94 
at all and strained their ears in the evenings in vain endeavour to hear a 
sound that might be attributed to it. Doubtless scarcity of mice had 
something to do with its absence. 
Cryptoglaux acadica Saw-whet Owl 
According to Henderson, usually fairly common, but this season 
scarcer than usual. One nest was found near Wharton lake. When first 
discovered it contained three young, but a week or so later when the party 
went to collect nest and young, there was only a single young bird, in the 
dark kirtlandi plumage, in the hollow (an old Flicker in a burnt poplar stub) 
and two decapitated and partly devoured bodies. The inference is that 
mice being scarce, the weaker made meals for the stronger. Neither 
parent was seen. The nest stub was brought in to the Museum for 
exhibition. 
Bubo virginianus Great Horned Owl 
The commonest Owl present. Ten specimens taken. Although the 
writer refers these birds to B. v. subardicus, they are not as light coloured 
either in average or extreme as is the series of breeding birds from farther 
south in the province on Red Deer river or in Saskatchewan near the 
International Boundary. 
Surnia ulula Hawk Owl 
Seen occasionally throughout the summer. A nest was located in a 
tall dead stub in the midst of a burnt muskeg slashing May 28, when it 
contained eggs just hatching. June 14 the young had left the nest, but 
were still flightless and in the nearby vicinity. Stub and young were 
collected for a museum group. 
Nydea nydea Snowy Owl 
Reported by Henderson to be an irregular winter visitor, but never 
numerous. 
Ceryle alcyon Belted Kingfisher 
Common along the waterways, breeding in the cut banks of Pembina 
river. 
Dryobates villosus Hairy Woodpecker 
Common breeder. Nine specimens taken. Of these, seven measure 
small like D . v, villosus, two are large like leucomelas , and one shows the 
lack of white spotting like monticola. Evidently there is here a very 
mixed Hairy Woodpecker population. 
Dryobates pubescens Downy Woodpecker 
Rather less numerous than the preceding, but seen almost daily. 
Picoides ardicus Arctic Three-toed Woodpecker 
Rather rare and only seen in the vicinity of spruce or muskeg. Hender- 
son reports having found two nests. 
Picoides americanus American Three-toed Woodpecker 
Henderson regards this as rather the commoner of the two Three-toed 
Woodpeckers and has found four nests. The party did not see it through 
