Mar., 1914 BIRDS OF SITKA AND VICINITY, SOUTHEASTERN ALASKA 85 Bischoff found the species abundant at Sitka. It may possibly have been more plentiful in Bischoff's time. At any rate it can not be considered abundant, nor even common, at the present time. 07anoeitta .?telleri .?telleri. Steller Jay. Common resident. Most plentiful along the shores and in clearings in the timber. 0orvu.? eor?x prineipalis. Northern Raven. Very common and generally dis- tributed throughout the region. Plentiful in the streets of Sitka and on the near- by beaches, feeding on refuse aud carrion. They were also noted on the tops of the mountain ranges where they were frequently seen playing on the snow banks and glaciers. They would dig holes in the snow and, lying down in them, would scratch the snow over their backs with bill and wings, the coolness secured in this way evidently affording them. great enjoyment. They frequently follow the bald eagles when the latter are hunting, probably in hopes of securing a share of the prey. On one occasion I had killed a deer and left it for a couple of hours. On my return the eyes and part of the intestines had been picked out by the ravens. 1 was never able to find the nest of this species nor could I find anyone who had seen one. They certainly breed in large numbers somewhere in the region but probably some little distance from Sitka. The raven is very fond of clanis, abalones, sea .urchins and other shell fish, which are secured from the rocks at low tide. The shells are frequently found high up on the hillsides, where they have been carried by the ravens. On one oc- casion Merrill watched a number of birds standing around a hog that was digging clams from the mud. As fast as the clams were brought to the surface they were appropriated by the ravens. The raven heads the list of birds deemed sacred by the Indians. Among oth- ers are the owl, woodpecker and kingfisher. These are often seen in grotesque figures on the totem poles. Corvus eaurinus. Northwestern ,Crow. Abundant on the islands and along the beaches. Nests from which the young had emerged were notedon St. Lazaria and Biorka islands. During the nesting season this Crow feeds to a great extent on the eggs and young of sea birds. In the fall after the young are raised anti the sea birds are through nesting, they gather in large flocks along the beaches at low tide, feeding on shell fish and crustaceans, and when the tide is in, scratching among the drift kelp along the shore. Nucifraga columbiana. Clarke Nutcracker. Single specimen secured by Bis-- choff at Sitka (Dall & Bannister, ?869, p. 286).
liluphagus egolinus. Rusty Blackbird. A few specimens taken at Sitka by
Bischoff (Dall & Bannister, I869, p. 285). Single specimen seen by A. E. I-Iassel- borg at Freshwater Bay, Chichagof Island, November 25, ?9o9 (Swarth, I9IIa. p. ?Pinicola enucleator fl?munula. Kadiak Pine Grosbeak. According to Mer- rill, this bird is occasionally seen throughout the year but is most plentiful in Oc- tober and November. On August 24, I9?2, while Merrill and I were walking in the swamp back of Sitka, he secured an immature bird of this species' which he presented to me. This was the only one seen at the time. August I3, I9I 3, I saw a small flock of these birds in,the tops of tall trees along Indian River. One was shot but dropped in the dense underbrush and was lost. The species was noted by the ?9o 7 Alexander Expedition on Chichagof Island (Hooniah, June 25, Port Frederick, July 25 , and Idaho Inlet, July 2o-25), and six specimens secured (Grin- nell, I9O9, p. 222). It was also taken at Sitka by Bischoff (Dall & Bannister, 1869, p. 28I).
