236 Brewster on Some British Columbia Birds. [" July 



Evidently the young had already become somewhat scattered. I 

 heard them again on the following day, after which they disap- 

 peared. 



The nest was left in a very foul state, the bottom being a dis- 

 gusting mass of muddy excrement, alive with wriggling worms. 

 Apparently the Flicker does not remove the excrement of its 

 young. These young, however, managed to keep very clean, 

 and appeared to be perfectly free from vermin. 



No one, apparently, has previously observed, or at least 

 reported, that the Flicker feeds its young by regurgitation. Nor 

 do I find on record anything definite or satisfactory regarding 

 the manner in which the young of the other Woodpeckers are 

 fed before they leave the nest. This would be somewhat re- 

 markable were it not that any attempt to pry into the family 

 secrets of all birds that build in holes is attended with great 

 difficulties. The difficulties can be overcome, however, by 

 the exercise of a little patience and ingenuity, and it is to be 

 hoped that some one who possesses these qualities, as well as 

 the opportunities for applying them, will give the matter close 

 attention, for it both invites and demands thorough investigation. 



ON THE OCCURRENCE OF CERTAIN BIRDS IN 

 BRITISH COLUMBIA. 



BY WILLIAM BREWSTER. 



Among some birds taken in British Columbia by Mr. Allan C. 

 Brooks, and now in my collection, are the following, several of 

 which do not appear to have been previously reported from the 

 Province just named. 



1. Falco sparverius deserticolus. Desert Sparrow Hawk. — Three 

 specimens, a male and two females, all taken at Chilliwack. 



2. Picoides americanus alascensis. Alaskan Three-toed Wood- 

 pecker. — A female Three-toed Woodpecker, labelled as having been ob- 

 tained on the "Summit of the Cascade Mountains, S miles north of 

 Mt. Baker," September 8, 1891, agrees so perfectly with descriptions of 



