Q 12 Provincia Museum Report. 1917 


Some of the set are very symmetrical and pointed at each end. Others are squared off narrowed 
ends and one circular shallow pit on each flattened side, in this respect resembling hammer stones 
found in shell mounds near Victoria. 
The range of this implement is not confined to the Tsimshian country, as two similar 
specimens were collected by Dr. Newcombe at Masset, TACHE, where they had been found by 
Indians when digging up old house-sites. 
BARE ISLAND BIRD SANCTUARY. 
The Director arranged with Duncan C. Scott, Deputy Superintendent-General of Indian 
Affairs, Ottawa, to again give the Provincial Museum authority to place a guard on Bare 
Island during the nesting season of 1916. (This island is known as Indian Reserve No. 9, 
Saanich Tribe, and is situated in Haro Strait about twenty miles north-east of Victoria.) 
Mr. W. B. Anderson was again appointed warden, he being an ardent lover of nature, and 
much interested in the preservation of “ wild life.” I do not think the Government could have 
engaged a more competent person to take charge of the sanctuary. Mr. Anderson remained on 
the island from the middle of June until the end of July continuously. The Director made 
several trips to Bare Island during the nesting period, and it was very gratifying to note 
the benefit that had resulted in protecting this island for the last two seasons; the breeding 
glaucous-winged gulls (Larus glaucesceus) have about doubled in number. The pigeon guilie- 
mots (Cepphus columba) have increased, but not so great in numbers as the gulls: “and it is 
to be hoped that as the rabbits get killed off that had been turned out on the island several 
years ago,” that the guillemots will again be able to return, and take up their old nesting-places 
under the broken rocks and in the deep crevices. The violet-green cormorants (Phalacrocorar 
p. robustus) have increased in considerable numbers, as is to be noted by a visit to the high 
cliffs on the western side of the island, where these birds build their nests. The tufted puffins 
(Lunda cirrhata) do not seem to be returning, as only about four pairs were observed, they 
haying also been driven out of their deep burrows by rabbits. 
The guard was pleased to report that the Indians did not go to the island this last season 
to gather camas, also that the birds had not been disturbed during the incubation period, and 
that no other persons had been allowed to land on the island, other than those who had been 
given a special permit from the Director. 
Many thanks are due to W. FE. Ditchburn, Inspector of Indian Affairs for British Columbia, 
who gave Mr. Anderson a letter giving him protection, and a warning to any person or persons 
interfering with him in the discharging of his duties. 
REPORT ON FIELD-WORK IN OKANAGAN AND SHUSWAP DISTRICTS, 1916. 
By J. A. Munro. 
Biological inyestigations in the Okanagan and Shuswap Districts were continued during the 
season of 1916, from April 20th to October 31st. Several months were spent in the vicinity of 
Okanagan Landing, enlarging the collections and adding to the field-notes commenced last season. 
A résumé of the topographical and forest conditions of this district was published in the field 
report for 1915. Collecting trips were made to the following points :— 
NAHUN PLATEAU. 
Three camps were made on the Nahun Plateau. This plateau is on the west side of 
Okanagan Lake, twenty miles south of Okanagan Landing. The highest point is at the eastern 
end, where the altitude is 3.200 feet. Field operations were confined to this portion, where the 
fauna and flora is typically Canadian. A considerable quantity of zonal notes and data relating 
to the distribution and breeding hahits of some of the rarer species of birds were obtained. 
The principal trees are Murray pine (Pinus murrayana) and western larch (Larir 
occidentalis), with small stands of western red cedar (Thuja plicata) and clumps of Engelmann’s 
spruce (Picea engelmanni) in the bottoms. 
The yalley slopes gradually south-west to Bear Creek. As the altitude decreases zonal 
characters become less sharply defined. The Murray pine and western larch give way to yellow 
pine, which gradually becomes the prevailing tree. With the appearance of yellow pine there is 
a corresponding infusion of transitional faunal forms. 

