ANAKTUVUK PASS 105 



shoot. A few days later his wife, Susie Paneak, watched several in 

 the same locality and heard their faint calls. In early March 1954, 

 while we were in camp at Kivik Creek on Hirnt Fork, Simon described 

 three kinglets which he had recently seen feeding among the alders 

 in the company of a large flock of redpolls. 



Bailey (1948) reports that Brower obtained a specimen from Cape 

 Halkett in September and that one was collected near Barrow on 

 April 30. Anderson obtained one found dead aboard ship off Cape 

 Halkett on September 24. On the arctic coast winter conditions are in 

 effect on these dates. 



Our evidence warrants inclusion of the ruby crowned kinglet among 

 the birds of Anaktuvuk. But its recorded winter range is southward 

 from Nebraska to West Virginia. Without a winter specimen I do 

 not now feel warranted in saying that it is a winter bird above the 

 arctic circle in Alaska. Until further evidence is at hand I list the 

 kinglet as a visitor at Anaktuvuk. 



Family MOTACILLIDAE: Wagtails and Pipits 



Motacilla flava tschutschensis Gmelin 



12 males June 4- Aug. 3 weight (10), 16.1- — — — — 



17.7, average 16.3 



g. 



9 females June fr-Aug. 3 weight (9), 14.0- — — — 



17.6, average 16.1 



g. 

 4 nests, 5 fresh eggs Jime 16, 17, 19, 20 -— 



My first specimen of Alaska yellow wagtail was collected at Umiat 

 on the Colville Kiver June 4, 1949, while the ground was still covered 

 with deep winter snow. This bird flew violently to expel another 

 wagtail and so seemed definitely located and committed to the protec- 

 tion of his own territory. At this date in Tuluak valley, 100 miles 

 south, the winter snow has disappeared from the open tundra and 

 the season is near a week ahead of Umiat. Wagtails were not re- 

 ported at Anaktuvuk until June 6, 1949, June 4, 1951, June 7, 1953, 

 and June 5, 1954. Bailey (1948) reports the collection of two males 

 near Wainwright May 30, 1939, and June 17, 1941. These dates and 

 my record at Umiat suggest that the wagtails when coming from Asia 

 migrate eastward in Alaska through or north of the mountains. At 

 St. Michaels they were reported by Turner (1886) to arrive about 

 June 12 and to proceed at once to nest. 



Nests were found with complete sets of fresh eggs from June 16 to 

 20. Even for the energetic wagtails to prepare their nests complete 

 with eggs in 10 days after arrival seems rather rapid progress and it 

 is possible that they arrive earlier than we have recorded. 



