108 KXPF.DITION TO POINT BARROW, ALASKA. 



412b. HIEROPALCO GYRFALCO SACER (Porst.) Ridgv/. 

 McFARLANE's GYRFALCON (Ki'driguinh'i). 



The only hawk obtained by the expedition has been identified by Mr. Ridgway us this form, 

 and was taken at the station, where he had alighted on the Ihigstan", in the autumn of 1882. 

 Hawks were occasionally seen during both seasons, 1882 and 1883, but were always very wild and 

 difticult to approach. Occasionally they were seen eloso enough to bo recognized as Gyrfalcou^, 

 probably of the same form as the one captured. 



The natives say that they are abundant on the rivers flowing into the Arctic Ocean, where 

 they feed on young wild-fowl and ptarmigan. They say they breed "j*i'A-*H," "a long way off." 

 One man said that he had seen the nest and eggs. 



449. AQUILA CHRYS.ETUS CANADEN3IS (Lian.) Ridgw. 



GOLDEN EAGLE (TinrnlukpAk). 



We never saw this bird alive during our stay at Point Barrow, and it is only included in this 

 list because we obtained a native-made skin from some natives who went last summer to the east- 

 ward of the Colville River, where they secured the bird. 



There were one or two other skins in the two villages, where they were in great repute as talis- 

 mans or charms for securing good luck in whaling. There were also many wing and tail feathers 

 among the natives, who use them as ornaments to their fur jackets. 



474. LAGOPUS ALBUS (Gm.) Aucl. 



WILLOW PTARMIGAN (AM'tfayln). 



This species is resident but never very plentiful. Tracks were always to be seen on the. snow 

 dm ing the winter, but the birds themselves were less often seen, while they were frequently seen 

 in pairs during the breeding season, though the nest was never found. 



They were always wild and difficult of approach, so that comparatively few were obtained. 

 They were found to be quite abundant among the willow shrubs inland along the rivers, and Lieu- 

 tenant Ray found them numerous at the mouth of Meade River, May 1. 



An occasional male begins to show traces of brown feathers about the head and neck as early 

 as the first week in April, and the change is very gradual. 



The last that was seen (July 10) still showed a considerable amount of white in the plumage, 

 and it is possible that the change is never complete. The females taken all appeared more com- 

 pletely changed than the males. 



We found the meat as tasteless and insipid as other observers have found it. 



These birds in the fall were occasionally seen sitting on the broken ice along the beach. 



475. LAGOPUS RUPESTRIS (Gm.) Leach. 



ROCK PTARMIGAN (AJui'daytn). 



The Rock Ptarmigan is a much less plentiful resident than the foregoing, from which the 

 natives do not distinguish it. 



As far as we, could judge its habits are the same. One or two were obtained, one a temale, 

 which had evidently bred not far from the station, though the nest was not found. 



509. STREPSILAS INTERPRES (Linn.) niig. 

 TURNSTONE ( TuU'gua). 



This species was found to be decidedly scarce, both years, during the spring migrations and the, 

 breeding season. We occasionally saw one or two inland, but, were unable to secure any till about 

 the 10th or llth of July, at which time they appeared at Perguiak, straggling adults, who had fin- 

 ished breeding and were beginning to molt. Early in August, the young appeared in considerable 



