126 TJ. S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 217 



The earliest records of Smith's longspur are May 28, 1948, June 4, 

 1949, June 8, 1950, May 27, 1951, May 26, 1952, May 22, 1953, and 

 June 1, 1954. We have not noted flocks of these longspurs nor any 

 grouping of them that might be related to migration, and so I think 

 that most of those in Anaktuvuk have reached the northern terminus 

 of their migration. The latest to be reported was seen on August 24, 

 1950. 



The Nunamiut consider that KaUorgosiksook, so named because of 

 the ability of Smith's longspurs to sing like several kinds of birds, 

 are common in some years and scarce in others. During 1950, it was 

 estimated that they were about a twentieth as numerous as Alaskan 

 longspurs which would rank them as about the second species in abun- 

 dance over the open wet grassy part of the tundra at the level of the 

 floor of Anaktuvuk Valley. In 1951 and 1952, the proportion observed 

 in summer was about the same. 



They did not frequent the dry places, but were often seen in wet 

 grassy places. Although they stand and fly like Alaska longspurs, 

 Smith's longspurs when feeding move through the grass with the swift 

 purposiveness of a hunting weasel, whereas the Alaska longspur has 

 a slow, stiff gait, like that of an old man. 



Examination of the testes of 10 of these longspurs between May 27 

 and June 9, 1951, showed all to be at breeding size at the time of 

 arrival. In this they were unlike the Alaska longspurs which had been 

 reported two weeks before the time all males were at breeding size. 

 Tliree male birds examined May 27 and 28, 1951, were fat. Between 

 June 1 and 9, out of seven males examined, two were designated 

 medium in respect to fatness, while five had but little fat. It seems 

 that like the Alaska longspurs the early male Smith's longspurs are 

 fat, and that during the mating and nesting season their fatness 

 diminishes. 



In four females examined between May 27 and June 1, eggs were 

 recorded at 2 mm. in length (that is, to have undergone a little 

 growth) , but on June 5, a bird contained a fully formed egg. 



The nests collected by Thomas Brower in 1949 were located on hum- 

 mocks in the grassy tundra, slightly raised above the wet or damp 

 surroundings and not concealed. They were rather bulky and were 

 constructed of grass lined with fine round grass, some caribou hair, 

 and a few ptarmigan feathers. The sets of eggs were observed for two 

 or three days before being taken and were complete in number by 

 about June 15. This places the nesting date about 10 days later than 

 that of Alaskan longspurs. A set of three eggs was first observed on 

 June 23 and on June 26, having received no addition in number, it 

 was found that the eggs were too far incubated to be preserved. 



