380 



Is^OETH AMEEICAN FAUNA. 



[NO. 27. 



were afterwards seen on Lower Slave River Juh^ 3, and on the Atlia- 

 baska, below Grand Rapid, August 20. 



In 1903 it was first observed near Sturgeon River Ma}^ 13. While 

 we were descending the Athabaska single birds were seen near Pelican 

 Rapid May 19. and near Poplar Point May 30 and 31. One was seen 

 on Rocher River June 8, one on Smith Portage June 13, and one on 

 the lower Slave June 18; a specimen was taken at Fort Resolution 

 June 22. My brother and Gary noted the species at Fort Providence 

 July 4, 6, and 7, taking one specimen on July 4. On their return 

 trip they recorded the species as follows : Fort McMurray, August 8, 

 several ; Boiler Rapid, August IT, 2 ; Brule Rapid, August 18. 1 : 

 Brule Rapid to Athabaska Landing, August 18 to 31, common: near 

 Athabaska Landing, September 3 to 15, common. During my trip 

 northward from Fort Rae I saw one near Lake Hardisty on August 

 19. During the early part of the winter I observed the bird but once 

 at Fort Simpson, taking a female on Xovember 5. 



In the spring of 1901 I first observed the species at Fort Simpson 

 on April 5, noting one drumming on a dead spruce, and I took a pair 

 in poplar woods on Ma}^ 19. During my trip down the Mackenzie 

 I saw a pair near the motith of Xahanni River June 5. On my 

 return journe}" I saw one beloAv Athabaska Landing, Alberta, Sep- 

 tember 1. A male, taken at Fort Simpson Xovember 5, 1904, has 

 recently been received from J. W. Mills. 



Ross recorded Picus villosus, referring to the present form, as 

 occurring commonh^ in the Mackenzie River region north to Fort 

 Simpson, and as wintering.'^ The bird catalogue of the Xational 

 Museum shows that skins were received from Fort Resolution. Big- 

 Island, Fort Simpson, Fort Liard, and Fort Halkett. Specimens 

 taken at Fort Liard February 28, 1869 ; at Fort Simpson December 29, 

 1860; and on Liard River September 28. probably in the same year, 

 are still in the collection, and confirm the statement of Ross that the 

 bird winters in this region, though probably it does so only in mild 

 seasons. MacFarlane. in a list recently sent me, states that eggs of 

 this species were taken at Fort Providence by Reid on May 6, 1885. 



In the summer of 1896 J. Alden Loring found this form common 

 on the route from Edmonton to Jasper House, and took a specimen on 

 Grand Cache River, TO miles north of Jasper Hotise, on September 

 4, and another near the junction of Grand Cache and Smoln^ rivers 

 on September 22. 



Dryobates pubescens nelsoni Oberh. Nelson Downy Woodpecker. 



During the season of 1901 this bird was noted only in a few local- 

 ities, though it probably occtirs throughout the region traversed. It 

 was first seen at otu^ camp 10 miles below Peace River, where S23eci- 



« Xat. Hist. Kev., II ( second ser.), p. 277, 1S62. 



