596 SPRINGTIME ON THE YUKON. 
tufts of moss which appeared above the surface of the snow, 
I found several other smaller species sunning themselves, 
unconscious of the presence of an enemy. The short-tailed 
field mice (Arvicola xanthognathus and A. Gapperi) were 
waking up to a sense of the situation and enjoying them- 
selves on the river bank wherever a projecting root or stone 
offered a shelter from the keen eyes of the numerous hawks 
whieh ever and anon sailed overhead. Another reason for 
coming abroad was, that the melting snow was making their 
underground establishments very damp and uncomfortable. 
he Canada jay, known all over the northern country by 
the less euphonious name of " whiskey jack," had already laid 
and almost hatched its eges. The goshawk and the duck- 
hawk (Astur atricapillus ‘and Falco anatum) had put their 
nests in order, and some of them had one egg as an earnest 
of what was coming. The ptarmigan (Lagopus albus) be- 
gan to show rich dark brown feathers on the head and neck 
and on the edges of the wings. Owls (Syrnium cinereum, 
Nyctea nivea, Nyctale Tengmalmi, etc.) , were abundant and 
attending to pressing domestic affairs. 
Toward the end of April I climbed a tall, dead stump, 
once a noble birch (Betula incana?), and found, in the cavity 
at the upper end, six smooth white eggs. While transferring 
them to my knapsack the head of the family came home, 
and careless of personal risk or even death, dashed wildly 
about my head, knocking off a loose cloth eap which I wore, 
and screaming with sorrow and anger. The female owl, for 
it was a hawk owl's nest (Surnia ulula), soon joined him; 
and they flew to the top of a neighboring spruce, uttering 
cries of indignation to each other. Reaching the ground I 
soon quieted them, bringing both down with a single shot, 
and thus devoted the whole family to the interests of 
science. 
~ On the third of Máy; Kurilla, my indefatigable Indian 
hunter, killed a white-cheeked brant (Bernida - leucopareia) 
and two ducks, a mallard and a golden eye (Bucephala 
