1924] Swarth: Birds and Mammals of the Skeena River Eegion 369 



Penthestes rufescens rufescens (J. K. Townsend) 

 Chestnut-backed Chickadee 

 Apparently occurs this far inland as a rare migrant in late summer. 

 On August 24 two were seen in Kispiox Valley and one (no. 42580) 

 was collected, a male in juvenal plumage. On September 23 a small 

 flock was encountered near Hazelton and one bird (no. 42581) was 

 shot, a male in first winter plumage. 



Regulus satrapa olivaceus Baird. Western Golden-crowned Kinglet 



Breeds in small numbers in the lowlands near Hazelton and more 

 abundantly in the nearby mountains. In the valley an occasional pair 

 found shelter in spruces growing about little muskegs, and some were 

 seen in a dense stand of cedar toward the base of Rocher Deboule. On 

 Nine-mile Mountain the species was rather more abundant ; by the end 

 of July flocks of old and young together appeared near our camp. 

 In Kispiox Valley, the second week in September, flocks of golden- 

 crowned kinglets were frequently encountered. Two specimens col- 

 lected, an adult male near Hazelton, June 3 (no. 42582), and a juvenile 

 male on Nine-mile Mountain, July 31 (no. 42583). 



Regulus calendula calendula (Linnaeus). Ruby-cro\vned Kinglet 



In nfanner of occurrence about the same as the golden-crowned 

 kinglet.- In the lowlands, an occasional ruby-croAvn -was heard singing 

 in spruces about the muskegs ; on Nine-mile Mountain the species was 

 a little more abundant, in spruce and hemlock forests immediately 

 below timber line. In Kispiox Valley an influx of ruby-crowned 

 kinglets began about September 1. They were not numerous, but one 

 or two could usually be found in the mixed flocks of chickadees and 

 warblers that were then traveling through the woods. Some were seen 

 up to the day of ray departure, September 26. 



Ten specimens collected (nos. 42584-42593), two adult males and 

 one adult female from Kispiox Valley in June and July, two (male 

 and female) in juvenal plumage from Nine- mile Mountain, and one 

 adult female and one male and three females in first winter plumage 

 from Kispiox Valley in September. These are indistinguishable from 

 specimens of the eastern ruby-crowned kinglet from Illinois and 

 Connecticut. They are not the paler-colored R. c. cineraceus of the 

 sierras of California. 



