83 
Drumming season seemed unusually prolonged. On July 26 slow 
drum roll came from woods beside camp and two birds found and shot, 
both proving to be males. 
Specimens: Eleven, May 19 to July 26. 
These birds notable for large amount of white on back. With exception of one female 
(June 29) they give an effect dorsally of a hairy rather than that of an American three-toed 
woodpecker. In this respect entirely different from any specimens from the Yukon, 
British Columbia, Alberta, Mackenzie, or Ontario and eastward. Were species not known 
to be sporadically variable in this character specimens might well be regarded as of a 
distinct race. Not being prepared to pass judgment on proposals of Bangs (Auk, XVII, 
132-135) that have lately received quasi-approval of Brooks and Swarth (A Distributional 
List of the Birds of B.C., Pacific Coast Avifauna No. 17,66) writer follows the A.O.U. 
Check-List and refers specimens to P. a, fascialus. 
40. Colantes auratus (Linnaeus) Flicker 
Not common, but observed several times at different places. Heard 
giving spring call at Strelna on railroad May 8. Seen or heard daily while 
en route to mount Logan. A male taken at Teal pond, June 5, probably 
prevented a nesting here as another male had been taken at same spot 
May 25. An old nest-hole at spot showed breeding of earlier years. On 
July 1 a nesting pair with brood of loud-voiced young found in a burn near 
timber-line. This nest vacant July 17, though exact date of leaving not 
learned. Species not seen after July 21. 
Specimens: Two, May 25 and June 5. 
On casual examination these two flickers seem typical auratus, but close inspection 
shows that fawn throat washed with grey and in moustache of latter specimen are a few 
very small red feathers. They thus both show slight but perceptible infusions of cafer 
blood. Although A.O.XJ. Check-List ascribes C. a. lutens to north and northwest, Ridgway 
and most other authors, including Brooks and Swarth, refer these birds to C. a. borealis. 
Writer not prepared to pass judgment on these divisions at this moment. 
41. Selasphorus rufus (Gmelin) Rufous Hummingbird 
Hummingbirds reported at McCarthy and Kennicott by four different 
observers, both in spring and late summer. Three seen by writer in Ket- 
chikan, May 4, and bird reported at Kennicott, 6 miles from McCarthy, by 
Robert Mooney, about May 10. Not seen on the Chitina, but after 
return to McCarthy August 21, Capt. and Mrs. Hubrick reported bird in 
their garden about August 1. F. A. Iverson also noted hummers at his 
ranch a few miles distant. Andrew Taylor told of seeing hummingbirds 
in White River country, tributary to Yukon, during other years. All 
these most probably above species. 
Probable that appearance of these sprites in northern valleys corre- 
sponds with blooming of red currant ( Ribes triste), just as it corresponds 
all up west coast with blooming of red-flowering currant ( Ribes sangui - 
neum). 
42. Sayomis sayus (Bonaparte) Say’s Phoebe 
Observed during spring only once, when on May 27 a bird was working 
down open valley near Barnard glacier. First specimen secured July 17, 
above timber-line, this being only one of several species that at the time made 
a migratory movement along upper country. Seen several times later, 
and a second specimen taken at river-level August 12. The last two seen 
by road near McCarthy August 21. 
Specimens: Two, July 17 and August 12. 
Though these specimens slightly purer grey on back than comparable birds from 
southern prairies of Canada, bills do not seem at all different nor does the writer see any 
other points of distinction. He would prefer not to commit himself regarding validity of 
S. s. yukonensis. If there is good distinction for it he has not material to demonstrate. 
