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 26 THE CONDOR Vol. XVII and debris of varied description. Other murrelet remains were plentiful at many points in the nearby forest, and it is evident that this species is a power- 'ful agent of destruction among the birds of this kind. For a considerable time it was a puzzle to know how a bird of diurnal habits could capture one that flies by night. For example, how does the duck hawk or the eagle strike down the Ancient Murrelet or the Rhinoceros or Cas- sin Auklet ? Once more the Indians are responsible for the statement that the first and last named species are captured only when they have been injured by striking against trees, and are caught in the early morning before they have recovered. This may sound somewhat mythical, but several of these birds were actually captured which had struck against unlighted tents and it is by no means uncommon to hear them strike the boughs of trees during the night, and to find them fluttering about in the underbrush. There are good reasons for accepting the statement of several old men of the Haidah tribe that trees were relatively scarce on Forrester Island a hundred or more years ago. The night birds then flew without let or hindrance, but in recent times, when con- ditions have changed, they have not adjusted themselves to meet these condi- tions. As to the Rhinoceros Auklets, they leave their homes in the early morn- ing, usually at the break of day, but if the sky be thickly overcast or a heavy fog prevails the day's journey may be delayed for several hours, according to the indians who used to capture them for food. Ifa man can take them under such circumstances it is evidently no difficult task for their older enemies to perform the same feat. 3. Cry10toglaux adica. Sawwhet Owl. Although the natives report that they have never seen an owl of any description on Forrester Island, a Saw- whet was secured within a few feet of our tent on the evening of August 9. 4. 8elaphorus rufus. Rufous Hummingbird. Throughout the summer this bird was in evidence in many parts of Forrester and the neighboring islands. One in particular, stationed near the camp, was under observation, but there were no evidences that it or the others nested. 5. Empidonax difficilis difficilis. Western Flycatcher. This bird un- doubtedly breeds on Forrester Island as one family of fledglings, scarcely able to fly, was seen on one occasion. The adults are rather rare in most localities on the main island, though at least a dozen were seen in the neighborhood of the open glades on Lawrie Island, about half a mile to the north of Forrester. 6. Corvus corax principalis. Northern Raven. The men of the Haidah tribe who have visited Forrester Island smnmer and winter for many years are responsible for the statement that only a single pair of ravens remains there throughout the winter. If this is indeed an assured fact it is certain that they are joined by a very considerable company in the spring. By the middle of May there were certainly not less than two hundred individuals, pos- sibly more, but as they forage widely it is difficult to make a just estimate of their numbers. As it was past the egg-laying season at the time of our ar- rival no serious attempt was made to discover their nests, and it is somewhat doubtful if they could have been found without the consumption of much time and patience, for these birds are as keen sighted as eagles and as sly as foxes. Several times they were seen carrying food to their young, but in every case they eluded pursuit, and the juveniles were not noted until late in July when