1908.1 BIRDS. 485 



Sitta canadensis Linn. Red-breasted Nuthatch. 



This nuthatch is a fairly common inhabitant, probably in summei 



only, north to the region of Fort Simpson. In 1901 Ave first noted 

 it on the Athabaska a short distance below Athabaska Landing, 

 May 6. We next observed it near the outlel of Athabaska Lake, 

 June 2 and 3, taking a male on the former date. We saw another 

 bird in spruce woods 25 miles below Peace River, June 13, and heard 

 the familiar notes of the species beside Slave River 50 miles below 

 Fort Smith on June 30. 



During- the spring of 1903 we observed the Canada nuthatch but 

 twice — above Pelican Rapid, May 18, and below Poplar Point. May 

 30. While ascending the Athabaska in the fall Alfred E. Preble 

 and Merritt Cary found tin 1 species abundant along the river be- 

 tween Brule Rapid and La Biche River, August is to 29, and near 

 Athabaska Landing. September 1 to 21. They observed it also 50 

 miles south of Athabaska Landing on September 23. 



In 1004 I saw this species only at Fort Simpson. It was first 

 noted April 17, when I saw two in mixed woods of poplar and spruce 

 on a ridge near Liard River, several miles south of the post. On 

 April 22, when I made another trip to the same locality, I again 

 observed a few in the same woods. 



J. Alden Loring reported several observed during the last week of 

 August, 1894, at Banff, Alberta, and took a male on August 31. In 

 the early autumn of 1895, he found the species common in the moun- 

 tains in the vicinity of Jasper House; he reported it quite common 

 during the early autumn of 1896 in the mountains and foothills be- 

 tween Jasper House and Smoky River. 



Macoun, from the notes of J. M. Ma conn taken in 1888, states that 

 this species was " not rare between Athabasca Landing and Lesser 

 Slave River; first seen May 29th; not rare on the Clearwater River 

 up to Methye Portage." On the authority of Spreadborough, he 

 states that the species was rather common in the spruce woods at 

 Edmonton, June \2. 1897, when a nest with young was found: com- 

 mon from Edmonton to Athabaska Pass in June. L898; not common 

 in the Peace River country, very few seen during the season of 1903. 

 A specimen taken at Edmonton, April 29, 1897, is recorded." 



Penthestes atricapillus septentrionalis (Harris). Long-tailed Chick- 

 adee. 

 The familiar black-capped chickadee of the east is represented in 



the Athabaska and Mackenzie valleys by this closely related form. 



which is a rather common breeder throughout the wooded portion of 



the region. During the more severe month'- it withdraw- from the 



"Cat. Canadian Birds, Pari III, pp. 683, 685, 1904. 



