384 



NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. 



[no. 27. 



miles north of Jasper House, September 19 and 20; on the Smoky 

 Eiver trail, between Muskeg Creek and Baptiste River, south of 

 Smoky River, September 30 ; at Jasper House in the early part of 

 October; and in the mountains 15 miles west of Henry House, October 

 12. These specimens vary considerably, some of the fall specimens, 

 which have recently assumed the winter plumage, having more white 

 on the back than others ; but I would refer them all to the same form, 

 to which, according to the ruling of the American Ornithologists' 

 Union, the name fasciatus is applicable. 



Sphyrapicus varius (Linn.). Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. 



This handsome woodpecker occurs in summer north at least to Great 

 Slave Lake and the Fort Simpson region. It is one of the com- 

 monest woodpeckers during the breeding season, when it is readily 

 detected by its characteristic notes and drumming. Strictly migra- 

 tory, it leaves in early fall and does not return until April or May. 



In 1901 numbers were seen or heard daily along the road between 

 Sturgeon River and Athabaska Landing May 3 to 5. While we 

 were descending the Athabaska, May 6 to 17, the bird was noted , 

 nearly every day, and a pair was taken near Fort Chipewyan June 

 2. At our camp on Slave River 10 miles below the Peace, one was 

 taken June 7 and another was seen June 11. The species was next 

 noted on Smith Portage June 18, when a nest containing young 

 was found in a liA^e aspen poplar, and a female was taken at Fort \ 

 Smith June 24. Single birds were afterwards noted on Slave River, j 

 100 miles below Fort Smith, July 2 ; near the mouth of the Slave 

 July 3 ; and at Fort Resolutioia July 5. 



In 1903 we first saw the bird at Edmonton May 8, noting a pair; 

 and we observed the species daily on the way to Athabaska Landing 

 May 11 to 15, taking one 50 miles north of Edmonton on May 14. 

 While descending the Athabaska, May 16 to June 2, we noted the 

 bird nearly every day, and we took a specimen at Grand Rapid ^ 

 May 22. We noted it on Rocher River June 8, and near Smith ^ 

 Landing June 10; and found it common at the latter place and on 

 Smith Portage June 12 and 13. We found it common also along 

 Slave River between Fort Smith and Fort Resolution, and observed 

 it daily June 15 to 19. While ascending the Athabaska in the fall ^ 

 my brother and Gary noted the species on August 10 at Fort McMur- 

 ray, Avhere they saw a pair with fledged young, and on August 18 

 at Brule Rapid, where they observed a female with her 3 young 

 ones. They found the species common between the latter place and ^ 

 Athabaska Landing and in that vicinity up to September 15. 



In the spring of 1904 I first heard the characteristic broken tattoo 

 of this species at Fort Simpson on May 11, and following up the 

 sound found a male among a group of tall balsam poplars, evidently 



