1908.] 



BIRDS. 



485 



Sitta canadensis Linn. Eed-breasted Xuthatch. 



This nuthatch is a fairly common inhabitant, probably in summei 

 only, north to the region of Fort Simpson. In 1901 we first noted 

 it on the Athabaska a short distance below Athabaska Landing, 

 May 6. AVe next observed it near the outlet of Athabaska Lake, 

 June 2 and 3, taking a male on the former date. We saw another 

 bird in spruce woods 25 miles below Peace River, June 13, and heard 

 the familiar notes of the species beside Slave River 50 miles below 

 Fort Smith on June 30. 



During th-e spring of 1903 we observed the Canada nuthatch but 

 twice — above Pelican Rapid. May 18, and below Poplar Point, May 

 30. While ascending the Athabaska in the fall Alfred E. Preble 

 and Merritt Gary found the species abundant along the river be- 

 tAveen Brule Rapid and La Biche River, August 18 to 29, and near 

 Athabaska Landing, September 1 to 21. They observed it also 50 

 miles south of Athabaska Landing on September 23. 



In 1904 I saw this species only at Fort Simpson. It was first 

 noted April 17, Avhen I saw two in mixed woods of poplar and spruce 

 on a ridge near Liard River, several miles south of the post. On 

 April 22, when I made another trip to the same locality, I again 

 observed a few in the same woods. 



J. Alden Loring reported several observed during the last week of 

 August, 1894, at Banff, 'Alberta, and took a male on August 31. In 

 the earlv autumn of 1895, he found the species common in the moun- 

 tains in the vicinity of Jasper House; he reported it quite common 

 during the early autumn of 1896 in the mountains and foothills be- 

 tween Jasper House and Smok}^ River. 



Macoun, from the notes of J. M. Macoun taken in 1888, states that 

 this species was " not rare between Athabasca Landing and Lesser 

 Slave River; first seen May 29th; not rare on the Clearwater River 

 up to Methye Portage." On the authority of Spreadborough, he 

 states that the species was rather common in the spruce woods at 

 Edmonton, June 12. 1897, when a nest with young was found; com- 

 mon from Edmonton to Athabaska Pass in June, 1898 ; not common 

 in the Peace River countr3\ very few seen during the season of 1903. 

 A specimen taken at Edmonton, April 29, 1897, is recorded.^ 



Penthestes atricapillus septentrionalis (Harris). Long-tailed Chick- 

 adee. 



The familiar black-capped chickadee of the east is represented in 

 the Athabaska and Mackenzie valleys by this closely related form, 

 which is a rather common breeder throughout the Avooded portion of 

 the region. During the more severe months it withdraAvs from the 



« Cat. Canadian Birds, Part III, pp. 683, 685, 1904. 



