26 
THE CONDOR 
Vol. XVII 
and debris of varied description. Other murrelet remains were plentiful at 
many points in the nearby forest, and it is evident that this species is a power- 
ful agent of destruction among the birds of this kind. 
For a considerable time it was a puzzle to know how a bird of diurnal 
habits could capture one that flies by night. For example, how does the duck 
hawk or the eagle strike down the Ancient Murrelet or the Rhinoceros or Cas- 
sin Anklet? Once more the Indians are responsible for the statement that the 
first and last named species are captured only when they have been injured 
by striking against trees, and are caught in the early morning before they have 
recovered. This may sound somewhat mythical, but several of these birds were 
actually captured which had struck against unlighted tents, and it is by no 
means uncommon to hear them strike the boughs of trees during the night, 
and to find them fluttering about in the underbrush. There are good reasons 
for accepting the statement of several old men of the Haidah tribe that trees 
were relatively scarce on Forrester Island a hundred or more years ago. The 
night birds then flew without let or hindrance, but in recent times, when con- 
ditions have changed, they have not adjusted themselves to meet these condi- 
tions. 
As to the Rhinoceros Anklets, they leave their homes in the early morn- 
ing, usually at the break of day, but if the sky be thickly overcast or a heavy 
fog prevails the day’s journey may be delayed for several hours, according to 
the indians who used to capture them for food. If a man can take them under 
such circumstances it is evidently no difficult task for their older enemies to 
perform the same feat. 
3. Cryptoglaux acadica. Sawwhet Owl. Although the natives report 
that they have never seen an owl of any description on Forrester Island, a Saw- 
whet was secured within a few feet of our tent on the evening of August 9. 
4. Selasphorus rufus. Rufous Hummingbird. Throughout the summer 
this bird was in evidence in many parts of Forrester and the neighboring 
islands. One in particular, stationed near the camp, was under observation, 
but there were no evidences that it or the others nested. 
5. Empidonax difficilis difficilis. Western Flycatcher. This bird un- 
doubtedly breeds on Forrester Island as one family of fledglings, scarcely able 
to fly, was seen on one occasion. The adults are rather rare in most localities 
on the main island, though at least a dozen were seen in the neighborhood of 
the open glades on Lawrie Island, about half a mile to the north of Forrester. 
6. Corvus corax principalis. Northern Raven. The men of the Haidah 
tribe who have visited Forrester Island summer and winter for many years 
are responsible for the statement that only a single pair of ravens remains 
there throughout the winter, if this is indeed an assured fact it is certain 
that they are joined by a very considerable company in the spring. By the 
middle of May there were certainly not less than two hundred individuals, pos- 
sibly more, but as they forage widely it is difficult to make a just estimate of 
their numbers. As it was past the egg-laying season at the time of our ar- 
rival no serious attempt was made to discover their nests, and it is somewhat 
doubtful if they could have been found without the consumption of much time 
and patience, for these birds are as keen sighted as eagles and as sly as foxes. 
Several times they were seen carrying food to their young, but in every case 
they eluded pursuit, and the juveniles were not noted until late in July when 
