27 



Arenaria interpres. Tuknstone. 



Uncommon at Homer during migration. 



Arenaria melanocephala. Black Turnstone. 

 Common at Homer during migration. 



Canachites canadensis osgoodi. Alaskan Spruce 

 Grouse. 



In all tlie timbered region visited, this grouse was found 

 more or less commonly and breeding. The birds are stupid 

 in the extreme, and during the summer seldom move when 

 approached, unless the young are very small and unable to 

 fly. At such times their actions are precisely those of the 

 domestic hen, as Avith feathers ruffled and wings and head 

 lowered they attack the intruder. The young are able to 

 fly a short distance not many days after hatching and are, 

 in addition, wonderfully protectively colored. They are 

 then entirely capable of caring for themselves when danger 

 approaches. 



As soon as the young are sufliciently strong these grouse 

 repair to the barren grounds or the more open sections where 

 berries are abundant. But with the approach of winter they 

 return to the spruce forests and subsist almost entirely upon 

 spruce needles. When the ground is covered with snow they 

 become very shy, as their color offers them no protection dur- 

 ing the whiter. 



Lagopus lagopus. Willow Ptarmigan. 



This ptarmigan assumes its protectively colored plumage 

 only during the fall. Its appearance in summer with the 

 white of the wings and bright rufous of the body renders it 

 a very conspicuous object. Indeed at this season the bird's 

 plumage is actually in strong contrast to its surroundings. 

 Furthermore its^notes are very loud ; all of which leads me to 



