1912 ] Swarth: Birds and Mammals from Vancouver Island 81 



so the species may be said to breed at some points at least on the 

 west eoast of the island. Three were collected at Errington, an 

 immature male (no. 16626) on September 15, and an adult male 

 (no. 16627) and immature female (no. 16628), on September 22, 

 all that were seen here. 



These Vancouver Island hermit thrushes present an extreme 

 of dark coloration. Compared with birds from the Sitkan dis- 

 trict, Alaska, they are appreciably darker throughout, this in all 

 stages but most noticeably so when birds from the two series in 

 fresh winter plumage are compared. A juvenal female from 

 Nootka, which has almost completed the autumnal molt has the 

 upper parts dark, olivaceous brown, between sepia and bistre; 

 the upper tail coverts and rectrices, mummy brown. 



There is as much difference in coloration between these bir \s 

 and specimens of H. g. nanus from the Sitkan district, as between 

 the latter and examples of H. g. guttata from the Prince William 

 Sound region. 



Planesticus migratorius caurinus Grinnell 

 Northwestern Robin 



Robins were abundant at nearly every point visited, and 

 apparently breed throughout the region. At Parksville, during 

 the last week in April, they were, as observed by Miss Alexander 

 and Miss Kellogg, the most abundant species of bird, frequenting 

 the vicinity of the farm houses, and also the woodland. They 

 were breeding at the time, as some were seen carrying food to 

 the young. Common about Alberni and in the Beaver Creek 

 Valley. In the Golden Eagle Basin they were seen daily, but in 

 small numbers, but I found them quite numerous on the com- 

 paratively open ridges on the south side of Mount Douglas 

 (about 4000 feet). 



In the village of Friendly Cove, at Nootka Sound, robins were 

 exceedingly abundant about the houses. They were probably the 

 most abundant species of bird at this point, certainly the most 

 conspicuous. 



There were a few in the pastures about Errington early in 

 September, but after the middle of the month they increased 

 greatly in numbers. There were many wild cherry trees in the 



