REPORT ON A COLLECTION OF BIRDS AND
MAMMALS FROM THE ATLIN REGION,
NORTHERN BRITISH COLUMBIA

BY
HARRY 8S. SWARTH
(Contribution from the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology of the University of California)

CONTENTS PAGE
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Itinerary and descriptions of localities........... 53
Zonal and faunal position of the Atlin region... 56

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General accounts of the mammals...
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INTRODUCTION

During the summer of 1924 the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology
sent an expedition into the Atlin region, in extreme northwestern
British Columbia. The expenses of this expedition, as of all previous
zoological work carried on in the northwest by this Museum, were
defrayed by Miss Annie M. Alexander, whose interest in the Museum’s
work, and particularly in developing a knowledge of the vertebrate
natural history of the northwest, has been unflagging. Atlin was
chosen as a base largely on account of its geographical position with
relation to the valleys of the Stikine and Skeena rivers, to the south-
ward, which had been visited by Museum parties in previous years.

The writer went alone from the Museum, that is, unaccompanied
by any Museum assistant, but he was fortunate in being joined at
the outset by Major Allan Brooks, of Okanagan Landing, British
Columbia. Major Brooks painted and collected specimens inde-
pendently, but the companionship proved mutually helpful in many
ways. Specimens collected by the writer consist of 387 birds, 76
mammals, 12 amphibians, 11 birds’ nests, and 16 sets of birds’ eggs.
Major Brooks’ collection of birds was also at my disposal in writing
the report that follows.