75 
cautiously forward and then shooting out beak in a sudden lunge. Largest 
numbers of these sandpipers seen August 3. When pigeon hawks early in 
August took to haunting vicinity of camp and of Teal pond, sandpipers 
disappeared and this may have been more than a coincidence. 
Specimen: Female, July 14. 
17. Sandpiper species? 
Unidentified sandpipers seen as follows: May 16, at camp of party 
at point of Barnard glacier, a flock of thirty-five sandpipers whirled over- 
head, going down stream. Identification impossible. Again, August 9, 
while writer was skinning a ram up at edge of snowbanks at about 6,000 
feet, a lone sandpiper of large size came sweeping about the slope, calling 
in a manner suggesting Baird’s. 
18. Pluvialis dominica (Muller) Golden Plover 
August 20, three juveniles encountered on high divide between 
Calamity creek and Nizina river. This was at an estimated elevation of 
nearly 6,000 feet on open, bald, soft tundra, the cold habitat of the rock 
ptarmigan. 
19. Canachites canadensis (Linnaeus) Spruce Grouse 
Found very sparingly in spruce woods at low elevation and not noted 
above Huorick’s camp. Specimens of both sexes secured between May 13 
and July 19. A female taken May 15 was laying. On June 30 in a burn 
above camp a female with downlings encountered. “The hen made a 
sudden cackle and mounted a low perch and the young exploded in several 
directions, one barely missing my face as it whizzed by. The young were 
about the size of a sparrow.’’ In same locality a male taken July 19. 
Bird had been feeding on first of ripening alpine bearberry fruit. 
Specimens: Two males, May 13 and July 19. One female, May 15. 
In this species males appear so constant in character across continent as to be of 
comparatively slight value in subspecific determination and such identification is largely 
dependent on study of females that show stronger geographical variation. Above single 
female distinctly and extraordinarily grey. In fact shows so much ashy grey on back as to 
resemble a male. We have a small series of females from Teslin lake that by geography 
should be osgoodi , but which differ so slightly in that direction that writer hesitates to call 
them so. Bird shows the greyness called for in diagnosis of osgoodi in ultra-typical degree, 
but writer hesitates to name it as it seems more like an abnormal, very old bird assuming 
masculine characters. 
20. Lagopus lagopus (Linnaeus) Willow Ptarmigan 
Ptarmigan, supposedly this form, numerous May 8 along Copper 
River railway near coast. Many seen running on white drifts. Trainmen 
in August reported with every show of veracity that they nested there. 
No ptarmigan of any form found in region of upper Chitina, warm southern 
exposure of valley wall apparently not being cold enough habitat, though 
feathers in woods here and there showed that they had been winter residents 
and prey to hawks and owls. 
When on return, August 19, High trail above Bryson’s cabin taken 
to cross divide between the Chitina and Nizina, willow ptarmigan encoun- 
tered on first summit above timber-line, an elevation estimated at 5,000 
feet. A cold, damp locality with alpine willow thickets as shelter for birds. 
Eight or nine of these birds, apparently all adults, routed from shrubbery 
by Andrew Taylor’s dogs. 
