BIRDS. 131 



gravelly river bank, early in tbe morning-, dnring pleasant weather in spring and summer, and 

 falls an easy prey to the native luiuters, who watch for it in these locations. It is so (iniet and 

 retiring in the woods that it is rarely seen. I also found it at the headwaters of the Innoko River in 

 midwinter, where, however, it did not appear to be very common. It has been taken on the island of 

 Kadiak, and its range therefore extends from the islands bordering the coast of the Xorth Atlantic 

 to those in tbe North Pacific. Specimens were brought me from the headwaters of the Yukon 

 taken in autumn, and Richardson and others have traced it down the Mackenzie to the delta of 

 this river, well within the Arctic Circle. It also extends its range to Southeastern Alaska, where 

 the raw franMini might be supposed to usurp its place. Thus Hartlaub records it from Portage 

 Bay and Chilcat. The above author notes that specimens from these localities differ in nowise 

 from the bird of the northeast, and hence are true eana(lt7isis. 



My specimens also, from various points in the northern portion of the Territory, compared 

 with the series of birds from the more southern and eastern locations on the continent, show them 

 to be identical. In addition to the above records is one from Fort Kenai, on the southeastern 

 mainland shore of the Territory, where Bischoff secured a specimen in May. On Peale's River, 

 and near the delta of the Mackenzie, Richardson found these birds frequenting the marshy parts 

 of the forest. 



BoNASA UMBELLUS UMBELLOiDES (Dougl.). Gray Ruffed Grouse (Esk. Kh-iuk). 



Like the Spruce Grouse, and sharing with the latter its range in Northern Alaska, this bird is 

 found everywhere where wooded land occurs, reaching the head of Norton Sound and vicinity of 

 Bering Straits, following the belts of timber as they approach the sea in this portion of the Terri- 

 tory. It is not uncommon in the vicinity of Nulato, where it frequents the deep spruce growths, 

 and feeds exclusively upon the buds of these trees, its flesh being tainted in consequence. Dall 

 found it nesting there in May, and a set of eggs was found in a willow stump. Like tbe Spruce 

 Grouse, this bird is found wherever spruces occur, and both species range well into the Kaviak 

 Peninsula, so that they are found within a very shoi't distance of Bering Straits. It is about 

 as numerous as the Spruce Grouse, giving place, however, in the southern coast of the Territory, 

 to the closely-allied form mentioned under the next heading. 



As I had no opportunity to observe this bird T have nothing to add to the record of its habits. 

 Specimens were brought me by the fur traders from various points along the Yukon and adjoining 

 region, so that evidently it is of common occurrence throughout that portion of the country. Alll 

 the specimens of Bonasa north of Great Slave Lake, excepting the dark coast form found along,- 

 the Pacific, are referable to the gray northern form. There is cousidei'able individual variation 

 in Ruffed Grouse from any particular locality, and the races grade from one to the other in an un- 

 broken series. 



BoNASA UMBELLUS sABiNi (Dougl.). Orcgou Ruffcd Grouse. 



A few specimens of this bird have been taken about Sitka by Bischoff', and others have been 

 found in British Coluuibia, so that there is no doubt it occurs along the northwest coast as far as 

 the heavily wooded region in the vicinity of Kadiak and the adjoining mainland. The typical 

 form of this bird appears to be rather strictly limited to the Pacific slope, as Mr. Ilenshaw found 

 that birds taken east of the Cascade Mountains in Oregon were referable to subini, although 

 they were not typical of the latter form, and showed au approach to the eastern race, losing that 

 intensity of coloration which is characteristic of the northwest coast birds. 



Lagopus lagopus (Linn.). Willow Ptarmigan (Esk. A-kuih-<iilc). 



Throughout the northern portion of Alaska this bird is a resident in summer, frequenting the 

 extensive open country, and being most abundant along the barren sea-coast region of Bering Sea 

 and the Arctic. It breeds also south of the peninsula on the Shumagin Islands, whence Dr. Bean 

 obtained a female in midsummer plumage during his visit to those islands in the summer of 18S0. 

 Other records of albus in the Aleutian chain are referable to var. nel.soni or atlJtcnsis, according 

 to locality. 



