O 16 British Columbia. 1923 



ORNITHOLOGY. 



Notes on the Occurrence of the Plumed Egret (Mesophoyx intermedia) in British 

 Columbia, by Francis Kesmode. 



Id. the year 1915 Mr. J. H. Fleming, of Toronto, visited the Museum and drew my attention 

 to the snowy heron which we had labelled as Egretta candidissima, which had been secured by 

 the late John Fannin at Burrard Inlet some years ago. Mr. Fleming kindly sent me in January, 

 1916, a skin of Mesophoyx intermedia, the Asiatic white heron, to compare with the one in this 

 Department, as he was puzzled with regard to the exact species of our specimen. 



Up to this time our specimen of this bird had always heen acknowledged and looked upon 

 as the American form Egretta candidissima, and, not having sufficient material for comparison, 

 the matter had been left in abeyance for some time. However, in September, 1922, Mr. P. A. 

 Taverner, the Dominion Government Ornithologist, visited the Museum and wished to see the 

 specimen of snowy heron which had for so many years been rceognized as Egretta candidissima. 

 He took descriptions, measurements, and made drawings of the same to compare with the 

 specimens in the Victoria Memorial Museum, Ottawa. Mr. Fleming had loaned me a skin of 

 Mesophoyx intermedia, and in comparing with our bird they seemed identical. On October 17th, 

 1922, Mr. Taverner wrote me from Ottawa, as follows: — 



"Regarding the Egret: Whatever this bird is, it is not one of our American species. As 

 far as I can see, it is identical with Fleming's specimen, but I am not well enough up on Asiatic 

 species to identify it as such with confidence. It should be sent somewhere where they have 

 an ample foreign collection, and probably the United States National Museum would he the best 

 place. Have compared the drawings and measurements I made in Victoria and am only convinced 

 that we have nothing like it in our collection. The only question remains is just what it is and 

 whether the data attached can he absolutely depended upon. Do you think it can? I under- 

 stand that Mr. Fannin was not at his best during his later years and that errors may have crept 

 in.^P. A. Taverner." 



Mr. Allan Brooks also had correspondence with me in regard to this bird during the 

 year 1922, and so as to have the identification of the specimen settled, I sent it on to the 

 Biological Survey Department at Washington, D.C., asking Mr. W. C. Henderson, Acting-Chief, 

 to have Dr. C. H. Oberholser examine the specimen and compare it with specimens in the 

 National Museum. The reply which I received from Mr. Henderson. Acting-Chief, Bureau of 

 Biological Survey, is as follows (dated January lGth, 1923) : — 



" The three specimens that you sent some time ago for examination by Dr. Oberholser have 

 been duly identified, and are being returned to you by express collect. The names you will find 

 on the labels of the specimens. The heron turns out to be Mesophoyx intermedia in full breeding 

 plumage. If the data on this bird are authentic aDd there is no reasonable doubt of its being 

 the specimen originally taken ou Burrard Inlet, it would prove to be an interesting addition 

 to North American birds. We should be glad to have your opinion regarding this, as it is a 

 matter of considerable interest in our work on the distribution of North American birds. — 

 W. . C. Henderson." 



In regard to the dispute which seems to have arisen with reference to this bird being the 

 specimen secured by the late John Fannin at Burrard Inlet, May 29th, 1S79. I have looked up 

 all records that I can find and have found a list in his own hand-writing by John Fannin of 

 "Birds collected prior to 1SS6." In this list he records the little white heron, May 29th. 1^70. 

 Burrard Inlet. I have known this bird since September 25th, 1S90, as it was in a case in the 

 Museum when I first entered the Provincial Government service in this Department: and. 

 furthermore, I have since looked up photographs taken by Mr. Albert II. Maynard, of this city, 

 in the years 1S0O-91. and this specimen appears in the case. It has been suggested that probably 

 the late Mr. Fannin had taken and duplicated the record of this bird with a skin purchased 

 from a commission agent in this city years ago. This idea has been proved incorrect, as this 

 bird had been recorded in the late John Fannin's "Check-lists of B.C. Birds," also in Montague 

 Brown's "List of the Birds of Canada in 1SS7." In speaking to me about this bird years ago, 

 Mr. Fannin always informed me that it bad been shot at Burrard Inlet by an Indian. I have 

 also endeavoured to get in touch with people who knew Mr. Fannin at Burrard Inlet since 1862, 

 when he firsl arrived in British Columbia. Besides getting the information in the "Check- 

 lists of the Birds prior lo 1886," and the fact that Mr. A. II. Maynard told oie he remembered 



