134 



The Canadian Field-Naturalist 



[Vol. XXXVI 



b: oadly washed with the same color on flanks and 

 across breast. The vermiculation is coarse and 

 suffused, and the feathers below and in front 

 broadly shaft-streaked. Both these types of color- 

 ation (juvenile and adult) are included amongst the 

 types of striatulus originally described by Ridgway. 

 This is a well-marked form in these specimens, but 

 it is evident that we will have to revise our con- 

 ceptions of the characters and range of this sub- 

 species. It is not the breeding form of southern 

 British Columbia, where it only occurs as a migrant, 

 and, judging by the number of specimens obtain- 

 able, a rare one. It is not characterized by fine 

 vermiculation but shows a general suffused darkness 

 and broad shaft-streaks. There is no evidence that 

 the species breeds on the Queen Charlottes, and 

 the nesting area is a matter of supposition." 



Buteo borealis calurusi Red-tailed Hawk. 

 Three were observed on the border of the muskegs 

 in the vicinity of Tow Hill. The stomach of the 

 specimen collected contained the remains of several 

 toads. Tow Hill, August 7. "This is a very dark 

 and richly coloured bird. However, it does not 

 approach the black phase of the Western Red-tailed. 

 Below it shows much greater increase or depth of 

 red color, rather than an extension of the black. 

 Hoyes Lloyd has a very similarly coloured bird 

 from southeastern British Columbia, and J. A. 

 Munro says he has seen several birds from the 

 Q.C.I, quite similar to it. It therefore seems to be 

 a rather constant coast type of coloration which we 

 have not seen from elsewhere." 



Halisetus leucocephalus. Bald Eagle. Two or 

 three birds were usually seen in the course of a day's 

 tramp. White-marked and brown individuals 

 were present in about equal numbers. 



Falco peregrinus pealei subsp. (?). Duck Hawk. 

 ^At least two juveniles and two adults were seen 

 about Tow Hill. Several local residents informed 

 me that they annually nest on Tow Hill's ledges. 

 I found the remains of three Cassin Auklets on 

 which they had been feeding, and on two occasions 

 saw individuals pursuing waders which in both 

 instances succeeded in eluding the pursuer. I was 

 informed that this species is not uncommon on 

 North Island. Two juveniles, Tow Hill, July 28. 

 "Though these are both rather dark birds, they are 

 separated from some eastern specimens only with 

 difficulty." 



Pandion haliseetus carolinensis. Osprey. Two 

 were observed on the north beach, one on July 27 

 near the mouth of the Skonun River and the other 

 on September 5 near Tow Hill. 



Crytoglaux acadica brooksi. Saw-whet Owl. 

 After dusk on July 5, a female and three juveniles 

 were collected in the wood bordering the dry creek 



bed just back of Massett Reserve, and on the 

 evening of July 21, three juveniles were collected 

 in the same locality. My attention was attracted 

 to these birds by the "saw-whetting" cries of the 

 young. Some of the stomachs contained plumage 

 that will probably prove to be that of some warbler, 

 though it is to be hoped that this will be found to 

 compose only a small percentage of the stomach 

 contents of these handsome little birds. One adult 

 and three juveniles, Massett, July 5; three juveniles, 

 Massett, July 21. "All but one of these are in the 

 juvenile plumage comparable to the kenicotti 

 plumage of eastern birds. They are obviously 

 to be referred to brooksi, not scotsea described by 

 Osgood as from Q.C.I. I should not be surprised 

 to find that this form is deserving of full specific 

 rank." 



Otus asio subsp.? Screech Owl. On August 7, 

 I believe I heard two individuals in the wood bor- 

 dering a muskeg near Tow Hill. 



Nyctea nyctea. Snowy Owl. I was informed by 

 Mr. Thomas Deasy, Indian Agent at Massett 

 Reserve, that he had twice seen this bird near the 

 reserve, and Mr. Cecil Baker, living near Tow Hill, 

 told me he had shot two of these birds near his place. 



Ceryle alcyon. Kingfisher. The Hiellen River, 

 Chown Brook, and the vicinities of Massett and 

 Massett Reserve were each frequented by several 

 birds. Massett, September 12. 



Dryobates villosus picoideus. Woodpecker. 

 About ten individuals were observed during our 

 stay. Four adults and four juveniles were collected 

 at Massett from June 25 to September 22 ."These 

 are all well marked picoideus in general coloration, 

 though I cannot see the barred-back character 

 called for by Osgood. Most of the white dorsal 

 feathers have centre spots which other members of 

 the species do not show, but I can hardly say that 

 this would be described as cross-barring. The red 

 crowns of the juveniles are more pronounced in the 

 male specimens. In general coloration, especially 

 below, some specimens show individual intergrada- 

 tion with harrisi, and even in the spotting of the 

 back feathers the same may be true." 



Sphyrapicus ruber. Red-breasted Sapsucker. j 

 During our stay twelve individuals were observed. " 

 On June 30 what appeared to be a family party, 

 consisting of three juveniles and two adults, was 

 collected in a stretch of wood between Massett and 

 Massett Reserve. Five specimens, Massett, July 1. 



Colaptes cafer saturatior. Flicker. Two or 

 three individuals were usually observed during 

 the course of a walk through the more open wooded 

 areas or along the margins of the muskegs. Juven- 

 ile, Massett, July 12; juvenile. Tow Hill, September 

 5; juvenile. Tow Hill, September 6. "These birds. 



