BIRDS. 161 



The National Museum collection possesses typical specimeus of this bird collected at Sitka aud 

 Chilcat, ou the southeastern coast of the Territory, thus showing that it ranges across the Alaskan 

 Mountains to the shore of the Pacific in Southeastern Alaska. How common and widely spread 

 it is in this region is unknown at the }>resent writing. 



CoLAPTES CAFER SATURATioR Ridgw. North Western Flicker. 



During Bischoff's visit to Sitka, at the time of the Russian American Telegrajjh Expedition, 

 numbers of these beautiful birds were taken there, and the si)ecimens are now in the collection 

 of the National Museum. Since then, however, the bird has not been secured from that 

 region. Both forms undoubtedly breed in that section, their habitat overlapping, but no inter- 

 mediate examples have been secured thus far. There is no Alaskan record of this Flicker except 

 in the limited territory named, although it is to be expected to range across the Alaskan Mountains 

 even to the headwaters of the Knskoqnim River. 



Trochilus rufus (Gmel.). Rufous Humming-bird. 



This is one of the smallest North American hummingbirds, and is also the most northerly in 

 its distribution. It is a summer resident at Sitka and beyond, thus occurring far along the coast 

 of the North Pacific. Nearly every voyager to these regions has noted with surprise the occur- 

 rence of this small and delicate bird so far beyond the usual range of its kind. From specimens 

 secured on the northwest coast it was named sitliensls by Rhatke. In spite of its small size. Low- 

 ever, it is a hardy bird, and occurs in great abundance in Oregon, Washington Territory, and Yan- 

 couver Island, arriving in latitude 47° on this coast as early as April 10, and in latitude 40° early 

 in May, returning to the south again iu September. It apparently does not winter in California, 

 where it is parti j' replaced by a resident form described some time since by Mr. Henshaw as S. alleni, 

 a form which was long considered identical with the bird found throughout the Rocky Monntain 

 region and along the northwest coast. 



The life history of this interesting visitant to the shores of the northwest is yet to be studied. 

 It moves on through California just as the spiing opens, reaching Vancouver Island liom the last 

 of March to May, and, passing up the intricate heavilj'-wooded channels among the many islands 

 of the northwest coast, it reaches the vicinity of Sitka, where Dr. Bean took a nest and eggs June 

 9. Farther to the north they nest under the shadow of the snow-capped peak of Saint Elias and 

 on the shores of the deep-cut fiords, bordered with glaciers, which fill the air with their thuudei-, 

 and are brooded over by damp fogs aud rain-laden winds — surroundings seemingly not at all in 

 keeping with these tiny visitants. 



Sayornis saya (Bonap.). Say's Phoebe. 



Several specimens of this bird were brought me from Fort Reliance by Mr. McQuesten, one a 

 male taken on May 12, and a young of the year taken on September 12. The history of this bird 

 has been pretty well worked out by the ornithologists connected w-ith the various expeditions in 

 the Rocky Mountain region, where it is one of the commonest summer residents. To the north 

 it reaches the valley of the Saskatchewan, where it was recorded by Richardson, who supposed 

 that it extended its range to about the sixtieth parallel. It gives me pleasure to record the 

 capture of two specimens on the Upper Yukon iu about latitude G6°, and one of these is a young 

 bird of the year, taken in September. The fur traders told me that the bird breeds thus far north, 

 and perhaps even beyond, within the Arctic Circle, which crosses the Yukon a short distance from 

 the locality whence came my specimens. I have nothing to add regarding its habits in the Terri- 

 tory, and cau only quote from Richardson that it arrives on the Saskatchewan early in May, and 

 that it is a late fall migrant. It has a habit of nesting about buildings in the west very much like 

 the common Phoebe of the east. At Fort Simpson, in British America, it has its young about 

 July 1. 



, CoNTOPUS BOREALis (Swaius.). Olivc-sided Flycatcher. 



The single specimen of this bird, brought me from the Lower Yukou iu latitude 63°, is the only 

 instance known of its capture iu Alaska, although ou the eastern side of the continent it has 

 S. Mis. 156 21 



