274 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA. 



Very rare at Aweme, Man. One shot, October, 1906, while after 

 poultry. (Criddle.) One specimen was shot at Comox, Vancouver 

 island, October, 1894, by W. Harvey. (Kermode.) A regular, 

 though scarce, fall and spring visitor at ChilUwack, B.C. (Brooks.) 

 Throughout all Alaska, from the Aleutian islands north, both along 

 the coast and through the interior, extending from Bering strait 

 across the northern portion of British America, the present falcon is 

 the commonest bird of prey. It frequents the vicinity of cliffs and 

 rocky points about the sea coast, or the rocky ravines of the interior 

 during the breeding season, and the remainder of the year, especially 

 in the fall, it is found wandering over the country every-where that 

 food can be obtained. (Nelson.) Several specimens of this gyr- 

 falcon were obtained in the vicinity of St. Michael, where it is a 

 constant resident, with probably exceptions during protracted periods 

 of very severe weather. The natives assert that this bird breeds on 

 the high hills, either on a rocky ledge or on the moss-covered ground. 

 (Turner.) An adult female was taken at MuUer bay, Alaska. 

 (Anderson.) One specimen was collected by Elliott on St. Paul 

 island, Bering sea, and Dr. Bean shot one at sea about 60 miles 

 southeast of St. George island. (Palmer.) The only hawk obtained 

 at Point Barrow was of this variety. Hawks were seen in 1882 and 

 1883, but were always very wild and difficult to approach. (Mur- 

 doch.) Observed numerous individuals along the Kowak, Kotzebue 

 sound, Alaska, during 1899. (Grinnell.) Two specimens taken at 

 Point Barrow, Arctic sea, Alaska, September, 1897. (yVitmer Stone.) 



Breeding Notes. — ^This gyrfalcon is common in the wooded 

 country on both sides of the Anderson river. Over 20 nests were 

 secured, and with only two exceptions which were built one on a 

 ledge of rocks and the other against the side of a deep ravine, they 

 were found close to or near the top of the tallest tree of the neigh- 

 bourhood. They are similar in composition, but smaller in size 

 than those of the bald eagle; and while the number of eggs was 

 either three or four, their contents were frequently found in different 

 stages of development. The earliest date for finding a nest was 

 May loth. The eggs were quite fresh, though one taken five days 

 later contained partially formed embryos. In a few cases young 

 birds were in the same nest along with the eggs, the contents of 

 which were but little changed, and in another an egg perfectly fresh 

 was found with several ready to hatch. This falcon is supposed 



