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Mar., 1914 BIRDS OF SITKA AND VICINITY, SOUTHEASTERN ALASKA 81 are easily approached. I have seen one hunter come into Sitka with over a hun- dred birds. Itaems. topus baelmaani. Black Oystercatcher Fairly common on outlying rocky islands. This species is also hunted to a considerable extent, and from what I could learn, is not as abundant as formerly; Dend?agapus ohscrams fuliginosus. Sooty Grouse. While this bird could hardly be considered abundant, it is very generally distributed and was noted in the timber in many different localities, perhaps most plentifully on Kruzof Island. Small young were seen on the latter island July ?7, ?9 I2. The old birds were found to be rather tough eating, but the birds of the year were very palatable after hanging two or three days. Iagopus lagopus alexandrae. Alexander Willow Ptarmigan. Apparently much less plentiful than the next species. The only place I found this ptarmigan was at an altitude of about 3oo0 feet on the slopes of Mt. Edgecumbe, Kruzof Island. On July 3 z, z9z3, a small flock made up of this and the next species was flushed from the heather above timber line and specimens of both secured. Alex- androe was not seen on Baranof, and Merrill has never taken it, so it can not be considered plentiful in the region. Two specimens taken near Sitka by Bischoff are mentioned by Dall and Bannister (z869, p. 287). An adult male, the type of this subspecies, was secured with an immature male by F. Stephens at Bear Bay, on Peril Straits, north end of Baranof Island, August 26, z9o7 . Another adult male was taken by Mr. Stephens near Hooniah, Chichagof Island, June 25, the same year (Grinnell, z9o9, p. 204). I?gopus mapestris dixoni. Dixon Rock Ptarmigan. Fairly common on Bara- nof and Kruzof islands. I failed to find it on Chichagof, but it is said to occur there in some numbers. The type, an adult male, together with another adult, was taken by J. Dixon, near Port Frederick, Chichagof Island, July 30, ?9o7 (Grinnell, 1. c., p. 207). During the summer months these birds keep well up toward the summits of the mountain ranges, above timber line, where they feed on heather buds and berries. Owing to the difficulties in ascending these moun- tains, specimens are hard to secure at this season. They apparently move in bodies from one section of the mountains to another, and locating them is largely a matter of luck. I have been in sections of the mountains where sign less than a week old was abundant, but the most diligent search failed to locate a single bird. Whether these changes of location are due to the weather or food supply, I am unable to state. I secured specimens of this form above the Lucky Chance mine in the Great Eastern Mountains, Baranof Island, at an altitude of about 35o0 feet, August 28, ?9?2, and at a little less altitude on Mt. Edgecumbe, Kruzof Island, July 3 ?. -?9?3 . One of the birds taken in the latter locality was a fledgeling about two or three weeks old. Merrill informs me that during the winter months these ptarm- igan come down to the coast and are frequently seen in the central part of Sitka. Zenaidurs mactours msrginella. Western Mourning Dove. One record. Merrill took a male near Sitka September x4, x9x2. Cixous hn?dsonius. Marsh Hawk. I secured an immature female in the flesh which was killed by a hunter near Tenakee, Chichagof Island, September 3, ?9t3 Aooipiter velox. Sharp-shinned Hawk. Rather common in the timber every- where. Frec?uently seen among trees in the town. Astnn: atrioapillus stri?tulus. Western Goshawk. I was unable to obtain any information as to the breeding of the goshawk in this region. It is most plentiful in the v. icinity of Sitka in the fall, some years occurring in much greater num-