CHICAGO ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 
289 
of them went into the wooded districts of the interior, where they could 
find greater shelter and more abundant food. In midsuininer, also, they 
appeared to be scarcer on the island. I saw but very few at that season, 
compared to their numbers in the early spring. 
The change of plumage in the spring generally commences in April, 
and continues for about a month, and perhaps a little more, when it is 
ordinarily as complete as it will be ; although in the males there is always 
a considerable proportion of white feathers, every where except on the 
head and neck. In the females the change is more rapid and more com- 
plete ; I have seen some in nearly, if not quite, full summer plumage. The 
head and neck in the males are generally the tirst in the spring and the 
last in the autumn to change their color. The white is generally fully 
assunied in the fall, before the 1st of November. 
During the breeding season, the sexes exhibit a strong attachment to 
each other, and the male bird will even sacrifice his own life rather than 
desert a wounded mate ; one instance of this has come under my own 
observation. B. 
96. Lagojms rupestris Leach. (468.) Rock Grouse. This species 
is not uncommon in the Gens du Large (? RomanzofT) Mountains, north- 
west of Fort Yukon, and has been obtained at Fort Yukon by Sibbeston, 
and in the former locality by Mr. McDougal. It is not found further 
south or west, to the best of my knowledge. D. 
97. Grus canadensis Teram. (479.) Sandhill Crane. Called 
" Teltwtla'''' by the Indians, who are fond of domesticating the young. 
They eat up the vermin and insects, as well as the scraps of food about 
the camp. The young are downy until their first moult, when the red 
appears, very much as it does in the turkey poult. Occasionally they 
seem to sutler from an arrest of development, and Mr. Bannister says: 
" A young but well-grown specimen had the entire head fully covered 
with feathers." A common bird at St. Michael's and the Yukon mouth, 
but rarer in the interior; not often seen at Nulato. The eggs, obtained 
June 17th, on the Yukon River, are laid in a small depression in the 
sandy beach, without any attempt at a nest. The flesh, well cooked, is 
fair eating, but rather strong. The fibula is a favorite substitute for a 
pipe stem with the Indians and trappers. D. 
Common in the marshes of the island of St. Michael's and the adjoin- 
ing mainland. B. 
98. Ardea herodias Liim. (487.) Great Blue Heron. Rare at 
Sitka ; obtained by BischolF. D. 
99. Charadrius virginicus Borck. (503.) Golden Plover. Com- 
mon at St. Michael's. B. 
Obtained by BischolF at Sitka and Kadiak. Common at Nulato and 
all along the Yukon River, where it arrives in the latter part of May. 
37 
