330 GEOLOGICAL SURVEV OF CANADA. 



most common winter species. I once found a male of this species 

 diligently digging a hole in a small stump in October, presumably 

 for winter quarters, (W. E. Saunders.) 



A tolerably common resident in the wooded sections of Mani- 

 toba, but is scarce in the more southern portion. (E. T. Seton.) 

 Resident at Aweme, Man. In winter it is usually found in spruce 

 woods. (Criddle.) An abundant resident species in Manitoba 

 and observed west along the G. T. P. Ry. to Edmonton, Alta. 

 {Atkinson.) Only a few specimens were seen at Indian Head, Sask., 

 in 1892; one specimen was taken at Medicine Hat, Sask., April 

 12th, 1894. Observed one, April 22nd, 1897, at Edmonton, Alta.; 

 saw another on the 29th; apparently quite rare; one seen at Crow 

 Nest pass in July; a pair seen at Peace River Landing, Atha., in 

 1903, and another pair at Fernie, B.C. in 1904. Specimens were 

 taken at Banff, Alta., in August, 1891. (Spreadborough.) 



Breeding Notes. — I have occasionally seen this bird in the 

 winter, but not so often as the hairy. It breeds later; most of 

 the nests I have seen contained fresh eggs the last week of May, 

 although once I found young birds at that date. (Rev. C. J. Young.) 

 On May 21st, 1900, I found this bird nesting abundantly in the 

 woods north of Waterloo, Ont. Almost every decayed stub or 

 broken tree contained a nest of five to six eggs. (W. Raine.) Nests 

 in trees near Ottawa, Ont. Nest always in a hole in a tree or stump, 

 composed of chips and dust. Eggs four to five, pure white. {G. R. 

 White.) All the nests found by me near Aweme, Man., were in 

 aspen woods and trees. Lays six or seven eggs of a glossy white 

 colour. (Criddle.) The entrance to the cavity in which the downy 

 woodpecker places its nest has a diameter of one inch and a quarter. 

 The cavity itself is six inches deep and the nest is made of chips. 

 The bird chooses either a stump or a tree and the elevation from 

 the ground is between one foot and twenty-five feet. I have found 

 in May and June, four, five, six and once seven eggs in the same 

 nest. (A. L. Garneau.) 



394«- Gairdner Woodpecker. 



Dryohates pubescens gairdnerii (Aud.) Ridgw. 1885. 



General west of Coast range, (Lord.) Rather common through- 

 out the coast region; breeds. (Streator.) A common resident 



