kokwim and Yukon rivers, and their numerous tributaries. 

 Early in June . . . the first eggs are laid: by June 20 and 25 

 the downy young are usually out, and when approached the female 

 crouches close to the ground among her brood. When she sees it is 

 impossible to escape notice she rolls and tumbles away as if mortally 

 injured, and thus tries to lead one from her chicks. At the same time 

 the young try to escape by running away in different directions." 



The rock ptarmigan, in its typical form, is also a common sum- 

 mer bird on mountain ranges all over the Territory, as is the sharp- 

 tailed grouse ; the latter, however, does not extend its range west- 

 ward beyond the Ramparts of the Yukon, and it frequents only the 

 more open parts of the country. 



Falcons, Eagles, and Owls 



Birds of prey find a congenial home in these northern forests, 

 which abound in small mammals and birds upon which they may 

 feed throughout the year; for when the winter's snows bury the 

 mice, lemmings, and ground-squirrels in their underground homes, the 

 hardy rabbits, and the ever-present ptarmigans and snow-birds on 

 the ground, and grosbeaks, jays, finches, and other winged quarry 

 in the trees suffice to feed the few owls and falcons that remain, since 

 most of the hawks, at least, migrate southward in autumn. 



The marsh hawk is common wherever open, swampy places at- 

 tract it. The sharp-shin is present also, and nests in spruces along 

 the rivers. The goshawk was seen by Bishop ; and Nelson says it is 

 a characteristic bird of the northern interior, breeding nearly to the 

 Arctic Circle. The skins of these, and of some other small hawks, 

 used to be highly prized among the redmen of the region for orna- 

 mental purposes. The western redtails and the roughleg are com- 

 monly seen, but Swainson's hawk is rare. Bishop and Osgood con- 

 sider the redtail the more abundant. 



Both kinds of eagles inhabit all the wooded parts of Alaska ; and 

 occasionally the bald eagle remains here throughout the winter, 

 when most of its race migrate to warmer regions, where streams are 

 free from ice. The gray gyrfalcon is not numerous, but is resident ; and 

 the duck hawk is found as far north as the limit of trees, and nests 

 numerously along the Yukon and other rivers, laying its eggs so 

 promptly that the young are able to fly early in June. Bishop notes 

 that in the neighborhood of the eastern boundary these hawks may be 

 seen almost daily, and that their eyries are numerous on the ledges 

 of the rocky cliflfs ; but where no such cliffs occur they nest in tall 



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