F 14 Provincial Museum Report. 1915 



Pallid Horned Lark (Otocoris alpestris arcticola, Oberholser). 



Twelve birds which were undoubtedly breeding were collected on the summit of Gopher 

 Dam Mountain, Wilson Creek ; all were taken between June 24th and 30th, inclusive. 

 Although there is a remarkable variation in the specimens taken, Mr. Oberholser referred 

 them all to his own subspecies. 



Canada Jay (Perisoreus canadensis, Linnaeus). 



Common everywhere. A good series of birds were collected in June at Wilson Creek, 

 and Hot Springs and Pike River in July and August. The young of first plumage were 

 obtained on July 19th at Wilson Creek. (Idt. Oberholser.) 



Northern Raven (Corvus corax principalis, Ridgway). 



None were seen or heard during the nesting season. Two birds flew past our camp at Hot 

 Springs on July 20th. They also appeared a day or so afterwards feeding on the lake-shore. 

 We failed to get a shot at them, as they took flight before we were within range of gunshot. 

 Several were seen at Pike River on August 2nd. By the middle of August we noticed them 

 flocking together. It was a common occurrence to see as many as fifty to one hundred raven 

 in a flock, flying high in the air to some distant feeding-ground. 



Rusty Blackbird (Uuphagus carolinus, Miiller). 



We did not encounter this species until the 22nd July, when we found it common at a 

 small inland lake about two miles from Hot Springs. A nice series of adults and young were 

 obtained in various phases of plumage. A few old nests were discovered near the edge of the 

 lake. They were situated in small spruce-trees, close to the trunk, from 2 to 5 feet from the 

 ground. Flocks of a dozen or more were observed in the streets of Atlin in August. 



Alaskan Pine Grosbeak (Pinocola enucleator alascensis, Ridgway). 



Although we kept a sharp look-out for these birds, we failed to find any. Mr. Dan 

 Holland, our guide, reported on seeing five at the mouth of O'Donnel on July 5th. He failed 

 to get a shot at them, as they flew to the opposite side of the river, which he was unable to 

 cross. He reports them in the winter as a common resident, where large flocks are often seen 

 in Atlin. 



Pine Siskin (Spinas pinus, Wilson). 



Common in the wooded sections. Occasional flocks were seen in June and July at Wilson 

 Creek and Hot Springs. Adults and young were taken at Pike River on August 2nd. 



Western Savanna Sparrow (Passerculus sandwicliensis alaudiuus, Bonaparte). 



Common throughout the summer. Adults were obtained in June at Wilson Creek. Two 

 pair were breeding at the edge of a small lake near Wilson Creek. Incidentally, when looking 

 for their nests, we stumbled on two of the Western tree sparrow, both of which contained five 

 fresh eggs. Young of first plumage were taken at Pike River and Atlin in August, where 

 they were quite common in the grassy country. (Idt. Oberholser.) 



Gambel's Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys gambeli, Nuttal). 



Tolerably common. We found it breeding at Wilson Creek in June. Two nests were 

 found, one on June 10th and another on June 12th, at Camp Lake. Both nests contained five 

 fresh eggs of a dull-greenish white and finely spotted with various shades of brown, one set 

 almost obscuring the ground colour; average size, 0.65 x 0.90. Young of first plumage were 

 taken at Pike River in early August. 



Golden-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia coronata, Pallas). 



We found it very scarce. An adult male was taken at Wilson Creek on June 30th and a 

 female at Hot Springs on July 2nd. Another was seen at Burdette Creek, but we failed to 

 get a shot at it. 



Western Tree Spabrow (Spizella monticola ochracea, Brewster). 



Very abundant in the mountain sections, more frequently met with about willow-swamps 

 from 3,000 to 4,500 feet. We secured a number of fine specimens at Wilson Creek in June. 

 Two sets of eggs were collected at Camp Lake, Wilson Creek, on June 11th. The birds nested 

 in a stunted willow-swamp at the margin of a small lake. Both nests were well concealed in 



