152 The Ottawa Naturalist. [September 



NOTES ON THE WINTER BIRDS OF THE CARIBOO 



DISTRICT. B.C. 



By Allan Brooks. 



I spent the winter of 1900-01 in the western portion of the 

 Cariboo district, and as I was in the field the whole se:ison, I had 

 ample opportunities to note the birds of both the Upper Eraser 

 river valley and the more heavily timbered mountains to the 

 eastward. 



The whole district, both in fauna and flora shows a decided 

 infusion of the Hudsonian element, but this is less marked in the 

 case of the winter birds than in the summer residents and the 

 spring- and fall migrants, many of which do not occur to the 

 southward, except perhaps as stragglers. Such species as 3ar- 

 tram's Sandpiper, Tennessee, Black poll and Magnolia Warblers, 

 and Empidonnx alnormn probably migrate east through the 

 Yellowhead pass and down the Mississippi valley. 



Many of the mammals found in the district are identical with, 

 or closely allied to those found east of the Rockies, for instance 

 Arct07nys monax and Microsotex hoyi. 



The southern range of the Moose in British Columbia will 

 approximately define the limit of the Hudsonian element. 



The season was a very poor one for winter birds. Redpolls 

 and Snowflakes, which are very abundant as a rule, were com- 

 paratively scarce, and Hawks and Owls were almost entirely 

 absent. The northern portion of Ontario— Algoma district — will 

 approximate very closely to western Cariboo both in climate and 

 physical features. 



299. Dendragapus franklin i. Franklin's Grouse. 



Abundant in suitable localities. To the northward it will probably 

 intergrade with the Canada Grouse, as many of the specimens secured 

 showed a decided infusion of Canadensis blood, the tail often being nar- 

 rowly tipped with fulvous or white. 

 3006. Bonasa umhellns umbelloides. Gray Ruffed Grouse. 



Most of the Ruffed Grouse could be referred to this form, but some 

 specimens were closer to typical unibclliis or to togatn. 

 304. Lagopus leucurus. White-tailed Ptarmigan. 



Only occurs at high altitudes. The only species ot Ptarmigan obr 

 served. 

 308. Pediceceies phnsianellus. Sharp-tailed Grouse. 



The form occurring -it Quesnelle is apparentl}' the typical northern 



species. 

 Richardson's Grouse occurs in the district both along the Fraser river 

 and at timber line in the high mountains, but not in the intervening coun- 

 try, and was not observed during the winter. 

 334. Accipiter atricapilhts. American Goshawk. 



The only hawk observed during the winter months. 



