Catalogue of British Columbia Birds.

by Francis Kermode.

PREFACE.

The present list is intended to include all birds which have been so far proven to occur in British Columbia.

I am fully aware of its incompleteness, and very much regret much of its lack of more definite information regarding the distribution of certain species, and with regard to that portion of the Province in north and northeastern interior, which, I have no doubt, is a valuable field for work.

Since the publication of the list of British Columbia birds in 1898 by the late John Fannin, which contained 339 species and sub-species, and with the information to hand, enables me to add to this 24.

I wish to extend my thanks especially to the following constant observers for more or less extended local lists, notes and specimens:--A. C. Brooks, Chilliwhack, Okanagan and Cariboo; Rev.

J. H. Keen, Queen Charlotte Islands and Metlakatla; Thos. Kermode, William Head Quarantine Station; E. P. Venables, Yernon; Chas. de Blois Green, Fairview and Keremeos.

I have also obtained valuable information from the check-list published by the late John Fannin.

FRANCIS KERMODE, _Curator Provincial Museum_.

_Victoria, B. C., August, 1904_.

Order PYGOPODES. Diving birds.

Family PODICIPEDIDae. Grebes.

aeCHMOPHORUS Coues.

1. Western Grebe.

_aechmophorus occidentalis_ (Lawr.).

A common winter resident along the coast of Vancouver Island and Mainland. Mr. Brooks says a few remain all winter at Okanagan Lake.

COLYMBUS Linnaeus.

2. American Red-necked Grebe. "Holboell's Grebe."

_Colymbus holboelli_ (Reinh.).

A common winter resident along the coast of Vancouver Island and Mainland. Winter resident on Okanagan Lake. (_Brooks_.) Not common at Metlakatla. (_Rev. J. H. Keen_.) Breeds on many of the lakes along the Cariboo Road above Clinton. (_Fannin_.)

3. Horned Grebe.

_Colymbus auritus_ (Linn.).

A common winter resident on the coast, and very common in the straits near Victoria, in April. Brooks reports it at Okanagan Lake all winter.

Breeds on the lakes from Okanagan to Dense Lake. (_Fannin_.) Rare at Metlakatla. (_Rev. J. H. Keen_.)

4. American Eared Grebe.

_Colymbus nigricollis californicus_ (Heerm.).

Taken at Kamloops, June, 1889. (_Spreadborough_.) Found breeding on lakes at Kamloops; Catalogue of Canadian Birds. (_Macoun_.)

PODILYMBUS Lesson.

5. Pied-billed Grebe.

_Podilymbus podiceps_ (Linn.).

Common resident on Vancouver Island; it breeds on lakes close to Victoria. Common resident on Island and Mainland; breeds throughout its range. (_Fannin_.)

Family GAVIIDae Loons.

GAVIA Forster.

6. Great Northern Diver. Loon.

_Gavia imber_ (Gunn.).

Common resident throughout the Province; breeds on Vancouver Island and Mainland.

7. Black-throated Loon.

_Gavia arcticus_ (Linn.).

Taken at Burrard Inlet (_Fannin_), and at Dease Lake, Ca.s.siar, by James Porter.

8. Pacific Loon.

_Gavia pacificus_ (Lawr.).

Not common; one specimen taken at Comox by W. B. Anderson, and at Chilliwhack by Brooks; Victoria, May 13th, 1904, by Fred. Foster.

9. Red-throated Loon.

_Gavia lumme_ (Gunn.).

I found this species quite common on Barkley Sound, V. I., April 19th, 1894, and fairly common near Esquimalt. Mr. Brooks reports it at Chilliwhack.

Family ALCIDae. Auks, Murres and Puffins.

LUNDA Pallas.