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MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF 
to mules and horses, pitching on them if they have sore backs, and keep continually 
picking at the wound. They winter in large numbers along the coast, and on 
Vancouver Island. 
They begin nesting very early in March, build a strong nest of sticks lined with 
mud, placing it in the centre of a thick thorn bush; (eggs sent). Assemble in 
large flocks soon after nesting time. 
Cyanura stetteri .— (Swainson.) 
Steller’s Jay. Common and abundant everywhere from Vancouver Island to 
the summit of the Rocky Mountains. A few remain at Colville during the winter, 
but the greater number leave in October and November, and arrive again early in 
April. They build in a young pine tree, the nest composed of moss and small 
twigs thickly woven, and lined with deer’s hair; lay about seven eggs. 
Ectojoistes migratoria .— (Swainson.) 
Passenger Pigeon. Extends along the Boundary line from the coast to the 
summit of the Rocky Mountains. It arrives at Colville about April, and leaves 
again in October; lays two white eggs in June on the bare ground, generally on a 
sandy bank on the edge of a stream; (eggs sent). I have never seen them here in 
large flocks, perhaps twenty or thirty being the greater number seen together. 
Zenaidura carolinensis .— (Bonap.) 
Carolina Dove. This dove arrives about the same time as the pigeon, and 
has much the same range; builds a loose nest, composed of bits of dry stick, in the 
fork or on the branch of a pine tree. Lays two white eggs. Some few remained 
at Colville during the winter, but the greater part of them left in October. 
Tetrao obscurus .— (Say.) 
Dusky Grouse. This grouse figured and described by Sir John Richardson, 
E.B.A., is found on the western side of the Rocky Mountains; arrives at Vancouver 
island, at Nesqually, and along the banks of the Eraser river about the end of 
March and beginning of April. The male bird, on its first arrival, sits on the top 
of a tall pine tree, or on the summit of a rock, and announces his arrival by a kind 
of love song, a sort of booming noise repeated at short intervals, and so deceptive 
is the sound that I have often stood under the tree where the bird was and imagined 
the sound some distance away. It is extremely difficult to see this bird when you 
know he is in the tree, so much does he resemble a knob or the end of a dead 
branch. Soon after their arrival they begin to pair, but during the whole nesting 
time the male continues the booming noise. The young are a good size in August, 
but never afford much sport, as they pitch in the trees immediately after being 
flushed. 
Between the Cascades and Rocky Mountains this grouse seems to be replaced by 
if not a distinct species a very well marked variety. In size it is a trifle smaller, but 
the great mark of distinction is the entire absence of white at the end of the tail. 
Binding in some mature birds a trace of white, I hesitate as to making it a new 
species. The young nestlings, eggs, and mature male and female birds, from east 
of the Cascades, are in the British Museum, as well as others from the west of coast 
slope. In habits, periods of arrival and departure, or -perhaps “ disappearance ” 
would be better, the two species are such if they be not in every respect similar to 
each other. Where they go during the winter I cannot imagine, the Indians say they 
go to sleep in the pine trees; I do not think they migrate, but only retire into the 
very thickest pine trees, and living on the pine bracts pass the winter in the bush. 
