Sept., 1906 | BIRDS OBSERVED IN THE KRENITZIN ISLANDS, ALASKA 
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order to put up a signal; one snowflake was killed and two more seen during a 
flurry of snow. June 2 a pair killed on a snow bank at the top of a high hill. On 
Aektok August 25 two males in moult and two young birds in soft young plum- 
age were taken; young in flocks of five or six were observed along the beach. 
Calcarius lapponicus alascensis Ridgway. Alaska Uongspur. The Alaska 
longspur was fir-st noted on Akun, June 5, when one was heard. A good series 
was obtained on the sand spit in Dutch Harbor, June 19; these had the plumage 
dirty from living in a patch of burnt grass which was set on fire ten days pre- 
viously. Longspurs were abundant on Tigalda July 20, and they were often 
heard on LTnimak July 23, where one male was taken. On Tigalda again, August 
5, a fully feathered young bird was killed. Both adults and juveniles were abund- 
ant on Akun, August n. September 18, a young male was caught on deck 
about five miles off shore from Unimak. 
Passerculus sandwichensis sandwichensis (Gmelin). Sandwich Sparrow. The 
Sandwich sparrow was abundant on every one of the Krenitzin Islands, and on 
most of them it fairly swarmed, outnumbering all other land birds combined. If 
everything else in the way of specimens failed I could always fill up with “Ammo- 
d ramus.” With so many of the birds present one could hardly fail to take a few 
eggs at the right time and I secured four good sets with their nests. 
June 27 in Beaver Inlet I took a set of four eggs, incubation slight. Dissection 
of female proved that set was complete. The nest was sunk in the ground flush 
with surrounding moss. June 28 a set of five slightly incubated eggs was taken 
at English Bay. July 20, on Tigalda, five moderately incubated eggs were col- 
lected. They measured in millimeters as follows: 20.0 x 15.3; 19.6 x 15. 1; 20.4 x 
15.5; 20.0 x 15.3; 19.6 x 15. 1. The entire nest is composed of uniformly sized, dry, 
yellow grass-stems and was sunk in dry moss on the ground. The nest measures: 
Inside depth, 45.0 mm.; outside depth 70.0; inside diameter 65.0; outside diameter, 
100.0. A set of four eggs was taken on Akun, July 28. At Dutch Harbor July 
16 this sparrow was abundant. Young birds with partly grown tails were flushed 
in numbers from long grass and dense growths of lupines. These were usually 
difficult to hit as they flew but a short distance. The adults were in badly worn 
plumage. As a female taken at this date and one the day before contained eggs it 
seems probable that two broods are raised. 
The Sandwich sparrow was met with on the following islands: Unalaska, 
Amaknak, Unalga, Tigalda, Unimak, Akutan, Akun, Egg and Aektok. 
Melospiza cinerea cinerea (Gmelin). Aleutian Song Sparrow. When first 
encountered the Aleutian song sparrow is a great surprise to the ornithologist who 
is familiar only with the comparatively minute varieties found in the United States. 
In size he calls to mind a towhee, and as in his habitat there is neither salt marsh 
nor tangle of blackberry vines, his habits are different from those of the allied species 
of the genus. This big song sparrow often feeds about rocky points or may at 
times be found on the sea beach, a genuine beach comber. In numbers of in- 
dividuals this species is in the same class with the Aleutian leucosticte, these two 
combined being outnumbered by the Sandwich sparrow. The worn breeding 
plumage and the newly acquired fall dress are very distinct altho the pattern is 
always the same; the former is lighter and rather rusty in general appearance, 
while the latter is darker and decidedly more blackish brown. The species was 
noted on the following islands: Unalaska, Amaknak, Akun, Unalga, Egg, Uni- 
mak, Tigalda, Aektok and Akutan. 
A nest containing three eggs was taken at English Bay May 28. It was com- 
posed of coarse dry grass with a lining of fine soft grass and was placed in the face 
