274 
TRANSACTIONS OF THE 
19. Surnia nlnla Bon. (62.) Hawk Owl. Iris light yellow. Tiiis 
is the commonest species of owl about Nulato. JNIany of both sexes 
were obtained. April IGth, 1867, took from the ovary of a female an egg 
ready for laying. I invariably found many tape worms in the intestines 
of this bird ; afterwards, I discovered in the mouse, which is the usual 
food of these owls, the hydatid from which these parasites were 
developed. (No. 788.) May 5th, 1868, obtained six eggs of this species, 
(with the male, No. 1517.) They were laid on the top of an old birch 
stump, fifteen feet high. The rotten wood was somewhat hollowed out 
and the eggs lay directly on it. The male attacked me while climbing 
the stump, and knocked off my cap. lie had been sitting on the nest. 
I did not see the female. The eggs are very smooth and pure white. A 
specimen obtained at Petropaulovsk, Bay of Avatcha, Kamtschatka, was 
remarkably light coloi'ed. 
I seldom saw any thing but mice in the crop of this bird, which, 
toward dusk, is very fond of flying from tip to tip of the tall spruce 
trees and apparently swinging or balancing itself, calling to its mate at 
intervals, while chasing, or being chased by him. Eaten by the old men 
and women among the Indians. Always full of parasites, both internally 
aTid externally. Also obtained by BischofF, at Sitka. D. 
20. Picus villosus JAn. (74.) Hairy Woodpecker. Three specimens 
■were obtained by BischolF, at Sitka. The occurrence of this common 
eastern species in British Columbia and Sitka, while it is not found in 
Oregon or California, is among the curiosities of the geographical distri- 
bution of American birds. 
21. Picus pnbescens Lin. (76.) Downy Woodpecker. Iris reddish- 
brown. Many of these were obtained, mostly during the winter. It 
is common from Fort Yukon to Nulato and below Nulato on the river, 
wherever there are groves of poplar or other non-resinous woods. At 
Nulato, I have never seen it, as the spruce pi'evails ; but a few miles up 
or down the river, it is common ; particularly at WooUysatuk's barrabora. 
It is a solitary bird and rather shy ; more so than I*, hirsutus. Also 
obtained by Bischott" at Sitka. 
This species, like the last, is eastern in its general distribution, but 
seems to occupy the whole of British North America and Alaska from 
ocean to ocean. D. 
22. Picoides americanus Brehm. P. hirsutus Gray. (83.) Three- 
toed Woodpecker. Iris white. Many of these obtained; principally in 
poplar or willow groves, which it prefers to the spruce. A bolder bird 
than Picus pubescens, but less lively in its motions. Common from Fort 
Yukon to the sea, wherever there are trees. 
The Indians dislike this bird. They call it (as well as the other wood- 
peckers, and the kingtisher) Tikelklala. Tliey have a legend, that this 
bird, many ages ago, in a time of famine, devoured his mate, and wiped 
