
Q 14 ProvincraL Museum Reporr, y 1917 



Although only slightly higher than the Okanagan, biological conditions are quite different. 
On the mountain-slopes the fauna and flora are distinctively Canadian. The principal trees 
are western white pine (Pinus monticola), Murray pine (Pinus murrayana), western larch 
(Larix occidentalis), Engelmann’s spruce (Picea engelmanni), and western hemlock (Tsuga 
heterophylla). 
Conditions in the wide bottoms show a surprising resemblance to the humid Coast belt. 
Western red cedar (Thuja plicata) is the prevailing tree, varied by clumps of giant black 
cottonwood (Populus trichocarpa). The black-headed grosbeak (Zamclodia melanocephala), a 
characteristic Coast bird, is a regular summer resident. 
Bird-life in these coniferous forests is not plentiful either in number of species or individuals. 
The following species could be called common and were undoubtedly all breeding :— 
Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularia). 
Western Redtail (Buteo borealis calurus). 
Dusky Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus saturatus). 
Pygmy Owl (Glaucidium gnoma gnoma). 
Rocky Mountain Hairy Woodpecker (Dryobates villosus monticola). 
Red-naped Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius nuchalis). 
Northern Pileated Woodpecker (Phl@otomus pileatus abieticola). 
Alaska Three-toed Woodpecker (Picoides americanus fasciatus). 
Nighthawk (Chordeiles virginianus virginianus). 
Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus). 
Western Wood Pewee (Myiochanes richardsoni richardsoni). 
Wright’s Flycatcher (Hmpidonaxr wrighti). 
Olive-sided Flycatcher (Nuttallornis borealis). . 
Magpie (Pica pica hudsonia). 
Black-headed Jay (Cyanocetta stelleri annectens). 
Pine Siskin (Spinus pinus). 
Western Chipping Sparrow (Spizella socialis arizone). 
Sooty Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia rufina). 
Spurred Towhee (Pipilo maculatus montanus ). 
Western Tanager (Piranga ludoviciana). 
Tree Swallow (Jridoprocne bicolor). 
sank Swallow (Riparia riparia). 
Red-eyed Vireo (Vireosylva olivacea). 
Calaveras Warbler (Vermivora rubricapilla gutturalis). 
Audubon’s Warbler (Dendroica auduboni auduboni). 
Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla). 
Rocky Mountain Creeper (Certhia familiaris montana). 
Rted-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis). 
Chickadee (Penthestes atricapillus atricapillus ). 
Mountain Chickadee (Penthestes gambeli gambeli). 
Willow Thrush (/Hylocichla fuscescens salicicola). 
Olive-backed Thrush (Hyloecichla ustulata sivainsoni). 
Western Robin (Planesticus migratorius propingiuus ). 
Mountain Bluebird (Sialia currucoides). 
KertLe River Disrricr. 
Through the courtesy of Mr. George P. Melrose, of the Forest Branch, the writer was enabled 
to accompany a timber-cruising party to the Kettle River Divide. 
The party left Okanagan Landing for Penticton on September 25th, and reached Myra, on 
the Kettle River Railway, at noon of the next day. Camp was made close to the railway near 
Canyon Creek. Daily trips were made into the heavy forest on the north slope of Little White 
Mountain until October 1st, when the party returned to Vernon. 
Conditions where field-work was conducted may be described as follows: <A dense coniferous 
forest, sloping gradually east to the base of Little White Mountain and at a maximum altitude 
of 5,000 feet. The principal trees are Engelmann’s spruce (Picea engelmanni), which greatly 
outnumbered the other species; balsam fir (Abies lasiocarpa) ; and Murray pine (Pinus murray- 

