1909] The 1907 Alexander Alaska Expedition. 203 
Aphriza virgata (Gmelin). Surf Bird. 
Hight specimens, 2 females and 6 males (Nos. 121-128), in 
full summer plumage were taken at Windfall Harbor, Admir- 
alty Island, May 1 and 12. All were secured by Littlejohn. The 
one taken May 1 was alone, but those taken May 12 were in a 
flock estimated to contain three hundred waders, fully two-thirds 
of which were of this species. Two days later the same or an- 
other flock was seen, but none thereafter. 
Arenaria melanocephala (Vigors). Black Turnstone. 
Eight adults (Nos. 106-110, 161-163) in full plumage were 
taken at Windfall Harbor, Admiralty Island, May 1, 5, and 12. 
These were secured from large, mixed flocks of various waders. 
The species was not seen after May 14. 
Dendragapus obscurus fuliginosus Ridgway. Sooty Grouse. 
The sooty grouse was found common by the expedition in 
most wooded regions visited. On Admiralty Island, at both 
Mole and Windfall harbors and about the lakes inland from the 
former point, the species was common from sea-level to upper 
timber limit. According to Dixon’s notebook, ‘‘the males sat 
up 1n moss-covered spruce trees and hooted all day (April, May, 
and June) and some were heard at all hours of the night. Many 
were very tame and would allow of close approach before at- 
tempting to fly.’’ The crops of those examined contained only 
fir leaves. A female with her brood of young was noted by 
Stephens at Red Bluff Bay, Baranof Island, June 19; and at 
Rodman Bay, August 12 to 20 a few were seen, mostly young- 
of-the-year. At Hooniah, Chichagof Island, the species was not 
uncommon; and at Glacier Bay, July 11, Dixon found a female 
with a brood of small young. ‘‘The young promptly flew up on 
the alder branches, where they sat as if glued to the limbs.”’ 
The sixteen specimens of the sooty grouse secured include 
two in natal down (Nos. 94, 152), one juvenal (No. 79), and five 
adult males and eight adult females (Nos. 131-138, 80, 141, 151, 
153, 95). In the brightest females the whole dorsal surface, the 
