230 U. S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 217 



appeared to be settled. The numbers increased and pairs became 

 more numerous, until by about May 24 the population of blackbirds 

 became about one fourth as numerous as the robins. Keeping near 

 the tops of the trees, they were as conspicuous as robins, but much 

 less active. On June 5 a blackbird was seen flying in hot pursuit of 

 a large owl. 



On May 22 the testes of specimens taken had reached the largest 

 size measured, and on June 5 a nest with 5 half -incubated eggs was 

 found, the first evidently laid about May 25. 



Lazarus Charlie reported that the first blackbird arrived on May 

 2 at Johnson Creek, a tributary to the southern part of the Porcupine 

 Eiver. The air distance from Old Crow is only 80 miles south by 

 east, but it is three times as far along the river. 



The winter range of this bird is so widespread that it provides no 

 suggestion as to the migratory course taken to Old Crow. 



The Indians call this bird Chilly oho. 



Family FRINGILLIDAE: Grosbeaks, Finches, Sparrows, Buntings 



Three species of Fringillidae are found in winter at Old Crow. 

 Only pine grosbeaks (Pinicola) are differentiated as a race confined 

 to Alaska, Yukon, and Mackenzie. White-winged crossbills {Leiir 

 Goptera) and hoary redpolls (Acanthis Twrnemanni exilipes) have a 

 wide North American range. The arctic Yukon population of hoary 

 redpolls is significant, however, because they have not been reported 

 in southern Yukon, and so this northern population forms the nar- 

 row connection between the numerous hoary redpolls of Alaska and 

 Mackenzie. Snow buntings have not been reported wintering in 

 Yukon, which thus separates the populations wintering in Alaska 

 and Mackenzie. In their early spring migration the arrivals at 

 Old Crow seem to come from the Alaskan wintering population. 

 One other migratory species (Galcarius) forms a race which nests 

 principally from Alaska to Mackenzie. Northwestern America is 

 thus the special range of a race of resident pine grosbeaks, a race of 

 migratory Alaska longspurs, and a population of migratory snow 

 buntings. 



Among the other migratory species of Fringillidae six races nest 

 in arctic America only from the Mackenzie westward. Only the 

 fox sparrow (Passerella) can be called an eastern American race, 

 the remainder migrating through western States and Provinces. 



It is probable that snow buntings approach Old Crow from the 

 west and fox sparrows from the east or southeast. The arctic routes 

 of the others cannot now be indicated. 



