56 University of California Puhlications in Zoology. [Vol. 7 



Arenaria melanocephala (Vigors). Black Turnstone. 



In common with several other species of waders, the black 

 turnstone was observed only at Three-mile Arm, Kuiu Island. 

 At this place it was abundant, nearly half of the immense flocks 

 of waders on the mud flats being composed of this species. It 

 is a very noisy bird, at least when gathered in such large com- 

 panies, the individuals keeping up a continuous, querulous 

 chatter while feeding, which swells to an excited outburst as 

 the flock takes flight. 



At this time (April 25 to ^lay 6) they were just finishing 

 the prenuptial molt, and the three specimens preserved (nos. 

 9867-9869), as well as others that were shot and not saved, all 

 show some pin-feathers on the head, neck, and breast, as well 

 as many old, brown feathers scattered over the same areas. 



Haematopus bachmani Audubon. Black Oystercatcher. 



We found the black oystercatcher only on the exposed, 

 western border of the archipelago, and it is apparently entirely 

 absent from the more sheltered inner passages and channels. 

 The record stations for the present expedition are as follows : 

 Kuiu Island, one pair ; Coronation Island, several pairs ; Warren 

 Island, several pairs; south end of Prince of Wales Island (near 

 ^lexico Point), one heard calling; Duke Island, one heard calling. 

 A pair secured at Egg Harbor, Coronation Island (nos. 9883, 

 9884). 



Dendragapus obscurus fuliginosus (Ridgway). Sooty Grouse. 



One of the interesting results of the season's work was the 

 more definite determination of the distribution of this grouse 

 in southeastern Alaska. (See text figure 2, page 3 55.) In general 

 terms it may be said to be absent from those islands lying south 

 of Sumner Straits and west of Clarence Straits, while it is 

 generally distributed over all the other islands and along the 

 mainland coast. We obtained specimens or saw birds at Kuiu, 

 Kupreanof, ]\Iitkof, Coronation, and Etolin islands, and at Boca 

 de Quadra and Thomas Bay on the mainland. It probably 

 occurs also on Revillagigcdo and Wrangell islands, though we 



