374 THEOUGH THE MACKENZIE BASIN 



394a. Gaiednee's Woodpeckee — Dryohates pubescens 

 gairdnerii (Caibanis). 



An example of this woodpecker was shot near Stuart's 

 Lake early in the season of 1889, but we failed to find any 

 of its eggs, although there can be no douibt that it breeds in 

 that and other sections of New Caledonia district, B.C. 



Bendire writes : " In general its habits, food, call notes, 

 and mode of nidification are similar to those of the downy 

 woodpecker. The eggs also resemble those of the downy 

 in every respect, but average a trifle smaller." The Domin- 

 ion collection at Ottawa possesses eleven skins, but no eggs, 

 of this woodpecker ! 



394b. Batcheldee^s Woodpeckee — Dryohates pubescens 

 homorus (Cab.). 



This species undoubtedly breeds in New Caledonia. In 

 1889 we obtained a skin at Fort St. James, but its eggs are 

 still unknown to us. The general habits, food and nesting, 

 etc., resemble those of the preceding sub-species. The eggs 

 are also similar. The Dominion collection at Ottawa con- 

 tains three skins, but no eggs, of this woodpecker ! 



400. Aectic Theee-toed Woodpeckee — Picoides arciicus 



(Swainson). 



On the 1st of June, 1885, a Chipewyan Indian brought 

 to the Fort a female skin and six eggs, the former of which 

 he claimed to have shot, and to have found the latter in a 

 hole in a dry standing spruce tree, lined in the usual wood- 

 pecker manner. Contents of eggs fresh, and both were duly 

 forwarded to Mr. Dalgleish. About ten days earlier, a pair 

 of these birds were also shot at Fort Providence and sent 

 to Dr. Bell. At Fort St. James, Stuart's Lake, on the 24th 

 of June, 1889, an Indian found a nest containing four eggs 

 in a similar position. It is believed that this species 

 breeds and also winters in the Arctic regions. My notes re- 



