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July, 1908 SUMbiER BIRDS O1?' THE UPPER SALIN'AS VAI,LEY 139 Prognesubishesperia. Western Martin. Commou. Mostly around settlements. Pipilo fuscus crissalis. California Towhee. Common. Zamelodia melanocephala. Black-headed Grosbeak. Common. Cyanospiza amcena. Lazuli Bunting. Rather common in river bottom. Petrochelidon lunifrons. Cliff Swallow. Common. Tachycineta bicolor. Tree Swallow. Common in river bottom. Tachycineta thalassina lepida. Violet-green Swallow. Very common. Riparia riparia. Bank Swallow. Common. Phainopepla nitens. Phainopepla. Not rare. Lanius ludovicianus gambeli. California Shrike. Common. Toxostoma redivivum. California Thrasher. Common. Troglodytes aedon parkmanii. Parkman Wren. Common. Sitta carolinensis aculeata. Slender-billed Nutlmtch. Common among oaks. Parus inornatus. Plain Titmouse. Common. Chameea fasciata. Pallid Wren-tit. Not rare. Psaltriparus minimus calffornicus. California Bush-tit. Common. Polioptila ceerulea obscura. Western Gnatcatcher. Abundant. Sialia mexicana occidentalis. Western Bluebird. Very common. Los Angclcs, Cahfornia. FIELD NOTES FROM ALASKA By JOSEPH DIXON (EDITORIAL NOTE.--Mr. Dixon is a member of the 1908 Alexander Alaska Expedition, which is now making zoological collections in the Prince Williams Sound region of southern Alaska. ) [-[inchinbrook Island, Prince Williams Sound, Alaska, rune 26, I9OS.--We are camped at the head of a little nnnamed bay on the northeast side of Hintbin- brook Island. There is the usual salmon creek emptying into the head of the bay. On either side of the creek there is a swamp of devil club and tall salmon berry bushes, While large spruce trees are sprinkled evenly over this swamp. These trees prove an aggravation to the collector every day as the Ruby-crowned King- lets and Crossbills flit around in the top branches of them and laugh at us. They are out of range of anything smaller than number four shot and if I did get one, the chances are nine out of ten that it would lodge on one of the thick, spreading, moss-covered branches. The other folks say that there are stacks of fox sparrows there but no one has brought in more than two of them at any one time. Varied and Hermit Thrushes are about as common as usual but the Varied Thrushes are rather wary and most of them are feeding young ones now. It has not rained for some three weeks which is a terribly long dry spell for this country. The days have been warm and often sunshiny affording a fine op- portmfity for us to dry our skins especially the larger ones. This warm weather has also brought on swarms of mosquitoes and clouds of little sand flies. The mos- quitoes have five grayish white bands around their abdomens which gives them a zebra-like appearance; but they are the most blood thirsty lot that I have ever met, for they no sooner noiselessly light on one than they begin to probe and they never stop until they reach bottom. I have had them bite thru a heavy flannel shirt and heavy wool underwear, but "duxbak" clothing is too much for their sharp bills.