October, 1922. 



The Canadian Field-Naturalist 



135 



whilst dark, are somewhat lighter than typical 

 saturatior, and are also lighter than several speci- 

 mens from southern British Columbia (V. I.)- 

 Neither are they quite pure cafer, but all show more 

 or less distinct auratus influence. One specimen 

 has the gray throat feathers tipped distinctly with 

 fawn, and small black indications in the red mus- 

 tache. In none of them is the gray of the throat 

 perfectly pure and without traces of fawn. Since 

 they are juveniles, perhaps too much stress should 

 not be laid on this slight throat veiling." 



Selasphorus rufus. RuFOUs Hummingbird. 

 Common at the time of our arrival and until July 

 5, after which time they were comparatively rare. 

 Their disappearance may have been due to the 

 fact that after the first week in July, the sallal 

 blossoms at which they had been feeding began 

 giving place to fruit, and the birds possibly migrated 

 to localities where other food was abundant. 

 Hummingbirds are frequently found dead on the 

 window sills of the settlers' homes out of which 

 they have been unable to find an exit after having 

 been enticed in by the house plants. Three speci- 

 mens, Massett, July 1-2. "Probably all juveniles." 



Empidonax difficilis. Western Flycatcher. 

 Throughout our stay, one to five birds per day 

 were observed in the more openly wooded areas. 

 Four specimens, Massett, July 24 to August 1. 



Cyanocitta stelleri carlottse. Queen Charlotte 

 Jay. Fairly common. Usually moving about in 

 family parties. Frequently seen feeding on green 

 fruit of the Skunk Cabbage which they manage to 

 remove from its stem and carry to a comfortable 

 spot on a trail, roadway or log. On one occasion a 

 Jay was observed to capture a young wood mouse. 

 The settlers sometimes use Jay flesh for trout bait. 

 Four adults and eight juveniles, Massett, June 28 

 to September 26. "These particular specimens are 

 only slightly different from some northern Van- 

 couver Island specimens, but the Dwight and 

 Bishop collections contain carlottse with strongly 

 marked subspecific characters." 



Corvus corax sinuatus. Raven. Present at all 

 points visited. Usually in what were probably 

 family parties consisting of three, four or five indi- 

 viduals. On June 24, a juvenile and an adult male 

 were taken in company. With the beginning of 

 September they evidently congregate in larger 

 flocks, as one day fourteen and another day nine- 

 teen were seen winging about the wood at the base 

 of Yakan Point. The Raven appears to get more 

 joy out of life than any other species with which I 

 am acquainted. I have seen two birds, one above 

 the other, drift out of the wood and for a quarter 

 of a mile up the beach in the face of the wind, and 

 every few yards as they drifted the lower bird, 



without apparent effort, rolled sidewise completely 

 over. At other times I have seen a bird alight on 

 the beach and make several grotesque hops over the 

 same spot before coming to rest. Adult and ju- 

 venile, Massett, July 24. 



Corvus caurinus. Crow. Common in certain 

 localities, particularly on the beaches and in the 

 adjacent woods in the vicinity of Massett and 

 Yakan Point. They feed to a considerable extent 

 on dead crabs, with which the beaches are at times 

 strewn. A nest, discovered June 28 and containing 

 three juveniles just able to fly, was situated five 

 feet from the ground in sallal growth. Juvenile, 

 Massett, June 28. "Too juvenile to identify speci- 

 fically, but included under this species on the general 

 probabilities." 



Pinicola enucleator subsp.? Pine Grosbeak. 

 Only three individuals observed. On July 5, I was 

 unable to find a wounded male first seen on the 

 beach east of Massett Reserve, and two days later 

 I failed to collect a pair observed in heavy timber 

 near Massett. 



Loxia curvirostra minor. Crossbill. Abundant. 

 Flocks of 50 or so were not infrequently observed 

 extracting seeds from the spruce cones. The song of 

 this species, usually emanating from a solitary 

 individual resting in the top of an evergreen, was 

 frequently heard throughout our stay. Three 

 specimens, Massett, June 25; Massett, July 1. 

 "13998 is mixed gold and orange plumage, the 

 former predominating; 1^999 olive with indistinct 

 yellow and orange veiling; 14000 olive; 14028 gold, 

 orange and red about equally present." 



Spinus pinus. Pine Siskin. Apparently not 

 common, as it was observed on only three occasions 

 as follows: June 25, three individuals; July 7, 

 fifteen; and July 21, two. One juvenile and two 

 adults, Massett, June 25. "The juvenile is just 

 out of the nest, indicating breeding in the vicinity." 



Jiinco hyemalis oreganus. JuNCO. Fairly com- 

 mon in the more open areas. During the last week 

 in July and thenceforth they were usually observed 

 in flocks of from 15 to 30 individuals. A juvenile 

 just able to fly was collected on July 8. Massett, 

 June 24; Massett, July 8; Massett, September 20. 



Melospiza melodia morphna. Song Sparrow. 

 Fairly common in the shrubbery contiguous to the 

 beaches. Juvenile, Massett, June 25; two speci- 

 mens, Massett, September 20. "These skins have 

 the appearance of being very large, but as the tails, 

 wings and bills do not seem to be apprecialy larger 

 than those of other morphna, this is probably due 

 to the fresh, unworn, fall plumage and to 'make up'. 

 A large series from the islands would be desirable." 



Melospiza lincolni. Lincoln Sparrow. Not 

 uncommon. Frequents the muskegs and the flats 



