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known locally as buck brush--and to feed on the buds of this shrub.

As none was seen anywhere during the summer it can be concluded that
the species is now scarce. A report of an abundance in the Vander-

hoof district was not investigated.

Sharp-tailed grouse were once plentiful in many parts of the
interior of British Columbia; as the country became settled its his-
tory has been one of gradual decline in all localities and virtual
disappearance in some.

Ring-necked Pheasant--Phasianus colchicus Gmelin

Introduced near Quesnel and at Smithers a number of years ago.
Some reproduction took place and at Smithers a few were seen until
1935 approximately Apparently none has survived.

Lesser Sandhill Crane--Grus canadensis (Linnaeus).

Accounts of sandhill cranes passing over various points between
Prince George and Smithers have been received, none so precise as
that furnished by Mr. J. Sugden, Francois Lake. In a personal com-
munication he states that in the spring of 1943 the first, a flock
of 155, was recorded on April 14 and others were counted as follows:
April 24, 386; April 25, 148; April 26, 36. On the night of April
e6 another flight was heard passing over. Autumn migration dates for
Prancois Lake ares “October 2, 1943,>12; "October 7j9e4575" 1072 - In
1944 Mr Sugden heard night flights om October 26, 28, and 30, and
counted one flock of 130+ during daytime on October 28. Settlers on
Bulkley Lake told me that large flocks visited the fields there in
spring

Presumably these large flocks are composed exclusively of les-
ser sandhill crane

Greater Sandhill Crane--Grus mexicanus Muller.

Sandhill cranes nest on the muskegs both east and west of
Quesnel and for an undetermined distance north but apparently not
to the latitude of Prince George. A number of trappers and other
persons, familiar with the country north of the Canadian National
Railway, who were questioned on the subject told me that no cranes
nested in the districts with which they were familiar. It is a