^"iSy's^J Grinnell, SiDiuiier Birds of Sitka. \2'l 



A few of the smaller islands farthest out to sea, are inhabited 

 by water birds. St. Lazaria Island is twenty miles southwest of 

 Sitka, and is the one in this region chosen by thousands of sea- 

 birds as a breeding-ground. It is irregularly shaped, about a 

 quarter of a mile in length by three hundred yards in its broadest 

 part. The rocky sides are broken and precipitous, and are the 

 resorts of the Murres, Guillemots and Cormorants. The island 

 is mostly crowned by a heavy growth of large firs and hemlocks, 

 but around the margins sloping down to the brink of the cliffs 

 there is a rank growth of tall grasses. The Gulls and Pufiins 

 prefer these grassy banks as nesting places, while the Petrels' 

 burrows are most numerous within the timbered portion. 



My observations in the vicinity of Sitka were continuous from 

 June 8 to August 24, 1896. During that time I collected many 

 birds nearly all of which were summer residents, a few early 

 migrants being taken during the last few weeks of my stay. 

 The present list is the result of these collections and observa- 

 tions, and its value principally lies in the fact that the known 

 geographical and breeding range of several of the species is more 

 or less extended. 



No birds are included of which specimens were not taken, so 

 that the identity is correct, so far as I am aware. Pigeon Hawks, 

 presumably Falco columbarius siickleyi, were observed on several 

 occasions but were not secured. Also a Duck Hawk was noted. 

 Ptarmigan and Grouse were reported as being common, the 

 former breeding at the snow line on the mountains immediately 

 back of Sitka. All my efforts to obtain specimens, either per- 

 sonally or from the Indians, were unsuccessful. The ' Siwashes ' 

 always brought them in with their necks wrung and most of 

 the feathers plucked. 



Unless otherwise noted, all specimens were taken in the vicin- 

 ity of Sitka. 



Professor H. H. Hindshaw of the University of Washington, 

 Seattle, who was at Sitka during part of the summer, collected 

 many birds and he has kindly allowed me to use his notes. 

 Credit is duly given him for such as are included in this list. 



I here have an opportunity to express my thanks to Mr. Fred 

 Frobese of Sitka for his aid and friendship during my residence 



