248 Taverner, Birds of Red Deer River, Alia. LApril 



body else. Decking the subspecies in all the glittering panoply of 

 diagnosis, dimension, and distribution makes of it an impressive 

 spectacle, but this does not necessarily make of it a good subspecies. 



THE BIRDS OF THE RED DEER RIVER, ALBERTA. 



BY P. A. TAVERNER. 1 



[(Continued from p. 21.) 



Since the first part of this paper went to press, I am in receipt 

 of a series of notes from F. L. Farley, now of Camrose but formerly 

 of Red Deer. His observations extend from 1892 to 1906 at the 

 former locality and from then to date at the latter. They consist 

 chiefly of lists of spring arrivals but have been supplemented by 

 further details in correspondence. I have also received some 

 comments upon the list as published from J. H. Fleming. The 

 pertinent new information is embodied in the following continua- 

 tion and the Addenda at the end. 



SO. Ceryle alcyon. Belted Kingfisher. — We found the species 

 rather scarce on the river. This is probably accounted for by the cloudi- 

 ness of the water which hides the fish. One bird was seen near Camp 4 

 near Nevis and Young recorded two at Camp 11 at Little Sandhill Creek. 

 We have three birds taken by Geo. Sternberg at Morrin, August and 

 September, 1915. Horsbrough records the Kingfisher nesting at Red 

 Deer and Farley notes it occasionally at Camrose. 



81. Dryobates villosus. Hairy Woodpecker. — Not very common 

 anywhere but more seen in the upper parts of the river in the wooded 

 sections than lower down. Singles or pairs seen at camps 1, 4, 6 and 8|. 

 Specimen from Camp 1 also one from Rumsey, September 24, 1915, 

 taken by Geo. Sternberg and another from Buffalo Lake, November 9, 

 1914, by Horsbrough who reports nest at Sylvan Lake. I ascribe them 

 all by their large size to leucomelas. One specimen in Fleming's collection 

 lately examined by me overmeasures any D. v. leucomelas I have previously 

 seen, having a wing 140 mm. Our next largest specimen is but 132. 



82. Dryobates pubescens. Downy Woodpecker. — Not. seen by 

 us but both Horsbrough and Farley report it as a common resident and a 



1 Published by permission of the Geological Survey, Ottawa, Ont. 



