180 THE CONDOR Vol. XXII 
During the winter the night and perhaps part of the day may be passed under 
the snow. The bird burrows down into the snow to a distance of about a foot and then 
makes a horizontal tunnel of from one to two feet in length, at the end of which he 
rests. In leaving the tunnel the bird rises directly through the snow and apparently 
very rarely or never follows the tunnel back to the entrance. The snow is so light 
that there is no difficulty in making the tunnel unless a crust has formed. Snow tun- 
nels are not always used at night, for sometimes, especially if there is a crust, the 
birds roost directly on top of the snow in some protected hollow. Jn roosting the flock is 
scattered over a considerable space of ground; sometimes each bird is alone, or two or 
three may roost close together. 
A flock in fall plumage was seen near Tanana, October 2, 1911. However, early 
October is a time of rapid change of color, for the birds of a flock seen October 7 were 
nearly white, having brown feathers only on the head, neck, and breast. October 22 
a flock in full winter plumage was seen. The change in color was coincident with the 
coming of the snow and its increase in depth. No Willow Ptarmigan were seen in the 
late spring of 1912 until May 9, when one in brown and white spring plumage was seen 
at Lake Minchumina. 
During the winter they were often heard to give the note kuk, repeated slowly 
when suspicious or rapidly when taking flight and sometimes continued while flying. 
However, they usually fly silently. 
Lagopus rupestris rupestris. Rock Ptarmigan. Also called Mountain Ptarmigan 
or Tomican. Numerous near Tanana, at the head of the North Fork cf the Kuskokwim, 
Mount Sischu, and near Takotna, on high hills. They are found among rocks, on sphag- 
num-covered high ridges, in blueberries and dwarf birches, in willows and alders above 
timber-line, and in open scrub black spruce forest. <A flock of five in winter plumage 
was noted March 5, 1912, in open scrub willows in the Kuskokwim valley near the head 
of the North Fork. A specimen secured from this flock had the crop filled with willow 
buds. Specimens were also taken near Tanana and on Mount Sischu. 
The beginning of the change from winter to spring plumage takes place about 
April 1. On April 13, 1912, a number of birds observed on the ridges at the head of the 
North Fork of the Kuskokwim had the necks colored a rich brown. On June 5 several 
flocks seen near the summit of Mount Sischu were not yet in full summer plumage. 
However, among the snow and bare rocks of that situation it was very difficult to see 
the birds until they flew. These flocks were seemingly composed entirely of males and 
were found only on the high wind-swept ridges and on the rocky summit. The white 
plumage of the under parts of most of these was much discolored from their habit of 
dusting themselves in the clay of wash deposits on the hillsides. 
Pedicecetes phasianellus phasianellus. Sharp-tailed Grouse. Local name: Pin-tail 
Grouse. Numerous in small to large flocks in the Tanana and Yukon valleys near Ta- 
nana in the fall and winter of 1911-1912; noted at the head of the North Fork of the 
Kuskokwim on March 25 and April 14, 1912. Specimens were secured at both of these 
localities, and by H. J. Christoffers at Fairbanks. They were found among tamaracks, 
in black spruce forest, and in patches of blueberries and dwarf birches. As shown by 
stomach examinations they feed extensively during the winter on the buds of dwarf 
birches. Hunters claim that this species has only within the last few years appeared 
in these regions, never having previously been found so far west. 
Astur atricapillus atricapillus. Goshawk. The skin of a goshawk was seen in an 
Indian cabin at Coskaket in March, 1912. The bird was said to have been killed near 
that place in the summer of 1911. 
Buteo swainsoni. Swainson Hawk. One very melanistic specimen was taken 
June 4, 1912, in burned timber on the slopes of Mount Sischu. 
Archibuteo lagopus sancti-johannis. Rough-legged Hawk. Numerous about the 
equisetum-covered mud-bars and willow-bars of the Kuskokwim River near Bethel in 
August, 1912. One specimen taken August 19, contained the bodies of four young 
shrews. Although ducks and ptarmigan were abundant on these bars they showed no 
fear of the hawks. 
Aquila chrysaétos. Golden Eagle. One was seen August 2, 1911, near the Tanana 
River above Fairbanks, and another May 18, 1912, near the head of the North Fork of 
the Kuskokwim, both in white spruce timber. 
