ARCTIC OCEAK 79 



ASTUR ATRICAPILLUS CWils.) Bp. 



(71.) The American Goshawk. 



Wherever the Ptarinigau is fouud iu the vicinity of the wooded country, and frequently far 

 distant from a tree or bush, this bold, hardy bird is found as its unwelcome companion. In spring 

 the Goshawk is occasionally seen passing over Saint Michael's as the first warm, sunshiny days 

 begin. Then on, until the breeding season is over, it is seen no more. But in autumn it 

 returns to the sea-coast in considerable numbers; about equaling the Gyrfalcon in abundance 

 for a time, and like that species preying upon the migrating Ptarmigan. 



Among the many records of this bird's boldness, I possess an additional one obtained during 

 the visit of the Corwiu to Kotzebue Sound in September, 1881. I had winged a Ptarmigan on 

 the top of the famous ice clifl' of Escholtz Bay and the bird fell just beyond a small knoll from 

 me ; the instant the Ptarmigan struck the ground, I was surprised to see a Goshawk dart out 

 from a small alder patch near at hand and witii a graceful inclination pick up the bird and make 

 off with it; which so surprised me that I stood watching the performance until the hawk had 

 made good its escape. As it flew away a second bird, evidently its mate, joined it, and the two 

 passed over the hill and disappeared from view. 



By a careful comparison of specimens in the Smithsonian Institution with the considerable 

 series obtained by me in the north, I have reached the conclusion that Mr. Ridgway's variety 

 Striaiutus is nothing but the plumage assumed by the older birds, as is readily shown by several 

 specimens iu which the change made from the immature plumage to that of the adult is taking 

 place. Mr. Ridgway has examined the same series and concurs with me in this conclusion. 



ARCHIBUTEO LAGOPUS SANCTIC-JOHANNIS (Gmel.) Ridgw. 



(72.) The American Rough-legged Hawk. 



Along the entire Alaskan coast of Bering Sea and the Arctic, including at least the eastern 

 portion of the Aleutian Islands, the Rough-legged Hawk is a common resident iu summer. At 

 Ounalaska I found a pair breeding upon a cliff near the village, and secured one of the birds with 

 their eggs in May, 1877. At Saint Michael's it was found nesting upon cliffs on the border of a 

 small lake in the interior of the island, and the bird was among the most common of the migrating 

 birds of prej'. The Ouualaskan specimen is indii^tinguishable in every particular from a European 

 specimen in the Smithsonian collection, and the basis for the separation of the American bird from 

 that of Europe and the northern portions of the Old World generally is merely iu the black phase 

 assumed by the American bird in the Hudson Bay and adjoining region. In Alaska this phase is 

 unknown as far as my observation goes, and is totally unrepresented iu the considerable series of 

 specimens ob ained by myself and various others iu that region. This being the case, and various 

 Alaskan birds which I have examined being so closely related to the old world form, it api)ears 

 necessary to recognize them under the name of the old world bird. Thus limiting the geographical 

 variety, Sancti Johannis, to that portion of the continent where it actually occurs. 



The Rough-Leg occurs iu Siberia, and in China is a species with dark feathers to the thighs, 

 but very similar iu other respects to lagopun. 



AQUILA CHRYSAETUS CANADENSIS (Linn.) Ridgw 



(73.) The Golden Eagle. 



This is one of the rarest among the birds of prey on the shores of Bering Sea and the adjoining 

 portion of the Arctic Ocean. I know of no record of its occurrence on the Asiatic shore nor on 

 the islands of Bering Sea, but in the winter of 1879 I saw portions of one of these birds in a 

 native village near Bering Strait, and fragments of their skins were brought to me in one or two 

 instances from the shore of Norton Sound (hiring my residence at Saint Michael's. The quills and 

 tail of this bird, like those of the Bald Eagle, are highly prized by the Eskimo for use in their 

 religious festivals. 



