October, 1922. 



The Canadian Field-Naturalist 



133 



edentula known as pavonia. Attached to it was a 

 small ancylus. Both shells were broken in transit 

 from Goderich. 



In regard to Physa sayii warreniana, he says 

 that in the opinion of Dr. Frank Collins Baker of 

 the University of Illinois, warreniana is a very 

 common shell in the vicinity of Ottawa, and is the 

 proper name of the beautiful pearly physa found 

 in Brown's Inlet, west of Bank Street, and in the 



Rideau River as well as of the darker form called 

 heterostropha in the publications of the Ottawa 

 Field-Naturalists' Club. Dr. Baker has examined 

 large sets of Canadian physx submitted to him by 

 Justice Latchford, and has identified tentatively 

 nearly all of them. Many appear to be new to 

 Canada, and some may be undescribed. A pro- 

 visional list will appear in an early number of 

 The Naturalist. 



A BIOLOGICAL RECONNAISANCE ON GRAHAM ISLAND OF THE QUEEN 



CHARLOTTE GROUP 



By Clyde A. Patch. 



{Concluded from Vol. XXXVI, No. 6, p. 105) 



Arenaria melanocephala. Black Turnstone. — 

 On July 21, a specimen was collected near Massett 

 Reserve, and from July 27 on, several small flocks 

 were seen on Yakan Point. On September 5, a 

 flock composed of eight Black and three Ruddy 

 Turnstones was seen on Yakan Point. Massett, 

 July 21; Rose Spit, August 20; Tow Hill, Septem- 

 ber 5. "The Massett specimen has traces of spring 

 plumage on sides of breast and is therefore adult, 

 the other specimens are probably juveniles." 



Hxmatopus bachmani. Black Oyster-catcher. 

 —On July 5, two adults were observed on the rocky 

 shore in front of the old Indian village (Yan) which 

 s located on Massett Harbour about opposite 

 Massett Reserve. 



Dendragapus obscurus sitkensis. SooTY Grouse. 

 — Fairly common. During the moult, which takes 

 place in August and the fore part of September, 

 they frequent the roadways where the sand, which 

 has been used to some extent as road building 

 material, makes desirable dust baths. This year 

 at least large broods were not in order judging by 

 the families observed as follows: 1 female and 6 

 juveniles; 1 female and 2 juveniles; 1 female and 

 4 juveniles; 1 female and 2 juveniles. The Indians 

 sometimes catch grouse with a noose on the end of 

 a pole. Ten adult and three juvenile specimens 

 were taken from August 6 to September 21 at 

 Massett and Tow Hill. "These birds are probably 

 referable to the above form lately described by 

 Swarth (Condor, 1921, pp. 59-60). The males are 

 all dark birds, the females rather reddish. Most 

 of the males have collars of worn rusty that may 

 be more or less characteristic of Q.C.I, birds, but 

 I am not prepared to say that it is more than fading 

 common to the species at comparable plumage 

 stages or an indication of juvenility." 



Phasianus sp.? Pheasant. — Two years ago Mr. 

 Cecil Baker, living near Tow Hill, released two cocks 



and a hen. The following spring a brood was seen 

 near Silver Lake, and again last spring juveniles 

 were observed in the same locality. Mr. Chas. 

 Smith, who lives near Silver Lake, informed me 

 that this spring he saw a cock Haird dig young 

 potatoes and carry them into the wood. Possibly 

 this was a trait acquired by an individual, or 

 perhaps the potatoes taken harboured grubs. 



Columba fasciata. Band-tailed Pigeon. — On 

 July 28, a representative of this species was seen in 

 a tree about thirty yards from our camp at Tow Hill, 

 but before I could get my gun it had flown across 

 the river and by the time I reached its resting place 

 it had disappeared. None of the inhabitants, 

 some of whom are fairly well acquainted with birds, 

 had ever seen the pigeon, of which I showed them a 

 coloured picture. The nearest substantiated record 

 of this species is from Bella Coola, B.C. 



Accipiter velox. Sharp-shinned Hawk. — Not 

 uncommon. On two occasions this species was 

 seen annoying a party of Jays by darting at indivi- 

 duals whert they emerged from the dense evergreen 

 growth, and on another occasion one was seen 

 alternately pursuing and being pursued in a listless 

 manner by several Crows. Six specimens. Massett 

 and Tow Hill, July 5 to August 9. "These are all 

 juvenile birds in very dark plumage and suggest a 

 possible subspecies." 



Astur atricapillus subsp.? Goshawk. — A bird 

 of the year was secured September 12, that had 

 been annoying poultry in the vicinity of Massett. 

 Mr. Dave Rutten of Massett has a mounted speci- 

 men. Juvenile, Massett, September 12. "This is 

 a dark bird with broad, sharp and very dark stripes 

 below and on breast. The ground color is deep 

 cream, almost tawny on the breast. We have one 

 adult of unknown sex from Massett, taken in 

 February, 1920, by W. T. G. Hellier. This specimen 

 is very dark, almost black on crown and back, and 



