ANAKTTJVUK PASS 51 



Seventeen pairs are known in occupation of about 10,000 square 

 miles. A gyrfalcon could cross the area in three hours flight and the 

 element of transportation would be a small obstacle to keeping the 

 pairs of the population in communication from the positions which the 

 Nunamiut views ascribe to them. It is interesting to speculate as to 

 what social bonds relate the few pairs of gyrf alcons in a population 

 which appears remarkably conservative in its total numbers and in the 

 location of its component pairs. 



Falco peregrinus anatum Bonaparte 



1 male, Anaktu- May 1, 1948 



vuk Pass, Sum- 

 mit 



1 young male, June 11, 1951 weight 590 g. 



Anaktu vuk 

 Creek 



The male American peregi-ine from Summit was taken from the 

 upper John Eiver and north of the last spruce May 1, 1948, sent to 

 George Sutton and identified by him. 



The young male was taken by Jesse Ahgook where Akvalutak 

 Creek comes out from the mountains into the Valley. While in pursuit 

 of a companion peregrine, Jesse fell and his shot gun discharged both 

 barrels so as to nearly sever the muscles of his leg anterior to the 

 femur. After two days of first-aid treatment in camp, he was taken 

 out by small plane to Bettles, and by the 10th Eescue Squadron to 

 Fairbanks, where under skilled treatment he made a recovery which 

 bids fair to extend his great usefulness as a bold and skillful hunter 

 and a gentle companion through his 9th decade. 



In Nunamiut, the name Kidgavitch Kiriat^ meaning "small hawk," 

 refers to a medium-sized swift flying and striking hawk known to 

 nest along the cliffs of the Colville but not often seen in the Valley. 

 They are occasionally seen as migrants, and judging from Nunamiut 

 accounts it is uncertain that they nest in the mountains. 



Simon Paneak related to me that along the cliffs of the Colville 

 River he had seen a peregi'ine dive at a rough-legged hawk. The latter 

 turned in the air and seized the attacker but was forced to release it 

 by the onslaught of the peregrine's mate. Hawks frequently harry 

 other hawks and even eagles, and the maneuvers are evidently serious- 

 ly intended, for there seems to be no play in the relations among the 

 species of predatory birds. In level flight ptarmigan and ducks are 

 considered able to outstrip hawks, which are therefore dependent upon 

 surprising their prey at a disadvantage or on the speed of their diyes. 



