1912] Swarth: Birds and Mammals from Vancouver Island S3 



probably moved up into the mountains from the lower valleys. 

 They were seen together with other speeies that appeared to be 

 migrating in a similar manner — song sparrows, luteseent and 

 pileolated warblers, and robins. On the higher slopes and on the 

 summit of Mount Douglas (July 14-16), varied thrushes were 

 observed in greater numbers than was ever the case in the dark 

 canons below. 



At Nootka Sound they were decidedly scarce during our stay, 

 and the few that were seen were extremely wild. Although a 

 speeial effort was made to obtain a good series from this point, 

 because of its being the type locality of Gmelin's Tardus naevius, 

 1 was able to secure only five specimens, one adult male and four 

 young birds, three of the latter being well advanced in the post- 

 juvenal molt. 



On August 28 we moved to Errington, on the east coast. 

 There were absolutely no varied thrushes in the lowlands in the 

 vicinity at this time, but on September 6-8, which we spent on 

 Mount Arrowsmith, we observed them in considerable numbers 

 on the higher slopes of the mountains. They first appeared in 

 the lowlands on September 11, when several were seen ; from then 

 on they were seen in small numbers daily until September 20, 

 when they suddenly became abundant. 



Sixteen specimens were preserved during the summer (nos. 

 16655-16670), of which three are adult males, one an adult 

 female, and the remainder young birds, some in the juvenal 

 plumage and others variously advanced in the post-juvenal molt. 



Sialia mexicana occidentalis Townsend 

 "Western Bluebird 

 Fairly common on the east side of the island, where it was 

 met with in some numbers in the vicinity of Nanaimo and Parks- 

 ville. The western and northern limit of the species is reached 

 about at Alberni. I saw several near this town on June 9, and 

 Miss Kellogg saw a single bird at Beaver Creek, some fifteen 

 miles to the northward, on June 23, the only place on the west 

 coast where it was met with. Next observed at Errington in 

 September. They were not at all numerous then, but an occa- 

 sional small flock would appear from time to time during the 



