382 



NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. 



[NO. 27. 



This bird Avas first described by Swainson from a male killed near 

 the sources of the Athabaska River." ^ It was recorded by King from- 

 Fort Reliance, at the eastern end of Great Slave Lake, where it oc- 

 curred in winter.^ Ross listed it as rare in the Mackenzie River dis- 

 trict north to Fort Simpson, where it had been collected, and as win- 

 tering in the region.'' Bendire records specimens from Fort Rae. 

 Fort Providence, and Fort Chipewyan ; ^ and the Smithsonian Insti- 

 tution received it also from Fort Resolution. Bangs has recorded a 

 specimen from Red Deer, Alberta.^ Macoun states that J. M. Ma- 

 coun took a specimen at Athabaska Landing May 25, 1888, and found 

 it common on Methye Portage and between Methye Lake and Isle 

 a la Crosse during the same summer.^ J. Alden Loring collected a 

 male at Henry House October 4, 1895, and another specimen at Sul- 

 phur Prairie, about TO miles north of Jasper House, September 6, 1896. 



Picoides americanus fasciatus Baird. Banded-backed Three-toed 

 Woodpecker. 



This bird is of regular and fairly common occurrence throughout 

 the wooded portion of the region now under review. It breeds 

 through this area, but retires from the northern half during the 

 colder months, at least in severe seasons. Most of the specimens 

 from the Athabaska and Mackenzie region are plainh' referable to 

 the form characterized by Baird from specimens collected at Fort 

 Simj^son.^' There seems to be much individual variation in this form, 

 and the specimens available are not sufficient to determine the exact 

 ranges of this race and of Picoides a. dorsalis. 



In 1901 we took a female specimen on Slave River near the mouth 

 of the Peace, June 6, and another at Fort Smith, June 26. They are 

 in worn breeding plumage. 



On May 14, 1903, we first noted this bird near Sandy Creek, 

 Alberta, where we saAv two. My brother and Cary took a male near 

 Athabaska Landing, September 14. This specimen possesses some 

 of the characters of dorsalis, but is intermediate, and may be referred 

 to fasciatus. During my trip northward from Fort Rae to Great 

 Bear Lake I noted the bird but once, taking one on Lake Hardisty, 

 August 19. On Great Bear Lake I first noted it near Leith Point on 

 September 9, when I shot a male, and I took a female near Manito 

 Islands, September 14. While encamped at Fort Franklin I noted 

 the species several times, and took specimens, including both sexes, 



« Fauna Boreali-Americana, II, p. 313, 1831. 



* Narrative Journey to Arctic Ocean, I, p. 166, 1836. 



^Nat. Hist. Rev., II (second ser.), p. 277, 1862. 



^lAtQ Hist. N. A. Birds [II], p. 74, 1896. (Dated 1895, published 1896.) 



^ Auk, XVII, p. 130, 1900. 



f Cat. Canadian Birds, Part II, p. 306, 1903. 



9 Cooper's Ornithology of Calif., I, pp. 385, 386, 1870. 



