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CORNELL LAB of ORNITHOLOGY
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AT SAPSUCKER WOODS

Illustration of Snowy Owl by Louis Agassiz Fuertes

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CANADA

DEPARTMENT OF MINES

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BRANCH

Hon. W. TEMPLEMAN, MINISTER: A P. Low, Deputy MInIsTER; R. W. Brock, Director.

CATALOGUE

oF

CANADIAN BIRDS

BY

JOHN MACOUN,

Naturalist to the Geological Survey, Canada.

AND

JAMES M. MACOUN,

Assistant Naturalist to the Geological Survey, Canada,

OTTAWA:
GOVERNMENT PRINTING BUREAU
1909.

[No. 973.]

The Catalogue of Canadian Birds was published in three parts,
the first appearing in 1900 and the last in 1904.

In it were enumerated systematically all the known birds of
Canada together with the principal facts in regard to their distribu-
tion, migrating and breeding habits. The interest taken in this sub-
ject by the public was evinced by the reception accorded the cata-
logue, the stock being exhausted almost immediately after publica-
tion. In the present edition much of the matter has been re-written
and many additional facts recorded and the whole combined into
one volume.

R. W. BROCK.
Ottawa, Oct.,-21, 1909.

PREFACE.

In compiling this catalogue the authors have endeavoured to
bring together facts on’ the range and nesting habits of all birds
known to reside in, migrate to or visit, the northern part of the
continent. In addition to the Dominion of Canada they have
therefore included Newfoundland, Greenland and Alaska. The
nomenclature and the numbers given in the latest edition and supple-
ments of the Check-list published by the American Ornithologists’
Union have been madé the basis of arrangement of the catalogue.
The order followed in the notes on each bird is, as a general rule, from
east to west. Greenland is generally cited first and British Columbia
and Alaska last. As the catalogue is intended to be a popular and
practical one, the English names of the birds are placed first, but the
species are arranged in their scientific order and in accordance with
the latest nomenclature. While recognizing the differences upon which
many of the technical names have been based, the writer holds that
some of them, depending as they do upon local and almost upon
individual variations from a common type, possess from any practical
or educational standpoint but a minor value. To an investigator of
changes resulting from environment such differences are of great
interest, but to any one anxious only to obtain the facts in regard to
the distribution of our birds as readily determinable, they are unimpor-
tant. Until the publication of the first edition of this Catalogue, no
attempt had been made to produce a work dealing with the ornith-
ology of the region now embraced in the Dominion of Canada since
the publication of the Fauna Borealt Americana by Swainson and
Richardson, in 1831. In the work referred to the authors include
separate notices of all birds that had been recorded north of Lat.
48°. Two hundred and forty species are described and twenty-seven
additional West Coast species are added, making a total of two
hundred and sixty-seven species known at that date.

The first attempt to catalogue the birds of Canada as a whole
was made in 1887, when Mr. Montague Chamberlain, of St.
John, New Brunswick, published A Catalogue of Canadian Birds
with Notes on the distribution of the Species. Previous to this,
Mr. Thomas MclIlwraith, of Hamilton, Ontario, published his Birds
of Ontario, which included the birds known to occur in that province

iv PREFACE,

only. The second edition of this work was published in 1894 and
included 317 species. The Birds of Manitoba, by E. T. Seton, was
published by the Smithsonian Institution in 1891, and, as its name
implies, covered little more than that province. Mr. C. E. Dionne,
of Quebec, published a catalogue of the birds of that province, with
notes on their geographical distribution, in_1889, and in 1896 Mr.
Emest D. Wintle published in Montreal a valuable little work
entitled Birds of Montreal. Mr. John Fannin, the curator of the
Provincial Museum in Victoria, British Columbia, published a
Catalogue of the Birds of British Columbia, the second edition of
which was issued in 1898. In this catalogue he included his own
extensive knowledge and that of all other observers in the province.
Since then a new edition of this Catalogue has been published by
Mr. Kermode the present curator of the museum. While others were
engaged in gathering and publishing the valuable information con-
tained in the above mentioned works and others of less importance,
the writer although attending to other subjects which claimed most
of his time had constantly before him the necessity of the present
work and has been collecting notes and observations for it during
all his journeys since 1879, while his assistant, Mr. J. M. Macoun,
has carried on similar work since 1885. The summers of 1879 and
1880 were spent by the writer on the prairies west of Manitoba, the
season of 1881 in northern Manitoba, the summers of 1882 and 1883
along the lower St. Lawrence, that of 1884 around Lake Nipigon,
of 1885 in the Rocky and Selkirk mountains on the line of the
Canadian Pacific railway, of 1887 on Vancouver Island and of 1888
on Prince Edward Island. Mr. J. M. Macoun spent the early spring
and summer of 1885 at Lake Mistassini and in 1888 travelled from
Lesser Slave Lake east by way of the Athabaska and Churchill
rivers to Lake Winnipeg. The notes for the years mentioned above
appear under our own names. Practically all observations made
by either of us since that time are credited to Mr. William Spread-
borough, who since 1889 has accompanied either one or other of us
to the field nearly every year and as all the collecting was done by
him some confusion and repetition has been obviated by the inclusion
of our own observations with his and by the omission of our names
for the years he was with us. In some years, notably in 1896,
1898, 1904, 1906 and 1907, Mr. Spreadborough worked quite inde-
pendently of either of us. It detracts nothing from the importance
of other notes published for the first time in this Catalogue to say
that its chief value is to be found in the matter credited to Mr.

PREFACE. Vv

Spreadborough. His notes, revised by us, cover nearly the whole
Dominion from Labrador and Hudson bay to Vancouver island and
north to the Peace river. A more detailed statement of the work done
in each year will give a better idea of the extent of country covered.

In 1889 Mr. Spreadborough was with the authors for two months
at Hastings and Agassiz on the lower Fraser river; the remainder
of the season was spent between Spence Bridge and the Columbia
river. The next season he began work at Revelstoke, on the
Columbia and spent the summer in the mountains south and east.
The spring of 1891 found him at Banff in the Rocky mountains
before the birds began to move, and he remained there all summer.
As Mr. E. T. Seton (then E. Seton-Thompson) had already covered
Manitoba with his excellent work, it was considered best for Mr.
Spreadborough in the following year to visit Indian Head in the
prairie country to the west of that province noting all the migrants,
as in previous years, and obtaining skins and recording the summer
birds of that district. In the spring of 1893 he began’work on
Vancouver island and made collections during the whole season-
In 1894 the district around Medicine Hat, Alta., and eastward to
Crane lake, Sask., was examined and in 1895 the prairie region
south of the Canadian Pacific Railway.. In all these years Mr.
Spreadborough worked under the direction of the writer. The
summer of 1896 was spent by him on Hudson bay and across Ungava
and in 1897 and 1898 he was in the Rocky mountains, in the former
year working with the writer south to Crow Nest Pass, in the latter
independently in the Yellow Head Pass. In 1900, again with the
writer, the collecting season was spent in Algonquin Park, Ont.
During 1901, 1902, 1903 and 1905, Mr. Spreadborough was with
Mr. J. M. Macoun; 1go1 was spent in the Coast Range, B.C., chiefly
around Chilliwack lake; 1902 between Trail and Cascade on the
International Boundary; 1903 in the Peace River region and 1905
again on the International Boundary between Cascade and Chilli-
wack lake, thus completing a traverse of the whole region between
the Columbia and the western slope of the Coast Range; the country
between Chilliwack Lake and Douglas on the Coast was examined
in 1906. The year 1904 was, perhaps, the most important of any,
as the early spring was spent by Mr. Spreadborough in the vicinity
of Fernie and Elko, B.C., thus connecting the work of 1897 with
that of 1902, and the early summer and autumn months on the
south and west coasts of Hudson bay where he studied the habits

vi PREFACE.

of the waders and swimmers which frequent that region. The seasons
of 1907 and 1908 were spent by him on Vancouver Island.

The chief sources from which published observations and notes
have been compiled are indicated in a brief and far from complete
bibliography. As regards Greenland and Alaska no attempt has
been made to utilize all that has been published. It has been
thought sufficient to refer to the most important lists and to include
all the species known to occur in these regions. It cannot be hoped
that no important omissions have been made in the distribution of
Canadian birds, but as the authors expect to publish annually an
addendum to this catalogue the necessary corrections will be made
from time to time and the co-operation of collectors and observers
is solicited for this work.

In addition to the list of authorities cited, manuscript lists and
notes on nesting habits have been furnished the writers by Mr. J. H.
Fleming, Toronto, Ont.; Mr. W. E. Saunders, London, Ont.; Mr.
Geo. Witte, Ottawa, Ont.; Mr. E. T. Seton, Cos Cob, Conn.; Mr. A.
C. Bent, Mr. Walter Raine, Toronto, Ont.; Mr. J. Dippie, Calgary,
Alta. ; Mr. Robt. Elliott, Plover Mills, Ont.; Mr. P. A. Taverner,
Bracebridge, Ont.; Mr. C. R. Harte, Nova Scotia; Mr. Harold Tufts,
Wolfville, N.S.; Rev. C. J. Young, Madoc, Ont.; Rev G. Eifrig,
Ottawa, Ont.; Mr. J. Hughes-Samuel, Toronto, Ont.; Mr. W. H.
Moore, Scotch Lake, N.B.; Mr. Alfred L. Garneau, Ottawa, Ont.;
Mr. A. B. Klugh, Guelph, Ont.; Mr. A. F. Young, Penetanguishene,
Ont.; Mr. Norman Criddle, Aweme, Man.; Mr. Geo. A. Atkinson,
Portage la Prairie, Man.; Mr. E. F. G. White formerly residing in
British Columbia, but now at Ottawa; many members of the Geolo-
gical Survey staff and others who have contributed notes or short lists.

The whole series of the Transactions of the Natural History Soctety of
Nova Scotia; the Bulletin of the Natural History Society of New Bruns-
wick; the Canadian Naturalist and Record of Science, Montreal; the
Ottawa Naturalist; the Journal of the Canadian Institute, Toronto; the
Auk, published in New York and the Wilson Bulletin have been drawn
on for notices of rare species and local lists by various contributors.

The greater part of the compilation of the new material for this
edition of the Catalogue has been done by my assistant Mr. J. M.
Macoun. The very complete index was made by Miss Marie C.
Stewart.

JOHN MACOUN.
OTTAWA, 15 October, 1909.

LIST OF PRINCIPAL AUTHORITIES CITED.

Arctic Manual and Instructions for the Arctic Expedition, 1875.

Brooks, Allan. Various papers on British Columbia Birds in the
Auk and the Ottawa Naturalist.

Bigelow, Henry B. Birds of the Northeastern Coast of Labrador,
The Auk, vol. xix.

Boutelier, Jas. Lists of the Birds of Sable Island in The Ottawa

Naturalist.
Bent, A. C. Birds of Southwestern Saskatchewan, The Auk, vol.
XXV.

Bishop, Louis B. Birds of the Yukon Region, N. A. Fauna, No. 19.
Chamberlain, Montague. <A Catalogue of Canadian Birds, 1887.

Coues, Elliott. Field Notes on Birds observed along the 4gth
Parallel, 1873-74.

Chapman, Frank. Birds collected in Alaska by the Andrew J.
Stone Expedition of 1901-1903.

Dionne, C. E. Catalogue of the Birds of Quebec, 1889.

Downs, Andrew. Catalogue of the Birds of Nova Scotia, 1887.

Elliott, Henry W. Report on the Seal Islands of Alaska, 1884.

Fannin, John. A Preliminary Catalogue of the Birds of British
Columbia, 1889.

Fleming, James H. Birds of Toronto, Ont. The Auk, vols. xxiii
and xxiv.

_, Grinnell, Joseph. Birds of Kotzebue Sound, Alaska; Birds of

Sitka, Alaska.
Hagerup, Andras. The Birds of Greenland, 1891.

Kumlien, Ludwig. Contribution to the Natural History of Arctic
America, 1879.

Lord, John K. A Naturalist in British Columbia, 1866.

Macfarlane, Roderick. Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., vol. xiv., 1891.

MclIlwraith, Thomas, Birds of Ontario, 1884.

viii LIST OF PRINCIPAL AUTHORITIES CITED.
Murdoch, John. Report of the Expedition to Point Barrow, Alaska,
1885.

Nelson, E. L. Report upon Natural History Collections in Alaska,
between 1877-81.

Osgood, W. H. Birds of Queen Charlotte Islands, B.C.; and Cook’s
Inlet, Alaska, N. A. Fauna, No. 21.

Packard, A.S. The Labrador Coast, 1891.
Preble, E. A. Birds of Keewatin, N. A. Fauna, No. 22.
Raine, Walter. Bird Nesting in Northwest Canada, 1892.

Reeks, Robert. Notes on the Birds of Newfoundland, Canadian
Naturalist, new series, vol. v., 1870.

Richardson, Sir John. Fauna Boreali-Americana, 1851.
Ridgway, Robert, Birds of North and Middle America, 1901-1908.
Rhoads, Samuel. Notes on British Columbia Birds.

Ross, ‘Bernard. On the Birds of the Mackenzie River District,
Canadian Naturalist, vol. vii., 1862.

Seton, E. T. The Birds of Manitoba, 1891; Bird Records from
Great Slave Lake, The Auk, vol. xxv.

Streator, Clark P. Ona Collection of Birds made in British Columbia
in 1889.

Stone, Witmer. Birds of North Greenland.
The A. O. U. Check-list of North American Birds and Supplements.

Turner, Lucien M. Contributions to the Natural History of Alaska,
1886: List of the Birds of Labrador, 1885.

Winge, Herlof. Conspectus of the Birds of Greenland, 1898.
Wintle, Ernest D. The Birds of Montreal, 1896.

PYGOPODES. Divine Birps.

Famity 1. PODICIPIDA. Greses.
I. ASCHMOPHORUS Couzs. 1862.
1. Western Grebe.
LEchmophorus occidentalis (Lawr.)

Accidental in Quebec. Mr. Cowper states in Canadian Spo: ts-
man, Vo\. II, that he has seen several specimens on the market
in Montreal. (Dzonne.) Some time before 1881 a pair was shot
at the mouth of the North Nation river, Ont. (Ottawa Naturalist,
Vol. V.) Occasionally shot in the Red River valley, Man.
One pair seen at alittle lake west of Macleod, Alta. (W. Saunders.)

Our knowledge of the migration of the western grebe is still
incomplete, but on May 8th, 1891, specimens were shot at Banff
in the Rocky mountains. The next yearit reached Indian Head,
500 miles to the east, on May 12th. At that time the stomachs of
the birds shot contained nothing but feathers. Two days later
one was shot that had an amphibian (Amblystoma mavortium) 10%
inches long in its stomach. By the 30th May they had all disap-
peared, having gone north to Waterhen, or some other lake, to
breed.

Going west from Portage la Prairie in 1906 I did not note it
until we reached Touchwood hills but from that to Edmonton it
was noted in all the larger waters. I am of opinion that many of
the Manitoba and eastern, records would on investigation prove
to be the Holbcell grebe. There appeared to me, however, to bea
peculiar weirdness about the call of this bird, noted and identified
as the western grebe, which readily distinguished it from the
succeeding species. (Geo. Atkinson.)

A common winter resident along the Pacific coast. (Fannin.)
Tolerably common in the Fraser valley below Yale in the spring
and autumn migrations. A few remain all winter at Okanagan
lake, B.C. (Bvooks.) Six were seen on Bayne lake, near Elko,

I

2 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

B.C., May 2nd, 1904. (Spreadborough.) Several seen at Bocade-
quadra, near Dixon inlet, B.C., May 28th, 1899. (Béshop.)

BreepineG Notes.—Fairly numerous on Buffalo lake, Alberta,
July 7th, 1895; downy young taken at thesame time. (D¢ppie.)
Ihave found this bird breeding at'Shoal lake, Manitoba. The
nests found June 18th, 1894, mostly contained five eggs each.
(Raine.) Early in June, 1894, a large colony of these birds was
found breeding at Crane lake, Sask., about 100 miles east of
Medicine Hat. Thecolony was located in a large patch of bull-
rushes (Scizpus lacustris) about 100 yards from the shore and in
about three feet of water. The eggs were placed on nests made
of mud and the old and broken reeds of the last season; these
nests were very rudimentary in form, but in all cases there was a
slight depression in the centre where the eggs rested, about six
inches above the water. None of the nests had more than five
eggs, most of them but four, which seemed to be the usual num-
ber. The nests were so placed that they would rise and fall with
the water, as indeed is the case with all grebes. No other birds
were breeding in the vicinity and the water around the breeding
ground was swarming with individuals which dived, swam, or sunk
themselves in the water so that nothing but their curving necks
and long sharp bills protruded above it. They doubtless breed on
many other lakes in Saskatchewan and Alberta. It is claimed to
be a summer resident in British Columbia by Streator and Fannin,
but neither of them cites a locality. Found in 1881 in great num-
bers breeding in some of the western bays of Lake Manitoba and
on Waterhen river and Waterhen lake.

Il. COLYMBUS Linvevs.
2. Red-necked Grebe. Holbcell Grebe.
Colymbus holbelli (REINH.) Ripew. 1884.

This is a very widely distributed species and extends asa strag-
gler from Greenland across the continent to the North Pacific.

This bird arrived in Wales sound, Hudson strait, about
June 2oth, 1885, and was often seen during the summer. (Payne.)
Common in northern part of James bay. (Spreadborough.) It is
arare migrant in Nova Scotia (Downs); occasionally seen in New

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 3

Brunswick (Chamberlain); large flocks seen on Prince Edward
island, August 8th, 1888 (Macoun); Beauport, Quebec. (Dzonne.)
Seems to be common in Ontario. It has been taken at Ottawa.
(Ottawa Naturalist, Vol. V.); at Mitchell Bay, Lake St. Clair.
(Saunders.) Is a regular spring and fall visitor in Ontario. (Mc-
Ilwraith.) A male of this species was taken on the Ottawa river
near Ottawa, Oct. 16th, 1905. Its stomach contents consisted of
a bunch of its own feathers. (G. Zifrig.) Spring and fall resid-
ent at Toronto, Ont. (Fleming.) Summer resident chiefly of the
shallow fish-frequented lakes of northern Manitoba. (Z. Z. Seton.)
Breeding in great numbers in Waterhen lake and the southern
end of Lake Winnipegosis. It is found on most lakes of the
prairie region but prefers the lakes in the forest country north of
the Saskatchewan. In 1892 it arrived at Indian Head in eastern
Saskatchewan on May 11th. At that time their stomachs con-
tained feathers, water-insects and one a specimen of Amblystoma
mavortium seven inches long. It has been found breeding by
Macfarlane in Lat. 68° 30’, Long. 128° west, so that its breedfhg
grounds extend from Lat. 50° to the Arctic sea. Nelson states
that it breeds on the Yukon and at Norton sound, and Fannin
that it breeds throughout northern British Columbia, so. we may
conclude that its breeding grounds are co-extensive with the lakes
of the northern forest. It is a winter resident along the Pacific
coast of British Columbia. On April 27th, 1887, it was seen in
large flocks in Nanaimo harbour and along the whole coast to
Comox. A few days later they all disappeared. Reported by
Brooks to be a common winter resident on Okanagan lake, B.C.

Common on all lakes from Lesser Slave lake to Peace River
Landing, Atha.; one pair seen at Elko, B.C., May 12th, 1904;
common at Lake Okanagan, B.C., April, 1903; common and breed-
at Osoyoos lake, B.C., June, 1905; common at Douglas, B.C. (coast),
April zoth, 1906, bulk had disappeared, May 1oth. (Spreadborough.)
Abundant and breeding on nearly every pond and lake in Cariboo
district, B.C. (Bvooks.) A fine adult of this species was taken
at Nushagak, Alaska, October 12th, 1881, by McKay. Another
was taken at Point Constantine, Bristol bay, Alaska, May 30th,
1882. (Osgood.) One male taken at St. Michael, Alaska, Sept..
22nd, 1899. (Bishop.)

1%

4 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
é

‘Breepinc Nc tEs.—Common at Indian Head, Sask., in the spring
“of 1892. Breeding in pairs in the reeds along the margins of the
Jakes. Early in June a nest was taken containing eight eggs of a
‘dirty white colour. Nests made of reeds, grass and mud, floating
‘in the water, attached to the growing reeds or masses of dead
vegetable matter. (Spreadborough.) Breeds along the margin of
‘Snake lake, Alberta. (Dzppie.) At Shoal lake, Manitoba, on
June goth, 1894, 1 found this species breeding abundantly. The
nests contained an average of five eggs each. All the nests had
‘the eggs covered with weeds, which is the usual habit of this
family, for all the grebes cover their eggs in the daytime, but
when suddenly disturbed from their nests the birds have not time
to take this precaution. Two or three pairs breed on Long lake,
Manitoba, and this species also breeds abundantly at Gull lake,
northern Alberta (Raine.) My notes record but two nests of this
rebe, one contained four and the other five eggs, and both were
found at adistance of some 4o or 50 miles south of Fort Anderson,
(Macfarlane.

3. Horned Grebe.

Colymbus auritus LINN. 1766.

A few immature specimens have been taken in southern Green-
land. (Arct. Man.,) Taken occasionally in NovaScotia. (Dowms.)
An uncommon summer visitant in New Brunswick. ( Chamberlain.)
A few taken in Quebec. (Déonne.) One seen in a small pond at
East point, Magdalen islands, N.S., 1887; undoubtedly breeds.
(Bishop.) Rather common at Plover Mills, Ont., in September and
October. (R. Edtott.) Common resident in spring and fall near
‘Toronto, Ont. (J. 4. Fleming.) Generally distributed in Ontario,
breeding notably on St. Clair flats. (Mel//wraith.)

Saunders and Morden found this bird breeding abundantly at
‘St. Clair flats, Ontario. Seton says it is very common in Mani.
toba, breeding in all the small ponds, and Macfarlane procured
eggs on the borders of a small lake about 60 miles southeast of
Fort Anderson, north of the Arctic circle. Dr. Bell found it
breeding at Fort Churchill on Hudson bay, and Nelsonand Turner
say that it breeds in Alaska. Several small grebes assumed to be
this species were seen at the upper end of Becharof lake by
Osgood ; McKay, took a specimen at Nushagak, Alaska, 1881.

y

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 5

Brooks found it on Okanagan lake, B.C. during the whole winter.
The writer has found it breeding from Manitoba to Kamloops in
British Columbia, so that its breeding ground covers practically
the whole northern part of the continent. Spreadborough saw it
on most of the small lakes between Lesser Slave lake and Peace
River Landing in 1903, saw three on Elk river, B.C., April, 22nd,
1904, common at Bayne lake, May toth, 1904, and at Douglas,
B.C., April, 1906. Nearly all had left the latter place by May roth.

BREEDING NoTESs.—Breeds commonly around all small lakes in
Alberta. (Dzppie.) Common at Crane lake in June, 1894. Breed-
ing in pairs in all the marshes and sloughs. Nests composed of
reeds, grass and mud, attached to the reeds, or on floating masses
of sticks and sedges. They were also common at Indian Head,
Sask., and at Bracebridge, Ont. (Spreadborough.) On June 1sth,.
1893, I found a colony of this grebe nesting on an island in a small
lake seven miles north of Rush lake, Sask.; I have also found it
breeding at Long lake and Shoal lake, Manitoba. This species
lays from five to eight eggs, five or six being the usual number.
A few pairs breed at St. Clair flats, Ont. Ihave received several
clutches of eggs from there. (Raine.) Breeding on all ponds.
and marshes near Prince Albert, Sask. (Coubeaux.) Breeds on
interior lakes of B.C. as far south as Ashcroft. (Rkoads.)

This most beautiful of the grebe family is generally distributed
about the marshes.and ponds all over Manitoba and was noted
quite as abundantly at every suitable point along the Grand
Trunk Pacific railway as far as Edmonton. Nests containing
fresh eggs were found at Sydney, Carberry, Hamiota and Spy
hill while from that westward after July Ist the chicks and
parent birds were noted in almost every fresh water pond or
marsh. (Geo: Atkinson.)

This is a northern species, and rarely breeds in the St. Lawrence.
valley. I found a nest containing two fresh eggs at Escott pond,
Leeds co., Ont., 29th May, 1890; also four eggs at the St. Law-
tence on the 18th June, 1896. On the occasion of my visit to
the Magdalen islands, in June, 1897, I met with three pairs of
this bird in a large pond of water—which at times is brackish—
near the East point, and discovered a nest with two fresh eggs on
June 22nd. This nest exactly resembled the one I found on Escott

6 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

pond. It was constructed in an exposed position amongst a few
rushes, scarcely concealed at all, and the decayed vegetable mat-
ter of which it was made was completely soaked with water. The
birds are readily identified, but most of the eggs present no obvious
difference from those of the pied-billed grebe; a few of them,
however, are longer and a trifle larger. (Rev. C. J. Young.)
Breeds in the St. Clair marshes, and in smaller numbersin marshes
at Point Pelee, Lake Erie. (W. Saunders.)

On June 15th a fewnests were seen ina marsh near Crane lake,
.Sask. This species, so far as I know, does not breed in colonies,
and Mr. W. Saunders writes me to the same effect. The nests at
Crane lake were placed on small mounds of mud on reeds float-
ing on the water, and three taken contained four, five and eight
eggs respectively.

4. American Eared Grebe.

.Colymbus nigricollis californicus (HEERM.) RiIpGw. 1885.

A specimen in the flesh sent to Dr. Yarmir of Lucknow, Bruce
co., Ont., from Colpoy bay, Lake Huron. (Mc/ilwraith.)

A common summer resident in Manitoba, breeding in great
numbers in many ofthe lakes and ponds. They make their nests
on rushes, composed of the same material. We found as: many —
as six eggs in some nests, but in the greater number of nests only
four. (Z.7. Seton.) This bird is found in all parts of the prairie region
where there is suitable water and cover; it occurs as far north as
Great Slave lake, (Ross) and is found all through the southern
part of British Columbia. Unlike the horned grebe it breeds in
colonies or groups of a dozen or more nests and we have often
looked down on them in the small lakes of the interior as they sat
on their nests with the water all around them. In nearly all cases
the eggs were partly covered by water. Coubeaux says this
species is much rarer than the horned grebe on the Saskatchewan.

. Breepine Notes.—I have found this species breeding abund-
antly at Long lake and Shoal lake, Manitoba. On Juneoth, 1894,
I found a nest containing as many as nine eggs at Shoal lake, but
six or seven is the usual number of eggs laid. (Raine.) Breeding in
numbers at Burnt lake, Alberta. A number of sets taken June 14th
and 15th, 1896. (D¢ppie.) Saunders counted 500 birds in an arm of

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 7

Big lake, 50 miles east of Calgary in 1906. There were many
nests, perhaps 200. Breeding in colonies in sloughs in many parts
of the prairie region and British Columbia. Found breeding in
lakes at Kamloops, B.C., June 16th, 1889. On June 13th, 1894,
saw hundreds of nests in a marsh at the west end of a small lake
east of Crane lake, Sask. The nests were composed of rushes
and mud, floating amongst the rushes in about two feet of water.
Most of the nests had three eggs in them, others four, and some
five, while many had one and two. Evidently the sets were, in
many cases, not complete. The outer margin of the pond was
chiefly sedge (Cavex aristata) but within was a growth of bullrushes
(Scirpus lacustris), and on the old stems of these, nests were made.
The floating nests were almost on a level with the water, and not
infrequently the eggs lay partly inthe water. No down or feathers
was ever seen about the grebe’s nest. Another colony was seen
on a small lake in July, 1895, onthe Milk River ridge, Alberta.
The nests were all floating and the eggs could be easily seen from
the shore, which was high.

III. PODILYMBUS Lesson.
6. Pied-billed Grebe. Dab-chick. Hell-diver.
Podilymbus podiceps (LinN.) Lawr. 1858.

Occasionally obtained in the autumn in Nova Scotia. (Dowzs.)
Uncommon fall migrant in Nova Scotia. (A. & 7ufts.) A com-
mon summer visitant in New Brunswick; breeds. (Chamberlain.)
Rather common in Quebec. (Dionne; Hall.) Quite widely dis-
tributed in Ontario, but most common in the autumn. Breeding
from the St. Lawrence and the Great Lakes to Hudson bay and
west to Great Slave lake. Abundant in all parts of Manitoba
and specially numerous in August and September on the head-
waters of Swan river and the surrounding lakes and marshes.
Although so common in the wooded portions of Manitoba it has
seldom been observed in the prairie region. One individual was
seen near the Dirt hills, Sask., in October, 1881, by Mr. W.
Spreadborough, and Dr. Coues saw it at Turtle mountain, Sask.
Lord, Fannin, Rhoads, Spreadborough and Brooks report it as com-
mon in British Columbia. Spreadborough reports seeing three in
Victoria harbour, B.C.,in April, 1893. It is evidently a forest

8 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

bird as it is seldom seen on the prairies. Rhoads states that it
breeds throughout the mainland of B.C. and on Vancouver island.

Breepinc Notes.—I have found this bird breeding at Long
lake, Manitoba, and, like the eared and horned grebes, it often
lays as many as seven or eight eggs. I find that all the grebes
cover their eggs with weeds during the day, and the weeds are
removed at dark by the bird, which incubates the eggs until the
morning sun relieves her of her task. (Razne.)

This species commences to build its nest near Ottawa, Ontario,
about the first week in May. The nest is built on the edge of a
marsh and is about the size of a bushel basket. It is composed
of moss, grass, roots and mud. Eggs, five or more in number, are
whitish, clouded with green. The nest is very difficult to find, as
the old birds cover it over when they leave (G. R. White.)

The dab-chick was conspicuous in 1906 in every pond and
marsh of any size between Portage la Prairie and Edmonton, and
where it was not seen floating about its characteristic “‘ pomp
pomp” made its presence known. During the summer we were
able to note the gradual development of the bird from the egg to

_the full grown specimen and of all the birds noted none attracted
more constant attention and interest than the little water witch.
I noted that where the birds were in a marsh the young hid them-
selves and the parents gradually sunk themselves below the
surface of the water and disappeared but where they were found
in small ponds with no marsh the parent birds remained on the
surface to watch the young and in more retired localities they
showed little concern at our presence. In the marshes about
Portage la Prairie it is one of the most numerous breeding species,
the floating nests being everywhere conspicuous. I have not
found this grebe covering the eggs during the day, as recorded,
to assist incubation but have regularly noted the bird flap a
considerable quantity of the decayed reed foundation over the
eggs as though to hide them when flushed from the nest and I
have regularly noted and disturbed the birds sitting on the eggs
during the day even while the sun was high and warm. (Geo.
Atkinson.)

Found a nest on a floating mass of dead rushes, in’ Lake
St. Francis, near Summertown, Ont., June 6th, 1903. It held five

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 9

eggs partially covered with rushes laid lengthwise of the nest
(Lewis M. Terrill.)

The pied-billed grebe is very common in the River St. Law-
rence between Kingston and Brockville. I have seen a number
of nests. The nest of this species is a more substantial structure
and better concealed than that of the horned grebe. In one
instance I have known a colony breeding together; this was on
June Ist, 1897, where in a space less than a quarter of an acre,
in a retired bay off the St. Lawrence below Rockport, I
found four nests close together—one with seven eggs, one with
eight, and two with nine. These nests, though floating
structures, were quite substantial, and were in about three feet of
water ; all the eggs were covered with weeds and were incubated
from a week to ten days. Nowhere else have I found more than
eight eggs in the nest, and that number only once. The usual
number is seven. (Rev. C./. Young.)

This species is more common on the St. Clair flats and at
Point Pelee than the horned grebe. Both species build a floating
nest among the rushes, and both cover their eggs when they leave
the nest. Set 4-6. (W. Saunders.)

Famity I]. GAVIIDAS. Loons.
IV. GAVIA Forster. 1788.

7. Great Northern Diver. Loon.

Gavia imber (GUNN.) ALLEN. 1897.

This is one of our most widely distributed birds, breeding from
Greenland (Arct. Man.) and Labrador (Bigelow) in the east, to
Alaska (Turner, Bishop and Osgood) in the west. Macfarlane
found it breeding at Fort Anderson, in Lat. 68° 30’, and it is
frequent as far south as Lat. 49°, so that it is to be found
throughout the whcle northern part of the continent. Nearly
every small lake throughout the country, except in the prairie
region, is tenanted in summer by a pair or more of these birds,
and the larger lakes by many pairs, but as the country io settled
it is becoming scarcer. All the members of the Geological
Survey staff who have found loons’ nests agree with Macfarlane

if) GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

that they lay only two eggs, and that no nest is built, but a small
depression made in the gravel close to the waters of the lake. In
the Laurentian country the eggs are always placed on greenish
gravel and are hard to see. In two cases only have nests been
found on rock and these were close to the water.

Breepinc Notes.—Nest always placed near the water, and
composed of a little grass. Eggs two. Young usually hatched
the last week in June or first week in July. The young are quite
helpless for a few days, either riding on the mother’s back or
hanging on to her tail. I have paddled up to them in a boat on
several occasions, and they have sat upon the water as helpless
as a leaf until] I have taken them up in my hand. They soon
become able to take care of themselves and can swim and dive
nearly as well as the old one. Common throughout Labrador ;
one nest found, July 25th, 1896, on Clearwater lake, containing
two eggs in an advanced state of incubation. (Spreadborough.)

This bird breeds at the south end of Lake Manitoba. I have
also received the eggs from Morley in Alberta. It breeds com-
monly on the islands in the Muskoka lakes, Ontario. A clutch
of two eggs in my collection was taken on an island in Lake
Donaldson, near Buckingham, Quebec. The eggs were taken June
24th, 1895, by Mr. Warwick. This bird is alate breeder. (Razne.)

™ The nest of this species, if nest it can be called, is only a slight
hollow in the earth or ground within a short distance of the
water’s edge. One found on the 21st June, 1897, at Lake of the
Woods, was within six inches of the water’s edge. . It was only a
slight hollow in the sand, and the two eggs were placed therein.
(G. R. White.)

The loon still breeds in many of the retired lakes, and a pair or
two frequent the River St. Lawrence for this purpose between
Kingston and Brockville. I have found many of their nests and
noticed that they return to the same locality year after year even
when their eggs have been repeatedly taken. The situation chosen
varies ; sometimes it is on the shore of, some out of-the-way
island, two or three feet from the water’s edge. Several nests I
found consisted of a mass of weeds and bullrushes piled up in
three feet of water, so that a boat could be rowed alongside. They
are very punctual in their time of laying ; in one locality in the

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. II

county of Leeds, Ont., 1 have found the two eggs four years in
succession on the 23rd, the 24th, the 25th and the 24th of May.
‘On the River St. Lawrence a little later, from the Ist to the 6th
of June. By the great resemblance each set of eggs’has borne to
the preceding one, I have no doubt but that the same pair of
birds returns to the same locality year after year. They generally
arrive at the end of April and leave again in September or October:
I noticed two pairs of these birds at the Magdalen islands
in June, 1897, and think they breed on the fresh-water ponds of
the eastern islands. (Rev. C.J. Young.)

Found breeding at Lake St. Clair and in the small lakes in the
Bruce peninsula; also at the Pelee marsh, Lake Erie. Nest at

the edge of the water but on a solid foundation. Eggs, two. (W.
Saunders.)

8. Yellow-billed Loon
Gavia adamsit (GRAY) ALLEN. 1897.

Abundant at Great Slave lake. (Ross.) During the breeding
season this species abounds in Franklin and Liverpool bays on the
Arctic coast, where several examples were shot. (Macfarlane.)
One specimen taken at Comox, Vancouver island, by Mr. W. B.
Anderson ; seen also at Victoria by Mr. Fred. Foster. (Kermode.)
This fine species, the least known of the loons, is not a rare sum-
mer resident about the head of Kotzebue sound. (Jelson.)
Twelve specimens taken near Point Barrow. (dMclthenny.) A
large loon, either this species or G. zmber was killed and eaten by
natives at Cold bay and an immature specimen is in the National
Museum at Washington collected at Igushik, across the river from
Nushagak, Alaska, September Ist, 1882. (Osgood.) One specimen
killed by Townsend on St. Paul island, Bering sea, August, 1885.
(Palmer.) St. Matthew island, Bering sea, 1891. Provably
breeding. (J. M@. Macoun.) This species seems to prefer the
extreme northwesterly part of the continent and islands from
Liverpool bay on the east to the mouth of the Yukon on the
west.

Breepinc Notes.—Selawik lake and Kunkuk river are the
places where it is claimed the greater number breed. The shore
of Norton sound is a breeding place for a few pairs, as is the low

12 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

coast of Bering strait from Golovina bay to Port Clarence.
(Nelson.)

9. Black-throated Loon.

Gavia arcticus (LINN.) ALLEN. 1897.

Occasional on the coast of Labrador but apparently common
on the shores of Hudson bay, where they breed.

Male and female, and young nearly full grown, shot on Not-
tingham island, Hudson strait, August 28th, 1884. (#. Bell.) On
the Barren Grounds below Cape Eskimo, August 4th to August
13th, 1900, this species was abundant on the shallow ponds on the
tundra where the young are raised. (Preble.) Very common in
the waters of Roes Welcome, especially on the east side along
Southampton island. Seen inthe bays of Baffin island. Breeds
abundantly on Southampton ; nests built on islands or along the
swampy edges of ponds not far from the coast. Feeds in the sea.
(A. P. Low.) Not common at Lake Mistassini, but a few breed.
(J. M. Macoun.) Occurs in winter at Grand Manan in the Bay, of
Fundy. (Herrick.) A pair was taken near Toronto and sent to
the Paris Exhibition of 1866. (MWcl/wratth.) Recorded by Andrew
Murray from Severn House, Hudson bay. (Z&. 7. Seton.)

This species is known to breed on the margin of small lakes,
and very likely also close to the sea, from Cumberland gulf on the
east (Kumelin) along the whole Arctic coast (Richardson), and
very abundantly along the shore of Bering sea and in the
interior of Alaska as far as Fort Yukon. (WNe/son.) A few have
been taken at Burrard inlet, B. C,; also at Dease lake, Cassiar,
B.C. (Fannin.)

BREEDING Notes.—In spring the black-throated loons arrive
rather late, coming to the vicinity of the Yukon mouth from, the
Isth to 25th May. They appear singly, and are soon after found
scattered in pairs among the numberless ponds in the marshes
along the coast. The eggs are usually placed upon some small
islet ina secluded pond. There is no attempt at a nest, and
frequently the eggs lie in a spot washed by water when the wind
blows from the right quarter. In spite of this, however, the
young are duly hatched, and by the first of July may be found
swimming about with their parents. The eggs are dark olive,

CATALTGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 13

blotched with black spots, which are generally confluent at the
larger end. Very frequently the spots are crowded into a black
patch at the very apex of the larger end. (Ve/son.)

10. Pacific Loon,

Givia pacificus (LAWR.) ALLEN. 1897.

A single specimen obtained at St. Michael, Alaska, August
25th, 1876. (Zurner.) Quite common at Point Barrow, and evi-
dently breeding. The greater number, however, pass to the
eastward. (Murdoch.) North to Arctic coast. (Ross.) Only
once observed this bird in the lower Fraser valley, during very
cold weather, and shot it. (Bvooks.)

BREEDING Notges.—This is the most abundant diver in the
region investigated. Nests were discovered in the wooded coun-
try, in the Barren Grounds, and on the shores and islands of the
Arctic sea. In all about one hundred and sixty-five nests, most
of which contained two eggs, were secured in the course of the five
seasons from 1862 to 1866 inclusive. (Macfarlane.) This species
arrives early in June at Point Barrow, and, as the ponds open, the
birds make‘themselves at home there, and evidently breed in
abundance though we were unable to find the nest. One of their
breeding grounds was evidently a swampy lagoon, some five or
six milés inland, but the nests were inaccessible. (Murdoch.)

11. Red-throated Loon.
Gavia lumme (GuUNN.) ALLEN. 1897.

This species is a commoa summer migrant throughout the
northern part of the continent. It breeds in Greenland in both
inspectorates (Arct. Man.), and in Newfoundland in small ponds in
the marshes, placing its nest in a tussock of grass surrounded by
water. (Reeks.) Not common on Ellsemere island, (4. Bay.)
Common along the shores and islands of Hudson bay and Hudson
strait, to the northward of James bay. ‘Seen on the north coast
of Greenland and in all the northern waters. Breeds on islands
or shores of ponds, not far from coast. Feeds in the sea and
fresh water. (A. P. Low.) A not uncommon summer resident in
New Brunswick. (Chamberiain.) Rare migrant in Nova Scotia.
(H. F. Tufts.) Abundant in Labrador, and breeding around

14 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

Hudson bay and westward, north of the Arctic circle, to Alaska,
where it is the most abundant species of loon. (e/son.)

Two specimens were taken in Esquimault harbour, Vancouver
island in March, 1891; in my experience this bird is rare in
British Columbia. (/annin.) Osgood, Grinnell and Bishop record
this species from many places in Alaska.

It is rarely met with in Quebec, Ontario or Manitoba, though
Fleming records it as not uncommon at Toronto, Ont. Has not
been observed in the prairie region or the Rocky mountains
except by Spreadborough at Lesser Slave lake, Atha., in 1903.

BREEDING Notes.—From the first of June until the first of July
fresh eggs may be found, The nesting sites chosen are identical
with those of the black-throated species. Like the latter species,
also, the eggs, two in number, are laid directly upon the ground,
and the spot chosen is often wet and muddy. One nest was
found on frozen ground, and ice was floating in the pond. The
young are led to the streams, large lakes, or sea-coast as soon as
they are able to follow the parents, and they fall an easy prey to
the hunters until with the growth of their quill-feathers they
obtain some wisdom. (e/son.) Nests in small ponds inland in
northeastern Labrador. Appears on the coast after the young
are able to fly, when it is rather common. (Bigelow.)

Famiry Il]. ALCIDAG, Auxs, Murres, PurFins.
V. LUNDA Patras. 1826.
12. Tufted Puffin.

Lunda cirrhata PALL. 1826.

This species is tolerably common along the coasts of Vancouver
island and the mainland of British Columbia; breeds in the Gulf
of Georgia. (fannin.) It is a common species along the whole
coast of British Columbja and Alaska and breeds in suitable loca.
lities for nearly the whole distance. Turner says it is particularly
abundant on the Aleutian islands and the whole Alaskan coast,
Breeds amongst rocks and lays only a single egg. They nest
usually on damp earth at the bottom of a crevice in the rock.
(Nelson.) Common on the Pribilof islands. (J. M. Macoun.)
Two specimens taken at Cape Lisburne, Alaska. (Mcllhenny.)

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. . 15

BREEDING Hapits.—The nesting habits of this puffin resemble
those of the horned puffin. My own observations show that the
former prefers the cliffs and edges of bluffs overgrown with grass
which has made an accumulation of soil on the tops and edges of
some bluffs to a depth of several feet. This soil is a perfect net-
work of holes and burrows of these birds. The nest is usually
the bare earth, whereon a single egg is laid. The young take to
the water before they are able to fly. The parent assists the
young to the water. (Melson.) A moderate sized breeding
colony was found on an islet in Houston Stewart channel, Queen
Charlotte islands, B.C. (Osgood.) Swarming by thousands and
breeding on St. Lazaria island, Sitka, Alaska. Every grassy
bank on the sides of the island was riddled with (their burrows.
On June 17th these burrows contained fresh eggs and on July 7th
the eggs contained large embryos. (Grinnell)

In most cases, perhaps, the single egg is laid on the bare rock
but I found a nest on Walrus island on Aug. 7th which contained
a single incubated egg. This nest was placed between boulders,
was open to the sky and was made of dry sea-weeds and sea-ferns.

It was quite large, about fifteen inches in diameter, scanty in
material, and was practically bare in the centre. (Palmer.)

VI. FRATERCULA Brisson. 1760.
13. Puffin.

Fratercula arctica (LINN.) SCHAFF. 1789.

This species breeds from the Bay of Fundy northward to the
islands in Disco bay, Greenland. It is not recorded from Hudson
bay.

Found. breeding in numbers at Bryon island, one of the Mag-
dalen islands ; in large numbers on Bird rocks; also at Wreck
bay, Anticosti, and on Parroquet island, hear Mingan harbour.
(Brewster.) Resident, found breeding at Seal island, Yarmouth
co., N.S., June, 1906. (A. #. Tufts.) Common on Greenland
coast up to Lat. 70° at least ; breeds plentifully on the Hunde and
Green islands, Disco bay. (Kumelin.) A young bird of this
species was shot on the Ottawa river towards the end of October,
1881. (Ottawa Naturlist, Vol. V.)

16 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

BREEDING Notres.—This species breeds abundantly on Gannet
islands on the coast of Labrador. Mr. Dicks collected for me a
number of eggs on July 2nd, 1895, on these islands. The nests
consisted of holes in the ground and the single egg is laid at the
end of the burrow. (Raine.) Still breeds in comparative abundance
on many of the outlying islands along the Labrador coast.
(Bigelow.)

This bird breeds sparingly at Bryon island, the most northerly
of the Magdalen group, and plentifully on Great Bird rock,
eleven miles distant. J met with three nests at the former place,
23rd June, 1897. One egg was laid in a hole in the crumbling
rock, and at that date incubation had commenced. No nest is

formed, the egg being laid on the bare earth. At Bryon island
the breeding holes are difficult to reach, and as the bird sits

closely there may be more of them than I supposed. One nest
was 1s much as three feet from the entrance to the hole, (Rev.
C.J. Young.) - doors Th

ny al!
13a. Large-billed Puffin. oe

Fratercula arctica naumannt NORTON. 1901.

Coasts and islands of the Arctic ocean from Spitzbergen to
Baffin bay. (A. O. U. Lis.) One obtained at Grand Manan, New
Brunswick. (Awdubon.) Not. common in Greenland ; does not
breed further south than Lat. 63° 30’ N. (Avct. Man.)

BreepinG Hasits.—I have eggs of this species in my collec-
tion which were taken in Greenland, June 2oth, 1889. The eggs
are considerably larger than those of the common puffin,
(Raine.)

14. Horned Puffin.

Fratercula rorniculata (NauM.) BRANDT. 1837.

Coasts and islands of the North Pacific from the Kurile islands
to British Columbia. (4. O. U. List.) Rare at Massett, Queen
Charlotte islands, B.C. (Kermode.) Breeding abundantly on
all the rocky islands in Bering sea. (Nelson.) This species
is abundant on all the shore-line of Alaska south of the Arctic
circle, and in favored localities it abounds in incredible numbers.
All the Aleutian islands with their east and west extensions are a

CY
CATALOGUE CF CANADIAN BIRDS. 17

continuous breeding-ground of these birds for over 1000 miles in
length. The Pribilof islands, St. Matthew and St. Lawrence
islands are also great breeding places. (Turner.) Eight speci-
mens taken at Cape Lisburne, Alaska. (M/cléhenny.) Common
on the Pribilof islands (/. M. Macoun ; Palmer.)

BREEDING Nores.—This mormon comes up from the south
about May toth to the Pribilof islands and always in pairs. It
makes its nests of dried sea-ferns, grass and moss, slovenly laid
together, far back in some deep or rocky crevice, where, when the
egg is laid, it is ninety-nine times out of one hundred cases inac-
cessible. The nest contains but a single egg, large, oblong, oval,
and pure white. (£/“ott.)

The nests of this species are placed on the ledges of the highest
cliffs of those islands where foxes are found, and on islands where
foxes are not found these birds breed generally at the base of the
bh the large rocks which have become detached and
faue io... Their nests are composed of just whatever happens
to be there, be it sticks, stones, or earth, A single egg of clear
white colour is laid on the bare gravel or earth. The egg is very
large for the size of the bird and when cooked is tolerable eating.
The bird sits long at a time on the egg and does no _ leave it until
hunger compels her to seek food. (Zurner.)

VII. CERORHINCA Bonaparte. 1828.
15. Horned-billed Guillemot. Rhinoceros Auklet.

Cerorhinca monocerata (PALL.) Cass. 1858.

Coasts and islands of North Pacific, breeding southward along
the British Columbian coast. (A. O.U. List.) Found in the Gulf
of Georgia and breeds on the islands around Vancouver island.
(Lord.) Coasts of Vancouver island. (2. Brown.) Bischoff
secured nine specimens of this species at Sitka during the Tele-
graph Exploration. (Melson.) Two pairs of these auks were
taken out in the bay at Sitka, Alaska, July 21st, by an Indian and
several more were seen. The state of the reproductive organs
and the bare area on the breast indicated that these birds were
incubating, though where I did not ascertain. (Gvennell.)

a)

18 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

VIII. PTYCHORAMPHUS Branpr. 1837.

16. Cassin Auklet.
Ptychoramphus aleuticus (PALL.) BRANDT. 1837.

Pacific coast of North America from the Aleutian islands to
Lat. 49°. (A. O. U. List.) Breeds on the Aleutian islands and is
rather common on some of them. (Zurner.) This species was
seen in the Gulf of Georgia between Salt Spring island and
Nanaimo and one shot May 7, 1887. (MJacoun.) Seen in numbers
and one shot on Queen Charlotte sound. (Dr. G. M. Dawson.)

IX. CYCLORRHYNCHUS Kavp. 1829.
17. Paroquet Auklet.

Cyclorvhynchus psittaculus (PALL.) STEJN. 1884 .

A single adult male was taken at Sitka, Alaska, June 8th, 1897,
by Mr. Frobese and presented to me. It was the only one seen,
( Grinnell.)

This species is extremely common in Bering strait and south-
ward through the whole length of the Aleutian islands as well as
on the Pribilof islands, St. Matthew and St. Lawrence islands.
(Nelson,) Abundant on the Aleutian islands, and breeds in ail
suitable places. (Zurner.) Common on the Pribilof islands,
(J. M. Macoun.)

BREEDING NotEes.—It comes to the Pribilof islands early in
May, mute and silent, locating its nest in a deep chink or crevice
of some inaccessible cliff, where it lays a single egg, of a pure
white colour and oblong-ovate in shape, on the bare rock or earth.
(Elhott.) On Walrus island they lay their solitary egg under the
boulders like the puffins. The burrows on St. Paul island, as far
as I saw, were excavated in the volcanic cinders overlying the
rocky bluffs so that the entrance was always at the edge of the
cliff with the rock as a floor. (Palmer.)

X. SIMORHYNCHUS Merrem. 1819.

18. Crested Auklet.

Simorhynchus cristatellus (PALL.) Bonar. 1838.

Breeding in great numbers on the islands in Bering strait,
but their breeding grounds are the whole of the Aleutian islands ;

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. fe)

nesting on cliffs among loose stones, only one egg to each bird.
(Nelson.) Only observed on two occasions at St. Michael ; in
considerable numbers at Bristol bay, Alaska; and among the
Aleutian islands extremely abundant. (Zurner.) Found in num-
bers on the Pribilof islands. (/. AZ, Macoun.)

BREEDING Hasits.—This bird makes its appearance early in
May and repairs to chinks and holes in the rocky cliffs, or deep
down below rough basaltic shingle or a large boulder, to deposit
its egg, upon the bare earth or rock. Its egg is pure white and
rather rough with frequent discolorations. (Z//ott.)

19. Whiskered Auklet.

Simorhynchus pygmaeus (GMEL.) BRANDT. 1869.

Coasts and islands of the North Pacific from Unalaska through
the Aleutian chain to Kamchatka. (4. O. U. List.) Breeds
abundantly on the Nearer and Commander islands. (WVedson.)
Breeding on Atka island, 1879. (Zurner.) ,

20. Least Auklet

Simorhynchus pusillus (PALL.) CovEs. 1862.

Coasts and islands of the North Pacific, from Sitka and Japan
northward. (A. O. U. List.) The most abundant water-fowl in
Bering sea. Breeding in immense numbers on the Aleutian
islands. It lays a single white egg under loose boulders in a
crevice on the cliff. (Ve/son.) Common along the whole chain
of Aleutian islands and as far east as Kadiak ; abundant on St.
George island in Bering sea. (7urner.) One specimen taken
at Point Barrow, Alaska. ((Mclihenny.)

BreEDinc Notes.—They breed in greatest numbers on about
five miles square of basaltic shingle on St. George island. They
make no nest, but lay a single egg far down below amongst the
loose rocks. The pure white egg is exceedingly variable in size
and shape, usually oblong-oval with the smaller end pointed.
(Elfiott.) A very full description of this bird and its habits is
given by Palmer in his ‘ Birds of the Pribilof Islands.”

2%

20 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

XI. SYNTHLIBORAMPHUS Branpr. 1837.
21. Ancient Murrelet. Grey-headed Auk.

Synthlibovamphus antiquus. (GMEL.) BRANDT, 1837.

St. George island, one of the Pribilof group, and at Sitka;
breeds abundantly on the Nearer islands where a few are resident;
also at the Chica islets, in Akutan pass, near Unalaska. (JVe/son.)
One specimen obtained at Atka island, June 12th, 1879; breeds
in holes made in the turf in the northeast part of the island.
(Turner.) Sitka bay, Alaska. (Dr. Bean.) One specimen taken
at Cape Beale, on the west coast of Vancouver island in Novem-
ber, 1888. (Fannin.) Not common; west coast of Vancouver
island and taken in the straits near Victoria. Rev. J. H. Keen
reports it rare on Queen Charlotte islands. (Kermode.)

BreepinGc Hapits.—I have a series of 20 eggs of this bird that
were taken on Sannak island, Alaska, on June 26th, 1894. Up
to that time very few eggs of this bird had been taken. Mr.
Littlejohn found the nests under bunches of rank, matted grass,
the nests consisting of a slight excavation, and the eggs resting
on a few blades of grass. The eggs of this species consist of
two to the clutch and are unlike the eggs of any other sea-bird.
The ground colour is a deep buff, with small longitudinal
markings of light-brown and lavender-grey, size, 2.35x1.45. The
bird sits close on its eggs and in some cases has to be forced off
the nest with a stick. (Razne.)

I was informed that this species breeds plentifully on Atka
island, one of the Aleutian islands. They breed in holes made
In the turf or sod overhanging the brow of the cliffs. (Zurner.)

XII. BRACHYRAMPHUS Branpr. 1837.
23. Marbled Murrelet.

Brachyramphus marmoratus (GMEL.) BRANDT. 1837.

Large numbers of this species were taken at Sitka by Bischoff;
Dall found them in the Aleutian islands ; and the writer found
them near Unalaska in May, 1877. They probably reach their
northern limit in this chain, where they breed. (We/son.) Common
and breeds on several of the islands of Kachimak bay, Alaska.

‘ CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 21

(A. J. Stone.) Found in small flocks in Sitka bay, Alaska. (Dr.
Bean.) One adult male taken at Orca, Prince William sound,
Alaska. (Gyrinnell.) An abundant resident along the coast of
British Columbia ; breeds on Vancouver island and on some of
the smaller islands in the Gulf of Georgia and on inlets of the
mainland. (aznin.) Abundant in Burrard inlet, B.C., in April,
1889 ; shot on Barclay sound, Vancouver island, August, 1887.
(Macoun.) Common in the bay at Douglas, B.C., April, 1906.
(Spreadborough.)

24. Kittlitz Murrelet.

Brachyvamphus brevirostris, ViGoRS 1828.

The first example of this rare bird known to exist in any
American museum was secured by the writer in Unalaska harbour
the last of May, 1877. (Velson.) One specimen was obtained
April 24th, 1879 at Iliuliuk village, Unalaska island—said by
the Indian who brought it to me to be abundant throughout the
year at Sannak island, breeding there: not rare on Amchitka
island and in the neighbourhood of Old harbour, on Atka island,
‘Aleutian islands. (Zurner.) One adult male in breeding plumage
was taken by Stone opposite Homer, Alaska, 1903. This capture
»ppears to extend the known range of this species some 700
miles to the eastward, it apparently not having been previously
recorded east of Unalaska. (Chapman.) Three specimens of this
rare murrelet were taken by C. L. McKay at Point Etolin, near
Nushagak, Alaska, April 3rd, 1883. (Osgood.)

BREEDING Nores.—The native who brought me the specimen
mentioned above told me the bird laid a single pure white egg.
The nest is placed amongst the roots of the large tussocks of
grass on the edges of bluff and cliff ledges. (Zzrner.)

XIII. CEPPHUS Patras. 1769.
27. Black Guillemot.

Cepphus grylle (Linn.) BREHM. 1831.

This species is common along the Atlantic coast from the Bay
of Fundy (Chamberlain ; Downs) northward to Newfoundland
(Reeks), and very numerous on both coasts of Greenland, and

22 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA,

said to remain longer than any other bird. Plentiful on Melville
peninsula, but not so common in the Polar sea. (Arct. Man.)
Everywhere common on Ellsemere island. It was found nesting
in many places among old heaps of stones. (4. Bay.) Generally
distributed, but nowhere breeding in numbers in the Gulf of St.
Lawrence (Bvewster.) Breeding in abundance on all suitable
islands in northeastern Labrador. I was unable to discover any
trace whatever of the Mandt guillemot, although Turner reports it
abundant on the east coast. (Bigelow.) Common in Hudson
strait ; also east and south shores of Labrador. (Packard.) A
few seen on the west coast of James bay in 1903. (Spreadborough.)
Breeds abundantly in scattered colonies on most of the Magdalen
islands. (Bishop.) Breeds at Seal island, Yarmouth co., N.S.
(7. F. Tuts.) Seen throughout the year on Prince of Wales
sound, Hudson strait. (Payne.) Common at Quebec. (Deonne.)
One shot in Burlington bay, Hamilton, Ontario, many years ago.
(Mcllwraith.) One record at Toronto, Ont., a female taken
Dec. Ig9th, 1895. It is possible that this bird is C. mandti, as its
beak is small and its plumage very white. (/. A. Fleming.)

BreEpinc Notes.—A large series of eggs of this bird was
collected for me by Mr. Dicks on Pig island, coast of Labrador,
June 20th, 1895. Another large series was collected for me in
Ungava bay, Labrador, on July 9th, 1896. This bird lays two
eggs in crevices of sea cliffs. J have also eggs in my collection
collected on Grand Manan, New Brunswick. (Raine.) This is a
common species in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, breeding in suitable
localities as far west as the mouth of the Saguenay. Numbers of
them breed on the Magdalen islands as well as near Tignish, at
the west point of Prince Edward island. On the 23rd and 24th
June, 1897, we found a number of their eggs in the cliffs of Bryon
island. The eggs were mostly fresh, or only incubated a few
days at that date. Each bird lays two eggs ina crevice of the
rock, sometimes as much as two or three feet in. No nest is
formed, the eggs being laid on the bare earth. They do not vary
much, but where the soil is damp and its colour red they soon
become stained and discoloured. This was the commonest
species of sea-fowl I found breeding at the above islands, though
on the Bird rocks several other species are more plentiful. (Rev,
C. J. Young.)

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 23
28. Mandt Guillemot.
Cepphus mandti (Licut.) Bonar. 1856.

This species abounds in the Arctic seas and straits from Mel-
ville island down to Hudson bay. (Réchardson.) Occurs occa-
sionally in Hudson strait; plentiful on the eastern coast of
Labrador ; also at Fort George, James bay. (Fackard.) Severn
house, Hudson bay. (4.7. Seton.) Quite common in Hudson bay:
remaining the whole year, wintering out in the open water.
Breeds in large numbers on the outer islands, under loose stones
and boulders, laying one or more, commonly two, eggs. They
nest in cavities under rocks and boulders, one, two, or very seldom
three eggs being the full set. They nest late, none of the twelve
eggs collected being taken before July roth. The ground colour
of the eggs is greenish white to chalky white, with large and
small spots and blotches of black, umber and lilac, most numerous
and largest at the larger end. (A. P. Low.) This species occurs
on the arctic and Bering sea coasts of Alaska and about the
islands in these waters. (JVelson.) Occurs rarely at St. Michael ;
not observed on the Aleutian islands. (Zurner.) Rare during
the season of open water at Point Barrow, but in November and
December they were seen in small flocks. (Murdoch.)

29. Pigeon Guillemot. Western Guillemot,

Cepphus columba PaLi. 1826.

This species is one of the most numerous among the larger
water-fowl of Alaska. It occurs in great abundance wherever the
coast is bordered by bold headlands or where there are precipitous
islands. Breeds abundantly throughout the whole region. (Ve/son.)
Q@ccurs sparingly at St. Michael, but is abundant on the Aleutian
islands and breeds in great numbers on the newly upheaved island
of Bogoslov. (Zurner.) An abundant resident from Race rocks,
Strait of Juan de Fuca, to Alaska ; breeds throughout its range.
(Fannin.) In large flocks in Burrard inlet, B. C., in April, 1889.
(Macoun.) Common on the bay at Douglas, B.C., April, 1906.
(Spreadborough.)

This is the most abundant water bird about Queen Charlotte
islands, B.C. It breeds in crevices of the rocks along the shores

24 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

of quiet inlets. In many of these places the branches of the trees
overhang the rocks and almost touch the water at high tide, so
that when the birds are startled from their nests it is possible to
observe the strange circumstance of a guillemot flying out of a
tree. In frequent instances nesting sites are chosen in and about
clefts of the rocks under the roots of large trees. (Osgood.)

XIV. URIA Brisson. 1760.

30. Common Guillemot. Murre.

Uria troile (Linn.) LATH. 1790.

Common in winter at Grand Manan, Bay of Fundy. (Cham-
berlain) and on the coast of Nova Scotia. (Downs.) Very common
and breeding on the islands off the north coast of Newfoundland
and Labrador. (Reeks.) Common on the eastern and southern
coasts of Labrador, not observed in Hudson strait. (Packard.)
A few breed in Greenland. (Ave. Man.) Found breeding in only
two localities in the Gulf of St. Lawrence—at Bird rocks and
Parroquet islands. (Bvewster.) Found at the Mingan islands.
(Dionne.) Common in Hudson bay. (Richardson.) Sometimes
found after a storm on Burlington bay, Ont. (Mell. raith.)
Richardson’s reference should probably go under the Brinnich
murre.

BREEDING Notes.—Mr. Dicks collected for me a large series of
eggs of this bird at Gannet islands, coast of Labrador, July 2nd,
1895. It lays one large egg on ledges of the sea-cliff. (Razne.)

30a. California Guillemot. Murre.

Uria troile californica (BRYANT) RipGw. 1884.

An abundant resident along the entire Aleutian chain and the
mainland coast of the Pacific. Elliott, Palmer and J. M. Macoun .
found them to occur on the Pribilof islands in small numbers.

Birds and eggs have been taken at Sitka and Kadiak island,
(Nelson.) Observed as far north as St. Matthew island. (Zurner.)
One specimen collected on King island, Point Barrow. (Mc/hen-
ny.) Abundant in Cook inlet, Alaska. (Drv. Bean.) The same
distribution as the pigeon guillemot but not nearly so abundant ;
appears to be more common, however, at Victoria, B.C., in the

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 25

winter months. (Fannin.) Several were seen in the Hecate
strait a few miles off the mouth of Cumshewa inlet, Queen
Charlotte islands, July 12th, 1899. They were apparently direct-
ing their course for the Skedans islands at the mouth of the
inlet, where they probably breed. ( Osgood.)

31. Brunnich Murre. Thick-billed Guillemot.

_ Oria lomvia (Linn.) Bryant. 1861.

Abundant in the Bay of Fundy during winter. (Chamberiain.)
Quite common along the coast of Newfoundland. (Reeks.)
Doubtless the commonest bird on the Greenland coast, but said
not to breed farther south than Lat. 64° N. (Arct. Man.) Plenti-
ful on the eastern and southern shores of Labrador, where it
resides and breeds. (Packard.) Common everywhere in the north
where the coasts are sufficiently high to afford nesting places.
Not common in the northwest part of Hudson bay, owing to the
low shores. Seen in numbers at the mouth of Fox channel and
in Hudson strait. Plentiful on the Greenland coast as far north
as Smith sound. Common along Ellsemere and North Devon
and southward along east coast of Baffin. Breeds in great num-
bers at Cape Wolstenholme, Digge island and other places in
Hudson strait. Remains in the open water of Hudson bay
throughout the winter, numbers having been killed at that time
at Fullerton. (A. P. Low.) Most common in the neighborhood
of Cobourg island where it certainly nests ; otherwise not often
seen about Ellsemere island. (4. Bay.) Breeds abundantly on
Great Bird rock, Magdalen islands. (Béshop.) This guillemot
frequents the most remote arctic American seas that have been
visited, Greenland and Hudson bay, and goes south in winter.
(Richardson.) From Resolution island to Grinnell bay and Fro-
bisher strait they are common, even as far as the mouth of
Cumberland gulf, but apparently rare in its waters. There are
large breeding places about capes Mercy and Walshingham ; the
largest ‘‘rookety ” being on the Padlic islands in Exeter sound.
(Kumelin.)

A bird that has become plentiful the last few years in places
between Kingston and Brockville. They usually appear in the
month of December, and as they are very tame and come almost

26 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA. +

up to a boat, they are readily slaughtered. Two men killed forty
in a short time near Rockport, Ont., in December, 1896, just before
the River St. Lawrence froze up. None of the common species
have been observed in this locality. This bird was seen about
Kingston, July 8th, 1897, and was captured. The nearest breed-
ing ground is the Bird rocks, 1,200 miles away. (Rev. C. J. Youug.)

The first record I know of this species for Toronto was a speci-
men shot in the bay on November 2gth, 1893; it is now in my
collection. From this date to the middle of December the birds
were abundant, about forty being killed. For the next ten years
the birds were noted annually in November and December, but in
decreasing numbers, none surviving very long. The remarkable
facts marking the migrations from 1893 to 1897 were the utter
absence of food in the stomachs of all specimens examined, their
weak condition, and the ease with which they were procured.
Many were found dead on the lake shore—presumably from lack
of food. The migration of this maritime species into the fresh
waters of the Great Lakes was soremarkable and accompanied by
so many unusual features that a fuller account has been published
in the Proceedings of the International Ornithological Congress,
London, 1905. (/. A. Fleming.)

In December, 1897, there were many large flocks of this species
seen around Ottawa and numerous specimens were taken. No
such migration had been recorded in previous years. (d/acoun.)

Seventeen specimens taken at Point Barrow by Mcllhenny are
referred here by Witmer Stone. Murdoch’s reference under
U. lomvia arra should probably go here also.

BREEDING NotEs.—Breeds in countless numbers at Cape Wol-
stenholme, Hudson bay, also in lesser numbers on Digge island
and at Cape Hopes Advance. Their nesting places are on the
upturned edges of the ledges, where they straddle their solitary
egg in myriads and when disturbed by the discharge of a gun rise
so quickly that many of the eggs are dislodged, and fall into the
sea. They remain on the bay all the year wintering in the open
water. (A. P. Low.)

3la. Pallas Murre. Western Thick-billed Guillemot.

Uria lomvia arra(Pau.) Ripew. 1884.
Wherever the coasts and islands of Alaska are bordered by
rugged cliffs and rocky declivities, this bird is found in great

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 27

abundance. It occurs at Kadiak and along the adjacent coasts
from Sitka to the peninsula of Alaska. Common around the
Pribilof islands and the other islands in Bering sea, and in
Norton sound ; it breeds in small numbers in Chamisso inlet and
Kotzebue sound and on the cliffs near Cape Lisburne. (/Vedsoz.)
Extremely abundant at Bogoslov where they breed in millions,
and throughout the Aleutian islands. (Zurner.) Only reaches
Point Barrow as a rare straggler. (Murdoch.)

BREEDING Notss.-—This bird lays its single egg upon the points
and narrow shelves on the faces of the cliff fronts of the Pribilof
islands, straddling over the eggs side by side, as thickly as they
can crowd, making no nests. Its curious straddling by which the
egg is warmed and hatched lasts nearly twenty-eight days and
then the young comes out with a dark, thick coat of down, which is
supplanted by the plumage and colour of the old bird, in less than
six weeks. (Ad/ott.) See Palmer, ‘The Birds of the Pribilof
Islands ” for full account of this bird.

At Eggisland, about ten miles from the entrance of St.
Michael harbour many of these birds breed every year on the
bluffs and ledges. The egg is laid on the bare rock without any
pretence of a nest. Only one egg is laid in a season if undis-
turbed, but will be renewed if the season is not too far advanced,
The egg is very large, having a bluish-green ground with dark-
brown mottlings of variable outline. (Zurner.)

XV. ALCA Linnzus. 1758.

32. Razor-billed Auk.
Alca torda Linn. 1758.

Occurs occasionally near Point Lepreaux and Partridge island ;
also common near the Grand Manan, N.B. (Chamberlain.) Not
very common in Nova Scotia in winter. (Downs.) Common
throughout the summer and autumn along the Newfoundland
shores. (Reeks.) Not observed in Hudson strait ; abundant and
breeding on the eastern and southern shores of Labrador.
(Packard.) Abundant on the northeastern coast of Labrador.
( Bigelow.) Not rare in west Greenland, but unknown in eas
Greenland. (Arct. Man.) Breeds, but not in large numbers, on

28 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

the Great Bird rock, Bryon island and Entry island, Magdaler
islands, Gulf of St. Lawrence. (Béskop.) Common along the
St. Lawrence at Kamouraska, Que. (Dzonne.) Common from the
middle Labrador coast to Frobisher strait ; they are not founc
in Cumberland gulf, but are by no means rare on the west coas’
of Greenland. (Kumelin.)

The first notice we have of the occurrence of this species ir
Ontario is in the published proceedings of the Canadian Institute
The specimen there recorded was taken on December Ioth, 1889
a second specimen was taken near the west end of Lake Ontaric
in November, 1871, and Mr. J. H. Fleming mentions another a:
having been taken near Hamilton, Ont.

BREEDING NotTeEs.—This species breeds abundantly at Ganneti
islands, coast of Labrador. Mr. Dick collected a number of egg:
for me on July 2nd, 1895. Like the common murre, this bird lays
its egg on a ledge of the sea-cliff. This species, like the black o1
pigeon guillemot, sometimes lays two eggs, but one is the usua
number. (Aaze.) :

XVI. PLAUTUS Brunnicw. 1772.
33. Great Auk.

Plautus impennis (LINN.) STEENSTR. 1855.

Formerly very abundant around Newfoundland, but now extinct
Last living specimen seen in 1852 ; a dead specimen picked up in

Trinity bay, 1853. (Reeks.) First discovered in Greenland in
"1574. (Aret. Man.)

XVII. ALLE Linx. 1806.
34. Dovekie. Little Auk.

Alle alle (LINN.) STEJN. 1885.

Winter resident at Grand Manan, N.B. (Chamberlain.) For.
merly common but now rare along Nova Scotia. (Downs.) A
very common periodical migrant in October along the Newfound-
land coast. (Reeks.) Common in Hudson strait ; occurs plenti-
fully along the eastern coast of Labrador. (Packard.) Said tc
breed no further south in Greenland than Lat.68° N.; common in

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 29

Baffin bay but rare in the Polar sea. (Avct. Man.) Not common
in Hudson bay or strait. Found therein the winter, but rarely
seen in the summer. Very abundant along the north Greenland
coast, less so along the western side of Baffin bay. Seen in Lan-
caster sound. (4. P. Low.) Ellsemere island. Commonest in
Kane basin. (£. Bay.) Common on the coast of Labrador off
Resolution island, Grinnell bay and Frobisher strait, but did
not see any in Cumberland gulf; they are abundant off Exeter
sound and to the northward on the west coast of Baffin bay.
(Kumelin.) Godbout, River St. Lawrence, Quebec. (Dionne.) A
dovekie was shot Nov. 18th, 1901, by H. Macdonald, a fisherman,
two miles out in the lake from Toronto, Ont. Iwas present when
he opened the stomach, which was empty except for a few small
fish bones. It was a female and evidently a young bird. (/. #.
Ames.)

BREEDING Nores.-—I have a number of the eggs of this bird from
Iceland. Dr. Shufeldt has stated in his “Comparative Orders of
North American Birds” that this bird lays two eggs, but my col-
lector in Iceland has never found more than one egg to a clutch,
and has been collecting for fifteen years. Most British ornitho-
logical writers state this bird lays only one egg. It deposits its
single pale greenish-blue egg in crevices of the sea-cliffs. Breeds
in Greenland on Smith sound. (Aazne.)

OrnpER. LONGIPENNES. Lone-winceD SWIMMERS.
Famity IV. STERCORARIIDA, Sxkuas anv JAEGERS.
XVII. MEGALESTRIS Bonaparte. 1856.
35. The Common Skua.

Megalestris skua (BRUNN.) Ripew. 1880.

Seen twice on the south coast of Greenland by Holbeell. (Aret.
Man.) One seen sitting in ‘the water in the straits of Belle Isle.
June 22nd, 1882. (Packard.) Not very common in winter and
spring around Nova Scotia. (Dowzs.) Seen off the coast of New
Brunswick. (Adams.) Occasional in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
(Dionne.) Great Slave lake, very rare. (Aoss.) Appears to be
of frequent occurrence on “ The George’s,’’ Newfoundland, and on

30 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA

the Nova Scotian banks in winter; seen near Lady Frankli
island, Hudson strait, in Sept.; they then had young ones on th:
rocks. (Kumelin.)

XIX. STERCORARIUS Brisson 1760.

36. Pomarine Jaeger.

Stercorarius pomarinus (TEMM.) VIEILL. 1819.

Said to be the commonest species of the genus in the north
breeds in northern Greenland and has been seen at the Parn
islands and Regent inlet. (Avcz. Man.) A rare autumn visito
along the whole Atlantic coast of Canada and Gulf of St. Law
rence. This bird is occasionally seen in company with the larg.
gulls which spend a short time during the severity of the winte
around the west end of Lake Ontario. (Mcllwvaith.) Great Slav
lake, very rare. (Ross.) Not uncommon in the Arctic seas an
northern outlets of Hudson bay where it subsists on putrid fish ; i
goes south in winter reaching Hudson bay in May. (Richardson.
Taken at Fort Churchill, Hudson bay, 1845. (Dr. Gillespie, Jr.
Rather common on Hudson bay in the summer of 1899 but n
breeding place seen. (4. P. Low.) These birds were first observe:
at Bonne bay, Newfoundland, in August, and from this poin
northward to lat. 71° they were common at nearly all point:
and from Belle Isle to Hudson strait they were abundan
(Kumelin.)

One specimen taken near Victoria, Vancouver islanc
October 22nd, 1898. (Kermode.) A rare visitor on the Pribilc
islands. Mr. Elliott found one and Mr. C.H. Townsend anothe
During the summer of 1890 two were seen on St. George islan
eating the carcases of fur-seals. (Palmer.)

On the Pacific coast they reached the Yukon mouth, May 13t
and became more common until the last of the month; abundar
at St. Lawrence island and everywhere in Bering strait; ver
numerous along the Arctic coast on the borders of the ice pacl
(Welson.) Arrives at St. Michael by the first week in June ; it is
resident of the drier portions of the lowlands, usually solitary, bt
several may be seen together at one time in the neighbourhoo
(Turner.) A regular summer visitor at Point Barrow, but tk
least common of the three species. (Murdoch.)

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 31
37. Parasitic Jaeger.

Stercorarius parasiticus (Linn.) SCHAFF. 1789.

Breeds in both inspectorates of Greenland, but more commonly
in the southern; also on the west coast of Davis strait and in the
Polar sea. (Avrct. Man.) Along the Atlantic coast, in spring and
in autumn, as far south as Grand Manan. (Herrick.) Gulf of
St. Lawrence. (Dionne.) A single specimen was seen July 2oth,
18—, near Mingan harbour. (Brewster.) South to Fort Simpson»
lat. 62° 30’; rare. (Ross.) Not uncommon on the Barren Grounds
and at Franklin bay. Nests occasionally procured in these locali-
ties. (Macfarlane.) This species inhabits the Arctic sea coast of
America. Numerous specimens were taken on Melville peninsula
and North Georgian islands, as well as in Baffin bay. Specimens
were also taken on the Barren Grounds and at Fort Franklin, lat,
65° 15’ N. (Richardson.) Several seen on the west coast of
James bay, May, 1903. (Spreadborough.) Common about Roes
Welcome, where it despoils arctic terns, and seen occasionally in

.the waters to the northward. (A. P. Low.) The stomach contents

of this and the next species (taken in Hudson bay) were bones
and feathers. (4. Halkett.) A specimen of the melanistic form
taken at Fort Churchill, Hudson bay, 1845. (Dr. Gillespie, Jr.)
Occasional spring and autumn visitor to the Great Lakes. (/. Z.
Fleming.) This bird occurs about the entire coast line of Bering
sea, but is most numerous along the low marshy coast of Norton
sound and thence south to the Kuskoquim river. Its breeding
range covers the entire region from the Aleutian islands north to
the extreme part of the mainland. (MWeéson.) A frequent visitor
to the Aleutian islands, and tolerably common at St. Michael.
( Turner.) Not common at Point Barrow; none breed. (Murdoch.)
This species has the same general distribution as the pomarine
jaeger, but isnot socommon. (Kumelin.) One specimen taken
at Victoria, B.C., by Mr.W. L. Gilchrist, Nov., 1897. Another was
taken at Comox by Mr. A.C. Brooks, Sept. 12th, 1903. (Kervmode.)
Several seen at Homer, Cook inlet, Alaska, Aug. 22nd, 1899.
(Osgood.) Casual (on the Pribilof islands). Elliott saw but
four or five examples. He found half-digested berries of Ewpetrum
in their stomachs. (Palmer.)

BreEepinG Notes.—I have a clutch of two eggs that were taken
at Skonntzaz, Greenland, on June 11th, 1890. (azine.)

32 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

Birds in the black plumage are rare in the spring, but are some-
times seen; and at the Yukon mouth, on May 3ist, I found a pair
in this plumage mated. The eggs are laid upon the mossy knolls
or uplands in their haunts about the 5th of June. The nest is
merely a depression in the moss, containing two eggs indistin-
guishable from the next species. (/Vedson.)

38. Long-tailed Jaeger. Buffon Skua.

Stericorarius longicaudus ViE\LL. 1810.

Said not to breed farther south than lat, 70° N,, in Greenland,
(Arct, Man.) A very few of these birds visited the upper waters
of Cumberland gulf in June, 1871, and soon disappeared ; I doubt
if they breed there. (Kwsnelin,) Occasionally seen from Green-
land south along the Labrador coast. (Packard.) Newfoundland.
(Reeks,) Coast of Nova Scotia, (Lowas.) In the Bay of Fundy.
(Boardman,.) Gulf of St. Lawrence. (Déonne,) Occasionally
taken in Hudson bay. (Dr. R, Bell.) Less common than the
former species in Roes Welcome and seen occasionally in the
waters to the northward, (A, /. Low.) South to Lapierre
House on the Mackenzie river. (Ross.) Quite abundant along
the Anderson river and on the Barren Grounds, and also on the.
Arctic coast. (Macfarlane.) Two specimens were shot at Ron-
deau, Lake Erie, October 2nd, 1900, by Mr. F. D, Bates, and
another at the same place by Mr, E, Burk, October 1oth, 1906,
It has not been satisfactorily decided whether this last bird is the
long-tailed or parasitic jaeger, (W. Saunders.) A rare bird at
Aweme, Man, One was taken May 17th, 1903. (Cviddle,) Once
shot and several times seen during September, 1890 and 18g1, at
Sumas lake, B.C. (Brooks.) This is the most common of the
jJaegers on the Alaskan coast ; rare on the Pribilof islands. They
are abundant on the low coast of Bering strait, but, except at
Kotzebue sound, they are not common beyond that point. (WVed-
son.) Arrives earlier at St. Michael and in greater numbers thar.
its congeners ; rarely seen on the eastern Aleutian islands, but a
few pairs are said to breed near St. Michael. (Zurner.) This is
the most common species of jaeger at Point Barrow, and is rather
abundant, but none breed. (Murdoch.)

BREEDING Notes,—The pairing occurs with a great amount
of noisy demonstration on the part of several rivals, but once

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 33

paired the birds keep by themselves and early in June deposit
their eggs in a depression on the mossy top of some knoll upon a
rising ground. (WVeéson.)

Famity V. LARIDAS. Guts anp TERNS.
XX, PAGOPHILA Kavp. 1829,
39. Ivory Gull.
Pagophila alba (Gunn.) CovEs. 1897.

A very rare periodical migrant on the northwest coast of New-
foundland, Three shot in Parson pond, January 1867-68.
(Reeks.) One specimen observed in Halifax harbour, prior to
1869. (Jones.) Rare along the Nova Scotia coast. (Downs.)
An immature bird shot at St, John; a winter visitant at Grand
Manan, N.B. (Chamberlain.) Coast of Labrador. (Dionne.) Seen
on the edge of the ice in Hudson bay, near Great Whale river,
in spring and winter. Occasional birds of this species are seen
in the early summer among the heavy ice on the Atlantic coast
of Labrador and Hudson strait. A young specimen in full
plumage was shot at Fullerton in the end of September. (4. P.
Low.) Occasionally seen on Lake Ontario. I succeeded afte
two season’s work in obtaining a fine specimen of an adult male
by getting the fishermen to attach a long line to the stern of
their boat with a hook at the end baited with cisco. (Wcl/wraith.)
There is reason to believe that this bird is probably a regular
winter visitor to Lake Ontario. (/. A. Fleming.)

Circumpolar: eggs obtained on Cape Krabbe lat. 77° 25’ N.
(Arct. Man.) Often seen on Ellsemere island and probably breeds.
(Z. Bay.) This beautiful gull frequents Davis strait, Baffin bay,
and various parts of the northern shores of the American con-
tinent, breeding in great numbers on the high perforated cliffs
which form the extremity of Cape Parry, in lat. 70°. (Richardson.)
A rare visitor at Point Barrow ; only two being seen in the spring
but more common in the autumn. (Murdoch.) One specimen
taken at Dease lake, Cassiar, B.C.. by Mr. James Porter, in
September, 1889. (Fannin.) One specimen was shot at Lake
Okanagan in November, 1897, by Mr. J. F. Studley. Mr. A.C.
Brooks also reports it from Okanagan. (Kermode.) Very common

3

34 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

in Kingwash fjord and vicinity just before it froze up, for a fer
days only ; none seen in spring ; does not breed in Cumberlan
gulf. (Kwmelin.) One specimen was taken by the natives o
the Pribilof islands in 1895. Perhaps a regular visitor in wintei
(Palmer.)

XXI. RISSA STEPHENS. 1825.

40. Kittiwake Gull.
Rissa tridactyla (LINN.) BoNnap. 1838.

Breeds in both inspectorates, but more commonly in the south
ern part of Greenland. (Avct. Man.) Not common on Ellsemer
island. (£. Bay.) Common along the Atlantic coast, south fror
Greenland, especially in winter. A rather common resident i
New Brunswick. (Chamberlain.) Breeding in considerable number
at Bird rocks and on the limestone cliffsat Wreck bay, Anticost:
(Brewster.) Breeds plentifully on the northern porticas of th
Atlantic coast of Labrador; Verrill reports them breeding i
immense numbers on the eastern and northern shores of Anticosti
(Packard.) Common off Great Whale river, Hudson bay, on th
edge of the ice in the winter of 1898-99; not very common in th
northern part of Hudson bay or elsewhere in the north. (A. #
Low.) By far the most abundant of all the sea-fowl in north
eastern Labrador. (Bigelow.) Quite common on the River St
Lawrence. (Dionne.) Reaching the western end of Lake Ontari
in considerable numbers. (Mc//wraith.)

This species abounds in the interior of the Northwest Territorie
and on the shores of the Arctic sea, where it breeds. (Richardson.
First observed in the Strait of Belle Isle on our outward passagi
in August, 1877; from this point northward they were constanth
with us and extremely abundant until the ice covered the water
they are altogether absent from Cumberland gulf in spring: anc
summer. (Kumelin.)

40a. Pacific Kittiwake. :
Rissa tridactyla pollicaris Ripew. 1884.

Found along the coast of Vancouver island and in the Gulf 0
Georgia. (ZLord.) The entire coast line of Alaska, with all it
numerous islands, both near the mainland and far out at sea, ar

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 35.

inhabited by this beautiful gull ; it nests abundantly at the head
of Norton bay. (Welson.) A common bird at St. Michael when
the ice breaks up after the middle of May, The great breeding
ground of the species is further south; on the Pribilof islands
and some of the western Aleutian islands this species breeds in
thousands ; breeds sparingly at St. Michael. (Zurner.) Osgood,
Grinnell, Palmer and Stone all report this bird as common in the
parts of Alaska visited by them.

BREEDING Nores.—This bird has the same habits as R. drevi-
vostris. In building its nests it uses more grass and less mud-
cement than that species does. The eggs are more pointed at
the smaller end and lighter in ground colour, with numerous
splotches of dark brown. (Edéott.)

-41. Red-legged Kittiwake.
Rissa brevirostris (BRucH) Lawr. 1858.

Seen in considerable numbers at Unalaska, May 26th, 1877;
abundant on the Pribilof islands, especially on St. George
island, where they congregate in thousands and breed. (Welson.)
Not a common bird at St. Michael; the Aleutian and Pribilof
islands are its home. (Zurner.)

BREEDING Hasits.—This bird reaches the Pribilof islands
about May goth for the purpose of breeding. It uses dry grass
and moss cemented with mud which it gathers by the fresh-
water pools and ponds scattered over the islands, The nest is
solidly and neatly put up, both parents working. The nests are
placed on inaccessible shelves and points of mural rocks and can
scarcely be reached except a person be lowered by a rope. Two
eggs are the usual number, though occasionally three will be
found in the nest. The eggs are the size and shape of hens’ eggs
but covered with a dark gray ground spotted and blotched with
sepia spots. (Ediott.)

XXI. LARUS Linnaus. 1758.
42. Glaucous Gull. Burgomaster.

Larus glaucus BRUNN. 1764.

The most common iarge gull in Greenland, breeds with the
other gulls. (Avct. Man.) The commonest guilon Ellsemere

3%

36 GEOLOGICAL’ SURVEY OF CANADA.

island. It breeds on steep cliffs in companies up to 20 pairs,
(Z. Bay.) A few were seen on the river near Moose Factory and
numbers on James bay in 1903. (Spreadborough.) Large numbers
were found breeding on the ledges of high cliffs at Richmond
gulf, Hudson bay, in July, 1898. The common big gull of the
north ; aspecimen opened by Mr. Halkett, had fish bones and
surface amphipods in its stomach. (4. P. Low.) Not rare on
Hudson strait ; breeds plentifully on the eastern and southern
coasts of Labrador. (Packard.) We found burgomasters common
north of Cape Harrison, Labrador, though they never gathered in
flocks. (Bigelow.) Common along the Atlantic coast from Green-
land to Newfoundland. (Reeks.) Southward it is rare and only in
winter. (Jones.) One shot in St. John harbour, N.B. (Chamberlain.)
Common in the river and gulf of St. Lawrence. (D¢zonne ; Dr.
Fall.) On Dec. 2nd, 1905, the watchman at the Dominion
tifle range, Ottawa, took a specimen in immature plumage.
(Z£7frig.) Regular winter resident at Toronto, Ont. Not common.
CU. H. Fleming.) Mr. Will Elson shot a female of the second
year, Feb. Ist, 1906, about six miles west of London, Ont. It
was perched on the remains of a dead cow. (W. Saunders.)
During the winter months this bird is not an infrequent -
visitor to Lake Ontario. It was shot at Toronto in 1884 and
1889. (Mcilwraith. Abundant on Great Slave lake. (Ross.)
A great many of these gulls nest in Cumberland gulf and are
common in other places. (Kumelin.)

Breepinc Notres.—Altogether some twenty nests of this
species were gathered, chiefly on sandy islets in the bays of
Franklin and Liverpool ; a few of these were also tound on
islands in the lower Anderson. Fifteen of the nests contained
two eggs each, but five had as many as three. The nest was
usually a shallow depression in the beach. In one of them we
discovered an egg of the black brant. (Macfarlane.)

In the summer of 1896 this species was found breeding by the.
large lakes in northern Ungava. (Spreadborough.)

42a. Point Barrow Giaucous Gull. Western Glaucous
Gull.

Larus barrovianus Ripcw. 1886.

I shot an immature specimen of this gull in Comox bay, Vancou-
ver island, December 13th, 1903. (Bvooks.) All the islands of

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 37

Bering sea and all its dreary coast line are familiar to this great
gull. In summer it occurs from the Aleutian islands north to the
farthest points reached by the hardy navigators in the adjoining
Arctic ocean. Common in the Yukon delta. (WVéedson.) This
gull is the earliest to arrive at St. Michael ; few breed here, but
on the Aleutian islands it breeds in thousands ; at Karluck, on
Kadiak island, it was in countless thousands in August, I88r-
(Zurner.) Abundant at Point Barrow. (Murdoch.) Abundant at
Cape Lisburne, Arctic sea. (Dy. Bean.) They do not breed on
the Pribilof islands, but in large numbers on Walrus island, about
six miles from St. Paul island, to which island they go to feed on
the dead carcases of seals, and from there they carry food to their
young on Walrus island. It is reported that they destroy the
young seal pups by picking out their eyes, but this is doubtful.
(J. M. Macoun.)

Breepinc Notes.—This bird breeds on Walrus island where
there are no foxes. It builds neat nests of sea-ferns and dry
grass placed among the turfy tussocks on the centre of the island.
It lays early in June three large eggs of a spherically oval shape,
which have a dark-greyish brown ground with irregular patches
of darker brown-black. (4dhott.)

This gull nests in a tussock of grass that may grow in the mid-
die of a pond in the lowlands, otherwise foxes might disturb it.
The nest is built of grass and other material. The eggs are
deposited early in June and are two or three in number. Should
the eggs be removed the parent will renew the complement, but
only one or two will be laid. The period of incubation is about
three weeks. The young are downy and pure white on their first
appearance, but soon change to gray with darker mottlings.
(Turner. )

On June 4th, near St. Michael, the first nest was found. It was
placed on a small islet, a few feet across, in the centre of a broad,
shallow pond. The structure was formed of amass of moss and
grass, piled up a foot or more high, with a base three feet across,
and with a deep central depression lined with dry grass. There
was a single egg. The female as she sat on the nest was visible a
mile away, and not the slightest opportunity was afforded for
concealment on the broad surrounding flat. Other nests were of

38 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

the same character and contained from one to three eggs. (/Velson.)
Mr. Macfarlane’s note under Z. glaucus probably refers to this
species.

43. Iceland Gull. White-winged Guli.

Larus leucopterus FaBER. 1882.

Breeds in both inspectorates of Greenland, but more commonly
in the southern; also observed on the east coast, and said to
breed on the Parry islands. (Ave¢t. Man.) Common in the autumn
and winter from Greenland to Newfoundland. (Reeks.) Rare on
the coast of Nova Scotia. (Downs.) A pair shot in St, John
harbour in 1881. (Chamberlain.) Godbout river, St. Lawrence
river, CQluebec. (Déonne.) A single specimen taken at Toronto
December 12th, 1898 is in the collection of Mr. J. H. Ames. (/.Z.
Fleming.)

Several nests of this species, and the parent bird, were procured
on the shores of Franklin bay, arctic coast, early in July, 1863
and 3864. (Macfarlane.) During Captain Ross’s and Sir Edward
Parry’s first voyages many specimens of this gull were obtained
in Davis strait, Baffin bay, and at Melville island. (2zchardson.)
This species is far less common in Cumberland gulf than the
glaucous gull ; on the Greenland coasts, however, it is the most
common species except the kittiwake. (Kzmelin.) .

44. Glaucous-winged Gull.

Larus glaucescens Naum. 1840.

An abundant resident in British Columbia; breeds on some of
the islands in the Gulf of Georgia ; frequents our harbours during
the winter months. (/amin.) An abundant winter resident in
the lower Fraser valley and on Lake Okanagan, B.C. (Bvooks.)
Abundant in Burrard inlet, B. C., in April, 1889 ; very abundant
in the Gulf of Georgia from Victoria to Comox in April, 1887.
(Macoun.) Common in the bay at Douglas, B. C., April, 1906;
most of them left before May. (Spreadborough.)

A breeding colony of about 100 of these gulls was found on an
islet in Houston Stewart channel, Queen Charlotte islands, B.C.
Fresh eggs, as well as young just hatched, were observed there

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 39

July 3rd, 1899. Very few large gulis were seen elsewhere about
the islands, but they were said to breed on the west coast of
Moresby island. (Osgood.)

During May, 1877, this bird was abundant about Unalaska, and
also upon the Akutan and Sannak islands to the east. It breeds
abundantly on the Near islands, and has been taken at Sitka and
Kadiak, and extends south to California. The centre of abund-
ance of this species during summer may be located along the
Aleutian islands. (elson.) Occurs sparingly at St. Michael, but
is more common on the Aleutian islands and Kadiak. (Zuvner.)
Common at Port Clarence, Alaska. (Dr. Bean.) The common
gull of Sitka, Alaska, and the only one found breeding there. Two
adults were taken at Orca, Prince William sound. (Gvréamnedl.)
Reported by Stone to be quite common at Homer, Alaska, and a
few specimens seen at Seldovia. (Chapman.)

BREEDING Notes.—The usual nesting places of this gull are
the faces of rugged cliffs, at whose base the waves are continually
breaking, and where the coast exposes its wildest and most broken
outline. On the other hand, Mr. Dall relates that about the 18th
of July, at Coal harbour, on the Shumagins, on a peculiar, high,
round island, abundance of eggs were found, but most of them
pretty well incubated. In this case, the island being covered with
tall rank grass, the nests were almost concealed, and, either from
the dead grass naturally occurring in the depressions, or otherwise,
all of them had more or less dry grass in and about them. The
gulls built solely on the top of the highest part of the island, in
the grass, and never on the lower portions near the shore, nor on
the shelves of the rocky and precipitous sides. (WVelson.) The
nests found near Sitka were slight hollows in the ground among
the tall grass on the highest parts of the islands. These nest-
hollows contained a slight lining of dry grasses. Two or three
eggs constituted a set. (Grinnell.)

45. Kumlien Gull.

Larus kumlient BREwsvT. 1883.

This species is quite common in the upper waters of Cumber-
land gulf, where it breeds; arrived with the open water and
soon began nesting ; the nest was placed on the shelving rocks

40 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

on high cliffs; two pairs nested very near our harbour, but the
nests were torn down by the ravens. (Kumelin.) A few speci-
mens taken in the Bay of Fundy, N. B. (Chamberlain). North
Atlantié coast of North America. (A. O. U. List.)

46. Nelson Gull.

Larus nelsoni HENSH. 1884.

Type specimen captured at St. Michael, June 20th, 1877.
(Nelson.) One male specimen was taken at Point Barrow. (Mc-
Ithenny.)

47. Great Black-backed Gull.

Larus marinus LINN. 1758.

Breeds generally throughout Danish Greenland, but most
commonly between lat. 63° and 68° N. (Arct. Man.) Common
in northeastern Labrador. Rather less so than the burgomaster.
Breeding commonly. (Bigelow.) A large colony seen on the
high cliffs of Cumming creek, North Devon, and in other inaccess-
ible places on the northern islands. (4. P. Low.) A not uncom-
mon migrant along the snores of Cape Breton island, N.S.
(Townsend.) Common along the Atlantic coast, and Chamberlain
says it resides in New Brunswick. Common in the Gulf of St.
Lawrence and ascending the riverto Lake Ontario where it is
occasionally seen. One has been seen in the vicinity of Ottawa,
Ont. Fleming says the earliest Toronto record is Sept. 18th, the
latest, May 26th.

BREEDING NoTEs.—This species breeds on Gannet island, coast
of Labrador, where Mr. Dicks collected for me a number of
clutches on June 15th, 1895. The nests were built on the rocks
and made of sea-weed and usually contained three eggs each.
Sometimes only two eggs are found inanest. (Raine.) Reeks
says that in Newfoundland it builds its nest of grass or rushes
most commonly in fresh-water ponds or lakes; it is said to breed
commonly in Labrador and Brewster saw young on Anticosti and
believes it breeds there. Jones says it breeds on islands off the
coast of Nova Scotia.

A colony numbering some 50 or Ico birds nest yearly at Methol
lake, Kings co., N.S.; the lake is shallow and numerous granite

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 4!

boulders rise above the surface. Upon these rocks the nests
consisting of mosses and grass are built, usually one to each rock;
but two or more if room for them. Two or three of the small
islands in Gaspereau lakes are also used for breeding places.
One island, upon which there were two nests, was not more than
15 yards long by 10 wide and at its highest point not more than
4 feet above the water. (A. F. Ti/ts.)

48. Slaty-backed Gull.

Larus schistisagus STEJN. 1884.

In September, 1880, Capt. C. L. Hooper, of the “Corwin,” took
the first example of this bird known from the west coast of Am-
erica, at the Diomede islands, Bering strait. (/Vedson.) Abund-
ant, feeding at tre mouth of the river falling into the head of
Chernoffsky bay, Unalaska, October Ist, 1880. (Dr. Bean.) As
Stejneger found it breeding on the Asiatic coast, it is doubtless
commoner than its present limited known range indicates.

49. Western Gull.

Larus occidentalis AuD. 1839.

Found along the Vancouver island coast and in the Gulf of
Georgia. (Zord.) A resident cf British Columbia; very abund-
ant on the coast during the winter months; found breeding in the
Similkameen valley. (Fanin.) Common in Burrard inlet in
April, 1889; large flocks were seen at Comox, May 2nd, 1887, and
afew between Comox and Nanaimo Vancouver Island on May

6th. (Macoun.)
50. Siberian Gull.

Larus affinis REINH. 1853.

Northern Asia. Accidentalin southern Greenland. (Ridgwway.)
Only North American as occurring in Alaska and accidentally in
Greenland. (Cowes.)

51. Herring Gull.

Larus argentatus BRUNN. 1764.

Exceedingly rare bird in Greenland and not known to have
occurred further north than Gotthaab, (Avct. Man.)

42 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

This species is the most widely diffused of all our gulls and is
as much at home breeding in the far inland lakes as along the
_ coast of the Atlantic, around Hudson bay, along the shores of the
Arctic seas or onthe upper Yukon. We have records of its breeding
in Newfoundland, Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Que-
bec, Ontario, Manitoba, throughout the whole prairie .region and
north to Hudson bay and the Arctic sea, and across the Rocky
mountains to the upper Yukon, where Dall found it breeding in
numbers. Fannin reports it breeding on the coast of British
Columbia and also in the interior.

BreEepinc Notes.—Breeding in large numbers on an island in
Crane lake, Sask., between Juné gth-18th, 1894. Nest, a shallow
hole in the ground lined with dry grass and weeds. Eggs, three
as arule; never more. A number of the young were hatched by
June oth, but the greater number about the 18th, when many
young were running about the island, and some took to the water
and swam away. The men on Crane Lake farm said that the old
birds killed gophers (Spermophilus Richardsont) and fed them to
their young. (Spreadborongh.) This species breeds in numbers at
Buffalo lake, Alberta. (Dzppze.)

I found this species breeding abundantly at Shoal lake, Mani-
toba, on June 18th, 1894. The nests were built on the ground on
the islands, were composed of weeds, and contained three eggs
each. (Raine.)

The herring gull is acommon species along the St. Lawrence.
A few years ago it used to breed on Pigeon island and the Lower
Ducks, Lake Ontario, but owing to constant disturbance it no
longer breeds in those places, and I doubt if any now nest around
Lake Ontario. It is still plentiful in the neighbourhood of Parry
Sound, Lake Huron, and on other lakes in northern Ontario.
(Rev. C. J. Young.)

This gull breeds on the small islands off the coast of Bruce
co., Ont., in the Georgian bay and off Manitoulin island. Nest
in a dry situation. The fishermen take the eggs for food in con-
siderable quantities. I have one egg taken by them which is of
a light blue colour, and unspotted. No eggs that I saw were other
than this species, though it seems probable that the ring-billed
gull, which is very common in Georgian bay, may also breed in
the same localities. (W. Saunders.)

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 43

In July, 1868, the writer found this species breeding on small
islands in Gull lake, Victoria co., Ontario, and in 1870 on a small
rocky island in Gull lake, Barry township, Addington co., Ontario.
All the * Gull” lakes in Ontario were no doubt named after this
gull.

The writer made a trip on June 22nd, 1894, to the island in Crane
lake, where Mr. Spreadborough obtained the eggs on the gth of
the same month. After a drive of five miles we reached the mar-
gin of the lake, and, as the island was a quarter of a mile from
shore, we divested ourselves of part of our clothing and waded
out—taking care not to stand long enough to sink in the white
mud at the bottom. We had scarcely reached the shore before
we were surrounded by multitudes of common terns, ring-billed
and herring gulls, cormorants and various waders.

The south end of the island was the lowest, and here the terns
had their little nests placed on the ground amongst the short grass.
By far the greater number contained three eggs, but none had
four. Passing more to the north, and on a higher level, we found
the ring-billed gull breeding, also in multitudes, and as we
approached their nests they rose screaming, and did not cease till
we left the island. Ascending a little higher, but passing to the
north, we came among the herring gulls but many of their nests
were empty, and the downy young were either hidden in the grass
or running to the water as fast as possible, while many were swim-
ming about. On the highest point of the island we found 29 nests
of the double-crested cormorant. These nests, fully a foot high,
were built on regular bases of broken sticks. These nests formed
a group by themselves, and evidently formed the line of separa-
tion between the herring gull and the ring-billed. The sticks had
all been carried for a long distance, as no willows grow within a
couple of miles of the lake.

52. Vega Gull.
Larus veg@ (PALMEN) STEJN. 1888.

Bering sea and adjacent waters, south in winter to California
and Japan. (A. O. UV. List.)

44 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

53. California Gull.

Larus californicus Lawr. 1854.

Great Slave lake, abundant. (Ross.) Quite a number of speci-
mens with eggs were received from Eskimos of the lower Ander-
son, lat. 68° 30’. (Macfarlane.) Found along the Vancouver
island coast and in the Gulf of Georgia. (Zord.) An abundant
resident; breeds in the interior of British Columbia; a winter
resident along the coast, during which time it appears in great
numbers in our harbours. (/annin.) Common in the lower Fraser
valley and on Lake Okanagan, B.C., in winter. (Brooks.) Big
Stick lake, Sask., and Many Island lake, Alta. (Bishop.) Manyr
if not most, of the prairie references under L. axgentatus should
probably go here.

54. Ring-billed Gull.

Larus delawarensis ORD. 1815.

Apparently rare around the coasts of Nova Scotia and New
Brunswick, and not very common on the river and Gulf of St.
Lawrence. ‘

Common throughout the summer at Newfoundland. (Keeks.)
One young specimen taken at Port Manvers, Labrador. (Bigelow.)
Very common on Lake Ontario at its western end during the
winter. (AMfcllwraith.) Breeding abundantly on small islands
off the Bruce peningula, Ont., May, 1905, and June, 1900,
(W. Saunders.) Common in the Georgian bay, breeds as far inland
as Muskoka lakes, Ont. (J. H. Fleming.) Common at Lake Mis-
tassini, Que., where it breeds. (/. 4. Macoun.) Breeds in the
vicinity of Hamilton inlet, east coast of Labrador. (A. P. Low.)
Common on the inland waters from Lake Winnipeg to Hudson
bay and northward to the Barren Grounds. (Predle.) Breeds in the
small lakes in northern Ontario; found in the northern part of
Addington co. in 1870, and near Minden, in Victoria co. in 1868.
It bred on islands in the lakes just as it does now in the prairie
region, where it is abundant on all large lakes and ponds from
Manitoba to the Rocky mountains and northward. One specimen
was taken on Loon lake, B.C., and it was common on Shuswap
lake, in June, 1889. (Macoun.) A winter resident on the coast of
British Columbia; breeds in the interior, especially to the north-

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 45

ward. I found it on Dease lake during the summer. (Famnin.)
Common in the lower Fraser valley, and on Lake Okanagan, B.C.
in winter. (Bvooks.) One observed at Douglas, B.C., 1906.
(Spreadborough.)

BREEDING NoTes.—Very abundant and breeding in great num-
bers on an island in Crane lake. Nests on the ground made of
dry grass, smaller than those of the herring gull. Eggs, never
more than three, while a few nests contained only two. A num-
ber of the young were hatched by June oth, and the bulk of the
nests had young by the 18th June, 1894. This species breeds later
than the herring gull. A few were observed breeding at Deep
lake, near Indian Head, Sask., June 3rd, 1892. (Spreadborough.)
This species breeds at Buffalo lake, Alberta. (Dzppie.) I have
found this species breeding at Rush lake, Sask., and at Shoal lake,
Manitoba. It makes its nest on the ground and lays three eggs.
(Raine.) i

55. Short-billed Gull.

Larus brachyrhynchus Ricw. 1831.

A specimen shot in the vicinity of Quebec is now in the museum
of Laval University. (Dzonne.) More numerous and widely dif-
fused than the other gulls. Many nests were procured at Fort
Anderson, lat. 68° 30’. (JZacfarlane.) Type specimen killed on
Bear lake, May 26th, 1826. (Rzchardson.) A winter resident on
the coast of British Columbia; during the early part of May, 1891,
I saw quite a number on the lakes of the Cariboo district where
it probably breeds. (Fannin.) Common in the lower Fraser
valley, B.C. (Bvooks.) This elegant species is abundant over a
large part of the Alaskan mainland. Dall found it at Sitka and
Kadiak, and from Fort Yukon to the sea along the Yukon river.
It is found nesting from the peninsula of Alaska north to the
head of Kotzebue sound and from the coast region it breeds
interiorly over Alaska into British Columbia. (WVelson.) From
Lake Marsh, Yukon, down the Yukon to below Little Salmon
river and then at St. Michael. (Szshop.) Abundant on the Aleutian
islands. (Zurner.)

Breepinc Nores.—At the Yukon mouth and St. Michael, May
14th is the earliest date they were noticed in spring. Asa rule,

46 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

they are rare until the 20th or 25th May, about which time they
find the ponds and sluggish streams open in the coast country.
They undoubtedly reach interior localities earlier in the season,
as spring is considerably earlier there.

The nest of this species is usually a small cavity in the sand by
the side of a stream or sheet of water. It also frequently builds
on a stump or tree, and in such cases dry twigs, hay and mosses
are used inits construction. A good many sets of eggs were taken
at Fort Anderson, lat. 68° 30’. (Macfarlane.)

They nest, like the glaucous gull, upon small islets in ponds and
lakes. A bulky nest is prepared of grasses and mosses early in
June, in which two or three eggs are laid. (JVe/son.)

56. Mew Gull.

Larus canus "LINN. 1758.
Accidental in Labrador. (A. O. U. List.)

57. Heermann Gull. White-headed Gull.

Larus heermannt Cass. 1852.

Found in the Gulf of Georgia and along the coasts of Vancouver
island. (Lord.) Not common in the Gulf of Georgia, though they
appear to remain during the summer. Four specimens, the young
of the year, were taken off the mouth of Esquimault harbour in
the latter part of July by Dr. Hazell of Victoria. (Fannin.) One
taken in 1885 on Malcolm island, Gulf of Georgia, B.C. (Dr.G.M.
Dawson.)

58. Laughing Gull.

Larus atricilla Linn. 1758.

On May 23rd, 1890, a gull was brought to my store. It hadbeen
shot on Toronto island, and, being unlike any of our native species,
I had it thoroughly examined, and it proved to be a male laugh-
ing gull. This, I believe, is the first record of this bird in Ontario.
(William Cross.) Coastof Nova Scotia. (A. O. U. List.) Asecond
specimen was taken near Toronto in 1897 and is in Mr. J. H.
Fleming’s collection,

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 47
59. Franklin Rosy Gull.
Larus franklinit’ Sw. & Ricu. 1831.

Accidental on Hamilton bay, Ont., two specimens shot, one in
1865, the other later. (Mclwraith.) Although no specimens of
this species were taken, I am inclined to believe that they breed
in the Anderson river district. (M@acfarlane.) This is a very com-
mon gull in the interior of the Northwest Territories, where it
frequents the shores of the larger lakes. It is generally seen in
flocks and is very noisy. It breeds in marshy places. (Richardson.)
After they arrive in Manitoba they follow the farmers in the fields
and gather ‘ cut-worms’ and other larve turned up by the plough.
(Percy Selwyn.) Shot by Spreadborough at Indian Head, Sask.,
on May 20th with stomachs full of grasshoppers, showing they
had come from far to the south. They are very abundant through-
out the marshy parts of Manitoba during summer, breeding in
nearly all large marshes. In Saskatchewan they are also abund-
ant and breed in great numbers, where there are marshes, as far
west as Cypress lake. Later in the season they gather in great
numbers around the larger salt lakes, and mix with the ring-bill
and herring gulls.

I found this gull everywhere abundant from Portage la Prairie
to Edmonton, about the sloughs and lakes or following the plow
of the settler. It is a very abundant species in Manitoba congre-
gating in thousands in migration about the larger sloughs and
small lakes, and while the bulk of them pass north in the spring
many remain to breed and can be observed at all times feeding
about the ploughed fields or following at the heels of the plough-
man fighting with the cowbirds and blackbirds for the grubs and
insect life uprooted. But abundant as I have seen them in Mani-
toba, the numbers are exceeded abnormally further west. While
driving into the Eagle hills about 4o miles west of Saskatoon on
July 30, 1906, we passed an extensive mud flat and salty slough on
which rested between four and five solid acres of gulls. I fired a
shot into the air to note the effect and they rose as one bird in.
such a cloud that their wings clashed together in a frantic
flapping and their discordant cries were almost deafening. It
would be entirely impossible to estimate the number of birds in
this flock. (Geo. Atkinson.)

48 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

BREEDING Notes.—This species, unlike the herring gull and the
ring-bill, breeds in communities in marshes. Hundreds of nests
were found June 13th, 1894, in a marshy lake about three miles
southeast of Crane lake; incubation was far advanced. The nests
were very bulky, made of reeds placed on the marsh, and floating
in about two and a half feet of water. Eggs in each case, three.
(Spreadborough.) Breeds abundantly in the marshes at the south
end of Lake Manitoba. (Razne.)

60. Bonaparte Gull.
Larus philad:lphia (ORD). GRay. 1863.

Frequent on the Atlantic coast as far north as Newfoundland.
Apparently quite common in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and not
rare in Hudson bay. A common spring and fall resident in
Ontario.

This species is found from Manitoba to the Pacific and a few
doubtless breed in the prairie region, but its range is generally
north of that of Larus franklin. No doubt the twoare often con-
founded. Its breeding range is in the wooded country ex’ ending
from the Hudson bay westward to the marshes of the Yukon
where Dall found it breeding. It is rare on the coast of Alaska
but common along the British Columbian coast and very common
on all the lakes of the interior of that province.

BREEDING Notes.—Thirty-seven nests were taken between June
toth and July 1oth, in the wooded country in the vicinity of Fort
Anderson and on the lower Anderson river. The nests were all
built on trees, from four to twenty feet from the ground, and with
one exception were made of small sticks and twigs lined with hay
and mosses. (Ma farlane.)

On June 11th, 1891, I found a few pairs of this little gull breed-
ing in company with herring gulls, avocets and common terns on
an island in a small lake north of Rush lake, Sask. (See “ Bird-
nesting in Northwest Canada,” page 57.) One specimen of the
bird was procured to prove identity. This bird usually makes its
nest in bushes and willows near the water, but in localities where
there are no bushes it makes its nest on the ground like the other
gulls. The eggs are similar to those of the Franklin gull, but are
smaller in size. (Razne.)

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 49

I noticed one of these birds flying overhead among a number
of common terns on the 11th June, 1893. Iwas visiting some
rocks on the St. Lawrence below Rockport, Ont., at the time, and
from the way in which it hovered along with the terns thought it
possible it might be breeding there, though I failed to find any
sign of anest. This is the only time I have observed the bird so
late in the season. (Rev. C.J. Young.)

60.1. Little Gull.

Larus minutus PALL. 1771.

A specimen obtained on Sir John Franklin’s first expedition,
was determined by Mr. Sabine to be a young bird of the first year
of this species, exactly according with Mr. Temminck’s descrip-
tion. (Richardson.)

XXIII. RHODOSTETHIA Maccituivray. 1842.
61. Ross Gull. Cuneate-tailed Gull.
Rhodostethia rosea (MacciL.) Bonar. 1850.

This is both a rare and a far northernspecies. Four specimens
have been received by the museum at Copenhagen, from Green-
land, three of which were shot in Disco bay, and the fourth near
the Sukkertop. (Avct. Man.) Two specimens of this gull were
killed on the coast of Melville peninsula, on Sir Edward Parry’s
second voyage. Commander Forester also found this species in
Waygate strait, which is probably one of its breeding places,
(Richardson.) Found breeding at Ekomiut, in the district of
Christianshaab, Greenland, August 15th, 1885. (Zhe Auk, April,
1885.) A young bird of this species was taken near St. Michael,
Norton sound, on October 15th, 1879. (JVelson.) Abundant at
Point Barrow, autumn visitors only. They appeared in large, loose
flocks, coming in from the sea from the southwest and evidently
going northeast. None seen to returninthe spring. They likely
breed north of Wrangell island. (Mzurdoch.)

XXIV. XEMA Leacu. 1819.
62. Sabine Gull. Fork-tailed Gull.

Xema sabinit (Sas.) Leacw. 1819.
Said not to breed further south in Greenland than lat. 75° 30’
N.; also common at Sabine island, Melville bay, lat. 75° 30’ N.

4

50 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

(Arct. Man.) Common in Roes Welcome, about Whale point and
on the Southampton side. Flies with the arctic terns and also
builds its nests along with these birds on the-small islands in the
ponds of Southampton. (A.P. Low.) Occasional as far south
along the Labrador coast as Cow Head, Newfoundland. (Reeks.)

Quite a large number of nests were found on the shores of
Franklin bay, and afew eggs were also received from the Eskimos
of Liverpool bay on the Arctic coast. (Macfarlane.) Breeding on
low islands off the west coast of Greenland and westward to Mel-
ville peninsula. (Richardson.) Taken at Okanagan, B.C. by Brooks.
(Kermode.) Found breeding abundantly in the low grounds
between St. Michael and Bristol bay, Alaska. (Zurner.) This
gull is especially numerous along the Alaskan coast from the
Kuskoquim mouth to Kotzebue sound, and occurs in small num-
bers at St. Lawrence island. (/Velson.) Osgood found a dead
bird of this species on the shores of Chilcat inlet, Alaska, June Ist,
1899. (Bzshop.) Possibly of regular occurrence on St. Paul island,
Bering sea. Several were taken during the summer of 1896, and
one was shot on St. George island in June, 1890. (Palmer.)

BREEDING NoTEs.—On June 13th, 1880, about twenty miles from
St. Michael while egging in company with some Eskimos we found
a pond some 200 yards across, in the middle of which was two.
small islands. A gun-shot caused at least one hundred of these
gulls to rise like a white cloud over the islet and showed us that
we had found a breeding place. On going to the largest island
my Eskimo called out that the ground was covered with gull’s
eggs. The Eskimo found the water waist deep and under it a
solid bed of ice of unknown depth. He carried me over on his
back, as I desired to see the nests of these birds, never having
seen them. The island was very low, and the driest spots were
but a little above the water. Built on the driest places were
twenty-seven nests, containing from one to three eggs each, and
as many others ready for occupancy. Four or five nests were
frequently placed within two or three feet of each other. In
about one half the cases the eggs were laid upon the few grass
blades the spot afforded, with no alterations save a slight depres-
sion made by the bird’s body. In the majority of the other nests
a few grass blades and stems had been arranged circularly about

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 51

the eggs, and in the remainder only enough material had been
added to afford the merest apology for a nest. (/Vedson.)

XXI. GELOCHELIDON Brexm. 1830.

63. Gull-billed Tern. Marsh Tern.
Gelochelidon nilotica (HasseLg.) STEJN. 1884.

Accidental on southern coast of New Brunswick. One shot at
Grand Manan, New Brunswick, August, 1897. (Boardman.)

XXVI. STERNA Linvazus. 1758.

64. Caspian Tern.

Sterna caspia PALL. 1770.

A tolerably common summer migrant and breeds on many of
the islands off the coast of Newfoundland. (Reeks.) Very rare in
Nova Scotia. One specimen shot at Cole harbour. (Dowms.) One
specimen procured at Moose Factory, Hudson bay. (Packard.)
Not uncommon in the spring and autumn around Hamilton bays
Ont. (Mcllwraith.) Regular spring migrant at Toronto, Ont.
Sometimes occurs in flocks of up to 50. I have no fall records.
(J. H. Fleming.) Rare on Great Slave lake. (Ross.) Nutting
records a specimen taken near Grand Rapids, Saskatchewan river
in the summer of 1891. (/reble.) This species occurs as an occa-
sional visitant to the coast of Bering sea, from the Yukon mouth
to St. Michael at least, and is undoubtedly found still more fre-
quently south to the known haunts of the species along the Pacific
coast of Asia. (JVedson.)

Breepinc Notes.—This bird is occasionally shot in Toronto
marsh. It breeds abundantly on small islands in Lake Michigan.
On June roth, 1894, Mr.Van Winkle collected a number of clutches
for me on Gravel Gul! islands, Lake Michigan. Nests, in hollows
in the sand, containing mostly three eggs each. Mr. MclIlwraith
in “Birds of Ontario,” says this species nests singly, but he is
mistaken, as it breeds in large colonies like other terns. (Razne.)

65. Royal Tern.

Sterna maxima Bopp. 1783.
Northward to Massachusetts and the Great Lakes. (4.0.U. Lisz.)

4%

52 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

67. Cabot Tern.

Sterna sandvicensis acuflavida (Casot) Ripew. 1884.

Accidental along the Great Lakes.

In the spring of 1882 Dr. Garnier noticed three individuals of
this species coursing around a mill-pond not far from his residence
at Lucknow, Ont. He shot one and the writer saw it after it was
mounted. (Mclilwraith.)

69. Forster Tern.

Sterna forstert NUTT. 1834.

Only a casual visitor on Lake Ontario in spring and fall. (M@c-
Tlwraith.) Possibly a regular migrant at Toronto, Ont. I have
examined only two specimens. (/. A. Fleming.) Summer tesident
about the large lakes of Manitoba; nesting among the reeds.
(Z. T. Seton.) Rare on Many island lake, Sask. (Béshop.) This
Species may be said to be regularly found wherever the common
tern is numerous in Manitoba but west of that province the only
locality at which I authenticated its presence by collecting in 1906
was at Manito lake, Sask. (Geo. Atkinson.) In the summer of
1881 the writer found them abundant on lakes Manitoba, Water-
hen and Winnipegosis where they were breeding in numbers in
the bordering marshes. West of Manitoba their place is chiefly
taken by the common tern, as only one pair was seen by Spread-
borough at Indian Head in a residence of three months in 1892.
Richardson says they extend northerly to lat. 57°.

BreEepinG Notes.—On June 18th, 1894, I found an immense
colony of these birds breeding on an island in Shoal lake, Man-
itoba. The nest was made ina hollow in the sand, and contained
three eggs, resting on a few straws. (Défpie.) It is not common
at St. Clair flats, Ont., but nests have been taken there by Mr. J.
A. Morden, but only a few nests of this species to many of the
next. (W. Saunders.)

70. Common Tern.

Sterna hirundo Linn. 1758.

This is truly the ‘‘ common tern,” as it breeds abundantly from
the coasts of Labrador southward to the Grand Manan, N.B., on

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 53

all islands and coasts of Labrador, Hudson bay, Newfoundland,
Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. It is also common in the Gulf
of St. Lawrence, breeding on the Magdalens, Anticosti and Prince
Edward island. Ascending the St. Lawrence, it nests on the
Thousand islands, where its nest was found by Rev. C. J. Young,
in June, 1895. Stragglers are found throughout Ontario, and it is
known to breed in several places.

A summer resident in Manitoba and breeding. It is common
on all the large lakes of Saskatchewan and breeds in suitable
places. A few breed near Indian Head, but the greatest numbers
were found at Crane lake, about 100 miles east of Medicine Hat;
it was also seen in 1895 at Cypress lake and southwestward to
Waterton lake near Chief mountain, and north to Lac Ste. Anne,
Alberta.

One specimen taken at Cowichan gap, September 15th, 1896,
by R. D..McClure, Sidney, Vancouver island. (Fannin.)

BreEpInG Notes.—I visited a colony near Souris, Prince Ed-
ward Island, July 7th, 1892, consisting of perhaps about 75 pairs.
Several nests found contained three eggs each and were the usual
depressions in the plains of drifted sand, protected possibly by a
few wisps of grass wound round the edge of the hollow. (Dwg hz.)
Breeding extensively on the shores of the Arctic sea as well as on
islets in many of the inland lakes of the forest region and “ bar-
rens.” (Macfarlane.) Breeding in large numbers on a small island
in Crane lake, Saskatchewan, June gth-2oth, 1894. Nest, a shal-
low hole in the ground lined with dry grass. Of the hundreds of
nests that I saw each contained three eggs, except two, and they
had four. A number of the young were hatched by June 2oth,
A few were found breeding by Deep lake, Indian Head, Sask.,
June 3rd, 1892. Common from Moose Factory to Richmond
gulf, Hudson bay; breeding in June, 1896. (Spreadborough.)

On June 18th, 1894, on an island in Shoal lake, Manitoba, I
found thousands of this tern breeding; their nests were hollows
in the sand, lined with bits of drift-weed and contained three eggs
each. I found it breeding under like conditions on many of the
.dkes of Saskatchewan in June, 1891 and 1893. (Razne.)

This species was formely very plentiful inthe. River St. Law-
ence from Kingston eastward. Numbers bred on Salmon island,

54 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA

a bank of shingle, etc., near the foot of Amherst island, Bay of
Quinté; I found one egg in June, 1895, a solitary pair of birds
being all that were left of the many that formerly bred there; I
have not heard of any being met with since that date. Another
locality a little below Kingston was the “ Spectacles,” three small
islands in mid-channel. Many pairs also bred at the foot of
Wolfe island, but all these localities have been deserted for some
years. Further down the river, below Rockport, a few pairs still
breed. They frequent some rocky islets near Chimney island.
In 1893 there were about 30 pairs of birds, but since that date
they have gradually diminished until in 1896 there were not more
than 12 pairs, and in a few more years this locality also will be
deserted by these birds. Two or three eggs complete a set. I have
seen numbers of tern’s nests and never saw more than three eggs
in the same nest. When the eggs are laid on rocks, a few staiks
of grass or bits of bark are collected and formed into a nest.
Sometimes there is no attempt at nest building at all, but the eggs
are laid on the bare rock or ground, usually between the first and
third weeks of June. On the Magdalen islands great numbers of
these birds breed on the sand bars; in June, 1897 I found them
abundant on Grosse isle, where on the 22nd June I saw about 60
eggs, most of them recently laid. The nests were made in the
short grass and on the beaches near the sea. (Kev. C. J. Young.)

Besides breeding in numbers in the St.Clair marshes, this species
breeds on islands in Lake Huron, and in 1900 perhaps 100 nests
were found on an island off the Bruce peninsula. The fishermen
called it the Lake Erie gull” and said it had come there only
during the past few years. The nest is on gravelly or rocky
ground and built of slight material. Eggs, from two to four. (W.
Saunders.)

During July and August of 1899 the writer spent five weeks on
Sable island, which is situated nearly one hundred miles southeast
of Nova Scotia. The breeding season was nearly over, but com-
mon, arctic and roseate terns were still incubating, though thous-
ands of young birds were flying around, and still younger ones
were hidden in depressions in the sand or behind any convenient
cover, while the clamour of the parents overhead was deafening,
The chief breeding ground was on the south side of the island,
and this was a wide sand flat extending for ten miles or more in

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 55

an east and west direction. Over this flat were scattered patches
of Avenaria peploides and a few hummocks of sand grass (Ammophila
arenaria), and occasionally remains of old wrecks. In these locali-
ties the nests were placed very thickly, and young birds were in
multitudes. Most of the nests were just depressions in the sand,
but others were lined with anything that came handy, as broken
shells, grass, sea-weed, egg cases of squid and other materials.

All the species bred together; but the common tern was by far
the most abundant, while the arctic came next, and the roseate
in much smaller numbers. Owing to the presence of foxes on the
island, the birds are much disturbed on their breeding-grounds,
and this year many nests were placed on the sand-hills near the
stations, where foxes dare not come. On the sand-hills where
grass was plentiful the nests were still mere depressions in the-
sand, and hardly any had even a slight lining of grass. (Macoun).

71. Arctic Tern.

Sterna pavadis@a BRUNN. 1764.

This tern, although an arctic bird, seems to be little known in
Greenland, but breeds in Ungava bay and southward to Nova
Scotia. Brewster reports it breeding abundantly on the Magdalens
and in June, 1897, Rev. C. J. Young found it there, and it has been
found breeding in other parts of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Cham-
berlain says it is rare in New Brunswick and only asa straggler.
MclIlwraith says it is of rare occurrence in Ontario, and all our
researches in the western territories never revealed this bird east
of the Columbia river. Numbers were seen on Upper Arrow lake,
Columbia river, B.C., June 5th, 1890, but they went north a few.
days later.

This was the most common tern seen from the northern parts
of Hudson bay to the far north. They nest along shores placing
their eggs, without nesting material, on the sand or gravel. (A.
P. Low.) Common on Hudson bay. (Preble.) Breeds as exten-
sively as the common tern and extends as far north. (Macfarlane.)
This species breeds very abundantly on the shores of Melville
peninsula and on the islands and beaches of the Arctic sea.
(Richardson.) On the sandy islands east of Point Barrow. (Mur-
doch.) They breed in great numbers throughout all northern

56 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

Alaska, both on the coast and in the interior, and on the islands
in Bering sea and on the Aleutian islands. (JVedson.) Fannin has
seen it off the Pacific coast of British Columbia, and reports it
from Dease lake in Cassiar and south to Okanagan. Two speci-
mens seen by Rhoads on Upper Arrow lake, B.C., were thought
to be this species.

BREEDING Notes.—On July 15th, 1895, Mr. Dicks collected
some clutches of this tern for me on Green island, Sandwich bay,
Labrador. Nests in a hollow in the rocks, containing two or three
eggs each. This bird also breeds on the islands of Mackenzie
bay, Arctic ocean, where eggs were collected for me on June 2oth,
1894. Nests, holes inthe sand. (azne.) Nesting everywhere
on the sand on Sable island with a preference to sand bars and
lake shores. (W. Saunders.)

The arctic tern is one of the earliest birds to arrive at St.
Michael, Alaska. They become very abundant by the middle of
May. They breed on the low grounds, preferably ona low, damp
island, such as those at the northern end of the “canal.” On this
place hundreds of nests were discovered in 1876. The nest is
merely a bare spot on the ground; sometimes only a few blades
of grass surround the margin of the nest, but these seem to be
more the result of cleaning off a bare spot than an attempt to con-
struct a nest. The eggs vary from one to two, never more,
( Turner.) , ,

On June 12th I found a nest upon a small wet islet near St,
Michael. The island was covered with short grass. The nest was
lined with a few dry grass-stems and contained two eggs, and the
female bore another ready to deposit. Another nest similarly
situated was lined with material procured within a few feet, and
the ground was turned up in small spots all about where, the birds
had uprooted the grass, many small bunches being half uprooted
and left, the task proving too heavy. (JVelson.)

72. Roseate Tern.

Sterna dougalti MontaGc. 1813.

Rare on the coast of Nova Scotia. (Dowas.) Recorded on the
authority of Col. Thomas Egan, who assures me a specimen was
lately obtained and is now in the possession of Mr. John Rowe of

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 57

Halifax, N.S. (/ones.) Not uncommon, and breeding on Sable
island, N.S., August, 1899. (JM/acoun.)

73. Aleutian Tern.

Sterna aleutica BAIRD. 1869.

The Aleutian tern arrives at St. Michael, Norton sound, by
June Ist and remains until the latter part of August. It is very
abundant in the vicinity, breeding plentifully on a small island
just at the north end of the “canal.” (Zurner.) These birds
extend their range to the head of Norton bay and reach the
Siberian coast at Bering strait. They undoubtedly winter in the
vicinity of Kadiak island and the coast of the northern Pacific
adjacent thereto. (JVedson.)

BREEDING Nores.—The arctic tern is so intimately associated
with the Aleutian tern, both in nesting habits and procuring food,
that the remarks for one will apply to the other. Their nests are
sometimes placed within two feet of each other, and apparently
without causing animosity between the species. (Zurner.) This
species is strictly limited to the sea-coast, and breeds upon small
dry islands along the coast. The birds reach St. Michael from
May 2oth to 30th and are found scattered along the coast in com-
pany with the arctic tern for a short time, but early in June they
gather about the islands where they nest. One of these islands
is about a mile from St. Michael, in the mouth of a tide-
channel known as the “canal.” This island is about half a mile
across, rises about thirty feet from the beach in a sharp incline,
and has a rather level top covered witha thick mat of grass, moss
and other vegetation. The upland is dry, and here the birds breed,
laying their eggs directly upon the moss, with no attempt at lin-
ing, which would be entirely unnecessary there. About twenty
pairs were found on this island and about forty pairs on another
island about 18 miles to the eastward. (Velson.)

74. Least Tern.

Sterna antillarum (LEss.) Cougs. 1862.
Accidental on our Atlantic coast and the Great Lakes.

Apparently very rare around Newfoundland. (Aeeks.) .Very

are in Nova Scotia. One shot at Polly bog. (Downs.) Audubon
r .

58 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

reported it abundant and breeding on the coast of Labrador.
(Packard.) Occasionally taken on Lake Erie and the south-
western corner of Lake Ontario. (Mc/wraith.)

XXVII. HYDROCHELIDON Bolg. 1822.

77. Black Tern.
Hydrochelidon nigra surinamensis (GMEL.) STEJN. 1882.

Accidental in New Brunswick ; three shot at Grand Manan,
August, 1879. (Boardman.) A few taken at Quebec. (Ditonne.)
It is acommon spring and autumn migrant in Ontario, but more
common west of Toronto. Saunders and Morden report it breed-
ing abundantly on St. Clair flats and marshes. Its chief breeding-
grounds, however, are the marshy districts of Manitoba and
eastern Saskatchewan, where every marsh has many or few nests,
and westerly along the boundary to Waterton lake and Lake
Okanagan, B.C. It extends northwesterly in diminishing num-
bers, and breeds in marshes. They were seen by Spreadborough
on Lesser Slave lake, Alta., and one nest was taken and reported
by Dall at Fort Yukon, Alaska. We have never noticed it in
the Rocky mountains, but Fannin observed it on Burrard inlet,
Gulf of Georgia, in January, 1882, and also in the interior of
mainland.

Breepinc Notes.—Abundant at Raeburn, Manitoba and at
Buffalo lake, Alberta. Specimens and eggs taken at both locali-
ties. (Dippie.) Nests very small, floating upon the water among
the grass in sloughs and marshes. Begins to breed about the
middle of June in Saskatchewan; usual number of eggs, three.
On June 15th, 1894, saw a number of their nests in a marshy lake
near Crane lake, Sask. The nest was a few pieces of rushes with
a little grass mixed in to keep it from floating apart and letting
the eggs fall through. Some of the nests were so small and so
much sunken that the eggs were about one quarter in the water.
Found breeding in 1904 ina marsh about nine miles south of
Albany, James bay. (Spreadborough.)

I found it breeding at Long lake and Shoal lake in Manitoba.
It also breeds plentifully at Swan lake in northern Alberta. It is
alate breeder, seldom having eggs before the middle of June.
The nests are usually built on dead, floating rushes in shallow
water and contain three eggs each. (Raine.)

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 59

This tern is a summer resident in the St. Lawrence valley. In
the county of Leeds, Ont., I first noticed it near Gananoque lake
in 1893, about six miles north of the St. Lawrence, where on the
7th July, I found a nest among the flags, containing three eggs on
the point of hatching. Each year since, I have found two or three
nests in the same locality. The birds choose very wet, miry
places to layin. Two nests were found on old musk-rat houses,
another on a log of wood in a pool far out in the marsh, others in
equally swampy places. Three completes the set of eggs, which
are usually laid between the 7th and 14th June. In the spring of
1894 these birds were very plentiful; since that time not so much
so. I noticeda number of them in the Bay of Quinte in July,
1896, and Dr. C. K. Clarke, of Kingston, tells me that a number of
pairs nested at Cataraqui marsh in 1897. (Rev. C. J. Young.)

This species breeds in all the large marshes that I have visited
in western Ontario, and nests on the dilapidated musk-rat houses
and other débris, laying from two to four eggs. (W. Saunders.)

78. White-winged Black Tern.

Hydrochelidon leucoptera (MEIsN. & Scu1nz.) Bork. 1822.

Six specimens of this species, or rather what I believed to be
this species, were seen for hours one morning about the last of
August, 1881, flying over a lake on the western flank of Porcupine
mountains in northwestern Manitoba. One of the birds was shot,
but owing to our difficulties at the time (we were hauling our boats
over a height of land) it spoiled before it was skinned.

On June gth, 1896, I again had the good fortune to see a pair of
these birds, which were evidently mated, but-after watching them
for an hour I could find no nest. They were circling around a
small marshy pool across the road opposite to the entrance to the
Experimental Farm at Brandon, Manitoba. I had no gun, and
when I returned six weeks afte:wards I saw no signs of terns
around the pool.

I take the following from my note-book, written at the time:
“ To-day was again surprised by seeing a pair of black terns with
the bends of both wings evidently quite white. I watched them
for a long time and found them to be identical with those I saw
by the pool at Stony mountain on the 4th inst. When the bird

60 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

rested and its wings closed it seemed to have a white collar around
the dlack head. There was a marked contrast between the plum-
beous back, the white collar and the black head.” On June 4th
I saw a number of specimens circling over a pool by the road-
side not far from the hotel at Stony mountain, 14 miles from Win--
nipeg, Manitoba. The white was on the dend of doth wings in all
the birds seen. Further observations made at Ribstone creek,
Sask., in August 1906, lead me to think that the forms mentioned
above may have been albinos. (Macoun.)

Famity VI. RYNCHOPIDA, Skimmers.
XXVIII. RYNCHOPS Linnzus. 1758.
80. Black Skimmer.

Rynchops nigra LINN. 1758.

Accidental on the south Atlantic coast. A large flock seen in
the Bay of Fundy. 1879. (Boardman.) —

ORDER TUBINARES, 'TUBE-NOSED SWIMMERS.

Famity VI]. DIOMEDEIDA. A.xsatrossEs.
XXIX. DIOMEDEA Linnzus. 1758.
81. Black-footed Albatross,

Diomedea nigripes AUDUBON. 1839.

Common in the North Pacific Ocean, north to the Aleutian
islands. Eleven specimens were taken near Point Barrow, Alaska,
by MclIlhenny.

82. Short-tailed Albatross.

Diomedea albatrus PALL. 1769.

Tolerably common on both coasts of Vancouver island, but
more abundant on the west coast; have been taken in Victoria
harbour. (Fannin.) From lat. 50° N.in the North Pacific, this
fine bird becomes more or less numerous and thence north
replaces the preceding species; it is found throughout the Aleutian

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 61

islands and is numerous in Bering sea and extends north to
Bering strait. (/Velson.) From lat. 52” N., this species increases
in numbers as we go north, but the mouth of Cook inlet and the
Barren islands seem to be its favorite resort. (Dr. Bean.)

Mr. W. Spreadborough found one dead on the beach at Esqui-
mault, Vancouver island, June 4th, 1893.

BrEEDING Notes.—Turner believed that this species bred in
the neighbourhood of Cape Newenham, near Bristol bay, Alaska,
as he saw jnumbers of them there in June, flying and sitting on
Tocks,

XXX. THALASSOGERON Ripeway. 1884.
83. Yellow-nosed Albatross.

Thalassogeron culminatus (GOULD) Ripew. 1884.

Accidental on the Gulf of St. Lawrence. One example taken
at the Moisie river, Quebec, August 20th, 1885. This birdis now
in the museum of Laval University in Quebec city. (Déonne.)

FamiLy VII]. PROCELLARIIDAS, Futmars & SHEARWATERS.
XXXI. FULMARUS STEPHENS. 1826.
86. Fulmar.

Fulmarus glacialis (LINN.) STEPH. 1826.

Said to breed no further to the south in Greenland than lat. 69°
N., occurs also in East Greenland. (Avct. Man.) Very common
along the Atlantic coast of Labrador, especially about Cape
Chidley. Common northward to Smith sound; very numerous
off Hall island, on the north side of Frobisher bay. (4. P. Low.)
Apparently common in its migration along the coast of Newfound-
land. (Reeks.) Rare on the coast of Nova Scotia. (Downs.)
On the fishing grounds off Grand Manan, N.B., in autumn. (er-
rick.) One shot at Beauport, Quebec in 1890. (Dzonne.)

864. Pacific Fulmar.
Fulmarus glacialis glupischa STEN. 1884.

A very common species in the North Pacific.

62 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

One specimen taken at Chemainus, Vancouver island, Novem
ber, 1895. (Fannin.) This is the common fulmar of the Nortt
Pacific, and numbers of specimens have been obtained at Unalaska
(Nelson.) Hundreds of thousands of these birds were seen of
Unimak pass and the eastern end of Unalaska island, in fact, they
covered acres of water; they are also numerous around many o:
the Aleutian islands. (Zurner.)

BREEDING Notges.—This species breeds on the Commande:
islands, on the west side of Bering sea. It nests in the greatest
abundance on the high cliffs and promontories rising from the
sea. The eggs are dull white. (/Ve/soz.)

86c. Rodgers Fulmar.

Fulmarus glacialis rodgersit (Cass.) COUES. 1872.

All of the Bering sea islands situated off shore and north of the
Aleutian islands are frequented by this form during the breeding
season; it was common to the north of the Aleutian islands and
about the Pribilof islands in the summer of 1877; in the summer
of 1881 it was very numerous in Bering strait, and it was also
found at St. Lawrence island. (/Vedson.)

BREEDING Notes.—This species repairs to the cliffs, especially
on the south and east shores of St. George island in Bering sea.
It comes early in the season and selects some rocky shelf, secure
from all enemies, save man, where, making no nests whatever, but
squatting on the bare rock itself, it lays a single large, white ob-
long-oval egg and immediately commences the duty and labour
of incubation. It is of all the water-fowl the most devoted to its
charge, for it will not be scared from the egg by any demonstra-
tions that may be made in the way of throwing rocks or yelling,
and it will even die as it sits rather than take to flight, as I have
requently witnessed, The fulmar lays from the Ist to the 5th of
June. The egg is very palatable, fully equal to that of our domestic
duck, indeed it is somewhat like it. (Avdott.)

XXXI. PUFFINUS Brisson. 1760.

89. Greater Shearwater.

Puffinus gravis (O’RIELLY) Satvin. 1896.
Common in large flocks off the shore of northeastern Labrador,
(Bigelow.) Marked by Holbcell and Reinhardt as breeding in the

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 63

southern part of Greenland. (Avct. Man.) Abundant from Belle
Isle to Resolution island. (Kumelin.) Rather common on the
west coast of Newfoundland. ‘(Reeks.) Met with off the shores
of Nova Scotia; not seen in the gulf. (Brvewster.) A winter
visitor off New Brunswick. (Dr. Adams.)

90. Manx Shearwater.
Puffinus puffinus (BRUNN.) LicuT. 1854.

One skin received from Greenland. (Avct. Man.) Common
from Belle Isle to Grinnell bay. (Kumelin.) Tolerably common
on the west coast of Newfoundland. (Reeks.) Off the coast of
New Brunswick. (Dr. Adams.) Bird of passage in Greenland.
(Winge.)

92.1. Allied Shearwater.

Puffinus assimilis GOULD. 1837. —
Accidental on Sable island off the coast of Nova Scota. (4.0.
U. List. Ninth Supplement.)

93. Black-vented Shearwater.

Puffinus opisthomelas Cours. 1864.

Several specimens have been taken off the Outer wharf, Vic-
toria, Vancouver island. (Fannin)

94. Sooty Shearwater.

Puffinus fuliginosus STRICKLAND. 1832.

Common on the banks of Newfoundland, but rather rare in the
Strait of Belle Isle. (Reeks.) Rare on the coast of Nova Scotia.
(Downs.) Occurs in winter on Grand Manan, N.B. (Herrick.)
Coues states he saw a few individuals of this species on the coast
of Labrador, August 19th, 1860. (Packard.) Common among the
greater shearwaters off the shore of northeastern Labrador.
(Bigelow.)

95. Dark-bodied Shearwater.

Puffinus griseus (GMEL.) FINScH. 1874.

During the fall of 1895, Dr. C.F. Newcombe found this species
in great numbers off the west coast of Queen Charlotte islands.

64 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

(Fannin.) A female was brought in by an Indian on July 15th
and another July 21st, 1896. He reported seeing others, They
were in the open bay at Sitka, Alaska. (Grinnell.)

96. Slender-billed Shearwater.

Puffinus tenutrostvris (T—EMM.) TEMM. & ScHLEG. 1849.

One specimen taken off Albert head, near Victoria, Vancouver
island, Oct. 24th, 1891. (Fanmin.) One specimen was secured by
Dall which was killed in Kotzebue sound; single specimens have
been taken at Unalaska, Sitka and Kadiak islands. (WVedson.) A
dead bird believed to be this species was picked up on Amchitka
island, and this species is said by the natives of Attu to breed on
the Semichi islands. (Zurner.) Shot off the coast of Queen Char-
lotte islands by Dr. Newcombe in August, 1894.

XXXII. ABSTRELATA Bonaparte. 1856.
98. Black-capped Petrel.

4 strelata hasitata (KUHL) CovEs. 1866.

On the 30th October, 1894, the dead body of a black-capped
petrel was picked up on the shore of the island. at Toronto, Ont.
(Mcilwraith.) This bird is in the collection of Mr. J. H. Fleming
who has also one other specimen taken about 17 miles to the
west at about the same time. Only known records for our limits

100. Fisher Petrel.
A strelata fisheri Ripew. 1883.

Described from a specimen taken on Kadiak island by Mr.
Fisher, June 11th, 1882. (Velson.) Mr. Nelson saw a petrel—
which was possibly this bird—while passing the Aleutian islands.

XXXIV. BULWERIA Bonaparte. 1842.

101. Bulwer Petrel.

Bulwerta bulweri (JARD. & SELBY) BoucarD. 1876.

Only one specimen known from Greenland, which was received
trom the Moravian missionaries. (Avrc¢. Man.)

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 65
XXXV. PROCELLARIA Linnaus. 1758.

104. Stormy Petrel. Mother Carey Chicken.
Procellaria p.lagica Linn. 1758.

One specimen found injured on Sable island, N.S., Nov. 4th,
1901. (R. Boutelier.) Two specimens taken in the Greenland
seas. (Arct. Man.) Acommon summer migrant, breeding on the
islands around the coast of Newfoundland. (Reeks.) Common
all the year. Breeds on St. Paul island, Gulf of St. Lawrence, and
other favourable localities; nest ina bank. (Dowms.) One speci-
men found at St. John, N.B. (Chamberlain.) Specimens were
taken in Ungava bay, 1882. (Packard.)

XXXVI. OCEANODROMA REIcHENBACH. 1852.
105. Forked-tailed Petrel.

Oceanodroma furcata (GMEL.) REICH. 1852.

A winter resident along both coasts of Vancouver island, but
more abundant on the west coast; has been taken in Victoria
harbour. (fannin.) The Aleutian islands form the main home of
this elegant bird. It is seen in the North Pacific for one or two
hundred miles south of the islands; it is sometimes found on the
lower Yukon and has been seen in Bering strait and about St.
Lawrence island; two specimens have been taken in Kotzebue
sound, so its range reaches the arctic circle. (JVelson.)

106. Leach Petrel.
Oceanodroma leucorhoa (VIEILL.) STEJN. 1885.

Constantly observed near the coast of Greenland to lat.64° or
65° N.; most common about the entrance to Gotthaab fjord.
(Arct. Man.) Found southward along the whole Atlantic coast,
and in all parts of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Rvreks says they
probably breed around the coast of Newfoundland; and Bishop
reports that they breed in small numbers on Great Bird rock,
Bryon island, and possibly others of the Magdalen islands.

On the Pacific coast from California to some distance north of
the Aleutian islands. (WWelson.) According to Dall they breed in
considerable numbers on the southern Aleutian islands. Fannin
took one specimen off Beacon Hill, Victoria, Vancouver island,
November, 1893.

5

66 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

Breepinc Nores.—Breeds on the Magdalen islands in the Gulf
of St. Lawrence and on many of the islands off the Labrador
coast. It also breeds on the Alaskan coast. I have a series of
eggs taken on Sannak island, Alaska, June 30th, 1894. (Razne.)
I never saw this bird until the summer of 1897, when I found a
few pairs breeding on Bryon island, the northernmost of the
Magdalen islands. Here I found three nests; no doubt there were
many more, but as the bird is nocturnal in many of its habits the
nest is not easy to find. On the 24th June, a beautiful day, hear-
ing that this bird was to be met with on the island, I walked
toward the east point, and after looking about for some time at
length found a burrow under a stunted spruce bush about fifty
feet from the edge of the cliff. I detected the birds by the musky
odour in the neighbourhood of the bush. This burrow extended
horizontally about two feet under the tree. Atter digging down
I came to the nest—a mass of withered grass and bits of bark
and wood—in which was one egg, incubation just commencing.
The bird was on the nest, and when handled ejected an oily fluid,
very rank smelling. After measuring and identifying the bird I
let it go. The other two nests I found, were of the same charac-
ter and under the same conditions, and some distance from the
edge of the cliff. (Kev. C.J. Young.) Found breeding abundantly
on Seal island, Yarmouth co.,N.S. The soft vegetable soil of the
wooded portions of the island is completely honeycombed with the
nesting burrows of the petrels. These burrows run in among the
rootlets of the trees some two or three feet, the one egg being
deposited in the bare mould at the end. Only the strong musky
odour of the birds attests their presence during the day, as not
one will be seen. But at night the sitting birds sally forth and
their mates who have been foraging far out at sea during the day
return. (A. &. Tufts.) Breeding inimmense numbers on Lazaria
island, Sitka, Alaska. (Gvrtnnell.)

XXXVII. OCEANITES Kevyseruine & Brasius. 1840.

109. Wilson Petrel.
Oceanttes oceanicus (KuHL) Licut. 1854.

Traced as far north as Resolution island on our outward voy-
age; on the homeward, first seen about one hundred miles south
of Cape Farewell. (Kwmelin.) Common and said to breed on

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 67

several of the islands along the coast of Newfoundland, especially
at Port au Port. (Reeks.) Observed everywhere between Annis-
quam and the Gut of Canso and they were common and generally
distributed in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. (Brewster.) One picked
up dead in the spring of 1897 or 1898. Mr. D. J. Grant writing
to Mr. J. H. Willmot, Beaumauris, Muskoka says; “ The stormy
petrel was found by some lads on Gull lake. It was brought to
the late Mr. Burke. It was recorded by me, in error from Lake
Muskoka in Zhe Auk, Vol. XVIII, page 35. (/. HX. Fleming.)

ORDER STEGANOPODES. TotTIrpALMATE SWIMMERS.

Famity IX. PHAETHONTIDAH. Troric Birps.
XXXVIII. PHAETHON Linyavs. 1758.
112. Yellow-billed Tropic Bird.
Phaéthon americanus GRANT. 1897.

Accidental in Nova Scotia. One individual of this species was
taken after a storm at Shubenacadie. (Dozs.)

118. Red-billed Tropic Bird.

Phaéthon ethereus Linn. 1758.
One specimen taken on the Newfoundland banks. (Chamber-
lain.)
Famity X. SULIDAS. Gannets.
XXXIX. SULA Brisson. 1760.

117. Gannet. Solan Goose.
Sula bassana (LINN.) Bore. 1822.

Accidental and rare in Greenland. (Avct. Man.) From Green-
land south to New Brunswick and throughout the Gulf of St.
Lawrence this species is common, breeding abundantly on the
southern coast of Labrador and on the Nova Scotia coast and on
Bird rocks in the gulf. Accidental in Ontario. MclIlwraith
mentions the occurrence of two individuals.

5M

68 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

BrEEDING Nores.—I saw a number of these birds on the rocky
ledges of Bonaventure island off the Gaspé coast in June, 1897.
They had apparently just commenced to lay. Great numbers are
also to be met with around the Magdalen islands, their principal
breeding resort there, as is well known, being the Great Bird
rocks, where still a considerable number hatch their young every
year. i was unsuccessful in reaching their breeding ground on
June 25th, owing to a dense fog, and had much difficulty in find-
ing the land after a hard day’s work. (Rev. C./. Young.)

Famity XI. PHALACROCORACIDAS. Cormorants.
XL. PHALACROCORAX Brisson. 1760.

119. Single-crested Cormorant.

Phalacrocovax carbo (L1nN.) LEacH. 1816.

Said by Holbcell to breed from the Godthaab fjord northward;
observed also on the east coast of Greenland. (Avct. Man.) Plenti-
ful and breeding along the whole coast of Labrador and New-
foundland. It also breeds on the coast of Nova Scotia, (Downs)
and on islands in Mace bay, New Brunswick. (Chamberlain.)
Common in the Gulf of St. Lawrence (Donne) and ascends the
St. Lawrence and Ottawa rivers, stragglers being taken at Ottawa,
Kingston, Toronto, and, according to Mcllwraith, as far west as

London, Ont.

120. Double-crested Cormorant.

Phalacrocoraz dilophus (Swain.) Nutr. 1834.

Equally abundant with P. cavbo and breeds in colonies along
Newfoundland. (eeks.) Breeds in numbers along the Atlantjc
coast and is of frequent occurrence in the gulf and up the St.
Lawrence and throughout Ontario, though we have no account of
its breeding in that province. Fleming says that the majority of
the birds seen by him at Toronto were young.

It extends northward to Great Slave lake, but is rare. (Ross.)

Abundant and breeding from Lake Winnipeg, in the eastern
part of Manitoba, westward to Old Wives lake and Crane lake in
Saskatchewan.

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 69

Breepinc Notes.—On an island in Crane lake, Saskatchewan,
June oth, 1894, I observed twenty-seven nests. The nests, built
with sticks and weeds, were from six inches to a foot in height.
Only nine of the nests contained eggs, and these had but one each.
A few days later (June 20th) all the nests had from one to four
eggs in them, and two additional nests had been built. (Spreaa-
borough.) Manitoba and Shoal lakes, Manitoba, and in Buffalo
lake, Alberta. (Dzppie.) Breeds in all suitable but retired places
about Prince Albert, Sask. (Coubeaux.) Big Stick lake, Sask.
(Bishop.) On June 8th, 1894 I found this bird nesting on islands
in Shoal lake, Manitoba. Nest of sticks and weeds containing
from four to five eggs. (Raine.)

1206. White-crested Cormorant.
Phatacrocorax dilophus cincinatus (BRANDT) Ripew. 1880.

This bird is a visitor at St. Michael, Alaska, by June toth. It
does not occur in great numbers; only a few breed there. At
Besborough island, some 40 miles north of St. Michael, this bird
breeds in abundance on the walls of that inaccessible island.
(Turner.) From Race rocks to Alaska, including Howe sourfd
and Burrard inlet and both coasts of Vancouver island; it occa-
sionally enters the mouth of the Fraser river, and is tolerably
common. (faxnin.) Common on both coasts of Vancouver island.
(Spreadborough.)

122. Brandt Cormorant.

Phalacrocorax penicillatus (BRANDT) HEERM. 1854.

Two specimens of this species were killed off Beacon Hill, Vic-
toria, Vancouver island, April 19th, 1897, by Mr. D. E. Campbell
and presented to the museum. (Fanmzin.)

123. Pelagic Cormorant.

Phalacrocorax pelagicus PALL. 1826.

This cormorant was found abundantly on the Aleutian islands in
May, 1877, and in the autumn of 1881. (/Ve/son.) In some locali-
ties of the Aleutian islands this form is extremely numerous; it
breeds on all the principal islands. Along these islands the bird
is a constant resident, apparently more numerous in winter than
in summer. (Zurner.)

790 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

Breepinc Nores.—The nest is usually placed ona ledge of
some bold-faced rock; in some instances about forty feet above
the sea. It is large, built of sea-weed, a few grass stalks, and an
abundance of its own excrement. The eggs number three or four,
blue, of pale shade, to white in colour. (Zurner.)

128a. Violet-green Cormorant.

Phalacrocorax pelagicus robustus Ripew. 1884.

An abundant resident on the coast of British Columbia, taken
as far north as Port Simpson; it breeds on the islands close to
Sidney island, about fifteen miles from Victoria. (Fannin.) This
is the most abundant cormorant in Alaska. It occurs everywhere
on the coast of Norton sound to Sitka, and breeds on almost every
rocky promontory. (JVelson.) This species is very common near
the entrance to St. Michael. (Zurner.)

Breeding abundantly on the more exposed outlying islands at
Sitka, Alaska. The immature birds and others not breeding
remained in flocks about the rocks and reefs furtherinland. The
nests were usually situated on the shelves of rock on the perpen-
dicular sides of the islands. I noted a row of 15 nests in a single
transverse crevice on the face of a promontory. The nests are deep
saucer-shaped and compactly made of grass and turf. The eggs
are 2 to 4 in number, oftener 3.

Two adult females taken at Nutchuk, Prince Wiiliam sound,
Alaska. (Gvrénmnell.)

124. Red-faced Cormorant.

Phatacrocorazx urile (GMEL.) Ripew. 1884.

This is a resident species on the Pribilof islands. It is a more
or less common summer resident on St. Matthew and St.Liwrence
islands as well as upon all the cliffs on both shores of Bering strait
and the islands in the strait. (Wedson.) A single specimen of this
bird was obtained at St. Michael. I did not see it elsewhere.
( Turner.)

BREEDING Nores.—This species is the earliest ot the birds in
Bering sea to lay its eggs. Two eggs from a bed on “the reef,’
St. Paul island June Ist, 1872, nearly hatched, which is nearly

CATALOGUE CF CANADIAN BIRDS. 71

three weeks in advance of the other waterfowl, almost without
exception. The nest is large, carefully rounded up, and built on
some jutting point or narrow shelf along the face of a cliff or
bluff ; in its construction, sea-ferns (Sevtudaride), grass, etc., are
used, together with a cement made largely of excrement. The
eggs are usually three in number, sometimes four, and, compared
with the size of the bird, are exceedingly small. They are oval,
of a dirty whitish-gray, green and blue colour, but soon become
soiled, for although this bird’s plumage is sleek and bright, yet it
is very slovenly and filthy about its nest. (//io#z.)

Famity XII. PELECANIDA. Peticans.
XLI. PELECANUS Linnavus. 1758.

125. American White Pelican.

Pelecanus erythvorhynchos GMEL. 1788.

Accidental in New Brunswick; one shot at Point du Chéne and
another at Cape Spenser. (Chamberlain.) A fine specimen of
this species was taken two miles south of Manotick, Ont., by John
Flann, jr. (J. &. Whiteaves.) Mr. P. C. Jones shot a specimen on
the Bay of Quinté, about eight miles from Belleville, Ont. (W
Saunders.) Stragglers are occasionally taken on Lake Ontario
and others on Lake Erie, but there are no accounts of its breeding
in any part of Ontario.

Found on all the large lakes throughout northern Manitoba and
Saskatchewan. According to Seton they formerly bred on Shoal
lake in Manitoba, but the settling of the country has caused them
to move farther north. The writer has found them on Lake Win-
nipegosis, Long lake, Old Wives lake, the Great Quill lakes and
Crane lake, where they were breeding in numbers. Further north
they breed in still greater numbers.

First seen at Indian Head, Sask., April 18th, 1892; in May
they came in large flocks and went north to breed. As soon as
the breeding season is over they come back and feed in the larger
lakes in the district; the greater number of those that return are
males. They were breeding in numbers at Long lake, to the
northwest of Indian Head, in 1879, and a few on Lake Ste. Anne,

72 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

Alberta, 1898. (Spreadborough.) North to Big island on the
Mackenzie river. (Ross.) An American white pelican was taken
by an Eskimo in June or July,1goo, on the shores of Liverpool
bay, lat. 70° W., long. 128°, on the shores of the Arctic sea.
It is now in my collection. (7. A. Fleming.) Not common in
British Columbia. One specimen taken at Shuswap lake, Octo-
ber, 1890, by Col. Forester. Said to breed in the Chilcotin coun-
try. (Fannin.) Mr. James McEvoy, of the Geological Survey,
saw one on Kamloops lake in October, 1894. Mr. Rhoads saw a
specimen which had been taken on Lake Okanagan, and Dr.
Dawson saw numbers in lakes in the Chilcotin country in June,
1878. These are the only records we have of its occurrence in
British Columbia.

BreEDinc Nores.—Breeding on Lake Manitoba and Shoal lake,
Manitoba, and on Buffalo lake, Alberta. (Dzppze.) On June 18th,
1894, I found a colony of these birds nesting on a sandy island in
Shoal lake, Manitoba. Nest, a hollow in the gravel, containing
two eggs each. Dr. Shufeldt in his monograph on the pelican:
states the bird lays but one egg, but this is an error as far as my
observation goes. (Raze.) Richardson says they deposit their
eggs on small rocky islands, and this accords with our own know-
ledge as in the cases mentioned above they were breeding on
islands. Their nests are merely depressions in the gravel or sand,
generally lined with an algoid matting that is often found blown
up on the shore. Eggs, one to three, very much like those of the
Canada goose, but the surface of the shell is rougher.

126. Brown Pelican.

Pelecanus fuscus LINN. 1766.

On the 31st May, 1885, a brown pelican was seen to alight ona
salt-water marsh at River John, Pictou co., Nova Scotia, where it
was approached without much difficulty and killed. Upon ex-
amination the body was found to be emaciated and the pouch
entirely empty. This specimen is now in the museum at Pictou
academy. On the first of June, 1893, an adult male of the same
species was shot on Pictou island by Mr.J.W. Hogg. A third
specimen vas shot by the same gentleman on May 15th, 1895 at
the east end of Pictou island. The latest record we have for this

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 73

bird is from Louisburg, Cape Breton island, N.S., where one was
shot, May igth, 1904. The specimen is in the Provincial museum
at Halifax, N.S.

127. California Brown Pelican.

Pelecanus californicus RipGw. 1884.

I was informed by a close observer that a brown pelican fre-
quented Sumas lake, Fraser valley, B.C., for some time. (Bvooks.)
Not common; onetaken at the mouth of Fraser river by Mr.
J. C. Hughes in November, 1880. Since then, one was killed near
Race rocks, and in September of the following year, I shot and
wounded one onthe flats above Seymour creek, Burrard inlet,
B.C., but failed to secure it. (/annin.)

Famity XIII. FREGATIDA®. Man-O’-War Brrps.
XLII. FREGATA Brisson. 1760.

128. Man-O’-War Bird.

Fregata aquila (LiNN.) REICH. 1852.

Accidental! on the coast of Nova Scotia and in the Gulf of St.
Lawrence. One shot at Cole harbour, Nova Scotia after a
southern gale. (Dotuns.) One shot at Godbout on the St. Law-
rence by Mr. Comeau in 1884. (Dzonne.)

OrpER, ANSERES. WLaMELLIROSTRAL SWIMMERS.
Famity XIV. ANATIDAZE®. Ducks, GEESE AND Swans.
XLII. MERGANSER Brisson. 1760.

129. American Merganser. Goosander.

Merganser americanus (CASS.) STEJN. 1885.

This species breeds in New Brunswick (Chamberlain), a migrant
in Nova Scotia (H. F. Tufts), breeds in Newfoundland (Kee’s), in
Labrador (Low), on Prince Edward island and Sable island
(Macoun), and is a common summer resident in Quebec.

74 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

Common on the Missinabi and Moose rivers, breeding on both
rivers. (Spreadborough.) Common in Muskoka and Parry Sound
districts. Regular winter resident at Toronto, Ont. (/..Fleming.)
A flock of young seen on the west coast of the Bruce peninsula in
June, 1889, and old birds are often seen there in summer. (W.
Saunders.)

Breeds in the northern part of Manitoba and northwesterly to
the Barren Grounds. (Macfarlane.) Breeding at Jasper House,
Alta., 1889; a few seen along streams in the Peace River district;
noted at Elk river and Kettle river, B.C. and breeding at Osoyoos
lake, B.C. (Spreadborough.) Though Nelson and Turner say that
it is only a visitor in Alaska, Grinnell found an adult female in
Prince William sound and Bishop a pair breeding on Lake Tagish
and adults, usually in pairs, at several other places. Both Brooks
and Fannin report it breeding in British Columbia and wintering
abundantly on Okanagan lake. Found breeding at Canmore and
Banff, Rocky Mountains, May, 1891.

BreepinGc Notes.—Mr. A. P. Low found it breeding on the
shores of small lakes in Labrador; eggs were taken with the bird
from under small spruces on the upper part of the Hamilton river,
in the summer of 1896.

Fairly common in Alberta, downy young killed June 24th, 1896,
at the forks of Blindman river and the Red Deer. (Diéppie.)
Breeding on the streams and larger lakes but absent from the
smaller lakes that are devoid of fish in the Cariboo district, B.C.
(Brooks.)

This is a summer resident at Norway lake, Renfrew co., Ont.,
although I never obtained the nest; I haveseen the bird, however,
fly into a cavity in a pine tree about forty feet from the ground.
I have learned that a pair breed every year in the bole of a decayed
pine tree on an island in Bolis lake, Frontenac co., Ont. I have
reason to believe that this species prefers, in Ontario, inland lakes
bordered by woods and not large expanses of open water. (Rev.
C.J. Young.) A pair of mergansers was breeding on a small rocky
island in Lake Tagish at the entrance to Windy Arm. The nest
was fotind by Osgood in a crevice in the cliffs about 15 feet above
the water. It was made of down, and contained seveneggs. (Bishop.)
In the Ottawa Naturalist, Vol. XVII, p. 153, Mr. Walter Raine

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS, 75

describes the finding of 30 nests of this bird on Gun island, Lake
Winnipegosis. All the nests that could be reached were built far
back at the end of dark passages under boulders on the highest
part of the island, some nests being from four to six feet back
{rom the entrance.

130. Red-breasted Merganser.

Merganser serrator (Linn.) SCHAFF. 1789.

This species breeds in Greenland and across the whole of the
wooded region from Newfoundland and Labrador to the Aleutian
islands. It does not breed in the prairie region, but prefers the
clear lakes and streams of the north. Not very common in British
Columbia, but breeds in suitable places; breeding at Deer park
and Pass creek, Columbia river, B.C., June, 1890. (Macoun.) A
number killed for food at our camp on the Barren Grounds, 50
miles south of Cape Eskimo. (Preéle.) Winters on Okanagan
lake, B.C. (Brooks.)

BREEDING Nortes.—Nests on rivers and lakes. Breeding at
Buffalo lake, Alberta, also at Lake Manitoba. 1896. (Dzppie.)
Breeds at Shoal lake and Lake Manitoba, (Razne.) Onan island
in the Yukon delta Dall found six nests of this bird. They were
all carefully concealed under dead leaves, and were generally
sheltered by a log of driftwood, in a small hollow, lined with down
from the parent’s breast. They contained from six to ten rich
cream-coloured eggs.

On the Alaskan coast they breed everywhere in suitable places
from Sitka north to Icy cape, and perhaps to Point Barrow. The
first eggs are laid early in June, and the site for the nest, on the
marshes, is ordinarily the same as that chosen by other species of
ducks with the usual foresight as to concealment and proximity
toa pond. (Welson.)

This species used to breed frequently among the Thousand
islands, River St Lawrence. Only a few pairs now remain to do
so, the majority going east and north. In June, 1893, I saw a
flock of upwards of twenty about fourteen miles above Brock-
ville ; of course, all adults. In the following year, in the last week
in June, I saw a flock of about the same number at the “The
Ducks,” Lake Ontario. I have met with the nest twice at the

76 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

east end of Lake Ontario, on islands, on the 27th June, 1896,
and on the 30th June the same year. On the first occasion I had
landed on arocky island, and while passing some cedars a mer-
ganser flew from underneath. J concluded there was a nest and
by searching soon found it, containing six eggs. This nest was
well hidden away among thick branches of cedar, and was found
in a depression of the rock, it was made of dried grass and well
lined with down of the bird. Incubation had commenced seven
or eight days. The other nest was in asomewhat similar position,
well concealed in adry place among the rocks, perhaps ten feet
above the water; this one contained ten eggs, and was precisely
as the first. This speciesis verycommon on the Magdalen islands
in summer. I saw numbers of them in June, 1897, and obtained
fresh eggs on the 22nd’of that month. They select there an
island or dry spot around the brackish pools at the northeast
point of the island, and the eggs were deposited in precisely the
same way as those found on Lake Ontario. (Rev. C.J. Young.)

This bird builds a nest of dry grass, warmly lined with down
and feathers. The eggs, nine or more in number, are of a creamy
buff colour. From a nest situated at the Lake of the Woods, ten
young were successfully hatched on the 20th June, 1897, the young
birds were as large as aquail. (G. R. White.)

Several nests of this, not particularly numerous merganser, were
obtained in the vicinity of Fort Anderson, and also in the wooded
parts on both sides of the river, north and south of the post.
One was found on the borders of the ‘t Barrens,” to the east, under
a fallen tree, close toa small lake. It was a scooped-out hole,
lined with feathers and down and contained six eggs. Ten was
the maximum number taken ina nest. (Macfarlane.)

XLIV. LOPHODYTES ReicHensBacH. 1852. .

181. Hooded Merganser.
Lophodytes cucullatus (Linn.) ReIcH. 1852.

This species is reported as a spring and autumn migrant along
the Atlantic coast from New Brunswick to Labrador and in Que-
bec and Ontario. We have no records of its breeding in any of
these provinces, except that an Ottawa writer says it is ‘‘ known
to breed”; and Mr. Elliott, of Plover Mills, Middlesex co., Ont.,

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 77

reports that a male flew out of the woods on the 28th June, 1889,
and alighted on Plover pond, and from this fact believes it breeds
in southwestern Ontario; Mr: J. H. Fleming also records it as
breeding in Muskoka and Parry Sound districts.

Its centre of abundance seems ‘o be northern Manitoba and the
districts towards the mouth of the Saskatchewan; here it finds
dead trees and flooded ground, which seem to be its chief requisites
when breeding. After pairing, the males come south and congre-
gate on the lakes and ponds while the females are hatching.
Many broods have been seen, but very few accompanied by more
than one parent. Preble records it from the Churchill river, 15
miles above Fort Churchill, and Bishop found young at Maple
creek, Sask. It seems to be acommon summer resident in the
Rocky mountains, as an old bird with her young brood was seen
at Waterton lake, lat. 49°, in July, 1895, andin July, 1897 in Crow
Nest pass, 30 miles farther to the north. Breeding at Banff, Rocky
mountains, May, 1891, and at the mouth of the Illecillewaet, B.C.,
May 2oth, 1890; also found breeding in small ponds Téte Jaune
Cache, B.C., by Spreadborough, in July, 1898.

This species is common throughout British Columbia; and
Fannin and Brooks say it is common on the Pacific coast and in
Fraser River valley and winter’s on Okanagan lake. Only occa-
sional in Alaska, where Dr. Bannister reported a flock at St.
Michael in October, 1885, and shot one.

Breepinc Notes.—A pair has built in an elm stub for years, at
about thirty feet from the ground, at the mouth of Sharp creek,
Bracebridge, Ont. The stub is on the bank of a stream. The old
bird carries her young from the tree to the waterin her bill. At
first the young are rather helpless and are very easy to catch, but
in a few days they are well able to take care of themselves. A
pair of these birds was seen on Moose river, between the Canadian
Pacific Railway and James bay, June 5th, 1896; another pair was
seen in the interior of Labrador on July 16th the same year. In
1903 it was observed breeding from Missinabi river to Cape
Henrietta Maria, Hudson bay. (Spreadborough.) Seen, and be-
lieved to be breeding, at Reaburn, Manitoba, June 8th, 1893.
(Dippie.) Breeding regularly on the wooded banks of the larger
rivers throughout Manitoba. Nests in hollow trees. (George
Atkinson.)

78 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

XLV. CASARCA Bonaparte. 1838.
131.1. Ruddy Sheldrake.

Casarca casarca (LINN.) ALLEN. 1896.

In 1892 the Geographical Society of Berlin sent an expedition
to west Greenland, which was accompanied by Dr. Vanhoffen as
naturalist. He reports seeing the skin of this species in a small
collection of birds’ skins made at Augpalartok, in the district of
Uppernavik, which was collected in that vicinity in 1892. (J. A.
Allenin The Auk, Vol. XIII, 244, 1896.)

XLVI. ANAS Linnazus. 1758.
132. Mallard.

Anas boschas Linn. 1758.

Breeds in both inspectorates of Greenland and is not rare. (Avct.
Man.) A rather common bird; most common in the winter
months; afew breed at Ivigtut, Greenland. (Hagerup.) On the
basis of a comparison of a large series of specimens of the mallard
from Greenland with specimens from Denmark Mr. Schiceler has
separated the Greenland form as a sub-species under the name
Anas boschas spilogaster. (The Auk, Vol. XXII, p. 331.)

It is very rare in Newfoundland and Nova Scotia, and only
occasional in New Brunswick. It becomes more common in Que-
bec, especially in the Montreal district, and in western Ontario,
as a migrant; assembles in great flocks and feeds in the marshes

along Lake Erie and Lake St. Clair, where a few pairs remain to
breed.

This is the most abundant duck in the Northwest Territories
and British Columbia, breeding near ponds and lakes from lat. 49°
to the borders of the Barren Lands. Preble saw one or two on ponds
in the Barren Grounds north of Seal river. It is not a bird of the
sea-coast, but prefers the ponds and lakes of the interior. It was
breeding in Vermilion lake at Banff, 1891, and in Eagle pass in
the Gold range, B.C., in May, 1890. It is quite common in the
interiorof Alaska and breeds as far north as Kotzebue sound,
according to Nelson. On the Alaskan shores it is not common,

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 79

but the Aleutian islands and Unalaska are the feeding grounds of
great numbers in winter. One or two pairs breed on St. Paul
island, Bering sea, each year.

A few winter at Vernon, B.C. (Brooks.)

BREEDING Notes.—A few pairs breed in the large marshes in
western Ontario, especially at St. Clair flats. (W. Saunders.) This
is the earliest duck to breed. Breeding everywhere I have been
in the Northwest Territories. (Dippie.) Breeds throughout Man-
itoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta. (Razne.)

On May oth, 1892, at Deep lake, near Indian Head, Sask.,
found a nest containing eight eggs about fifty yards from the lake
in a bunch of weeds, it was made of dry grass, lined with down
from the bird’s breast. I have found many nests of this duck in
various parts of the country. Sometimes they are quite near the
water, and at other times several hundred yards away. The nest
is in a hole in the ground, rather bulky, made of grass and weeds,
lined with down. Some of them breed very early in the spring,
so early in fact, that I have found eggs cracked with the frost.
On May 4th, 1894, at Medicine Hat, Sask., discovered a nest of
this species on the bank of a creek. Nest,-a hole in the sand,
lined with dry grass, amongst rose-bushes; there were only two
eggs. On June 18th, another nest was taken under the same con-
ditions at Crane lake; this nest contained ten eggs. June 7th,
1897, at Edmonton, Alberta, found a nest in a small clump of
willows, about three hundred yards from water, the young had
not left the nest and the old bird almost let me put my hand upon
her before she left; also found breeding at Sooke lake, Vancouver
island, in 1893. (Spreadborough.)

Dall, at Nulato, Alaska, found a set of eight eggs of the mal-
lard laid on the rotten wood in the hollow top of a stump about
six inches from the ground. They were concealed under a layer
of leaves and feathers. (JVeson.)

133. Black Duck.

Anas obscura GMEL. 1788.

This is the common wild duck of Newfoundland and the Mari-
time Provinces. Found breeding in a marsh near Brackley point,
Prince Edward island, in June, 1888, by the writer, and in the

80 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

marshes bordering fresh-water ponds on the Magdalen islands by
Bishop. Although not a common bird in Labrador, Spread-
borough found it breeding there Juty 7th, 1896. In Quebec and
Ontario it still breeds in diminished numbers, but evidently its
chief breeding grounds are towards the Atlantic coast and Hudson
bay. A few stragglers reach Manitoba, but the writer never ob-
served any west of the Red River valley. Macfarlane obtained
the birds at the Anderson river, Mackenzie valley, but no eggs.

BreEDInG Notes.—A few birds of this species were seen in the
northern part of Labrador, July 7th, 1896. On this date a nest was
taken, containing four eggs, nearly hatched. A few breeding on
the Missinabi river. Breeding in great numbers on both sides of
James bay. Indians destroy great numbers of young ducks in
July. Saw over 70 killed with sticks in one afternoon. (Spread-
borough.) The black duck builds generally on the ground at the
foot of a tree or low bush. The nest is composed of weeds and
grass, nicely lined with feathers, apparently from the breast of the
mother bird. The eggs are usually eight or nine in number, and
are of a pale, dirty-yellowish drab. A nest found near Ottawa,
Ont., on the 24th May, 1897, had eleven eggs init. It was built
at the foot of a little pine tree about 20 yards from the water.
(G. R. White.) Breeds at Rice lake, south of Peterboro, Ontario.
(Razne.)

«\ very common species in the St. Lawrence valley, where it
breeds abundantly. I have seen young broods in the counties of
Leeds and Lanark in the month of June. This bird breeds early,
commencing to lay sometimes in April. I found a nest contain-
ing twelve eggs on the 24th May, 1897, under singular circum-
stances. Anxious to know whether the loon had again returned
to its breeding-ground ina small lake about fifteen miles from
Brockville, Ont., I went to the place and procured a boat. There,
sure enough, was the nest on the edge of a floating bog and clump
of flags, and whilst I was examining the nest and the two eggs in
it, out flew a black duck from amongst the last year’s flags, not an
oar’s length from the loon’s nest. Feeling sure the eggs were there,
I managed to reach the spot, though the bog was very shaky,and
saw the nest with the number of eggs mentioned. The place
where the nest was made was not exactly wet, as there was a mat-
ted foundation of dry weeds among which it was well concealed,

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 81

composed of dry grass and well lined with the down of the bird.
Incubation had commenced about a week, which would make the
time of commencing to lay about the first week in May in this
case. (Rev. C./. Young.) <A few pairs breed in the large marshes
in western Ontario. (W. Saunders.) At Wolfville, Nova Scotia,
a nest of this species was found, in a slight hollow in the ground,
lined with dry rushes, and sheltered by a clump of briar bushes.
The nest contained two eggs which were only slightly incubated
on May 27th, 1897. These eggs were taken by Mr. H. F. Tufts
and are now in the museum at Ottawa. A nest of this species
was found at Brackley point, Prince Edward island, by the writer,
on June 21st, 1888, with nine young just hatched. The nest was
ona hummock ina small marsh near the sandhills.

133a. Red-legged Black Duck.

Anas obscura rubipes BREWST. 1902.

To the red-legged race I can unhesitatingly refer only four of
the breeding black ducks which I have examined. One of these (a
female) was taken by Mr. L. M. Turner on July 1st, 1884 at Ungava,
northern Labrador; another by Mr. John McKenzie at Moose Fac-
tory on James bay; a third by Mr. C. Drexler, on June roth, 1860,
at Cape Hope, Severn river; the fourth (a male) by Mr. E. A. Preble,
on July 28th, 1900, at Fort Churchill, the two localities last
named being on the western shores of Hudson bay. The summer
range is not definitely known but breeding specimens have been
examined from northern Labrador, James bay and the west shore
of Hudson bay. (Brewster.) Common winter visitor in Nova
Scotia. (H. F. Tufts.)

An adult male was collected at Fort Churchill, July 28th, and
another had been shot by an Indian a day or two previously.
Blakiston records a specimen received from York Factory. The
species is called throughout the region the ‘‘black stock duck’’ to
distinguish it from the mallard. (Preble.) Common migrant at
Toronto, Ont. This rather doubtful form remains later than the
black duck and consequently more are taken in the fall than the
other. (J. H. Fleming.) Ducks exhibiting many of the character-
istics of this variety have been exposed for sale on the market at
Ottawa. These birds according to Mr. Eifrig (The Auk, Vol. XXIII,

6 .

82 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA,

page 315) are probably hybrids between black ducks used as decoys
and domestic ducks. Mr. John Marshall of the Geological Survey,
however, has occasionally shot ducks below Ottawa late in October
which he says are undoubtedly the bird described by Brewster.

XLVII. CHAULELASMUS Bonaparte. 1838
1385. Gadwell. Grey Duck,

Chaulelasmus streperus (LINN.) BONAP, 1838

This species is rarely seen during the migration along the Atlantic
coast; it is also rare in Quebec and Ontario, and MclIlwraith says
that the pair in his collection are the only ones he has heard of being
taken in the latter province, though the bird has been shot at Ottawa
by Mr. W. F. Whitcher, and Fleming records it as a rare migrant at
Toronto.

MclIlwraith in his ‘‘Birds of Ontario,’ page 70, seems to doubt
my statement that they are ‘‘abundant throughout the interior.”
He says they are nowhere abundant and no person has made that
statement but myself. Dr. Elliott Coues, in writing of the birds
observed by him on the International boundary says: ‘‘Abun-
dant throughout the region, where it breeds, like nearly all the
Anating. Young still unfledged were observed late in August.”
I found them abundant on the prairie in 1880, but in the wooded
country in 1881 shot only one specimen. This is the species that
breeds almost exclusively in the prairie region, and more than half
the nests seen in 1895 in making a traverse from the boundary of
Manitoba to the Rocky mountains were of this species. This and
the lesser scaup were the common ducks of the southern prairie.
Richardson says it breeds in numbers to lat. 68°, and Macfarlane
‘says he believes it breeds as far north as Anderson river. One
specimen was taken by Preble at Fort Churchill, Hudson bay and a
few by Spreadborough between Lesser Slave lake and Peace River
Landing, Atha.

It is generally a rare bird in Alaska and British Columbia, but
Turner reports it common in summer in the Yukon delta.

BREEDING Notes.—A pair of this species reached Deep lake,
Indian Head, Sask., on April 18th, 1892, and by May 6th they were
common; on June 24th found a nest on a small island in the lake,
containing eight eggs. It was made of dry grass lined with
down from the female’s own breast. In 1895, nests of this species were
taken at Twelve-mile lake, near Wood mountain, Sask., on neJu

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS.. 83

4th, and on June 29th on an island in Cypress lake, 150 miles further
west. The latter nests were in clumps of Elymus condensatus.
Number of eggs in a set ranged from 7 to 11; breeds in large num-
bers at Edmonton, Alberta. On June 29th, 1894, at Crane lake,
Sask., took a nest of this species containing thirteen eggs, seven of
which were of the lesser scaup. (Spreadborough.) Fairly common
on Lake Manitoba, where both eggs and specimens were taken;
also common on Buffalo lake, Alberta, July, 1895. (Dzippie.)

I have found this species breeding at Long lake, Shoal lake, and
Lake Manitoba, in Manitoba; also at Rush lake and Crane lake,
Sask. In fact it breeds throughout the country stretching from
Winnipeg to the Rocky Mountain foot-hills. It is a late breeder
and lays from ten to twelve pale, buff-coloured eggs. It makes its
nest on the ground and prefers islands in the small lakes. (Ratne.)
This species breeds in considerable numbers in the large marshes
bordering the south end of Lake Manitoba and I noted it quite
regularly between Hamiota, Man., and Boulder lake, Sask., in 1906,
and again in the fresh-water lakes and sloughs west of Ribstone
creek, Alta. I did not seeit at all inthesalt lake region. (Geo.
Atkinson.)

On a small knoll in a marsh at Crane lake the writer found a
nest of this species in a tuft of grass on June 11th, 1894. The nest
contained five fresh eggs, while at the same time young of the mal-
lard, of a good size, were swimming around,

XLVII. MARECA SrePHENns. 1824.
136. European Widgeon.

Mareca penelope (LINN.) SELBY. 1833.

A young drake sent by Holbcell to Denmark in 1851; Reinhardt
had seen two others that were killed in south Greenland. (Arct.
Man.) Accidental in Greenland. (Winge.) Accidental in Nova
Scotia. (Downs.)

In Alaska they seem to be more common. A few individuals
were obtained by Mr. Elliott on the Pribilof islands during two
years’ residence. It was never in pairs and seemed to be a winter
visitor only. As it has never been seen to the north I am inclined
to believe that it breeds on some secluded island of the Aleutian

6% e

84 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

islands. (Nelson.) Rare. Two specimens, one taken near Vic-
toria, February 9th, 1899, and another near Saanich, Vancouver
island. (Kermode.)

1387. American Widgeon. Baldpate,

Mareca americana (GMEL.) STEPHENS. 1824.

Reported as a common migrant in Newfoundland (Reeks), and
southern Labrador. (Packard.) Rare migrant in Nova Scotia,
New Brunswick and Quebec; extending its range to Moose river,
where one was observed by Spreadborough in June, 1896, and the
west shore of Hudson bay at Fort Churchill. It is rather more
common in Ontario, but only as a migrant. This is a late duck to
arrive in the prairie region, and yet, according to Richardson, it
breeds abundantly as far north as lat. 68°. It breeds abundantly
in the marshes of the southern part of the prairie region, and is still
more abundant to the north. It is a common species in Manitoba,
and northwesterly. One pair was found breeding at Banff, Rocky
mountains, in May, 1891.

Fannin and Brooks report it common in the Fraser valley and
interior of British Columbia, while Nelson and Turner say that it
is a comparatively rare-breeding duck in Alaska, though it breeds
as far north as Kotzebue sound, according to Nelson. Bishop saw
five ducks which he took to be baldpates above Fort Selkirk, Yukon
district.

From the species coming late to Manitoba and yet breeding as far
north as lat. 68°, we are led to believe that the race which breeds in
Manitoba is different from that which is found in northern Alaska
and the Barren Grounds, and that the latter race has its winter
home on the Pacific side of the continent.

BREEDING Notes.—Breeding in the vicinity of Lake Manitoba,
1896. (Dippie.) This species also breeds throughout Manitoba
and Saskatchewan. The eggs are similar to those of the gadwell,
but average smaller in size. I have a clutch of ten eggs in my
collection which I took at Shoal lake, Manitoba, June 18th, 1894.
(Raine.) A few reached Edmonton, Alberta, by April 17th, 1897,
but not until May 5th were they common. On June ist found a
nest containing eleven eggs in a clump of willows about a quarter
of a mile from water. The nest was of the usual character, and,
like all other duck’s nests, was lined with down, (Spreadborough.)

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 85
XLIX. NETTION Kavp. 1829.
138. European Teal.

Nettion crecca (LINN.) Kaup. 1829.

Accidental on the eastern coast of the Dominion.

A few examples have been killed in Danish Greenland. (Arct.
Man.) Coues obtained a female in Labrador, July 23rd, 1860.
(Packard.) Very rare in Nova Scotia. Only one specimen taken
as far as I am aware. (Dowmns.) A male of this species was pro-
cured by me at Atka island, June 28th, 1879. It was the only
specimen I ever observed. (Turner.)

7

139. Green-winged Teal.

Nettion carolinensis (GMEL.) BatrpD. 1858.

Four specimens are known to have been taken in south Greens
land prior to 1860. (Arct. Man.) Since 1860 one male and two
females have been taken in Greenland. (Wzinge.) It is a summer
resident on the coast of Labrador, in Newfoundland and New Bruns-
wick, an uncommon migrant in Nova Scotia, and seems to be rare
inland in the east, although it has been taken at York Factory and
Churchill and Spreadborough found it common and breeding on
both sides of James bay. It may breed in Quebec, but though
moderately common in Ontario is not known to breed there.

From Manitoba to the Pacific coast this bird is common and
breeds from lat. 49° to the Arctic sea and throughout British Colum-
bia and Alaska. It is rare in the Rocky mountains, but was breed-
ing on Vermilion lakes at Banff, in May, 1891; and at Téte Jaune
Cache, B.C., in June, 1898. It seems to prefer the valley of the
Mackenzie for its northern range, as it is known to be rare to the -
eastward of that valley, and Macfarlane says that it is the rarest of
the breeding ducks at Fort Anderson. Its centre of abundance is
from lat. 50° to 56° in the territories.

_ BreEpDING Notes.—I found a nest containing eggs at Crane lake,
Sask., June 5th, 1893. It is not so plentiful as the blue-winged
teal. (Ratne.)

Dall notes this species as one of the first arrivals on the Yukon
in spring, and one of the first to lay its eggs. One set of eggs was

86 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

taken from a nest of dry grass in a sedge tussock, on May 2oth, at
Nulato. (Nelson.)

This species was breeding in great numbers in willow thickets
and sparsely wooded ground around Edmonton, Alberta, in the
spring of 1897. The nests were hard to find as they were far away
from water. The first arrivals were about April 17th and by the
24th these birds were common. On May 25th found a nest in a
clump of willows about a quarter of a mile from water. Nest made
of grass lined with down. It contained nine eggs, quite fresh.
Another nest of the same character was found under a log, on June
ist, about 150 yards from water. This nest contained seven fresh
eggs. (Spreadborough.) Breeds sparingly on the Meo islands.
(Rev. C. J. Young.)

L. QUERQUEDULA STEPHENS. 1824.
140. Blue-winged Teal.

Querquedula discors (LINN.) STEPHENS. 1824,

This’is a rare bird in Newfoundland and in Nova Scotia, except
in the autumn migrations. Chamberlain says it is a common
summer resident near St. John, New Brunswick. It seems to be
moderately common in Quebec and Ontario during the migra-
tions, and a few pairs are reported still to breed on the St. Clair
flats. Wintle says a few may probably breed near Montreal.

Seton says it is very abundant in Manitoba, and our own ob-
servations show that it is so westward as well, but it becomes especi-
ally so in the mixed prairie and copse country north of lat. 50°-52°.
Richardson found it plentiful on the Saskatchewan, but not ex-
tending north of lat. 58°. Ross found it on the south side of Great
Slave lake, and Dr. Rae on Repulse bay. Nelson and Turner found
it very rare in Alaska, and Fannin says it is a very rare bird in British
Columbia. Brooks claims, however, that it is a common summer
resident in the lower Fraser valley, though a scarce breeder in the
neighbourhood of 150-mile House, Cariboo, B.C. Rhoads found it
breeding about several of the small lakes in the vicinity of Lac la
Hache, B.C.

BREEDING Notes.—A pair occasionally remains to breed in the
St. Lawrence valley, but the greater number pass to the north. The

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 87

nest has been found at Gananoque lake, and one is recorded from
a marsh at the west end of Amherst island, Lake Ontario. (Rev.
C. J. Young.)

A few pairs of this species breed in the marshes at Lake St. Clair;
nests have also been taken at Rondeau, Lake Erie. (W. Saunders.)

Only one pair was observed in Labrador, at Clearwater lake,
July 11th, 1896. They were evidently breeding. This species
was common at Edmonton, Alberta, in the spring of 1897. It
was first observed on April 28th, and was common by May 2nd.
On May roth found a nest far from water, built exactly like that of
the green-winged teal. It contained two fresh eggs. Bird shot as
she rose from the nest. Noted at the mouth of Lesser Slave river
and on the Peace river, Atha. Seen at several places east and west
of Midway, B.C. in 1902 and 1903. (Spreadborough.)

A nest of this species was taken June 14th, 1896, at Burnt (Swan)
lake, Alberta. It was in a hollow in a tuft of grass, lined with a fine
grass and down, about twenty yards from edge of water. Nest
contained twelve eggs, now in the museum at Ottawa. (Dippie.)

141. Cinnamon Teal.

Querquedula cyanoptera (VIEILL.) CASSIN. 1855.

A very rare straggler in Manitoba, only a few specimens having
been taken in fifteen yearsresidence. (R. H. Hunter.) Two or three
specimens seen near Crane lake, Sask. in 1905. (A.C. Bent.)

Kermode, Fannin, Lord and Brooks say it is a regular summer
visitor in British Columbia. Only two specimens came under our
notice on the prairies. These were in southwestern Alberta, near
the mountains.

In the smaller and more retired woodland lakes along the Cariboo
road above Clinton, B.C., I frequently flushed the cinnamon teal,
Mr. D. McKinley, Lac la Hache says the ‘‘red teal” breeds sparingly
in that neighbourhood every year. (Rhoads.)

LI. SPATULA Bor. 1822.
142. Shoveller. Spoon-bill.

Spatula clypeata. (LINN.) Bore. 1822.

This species is a summer migrant in Newfoundland, Nova Scotia,
New Brunswick, Quebec and Ontario, but we have no record of its

88 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

breeding, except that McIlwraith says that Dr. Macallum observed
one leading its young within half a mile of Dunnville, at the mouth
of the Grand river, Lake Erie, and Saunders and Morden say it may
breed on the St. Clair flats.

It is one of the commonest ducks in the prairie region, from
Manitoba to the mountains and from lat. 49° to the Barren Grounds,
where it becomes rare, as Macfarlane says only a couple of specimens
were collected at Fort Anderson in six years. Spreadborough saw
it in nearly all the sloughs between Lesser Slave lake and Peace River
Landing,Atha. Between lat. 51° and lat. 54° it is especially abundant,
and it is found in the autumn in immense numbers in every pond and
lakelet. It has been taken at Moose Factory and Trout lake. A
few pairs were breeding on Vermilion lakes, at Banff, in May, 1891;
and at Lake Ste. Anne, Alberta, June, 1898. It is a rare species in
Alaska, though Nelson reports it breeding as far north as Kotzebue
sound. Fannin says it is an abundant summer resident on the
mainland of British Columbia, east of the Coast range, and Brooks
says it is a common resident in the lower Fraser valley about Sumas
lake, and a scarce breeder in the neighbourhood of 150-mile House.
Cariboo; Spreadborough saw it at Elko and Penticton, B.C.

BREEDING Notres.—Common near Reaburn, Manitoba, and also
at Buffalo lake, Alberta, where both eggs and birds were taken.
(Dip pie.)

This species breeds with other water-fowl on all the marshes
from Kotzebue sound to the mouth of the Kuskoquim. The eggs
are deposited the last of May and first of June in a dry spot near
some pond or stream, and the nest is usually lined with grass and
feathers, the latter from the parent’s breast. (Nelson.)

This species was found breeding plentifully near small streams
descending from the Cypress hills and by small marshy lakes at
Crane lake, Saskatchewan, June goth, 1894. While beating rose-
thickets for nests the writer flushed a female off a nest containing
ten eggs, too much incubated to be taken; shortly after, I flushed
another, nesting in the same manner, but there were only eight
eggs in the set, quite fresh. Both nests were under rose-bushes
on dry ground and lined with grass and down. On the 11th June,
in some patches of rose-bushes, I found two more nests, one having
eleven and the other nine eggs.

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 89
LIT. DAFILA StTepHENs. 1824.
148. Pintail. Springtail.
Dafila acuta (LINN.) Bonap. 1838.

Very rare in Newfoundland; more common in Nova Scotia, and
Chamberlain reports a few breeding in New Brunswick. It has
been taken in Davis strait and at York Factory, Hudson bay.
Spreadborough found it breeding on both sides of James bay and
in thousands along the west coast of the bay in August, chiefly
north of Albany. It is not a rare migrant in Quebec and Ontario,
and according to Saunders a few breed on St. Clair flats.

This species breeds in numbers throughout the Northwest Terri-
tories from lat. 49° to the Arctic coast. Richardson and Macfarlane
both speak of its abundance on the Barren Grounds. Preble saw
hundreds on the shallow ponds of the Barren Grounds, 50 miles
below Cape Eskimo. Nelson and Turner say that this is the com-
monest duck in Alaska, and Murdoch reports it breeding quite close
to Point Barrow on the Arctic sea. It is a resident in British Colum-
bia and breeds on the mainland. Fannin’says they congregate in
great flocks in some localities on the coast in winter, but more
especially on the lower Fraser. Brooks found it to be a scarce breeder
at 150-mile House, Cariboo, B.C.

BREEDING Notss.—This species breeds at St. Clair flats and in
fewer numbers at Rondeau, Lake Erie. (W. Saunders.) Breeding
commonly in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. It seldom lays more
than nine eggs and nests in similar situations to the shoveller. Its
eggs can be distinguished from those of the shoveller by their larger
size. Two clutches of nine eggs each are in my collection taken at
Rush lake, Sask., May 25th and 28th, 1893. Both nests were in
hollows in the grass, were lined with down and found near water.
(Ratne.)

This is about the first water-fowl to commence nesting. The date
when the first eggs are laid varies from May 18th to 25th, according
to the season. The eggs are placed in a depression on some tussock
or among the grass and other vegetation beside a pool, usually where
it is pretty well concealed. The eggs number from six to twelve in
a set. They are rather small, and usually pale olive-green when

go GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

fresh. The nest is lined with grass-stems and feathers. When the
young are hatched the parent leads them to the adjacent pool, and
they keep in the most secluded parts of the marsh until able to take
wing. (Nelson.)

Breeding in some numbers at Edmonton, Alberta, although no
nests were taken; two nests of this species were taken at Twelve-
mile lake, near Wood mountain, Sask., on June 5th, 1895; the nest
in one case was made of the dried stems of Eleocharis palustris and
lined with down. It contained ten eggs almost fresh. Another was
taken amongst some sage-brush a little distance from the water.
This nest held seven fresh eggs. A few nests of this species were
taken on an island in Cypress lake, south of the Cypress hills, June
29th, 1895; the nests were in clumps of rye-grass (Elymus conden-
satus), and one female was shot as she rose from the nest. (Spread-
borough.) Quite abundant in the ‘‘Barrens.”” The nest was usually
a small cavity or depression in the ground, lined with down, withered
leaves, and a few feathers. It lays from six to eight eggs. It
deserts the nest immediately the eggs are hatched and young and
old take to the water. (Macjarlane.)

LIT. AIX Bore. 1828.

144. Wood Duck.
Aix sponsa (LINN.) BoNAP. 1838.

Rare. A few breed in Nova Scotia. (Downs.) A rare summer
resident. Breeds in New Brunswick. (Chamberlain.) Stearns re-
ports it as common in the interior of Labrador, but none of our
explorers have ever seen a specimen there. Wintle says not many
breed around Montreal, but they are plentiful in the autumn and
mostly young birds. Summer resident around Ottawa, and breeds
in Dow swamp, close tothecity. Breeds in suitable places through-
out southern Ontario, but much rarer now than formerly. A com-
mon summer resident in Parry Sound and Muskoka districts. That
it occurs, perhaps in abundance, in northwestern Ontario is indi-
cated by its occurrence in numbers in eastern Manitoba and along
the shores of Lake Winnipeg. Seton shows that it occurs as far
west as Carberry, over one hundred miles west of Winnipeg, and it
has been seen on Lake Winnipegosis, and shot at Cumberland House,
in lat. 54°. Murray records it from Moose Factory, James bay, and
from Trout lake.

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. gI

We have never observed this species on the prairie west of Mani-
toba or in the Rocky mountains, but after crossing the Coast range
and descending to the lower Fraser, at Agassiz, we found it breeding.
Fannin reports it abundant and breeding along the lower Fraser at
Sumas, Chilliwack, and Burnaby lake; and Brooks says that an odd
bird or two often remains all winter. Spreadborough saw two at
Midway, B.C., and one on a small pond in the woods at Penticton,
B.C.

This is another species that has an eastern and a western race that
are not known to interbreed.

BREEDING NoTEes.—For several years a pair used to breed in a
soft-maple stub, about twenty feet from the ground, on the bank
of a creek near Bracebridge, Ont. I never saw the nest, so cannot
describe it, but have seen the old bird carry her young to the
water in her bill. (Spreadborough.) This species builds in holes
in trees and places where large branches have broken away. The
nest is composed of dry grass and feathers. The eggs—six to twelve
or more—are something between a buff and a pale green in colour.
When the nest is built on a broken branch it is composed of dry
sticks, grass and feathers. About the first of May is the time when
they begin to lay at Ottawa, Ont. (G. R. White.) A few years ago
this handsome duck was quite common in the latter part of summer
in many creeks that run into the St. Lawrence. In these same
localities now (1898) I scarcely see any birds. A few pairs breed
every year at Estcott pond and elsewhere in the county of Leeds,
and I have seen young birds in June, though I have never seen the
nest. It also breeds sparingly in north Hastings co., Ont. Two or
three broods were brought out this year (1906) at Moira lake near
Madoc. (Rev. C. J. Young.) Regularly distributed throughout
western Ontario. Breeds along marshes and rivers. (W. Saunders.)

LIV. AYTHYA Bor. 1822.
146. Redhead. Pochard.

Aythya americana (EyT.) Barrp. 1858.

Rare migrant in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, and also rare
on the coast of Labrador, none seen in the interior. Rather com-
mon in the Gulf and River St. Lawrence, and, according to MclIl-
wraith, often abundant in Ontario during the migrations. Saun-
ders reports them breeding in the large marshes at Lake St. Clair.

92 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

This species is very common in Manitoba and in the marshes to
the north and west. It is found in more or less abundance all
through the prairie region but is more common as we approach
the large weedy marshes north of lat. 51°. This and the next
species are so much alike that they are easily mistaken for one
another. Our experience, however, is that this duck is more south-
erly and easterly in its distribution than the canvas-back. It is a
winter resident on the coast of British Columbia, and both Streator
and Fannin report it breeding in small numbers around small Jakes
in the interior. It has not been reported from Alaska.

BREEDING Notes.—A very common migrant in western Ontario.
Some breed in the large marshes, especially at St. Clair flats. (W.
Saunders.) The writer has never found the nest of this species
anywhere but among the reeds on the margins of sloughs. The
nests are bulky, being made of reeds and grass lined with down.

Breeds throughout Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta, and
makes its nest in shallow water. It is a remarkable fact that the
redhead and canvas-back often lay their eggs in one nest. I have
never seen this statement recorded in any ornithological work.
This was first brought to my notice on June 18th, 1891, when I
found a nest at Long lake containing eight eggs of the canvas-back
and four of the redhead. There was considerable difference in the
eggs of the two birds. The eggs of the canvas-back were larger
than those of the redhead and of a different tint, being of the usual
ashy green, while the four eggs of the redhead were smaller than
those of the other and were of a buff-drab tint and very glossy.
There was not the slightest doubt about the eggs being laid by both
species. Since then my collectors have frequently found nests con-
taining eggs of the canvas-back and redhead in the same nest. On
May 2oth, 1897, Mr. Baines found a nest at Crescent lake, Mani-
toba, containing nine eggs of the canvas-back and seven of the
redhead. The nest was built in rushes in shallow water. (Raine.)

147. Canvas-back Duck.

Aythya vallisnerta (Wits.) Bore. 1826.

Rare migrant in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick; more plenti-
ful in Quebec, and increasingly so in Ontario.

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 93

Although this species breeds in the same ponds with the redhead
in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, it is rare in eastern Manitoba, but
becomes more common as one passes to the west; west of the rroth
meridian it almost supersedes the redhead. At Edmonton, on the
Saskatchewan, in 1897, Spreadborough found this species very
common, and the redhead rare and late in arriving; in 1898, he
found it breeding in small lakes between Edmonton and Lake Ste.
Anne, Alta.

Macfarlane and Ross record it on Great Slave lake, and the former
says a few sets of eggs were taken near Fort Anderson in the Barren
Grounds. Dallfound it breeding at Fort Yukon, in Alaska, in great
abundance, though Nelson says he never saw any evidence of it on
the west coast. Spreadborough, Brooks and Fannin all mention
that it is plentiful in winter around Victoria and at the mouth of
the Fraser, and Fannin says it breeds in the interior of British
Columbia; Brooks says it winters on Lake Okanagan and is a com-
mon breeder in the Cariboo district, B. C.

As the writer has seen it in immense numbers on Lesser Slave
lake and in the Peace River country, he is satisfied that it breeds
from Indian Head northwesterly to Fort Yukon in Alaska. The
country northwest of Edmonton suits it well, as there are many
marshes full of Scirpus lacustris and tall grasses among which it
likes to breed

BREEDING Nores.—Fairly common at Reaburn, in Manitoba,
and at Buffalo lake, Alberta. In both places eggs and birds were
procured. (Dippie.) Breeding in marshes south of Lake Manitoba
but not so numerous as the last species. (Geo. Atkinson.) Nests
are always in the reeds growing in the water; they are very bulky,
and made of grass and reeds lined with down. A nest of this species
was found on a muskrat. house in a marsh at Crane lake, June 15th,
1894. It contained seven eggs. (Spreadborough.) I have found
this species breeding at Long lake and Shoal lake, Manitoba, and at
Crane lake, Sask. It breeds also throughout Alberta. The only
other species of duck’s eggs they can be compared with are the
American and Barrow golden-eye, which they greatly resemble,
both in regard to size and tint. The canvas-back is a late breeder,
nesting toward the latter part of June. I found a nest containing
seven eggs at Long lake, Manitoba, June 29th, 1893. The nest was

94 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

built, as usual, in the centre of a tuft of rushes in shallow water, as
this duck seldom nests in the grass like the pintail, shoveller, and
teal. (Raine.) The nests are bulky platforms of reeds, similar to
coots’ nests; found generally on small swampy ponds, away from the
larger lakes, where the males associate in flocks. Eggs were taken
from May 21st to June 6th, 1902. (Brooks.)

Scaups, canvas-backs and redheads undoubtedly breed in the
same marshes, and with them the ruddy duck. In the marshes at
Crane lake, between June 12th and 2oth, the writer found nests of
all four species, with eggs of one or two other species in them. The
bulky nest mentioned under the greater scaup was likely built by
a canvas-back, but the larger number of the eggs were those of the
the scaup.

148. American Scaup Duck. Big Blackhead.

Aythya marila (LINN.) Bore. 1822.

A very rare straggler in Newfoundland; Dr. Grenfell brought a
specimen from Nain, Labrador; migrant in Nova Scotia, and oc-
casionally taken in New Brunswick. Seven taken by Boutelier on
Sable island in 1901. Spreadborough observed a few breeding on
James bay and in the interior of Labrador in 1896. Quite common
in Quebec, and abundant in southwestern Ontario during the spring
and fall migrations. A regular winter resident at Toronto. Not
rare in the St. Lawrence valley in the spring and autumn. Preble
saw a large flock near Fort Churchill, Hudson bay.

Breeding on Lake Winnipegosis, but evidently the greater number
go north, and doubtless breed around the large lakes north of Lake
Winnipeg. It is a common duck in Alaska and along the whole
Aleutian chain, and, according to Turner, remains the entire year.

An abundant resident in British Columbia; breeds chiefly east
of the Coast range; winters on the coast. (Fannin.) Tolerably
common in the lower Fraser valley, and wintering on Lake Okanagan,
B.C. (Brooks.)

BREEDING NotTes.—Eggs taken at Buffalo lake, Alberta, June
14th, 1896. Seems to breed in most localities. (Dippie.) Breeding
in small lakes between Edmonton and Lake Ste. Anne, June, 1898.
Nest always near water; it is a shallow hole in the ground, lined
with grass and down. (Spreadborough.) A few breed at Lake
Winnipeg. (Gunn.)

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS, 95

On the Magdalen islands in June, 1897, I met with this species
at East Cape, Grosse isle, breeding, and secured its eggs. A few
pairs breed on the small, boggy islands in the large ponds, not far
from the sand-banks that separate these ponds from the sea. The
eggs are about the size of those of the merganser, but are more of a
buff colour, and their peculiar shape, which is almost invariable, best
distinguishes them. They are not laid until late in June. A cor-
respondent wrote me about two nests he found in July, after I left
the islands, as follows —‘‘I found a blue-bill’s nest in a strange place,
after you left me. It was in a bunch of rushes at the head of the
bay, growing in water that took me up to my middle to reach them.
There were two nests, one with two and the other with five eggs.
The two were fresh and the others badly incubated.” (Rev. C. /.
Young.) A nest with nine eggs was discovered on a small island in
“the Great pond,” Magdalen islands. It was a bed of down in the
grass. (H.K. Job.) A very common migrant. A few pairs breed
at St. Clair flats. (W.Saunders.) Both the greater and lesser
scaups breed at Crane lake and in and near the adjoining marshes.
On June 15th, 1894, the writer found a nest of the species, contain-
ing ten eggs, it was in a hole in the ground and lined with feathers
and grass. Three days later another nest of eleven eggs was taken
under the same conditions. In a marsh on the 14th a large nest
containing eleven eggs was found among rushes (Scirpus lacustris) ;
nine of these belonged to the scaup, and the two larger and quite
blue eggs were referred to the canvas-back. Passing out of the
rushes I flushed another scaup out of the grass and found a nest
made of dried grass and lined on the sides with down. This nest
contained twelve eggs, and still another had twenty-one fresh eggs,
evidently of three species—lesser scaup, redhead and ruddy duck.

Breeds throughout northwestern Canada, but is rarer than most
other ducks; breeding more commonly further north. On June
toth, 1891, at Rush lake, Saskatchewan, I found a nest containing
nine eggs, built on the ground amongst grass, near water. The
eggs are distinguished by their large size and drab tint. (Razne.)

At St. Michael and the Yukon delta this species arrives about
the 8th or 1oth May. The nesting sites chosen are such as the
pintail and most other ducks choose—a dry, grassy tussock or
knoll close to some pond; the only difference being that this species
appears to desire a position nearer to the water, and the nest is

96 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

frequently at the point of some small jutting cape, and so near the
water that the parent can swim to and from the nest. The eggs are
large for the size of the bird, and rarely exceed eight in number.
The nest is composed of dry grass-stems, gathered close at hand,
and a largely fluffy bed of down plucked from the parent’s breast.
The first week in June is the time usually chosen for depositing the
first eggs, but some are not laid until nearly a month later. (Nelson.)

149. Lesser Scaup Duck. Blue-bill.
Aythya affinis. (Eyt.) STEJN. 1885.

A pair was shot in June on Inosusulik, an islet about ten miles
from Egedesminde; it may breed in Greenland. (Arct. Man.)
A male and a female taken in Greenland in 1872 and a female in
1891. (Winge.) Breeds in large numbers on Nottingham island
in Hudson strait; and at Churchill and York Factory, Hudson
bay. (Dr. R. Bell.) One killed at Humber river, Newfoundland.
(Lows H. Porter.) A rare summer migrant in Nova Scotia. Once
captured a brood of young ones on Grand lake. (Downs.) In
New Brunswick, Quebec and Ontario, this is only a migrant, and
I strongly suspect that some of the breeding stations mentioned
are those of the greater scaup, which is certainly a more eastern
bird than this species. It is one of the commonest ducks in the
prairie region and northward to the very edge of the Barren Grounds.
It breeds in all the ponds and by the little lakes from lat. 49° to the
Arctic circle and beyond. Nelson says this is a very rare straggler
in Alaska. Bishop saw a pair with young on a small pond at Lower
Labarge, Yukon river. Fannin and Brooks report it tolerably
common in British Columbia. The latter says it winters on Lake
Okanagan, B.C.

BREEDING Notes.—This species was first seen at Deep lake,
Indian Head, Sask., on April 16th, 1892, at which time eight indi-
viduals were observed; they very shortly after came in great num-
bers, and a pair shot had their stomachs full of water-insects, which
are very abundant in the Jake. On June 23rd found a nest contain-
ing nine eggs. The nest was in the middle of a ‘“‘slough” in a mass
of last year’s rushes (Scirpus lacustris), lined with down from the
bird’s own breast. (Spreadborough.) Three sets of eggs taken at
Burnt lake, Alberta, June 14th and 15th, 1896; breeds also in Mani-
toba, but nowhere common. (Dzippie.)

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 97

More numerous than the preceding species, breeding through-
out northwestern Canada. In Saskatchewan it usually nests on the
small islands in the lakes. On June 15th, 1893, I found three nests
on a small island where a colony of avocets was nesting. The nests
were built on the grass in hollows, lined with down. The eggs, like those
of the preceding species, are dark drab, but of course much smaller in
size. (Raine.) Breeds generally throughout Manitoba and the west.
When the young are hatched the males forsake the females and flock
together in large numbers on the open water, leaving the entire
charge of the young to the mother. (Geo. Atkinson.)

Over a dozen nests of this species were secured. They were usually
found in the midst of a swamp, a mere hole or depression in the
centre of a tuft of turf or tussock of grass, lined with more or less
down, feathers and hay. Nine was the general number of eggs in a
nest, though a few contained not more than six or seven. (Mac-
farlane.)

On the 29th June, 1895, this species was found breeding in com-
pany with the pintail and gadwell on an island in Cypress lake, on
the south side of Cypress hills, Sask. Of three sets taken, two
contained eight and one nine eggs.

150. Ring-necked Duck.

Aythya collaris (DoNov.) Ripcw. 1885.

Five seen by R. Boutelier on Sable island, in 1901. Reported to
be rare in Newfoundland, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. It
becomes more common in Quebec and still more so in southwestern
Ontario. It seems to be only a migrant in all the eastern provinces.
Manitoba and the ponds, lakes and marshes to the north of it seem
to be its summer home. We have never observed it in the prairie
regions and only know of one breeding haunt—the marshes around
Waterhen lake, Manitoba. Raine says it appeared to be more numer-
ous in northern Alberta than in Manitoba. Owing to its eastern
migration I believe it to breed in great numbers both north and east
of Lake Winnipeg. Ross has noticed it occasionally as far north
on the Mackenzie as lat. 62° 30’. Turner says this bird is not com-
mon in the vicinity of St. Michael. In this locality he never found
nest or eggs, but it undoubtedly breeds there. It is rarely seen
about the Aleutian islands.

ef

98 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

Common in the valley of the lower Fraser. None of the red-
heads, canvas-backs or scaup ducks were ever found breeding by
me in the Fraser valley. This species winters on Lake Okanagan,
B.C. (Brooks.) ,

BREEDING Notes.—Rarer than either of the preceding species.
On June 19th, 1891, I found a nest containing nine eggs at Long
lake, Manitoba. The nest was made of sedges and lined with
grasses, feathers and down, a basket-shaped structure, built in
the centre of a tussock of rushes. The eggs are olive-gray with a
buffy tinge and are very similar to eggs of the scaup duck in size
and colour. (Raine.) A rather scarce breeder in Cariboo district,
B.C. I was able to take only one set of eggs, evidently a second
laying as there was no down. This was on June 27th. The nest
was ina tussock of grass in eight inches of water; it was composed of
coatse, green grass and arched over with the drooping blades of the
tussock. (Brooks.)

LV. CLANGULA Leacu. 1819.
151. American Golden-eye. Whistler.

Clangula clangula americana BONAP. 1896.
An abundant winter resident on the Atlantic coast.

Often breeding in trees in Newfoundland. (Reeks.) Breeds
abundantly at Humber river, Newfoundland. (L. H. Porter.)
Migrant in Nova Scotia. (H. F. Tufts.) Seen on the Moose river
and James bay in June, 1896; none seen in the interior of Labrador.
Common on Missinabi and Moose rivers in June 1903, and plentiful
in the autumn. Breeding down both rivers. (Spreadborough.)
Specimens taken in Ungava bay and at Fort Churchill, Hudson bay;
seen passing north of Lake Mistassini by Mr. J. M. Macoun on May
3rd, 1885. In Ontario and Quebec it is a common migrant, but we
have no records of it breeding in these provinces.

This species is tolerably common in Manitoba and in the wooded
part of eastern Saskatchewan, where it breeds, and northerly to
Notway House, north of Lake Winnipeg, where it was found by Dr.
R. Bell. Without any doubt its chief breeding-ground is toward
the mouth of the Saskatchewan, and down the Nelson and Churchill
rivers. Preble found it to be rather common between Norway

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 99

House and Oxford House and afew were seen every day between
Knee lake and York Factory. As it breeds chiefly in poplar trees,
it will be found generally breeding where these trees are in profu-
sion. The writer has found this bird breeding on Buffalo lake,
near Methye portage, in lat. 56° N. Spreadborough observed it
from the mouth of Lesser Slave river to Peace River Landing and
Ross says it extends to the Arctic coast in the Mackenzie River
valley, and is not rare.

This is an extremely rare bird on the western and northern coasts
of Alaska. In four years I saw only four birds. It is a common
duck in the interior, and reaches the mouth of the Yukon in the
breeding season. (Nelson.) I am confident that a flock of ducks
seen about 25 miles above Circle City, Alaska, Aug. 12, 1899, were
this species or C. islandica. (Bishop.) It winters on the west
coast from Unalaska (Turner) to the Fraser river and Lake Okan-
agan, where it is abundant. (Brooks.) Seen by Spreadborough at
Douglas, Hope, Penticton, Sidley and Elko, B. C., and recorded by
Brooks as common during migrations in the Cariboo district, B. C.

BREEDING Notes.—A small flock of these birds was observed
about the Bay of Quinté, Lake Ontario, in August, 1897, and two
or three were shot a little later; it is very probable a pair or two
nested not far off. (Rev. C. J. Young.)

This bird prefers to nest in a tree some fifteen or twenty-five feet
from the ground. The nest is composed of grass, leaves and moss,
and lined with feathers. The eggs, eight or more in number, are of an
ashy-green colour. It lays about the middle of May, or later. In-
1894 a pair of these birds built near a large pond within a short
distance of Templeton, Que., a few miles from Ottawa, and raised
a small brood of five. On the 23rd of June these youngsters were
quite able to dive and follow the old bird twenty yards under water.
(G. R. White.)

Fairly common in Manitoba and Alberta. Downy young shot
at Reaburn, Manitoba, July 4th, 1893. (Deppie.) In June, 1892,
at Deep lake, Indian Head, Sask., various nests of this species were
taken in hollow trees. One was found in a hollow cottonwood,
about fifteen feet from the ground, and another in a hollow elm
tree, about twenty-five feet from the ground. This nest was made
of rotten wood lined with down. Another was in an elm stub, and.

7%

100 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

the hole by which the bird entered was about five feet from the
ground. The nest itself was on a level with the ground, and made
of rotten wood without any down. I think they do not use down
until after they begin to sit, and that it is added to keep the eggs
warm when away feeding. I also found a nest in a hollow cotton-
wood log on the ground. None of the nests were more than seventy-
five yards from the water, and some only a few feet fromit. (S pread-
borough.) Breeds throughout Manitoba, northern Saskatthewan
and Alberta, laying its eggs in holes in trees. (Razne.)

152. Barrow Golden-eye.

Clangula islandica (GMEL.) Bonap. 1842.

Breeds in south Greenland only, apparently not further north
than Godthaab. (Arct.Man.) Stragglers have been taken all
along the Atlantic coast from Hudson strait south to the Bay of
Fundy. They are more abundant to the north and become rare
in the gulf, though they are taken on the St. Lawrence and on Lake
Ontario and Lake Huron.

Dr. Elliott Coues records in his ‘‘Birds of Montana and Dakota,”
the occurrence of a brood of this species on Chief Mountain lake,
Waterton lake, Rocky mountains, on the United States side of the
International boundary. In 1895 the writer saw a few specimens
at the north end of the same lake, and in July, 1885, a female and
young were obtained at Kicking Horse lake, Rocky mountains.
Dr. Richardson named the species from a specimen taken in the
. Athabasca pass, and Macfarlane took two specimens as far north
as Fort Anderson. It is of rare occurrence in Alaska, but young
were taken at Chilcat as early as April 24th by Nelson.

Regular visitor in British Columbia. (Lord.) During the breed-
ing season of 1891 I found this duck very abundant on nearly every
lake along the Cariboo road; it has also been taken by Mr. W. B.
Anderson at Port Simpson, on the coast of British Columbia. (Fan-
nin.) Rare inland except in summer, but common on the coast of
British Columbia. (Brooks.)

BREEDING NoTEes.—I have had eggs sent me which were taken
out of a hollow tree at Devil lake, near Banff, Rocky mountains.
(Raine.) A rather scarce breeder in the neighborhood of 150-mile
House, but common in La Hache valley. One set of eggs was taken

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 101

from a hole in a dead Douglas fir, fifty feet from the ground, pro-
bably the deserted nest of a flying squirrel. The tree stood about
four hundred yards from the nearest water. I saw another nesting
hole but was unable to reach it. The female brought fourteen
young ones from this. (Brooks.) ,

LVI. CHARITONETTA Stejyecrer. 1885.
153. Buffle-head. Spirit Duck.

Charitonetta albeola (LINN.) STEJN. 1885.

One taken in 1827 at Godthavn and another at Frederikshaab in
1891. (Winge.) Rare migrant in Newfoundland and Nova Scotia.
Chamberlain says it is a common resident in New Brunswick, and
supposes it breeds there. Rather common migrant in Quebec and
Ontario, and reported by Saunders to breed rarely in the Bruce
peninsula. This species, like the golden-eye, prefers the vicinity
of lakes and deep ponds and river valleys where there is timber. It
is a summer resident in all the forest country from Manitoba north-
westerly to the Rocky mountains, northeasterly to Hudson bay,
and according to Ross descends the Mackenzie river to the Arctic
sea, Nelson and Turner report it as a rare bird in Alaska, but
more common on the upper Yukon where it was also found by
Bishop. Streator, Fannin, Spreadborough and Brooks report it
common and breeding in British Columbia, and wintering on the
coast, and the latter says it winter’s on Lake Okanagan, B.C.

BREEDING Notes.—Rare in Alberta but breeds there. Three
downy young were shot June 2oth, and five more June 22nd, 1896,
at a small lake about eight miles northwest of Red Deer, Alberta.
(Dippie.) Breeds throughout northwestern Canada. One of the
rarer ducks. I have both eggs and young taken in the downy
stage at Long lake, Manitoba. A set of seven eggs in my collection
was taken out of a tree at Long lake. It appears that when trees
are scarce, as along the Missouri Céteau in Saskatchewan, this bird
will lay its eggs in a hole in a bank as the belted kingfisher does.
There are no trees in that part of Saskatchewan, which accounts for
this little duck laying its twelve eggs at the end of a gopher burrow,
in a bank along the side of a small lake one mile north of Rush lake.
Another clutch of ten eggs was taken out of a hole in a tree at Oak

102 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

lake, Manitoba, May 25th, 1890. The eggs are more rounded than
those of any other duck. The eggs of the buffle-head are larger than
those of the teal and of a darker and warmer tint. On June 11th,
1906, my son and I found two nests of this bird. Both were
built in holes in poplar trees. The birds in both cases sat close, the
female flying out of the hole on the tree trunk being struck with a
stick. (Raine.)

Almost every lake in the Cariboo district has one or more pairs
of these charming little ducks. Unlike the Barrow golden-eye, the
nests were always in trees close to, or but a short distance away
from water. These nests were invariably the nesting holes of
flickers, and in most cases had been used several years in succession
by the ducks. The holes were in aspen trees, from five to twenty
feet from the ground, and the entrance was not more than three anda
‘quarter inches in diameter. The number of eggs ranged from two
to nine, eight being the average; in colour they resemble old ivory,
without any tinge of green. I have several times seen the eggs of
this duck described as ‘‘dusky green’’, but these have evidently
been the eggs of some species of teal. The female buffle-head is a
very close sitter, never leaving the nest until the hole was sawed
out, and in most cases I had to lift the bird and throw her up in
the air, when she would make a bee-line for the nearest lake, where
her mate would be slowly swimming up and down unconscious of
the violation of his home. In many cases the eggs had fine cracks,
evidently made by the compression of the bird’s body when enter-
ing the small aperture. (Brooks.)

LVII. HARELDA STEPHENS. 1824.
154. Old-squaw. Long-tailed Duck.

Harelda hyemalis (LINN.) C.L. BREHM. 1855.

Common on the whole coast of Greenland, breeds also on the
Parry islands, and on the land westward of Davis strait. (Arct.
Man.) Very common along the whole Atlantic coast south of
Greenland. Breeds in Ungava bay (Turner), and Low reports it
to be common everywhere in Hudson bay and northward wherever
there are small islands along the shore suitable for breeding. Spread-
borough noticed a pair off Cape Jones, in June, 1896. Payne found

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 103

them very common in Wales sound, Hudson strait, reaching there
about June rst, 1885. Common in the gulf and river St. Lawrence
and westward to Lake Ontario, and occasionally as far west as
London, Ont. Fleming records one as having been taken at Port
Sydney, Parry Sound, and several were picked up on the ice at Beau-
maris, Muskoka, in 1899. Raine reports that in the winter of 1898
thousands of these ducks might have been seen any day in Toronto
harbour. A single specimen said by Atkinson to be the only one of
this species known to have been recorded from Manitoba was col-
lected at Whitehead lake, southern Manitoba, by Mr. H. W. O.
Boger.

Spreadborough observed a few at Lesser Slave lake in May, 1903,
and Richardson, Ross and Macfarlane report it breeding along the
Arctic coast, and Macfarlane says it breeds in large numbers on the
Anderson river. Several sets of eggs were taken on Herschell island
for Mr. Raine by the missionaries Stringer and Whittaker. Turner,
Nelson and Murdoch say that this is a common duck from the
mouth of the Mackenzie westward all around the whole coast of
Alaska. It winters along the entire Aleutian chain and down the
Pacific coast of British Columbia, where Fannin says it is frequent
in winter.

BREEDING NotEs.—This bird is a sea-duck, breeding northerly.
A clutch of seven eggs in my collection was taken at the mouth
of Mackenzie river June 2oth, 1894. The nest was built on the
ground under a small willow. (Raie.) The long-tailed duck was.
common on Ellsemere island and its nest was often found near fresh-
water lakes. (E. Bay.)

From the Yukon delta along the coast, in each direction, their
nests are almost invariably placed in close proximity to a pond
or tide-creek—the sloping grassy bank of the ponds being a favorite
situation. The earliest set of eggs secured by me numbered five
and was taken on May 18th at St. Michael. From that date until
the end of June fresh eggs may be taken, but the majority of the
young are out by the last of that month. The parents always
keep in the immediate neighbourhood of the nest and swim about
in the nearest pond when the nest is approached. An unusual
amount of dry grass-stems, and down plucked from the parent’s
breast, compose the nest, and if the eggs are left they are carefully

104 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

hidden in the loose material. (Nelson.) During the breeding
season, at Point Barrow, each pair seems to adopt a pool of its own,
and drives out all intruders. They breed in considerable numbers
all over the tundra, but the nests are scattered and not easy to find.
The nest is always lined with down and generally near a pool. (Mur-
doch.) This species breeds in great numbers in the neighbourhood
of Fort Anderson, along the Anderson river, on the Barren Grounds
and the shores of the Arctic sea. Considerably over one hundred
nests were taken, and the eggs varied from five to seven, the latter
being the maximum number recorded in any one instance. In its
make-up the nest is very similar to that of Dafila acuta. From pre-
sonal observation, also, I have come to the conclusion that the
usual quantity of down taken from the duck’s breast depends on
‘the number of eggs in the set. (Macfarlane.) Several pairs breed
each year on St. Paul island, Bering sea. One nest was found in
1897 beside a path leading to a well which was visited many times
during the day. The female seldom left the nest when people
passed along the path; indeed, no one else knew of the nest when I
took five eggs from it. Unless the bird were looked at she did not
move. I several times passed within a foot of the nest without
looking toward it, then walking back would look at the bird, when
she rose immediately. (J. AJ. Macoun.) Before or about the time
that the young are hatched and brought to the ponds by their
mothers, the males have forsaken their usual haunts on these and
have left for the open sea. This occurs early in August. The
nests are placed almost anywhere on the flat ground near the ponds,
usually on a little rise. On June 12th I found a nest and nine fresh
eggs about forty feet from the village pond on St. Paul island. It
was placed on a little hillock on the killing-ground. When flushed,
about ten feet off, the bird flew directly to its mate. Leaving the
eggs, I returned soon to find that she had been back, had covered
. them completely with down and dry short grass, and returned to
the pond. June 17th, before 8 a.m., I found a nest—merely a few
pieces of short grass-stems—containing one egg. Each morning
thereafter at the same time I found another egg and more nest-
material, including, from the second morning, an addition of black
down, which was always placed on and around the eggs, not beneath,
and which was evidently from the bird’s own breast. (Wulliam
Palmer.)

re

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 105
LVUI. HISTRIONICUS Lesson. 1828.
155. Harlequin Duck.

Histrionicus histrionicus (LINN.) Boucarp. 1876.

Observed on the east coast of Greenland; most common between
lat. 62° to 65° N.; rarer to the northward. (Arct. Man.) Breeds
at Godthavn, Vestbjord and other places in Greenland. (Wunge.)
A common summer migrant in Newfoundland, breeding on the
borders of lakes and rivers. (Reeks.) A rare winter migrant
around Nova Scotia. (Downs; H. F. Tufts.) A rare spring and
autumn visitant in New Brunswick. (Chamberlain.)

Abundant in Hudson strait—breeds in Ungava bay; plentiful on
the eastern coast of Labrador. (Turner.) This bird was most
numerous during the month of June at Cape Wales, Hudson strait.
Apparently it does not breed, as it disappeared after that date.
(Payne.) Forster recorded a specimen from the Hudson bay region,
Blakiston says he examined one at York Factory and a specimen is
recorded from James bay. (Preble.) Occasional in Quebec and
Ontario.

Richardson and Ross both speak of this being a rare bird toward
the north and along the Arctic coast. Richardson says it frequents
eddies under cascades and in rapid streams in the north. Dr.
Coues found it breeding in turbulent streams entering Chief Moun-
tain lake (Waterton lake), near the 49th parallel; and the writer,
in July, 1885, found a mother and a young brood in a very rapid
stream entering Kicking Horse lake at Hector, Rocky mountains,
on the Canadian Pacific railway, at an altitude of 5,000 feet. Spread-
borough found this species breeding at Canmore, near Banff, Rocky
mountains, in June, 1891. A pair was shot, and others seen. He
saw five on the Arrow lakes, May 18th, 1902. During the summer
of 1898, this species was seen in many of the mountain tributaries
of the Athabasca by the same observer. Both Nelson and Turner.
mention this bird as very common in the bays and along the coasts
of Alaska, but it does not breed on the coast. Later collectors in
Alaska do not appear to have found this bird to be very common.
Nelson says it breeds on the clear streams of the interior, which
agrees with our knowledge further to the south. Fannin says: ‘‘An
abundant resident; breeds along the creeks close to the salt water

106 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

at Burrard inlet and Howe sound, and also in the interior of British
Columbia.” Brooks says a few breed in the valley of the lower
Fraser and that it is a scarce summer resident in Cariboo district,
B.C.

BREEDING NoTEs.—This species breeds at the mouth of the
Mackenzie river, for one of my collectors sent me eight eggs with
the skin of the parent bird. The nest was found on June roth,
1894. It was built on a high bank, near some ice-floes, under
sticks piled up by overflow water in the spring. One of the eggs
in the nest is a runt, one-third the usual size. The eggs of this
bird have seldom been obtained in North America. It breeds in
Iceland, and lays from six to eight eggs, seldom more. They are
similar to those of the gadwell and baldpate, but average larger,
and are of a deeper buff tint. (Razne.)

The nest and eggs of this species were not procured by me, and
the only nest I ever saw was near Iliuliuk village, on Unalaska
island. Two immense blocks of rocks had become detached from
the cliff above, and when they fell their edges formed a hollow
place beneath. Under these rocks I discovered a deserted nest,
which the native who was with me asserted was that of a bird of
this species. The form was similar to that of the nest of H. hyema-
lis, and in fact so closely resembled it that I persisted in it being of
this bird until the native asked me if I did not know that the ‘‘Old
Squaw” did not build in such places. (Turner.)

LVIX. CAMPTOLAIMOUS Gray. 1841.
156, Labrador Duck. Pied Duck.

Camptolaimus labradortus (GMEL.) GRAY. 1841.

Now extinct. Formerly abundant on the Labrador coast and
perhaps in Hudson strait and bay. Mr. William Dutcher, in an
able paper published in The Auk, for January, 1894, shows, although
1852 has been given as the date when the last specimen of this
species was killed, that from that date to 1875 occasional speci-
mens were taken and vouched for as being seen in the flesh. He
can find no trace of the bird having been seen since 1875 and reluc-
tantly concludes that it is extinct.

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 107

LX. POLYSTICTA Eyton. 1836.
157. Steller Duck,

Polysticta stellert’ (PALL.) Eyton. 1836.

Recorded in the east only from Disco bay, Greenland, from Cum-
berland sound and from Godbout and Point des Monts, Quebec.
The Godbout specimen was secured by Mr. N. A. Comeau in Feb.,
1898. Previous to that time Mr. Comeau had noticed individual
birds, which he did not recognize, among flocks of well known
species. After examining the Steller eider he came to the conclu-
sion that the birds formerly seen by him were that species. A more
detailed account of the occurrence of this bird was published by
Mr. A. K. Fisher in The Auk, Vol. XVII, p. 65.

Throughout the Aleutian chain it is a common resident, very
abundant in winter, but less common in summer. It also breeds
upon St. Lawrence island and a nest has been taken on Unalaska.
(Nelson.) This duck is rare at St. Michael; on the southern and
eastern shores of Bristol bay and the northern shores of Alaska it
is plentiful. Among the Aleutian islands it is rarely seen in sum-
mer, in winter it abounds at Unalaska. (Turner.) This beautiful
little duck is far from a rare bird during the late spring and summer
at Point Barrow and vicinity. Their breeding ground appears to
be some distance off, as they ledve to breed about the end of June.
(Murdoch.)

BREEDING NoTEs.—Dall says the pairing season of this species,
in Alaska, commences about May 1st, and thence through the
breeding season they are found in pairs. He also states that if a
nest is visited it is abandoned at once. He found a nest on May
18th, 1872, on a flat part of a small island near Unalaska. It was
built between two tussocks of dry grass, and the depression was
carefully lined with the same material. The nest was entirely con-
cealed by overhanging grasses, and was revealed only by the bird
flying out at his feet. The nest contained a single egg. (Nelson.)

LXI. ARCTONETTA Gray. 1855.

158. Spectacled Eider.
Arctonetta fischeri (BRANDT) BLAKISTON. 1863-

The spectacled eider has until very recently been credited with
a very restricted range on the Bering sea coast of Alaska. My

108 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

own observations show this species to be strictly limited to the
salt marshes bordering the east coast of Bering sea, thus favouring
the shallow, muddy, coast waters, which appear to be distasteful
to Steller duck. (Nelson.) This bird is common in the vicinity
of St. Michael, where it arrives early in May. Along the coast of
Bristol bay it is very abundant; it occurs among all the Aleutian
islands, where it breeds and is a constant resident, but extremely
shy. (Turner.) This bird was found to be a regular, though rather
rare, stimmer visitor at Point Barrow. It evidently breeds not far
from the station, as a female was taken in June, 1883, with an egg
in the oviduct just ready for laying. (Murdoch.)

BREEDING Notses.—In the vicinity of St. Michael this species
rarely arrives before the 15th of May. Very soon after reaching
their destination the flocks disband and the birds quietly pair, but
the first eggs are rarely laid earlier than the first of June. Most of
my eggs were taken fresh between the roth and 20th of this month,
and I obtained the young just out of the egg on July 23rd. When
first paired the birds choose a pond in a marsh, and are henceforth
found in its vicinity until the young are hatched. When the grass
commences to show green and the snow and ice are nearly gone,
these ducks choose some dry, grassy spot close to a pond, and mak-
ing a slight hollow with a warm lining of grass, they commence the
duties of the season, although the other denizens of the marsh are
already well on with their house-keeping. One nest found on June
15th was on a bed of dry grass on the border of the pond, within a
foot of the water, and when the female flew off, the single egg could
be seen 20 yards away. Tussocks of dry grass, small islands in
ponds, and knolls close to the water’s edge are all chosen as nesting
places, and as a rule the nest is well concealed by the dry grass
standing about. The eggs usually number from five to eight or
nine in a set and are small for the size of the bird. In colour they
are of a light olive-drab. (Nelson.)

LXII. SOMATERIA LeEacu. 1819.
159. Greenland Eider. Northern Bider.

Somateria mollissima borealis C.L. BREHM. 1830.

Common along all the coasts of Greenland; northern limit un-
known. (Arct. Man.) A resident at Ivigtut and very abundant.
(Hagerup.) Abundant in Hudson strait; breeds in Ungava bay.

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 109

(Packard.) Northeastern North America, south in winter to Mas-
sachusetts. (A. O. U. List.) Abundant north of Hamilton Inlet,
Labrador. (Bigelow.) Winter visitor in Nova Scotia. (H. F. Tufts.)
According to Dr. Schmitt this bird is common on Anticosti. It
arrives in September and departs at the end of April or beginning
of May and nests on the Mingan islands. (Dionne.) Common
around Fullerton, Hudson Bay and in all the region north to North
Devon. (A. P. Low.) The eider duck (Somateria mollissvma) is
to be seen everywhere on the coasts of Ellsernere island as soon as
there are splits in the ice in the spring. Its food consists mainly of
the prickly and little attractive sea urchin. The nests are some-
times found singly, scattered about on the shore, sometimes on
islets in the rivers (now and then far up the valleys), «nd some-
times on the small islands. Thus numerous eiders breed on St.
Helena and Djzvelden, which were the only bird islands met with
by the expedition. The eiders remain in the autumn as long as
there is the smallest amount of open water. This is partly because
the broods do not begin to fly until very late in the season. Eider-
duck were seen as late as October 17, 1901, in a creek at Ytre Eidet
in Hvalrosfjord. (E. Bay.) It is probable that some of the Hudson
Bay references under the next species should go here.

160. American Eider.

Somaterta dressert. SHARPE. 1871.

The most abundant species of duck in Newfoundland, but rapidly
growing scarce owing to the destruction of eggs. (Reeks.) Common.
Breeds on Isle Haut, Bay of Fundy. (Downs.) Abundant south of
Hamilton inlet, Labrador, where it takes the place occupied by
S. borealis in the north. (Bigelow.) Resident in Nova Scotia.
Nest with seven eggs taken on Seal Island, June 1g06. (H. I Tufts.)
Common in winter on the south coast of Labrador, in the Gulf of
St. Lawrence, and up the St. Lawrence to Quebec. (Dionne.) Eider
ducks in immature plumage, which I take-to be this species, have
been occasionally shot at Montreal in the fall. (Winile.) Rather
common from York Factory northward. Said to breed in large
numbers oncertain rocky islands north of Fort Churchill. (Preble.)
Common in Hudson strait, and seen at York Factory and Churchill
and on the East Main coast of Hudson bay. (Dr. R. Bell.) Com-
mon from a short distance north of Moose Factory to Richmond

IIO GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

gulf, June, 1896. (Spreadborough.) Casual on ‘the Ottawa river.
Mr. G. R. White, on November 7th, 1889, shot a young male of this
species on the Ottawa river, after a strong easterly gale, near the
city. Mr. J. H. Fleming, of Toronto, doubts the occurrence of this
bird at Toronto. All specimens seen by him were king eiders.

BREEDING Nores.—Mr. Fraser found the eider duck breeding on
the small islands along the coast of Labrador. The nest was built
in a hollow among soft, short grass, or at the foot of a rock where
it was sheltered from the wind. It was composed of grass, and lined
with slate-coloured down from the breast of the bird. (McIlwraith.)
Breeding on rocky islands in Richmond gulf, Hudson bay. Nest
composed of weeds and grass, lined with down from the bird’s breast.
(Spreadborough.) Breeds abundantly along the Labrador coast.
Sets of eggs in my collection were taken July oth, 1896, in Ungava
bay. (Raine.) Breeds in great numbers on sandy islands off the
mouth of George river, James bay. (J. M. Macoun.)

161. Pacific Hider.

Somateria v-megra. GRay. 1855.

Murray recorded this species from Severn House, Hudson bay.
(Preble.) A male specimen of this species was shot by the writer at
Fort Resolution on Great Slave lake in 1858, and a female was
obtained by Mr. Alexander Mackenzie in 1861 at the same place.
(Ross.) This interesting bird breeds in immense numbers on the
shores of Franklin bay; it is also very abundant on the coast and
islands of Liverpool bay. (Macfarlane.) This species is quite com-
mon at Point Barrow during the migrations, but does not breed
there, going farther to the eastward. (Murdoch.) Along the coast
of the North Pacific, both shores of the Aleutian islands, and all the
islands of Bering sea and the coast of the adjoining Arctic ocean
to the northern limit of the mainland, is the broad area over which
the breeding range of this bird extends. (Nelson.) This bird is to
be found in all parts of Alaska that have come under my observa-
tion. (Turner.) Six adult females and one adult male were taken
by Anderson at Seldovia, Kenai peninsula, Alaska, and one adult.
female opposite Homer. One set of four and one of five eggs were
taken on Bird island, Seldovia. (Chapman.)

BREEDING Nores.—At St. Michael this species breeds in con-
siderable numbers, and there prefers the open tundra for a nesting

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. Ill

place. A nest was found with eleven eggs on the hillside about
half a mile back of ‘‘the redoubt.”” The nest which was made in a
mossy situation, consisted of a few blades of grass and was well lined
with sooty-coloured down from the abdomen of the bird itself.
Along the Aleutian islands this bird prefers the steep slopes heavily
clothed with rank grasses, such as wild rye (Elymus), which grows
in huge tussocks, among which the nest is hidden. A slight depres-
sion is scratched out; the eggs are placed on the bare ground, the
down being used as a cover for the eggs when the parent is absent
from the nest; it is plucked from the breast for that purpose only,
and increases in amount as the increased complement of eggs demands
a greater amount of covering. The eggs are never placed on the
down. The nest, when first scratched, is usually left to dry out
several days before it is used, as the bare spots were seen sometimes
a week before an egg was deposited. With the first egg, only a
little down is found in the nest, and it will be replaced two or three
times if removed. When the nest is full of eggs, and they, with all
the down, are removed, the bird seeks some other locality for again
laying fewer eggs, generally not more than five for the second nest.
(Turner.) Several sets of 5 to 8 eggs were collected for me by Rev.
C. E. Whittaker on the mainland opposite Herschell island. The
nests of down were built among rank grass growing along the sea
coast. (Raine.) Bishop saw no specimens of living eiders at St.
Michael or elsewhere in Alaska in 1899, so this bird may be becom-
ing rarer in that region.

This bird breeds in immense numbers on the coast and islands of
Liverpool bay. The nest is usually a shallow cavity in the ground,
more or less plentifully lined with down. The eggs are generally
five, and but rarely six or seven, in number, of a pale sea-green
colour with a tinge of olive. We found some nests on a sloping
bank at a distance of three or four hundred feet from the sea. Others
were found on the mainland, but the bulk of those secured by us
were obtained from sandy islets in the bays. (Macjfarlane.)

162. King Hider.
Somateria spectabilis. (LINN.) LracuH. 1819.

Said not to breed further south than lat. 67°, but in some numbers
at lat. 73°; also on the east coast of Greenland and on the western
shores of Davis strait; breeds abundantly on the Parry islands.

112 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OE CANADA.

(Arct. Man.) Abundant on the Atlantic coast of Labrador, where
it is reported to breed; nest and eggs found near Mingan. (Packard.)
Somewhat less common than the ordinary eider but still very fre-
quently to be met with on Ellsemere island. The nests were never
found though it must certainly breed as it was seen about all surnmer.
(E. Bay.) Common in the northern part of Hudson bay, especially
about the limestone islands where they breed on the islands in the
numerous ponds. Do not breed on islands in open water like the
American eider. (A. P. Low.) Arrives in Wales sound, Hudson
strait, about May sth and begins to breed as soon as the ice is off
the small islands. (Payne.) Common along the coast of New-
foundland and a rare winter visitant along the coasts of Nova Scotia
and New Brunswick. One specimen taken on Lake Mistassini in
May, 1885, by Mr. J. M. Macoun. A single specimen taken in James
bay, June, 1896, by Mr. A. P. Low, and another at York Factory by
Dr. R. Bell.

Occasional specimens, of young birds chiefly, are taken on Lake
Ontario and Lake Erie. (McIlwratth.) Not uncommon at Toronto,
Ont., in November and December; a few remain through the winter.
Birds in full plumage are rare; a male taken, November 18th, 1895,
by Mr. C..W. Nash, is fully adult. (J. H. Fleming.) On February
24th, 1900, a specimen of this species was taken at Duncrief mill-
pond, Middlesex Co., Ont. (R. Elliott.)

Occasionally noted in the interior of Alaska, where Dall found a
dead specimen. During the months of July and August it was
found in large numbers near the ice-fringed coast of Alaska from
Icy cape to Point Barrow and thence eastward. It is also common
in Bering strait and on St. Lawrence island and to the northwest of
the strait. (Nelson.) This is by all means the most abundant bird
at Point Barrow. They appear early in spring at a distance from
shore and pass steadily and swiftly past Cape Smythe to the north-
east, following the coast. It is probable that they turn east after
passing the point, as they return from the east in the autumn.
(Murdoch.) An immature male was shot at Calgary, Alberta, on
November 4th, 1894; it was in company with another described
as very white. (Dippie.)

BREEDING NoTes.—This species breeds sparingly at St. Michael.
I never obtained its nest, but saw the birds under circumstances
that cause me to assert that it breeds there.’ (Turner.) At Point

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. I13

Barrow the majority of this species are paired by the middle of May,
and the flocks are made up of pairs flying alternately. Early in
June straggling pairs and small parties settle about the tundra pools
and breed sparingly in the neighbourhood of the station. (Murdoch.)

This species is tolerably common in Franklin bay, where fully 200
eggs were procured between 1862-1865. The nest is similar to that
of the Pacific eider and when not disturbed the female lays from
four to six eggs. In colour they are generally of a light shade of
olive-gray, and some are of agrayish-green. (Macfarlane.) On June
1oth, 1905, Rev. C. E. Whittaker collected a set of the eggs of this
eider for meon Herschell island. The nest was built amongst
grassy hummocks along the sea beach. (Razne.)

LXIII. OIDEMIA FLeminc. 1822.

163. American Scoter.

Oidemia americana. SWAINS. 1831.

Obtained at the mouth of the Koaksoak river. Abundant in
Hudson strait and on the eastern shore of Labrador, where it is
reported to breed sparingly. (Turner.) Common on the Labrador
coast. (Bigelow.) Common throughout the year around New-
foundland. (Reeks.) A common migrant in Nova Scotia. (Downs.)
An uncommon spring and autumn migrant at St. John, New Bruns-
wick. (Chamberlain.) Passed north at Lake Mistassini, Que.,
May 15th, 1885. (J. M. Macoun.) Common in June, 1896, from
Cape Jones to Richmond gulf, Hudson bay. (Spreadborough.)
Fort Churchill, Hudson bay. (Wright.) Preble gives several
records for the west coast of Hudson bay. Not uncommon on the
Gulf of St. Lawrence and up the St. Lawrence and Ottawa rivers.

Casual on Lake Ontario and lakes Huron and Erie. It is not
rare in Manitoba, but never breeds, passing to the north for that
purpose. We have no detailed account of its breeding grounds in
the east but believe they are around Hudson bay. Richardson says
this species frequents Hudson bay, breeding between the soth and
6oth parallels. Macfarlane says it undoubtedly breeds in the Ander-
son River country, although he never received any well authenticated —

eggs.
8

IIl4 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

Along the Alaskan shores of Bering sea and Kotzebue sound
these scoters are abundant summer residents. They breed abund-
antly about the mouth of the Yukon and at other suitable localities
around the various islands. (Nelson.) This species breeds at St.
Michael, but more abundantly further up the coast; among the
Aleutian islands it is to be found throughout the year. (Turner.)
Noticed a few in Wrangell narrows and saw a number off Unalaska,
Alaska. (Bishop.) It is not a common visitor in British Columbia,
but it has been found on the coast and in the interior by Fannin,
who saw a small flock on May roth, 1891, at 108-mile House on the
Cariboo road.

BREEDING Notes.—At the mouth of the Yukon, Dall found a
nest of this species in a bunch of willows on a small island, on June
17th. It contained two white and rather large eggs, and was well
lined with dry grass, leaves, moss and feathers. At St. Michael
these ducks are never seen until the ice begins to break up off shore.
May 16th is about the earliest date of arrival I have recorded. The
mating is quickly accomplished, and a nesting-site chosen on the
border of some pond. The spot is artfully hidden in the standing
grass, and the eggs, if left by the parent, are carefully covered with
grass and moss. As the set of eggs is completed, the male gradually
loses interest in the female, and deserts her to join great flocks of
his kind along the seashore, usually keeping in the vicinity of a bay,
an inlet, or the mouth of some large stream. (Nelson.)

164. Velvet Scoter.

Oidemia fusca (LINN.) STEPH. 1824.

Collected in south Greenland and now in Copenhagen museum.
(Winge.)

165. White-winged Scoter.

Ordena deglandt Bonar. 1850.

Common around Newfoundland and may breed; a winter migrant
around Nova Scotia and a migrant in spring and autumn in the
Bay of Fundy. Tufts says a few males spend the summer along the
Nova Scotia coast. Flocks were seen in July, 1888, off the gulf
coast of Prince Edward island, and Bishop speaks of a flock remain-

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 115

ing for weeks off Grindstone island, Magdalen islands, in 1887.
At Anticosti it arrives about the end of. May and remains about a
month. Reported by Audubon to breed on the east coast of Lab-
rador. Bishop reports it abundant on the Labrador coast and often
flocking with the next species.

Abundant from Moose Factory to Richmond gulf, Hudson bay,
June, 1896. Common on west coast of James bay in July and
August, 1904. (Spreadborough.) It is common on the St. Lawrence
and frequent on the Ottawa river, and not a rare migrant on Lake
Ontario and Lake Erie. Spreadborough saw two on Lake Muskoka
in September, 1899. There can be no doubt that it breeds all the
way north to Hudson bay, as it has been seen on all the large lakes
in summer.

A common migrant in Manitoba and stays so late that undoubtedly
some breed near the larger lakes. First seen at Deep lake, Indian
Head, Sask., May 13th, 1892; common by June 5th; shot a female
June 22nd that had an egg in her oviduct nearly ready to be laid;
must breed there as I saw them on Deep lake every day up to July
1st, when I left. Common on Lake Ste. Anne, north of Edmonton,
Alta., June oth, 1898, and on all the larger lakes from Lesser Slave
lake, Atha., to Peace River Landing, in 1903. (Spreadborough.)
Numerous at Manito lake, Sask., and westward. (Geo. Atkinson.)
Rare at Crane lake, Sask. (Bushop.)

Breeds throughout the districts around Fort Anderson (Mac-
jarlane) and on the Arctic coast towards the mouth of the Mackenzie.
(Richardson.) Abundant resident in British Columbia; winters on
the coast, and found during the summer both on the coast and in
the interior of the mainland. I have no record of its breeding place.
(Fannin.) Remains all winter on Lake Okanagan, B.C. (Brooks.)
Abundant in April and May at Douglas, B.C. Seen in April on
Lake Okanagan and in May on the Arrow lakes, B.C. (Spread-
borough.) A small flock of this species was seen by the writer on
Upper Arrow lake, Columbia river, June 16th, 1890, and a few pairs
were probably breeding in the vicinity; others were seen at Banff,
Alberta, on May 8th, 1891.

This species is less common than the American scoter or the surf
scoter. It breeds in very small numbers about the mouth of the
Yukon, and in other localities; at St. Michael it is not rare and

8%

116 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

becomes more common in the autumn. (Nelson.) I found this
scoter to be rare in all localities visited by me. (Turner.) Fairly
numerous at Bocadequadra, Wrangell narrows and Lynn canal.
We saw two at Lake Marsh, two on Lake Lebarge and about twenty-
five flying up 5o0-mile river from Lake Lebarge. (Bishop.) One
male taken at Point Barrow, Alaska. (MclIlhenny.)

BREEDING Notes.—Audubon found this species breeding in
Labrador. The nests were built by the sides of small lakes, two or
three miles distant from the sea, and usually placed under low
bushes. They were formed of. twigs, mosses and various plants
matted together, and were large and almost flat, several inches thick,
and lined with feathers. (McIlwraith.) On June 16th, 1896, I shot
a female at Burnt lake, Alberta, which contained a fully developed
egg. (Dippre.)

On June 26th, 1893, Mr. G. F. Dippie and myself found a nest
containing nine eggs on an island at the south end of Lake Manitoba.
The nest was built between loose boulders and consisted of a hollow
in the sand lined abundantly with dark down. The eggs were very
large and of a deep, rich, buff colour. The bird sat very close upon
the nest and did not fly up until I almost trod upon her. It appears
to be a late breeder, nesting late in June on the islands of lakes
Manitoba and Winnipeg. Mr. Neuman sent me an egg of this bird
which he took from a female he had shot at Swan lake, northern
Alberta, on June 25th, 1897. (Razne.)

We observed this species twice on Knee lake, Keewatin—a small
flock on July 7th and a few on September 8th as we were returning.
Many breed about the borders of small ponds throughout the interior
and large numbers are killed for food before they are able to fly.
(Preble.) Breeding in nearly all the marshes and ponds around
Prince Albert, Sask. (Coubeaux.)

It breeds in large numbers throughout the region under review,
as several nests were found in the ‘‘Barrens,’’ some near the fort,
and a few on the lower Anderson and in other parts of the wooded
sections; these were always depressions in the ground, lined with
down, feathers and dried grass, and placed contiguous to ponds or
sheets of fresh water, frequently amid clumps of small spruce or
dwarf willow and fairly well concealed from view. The number of
eggs found in a nest varied between five and eight. (Macfavlane.)

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 117

Rhoads and Brooks both record seeing this bird in numbers near
150-mile House, Cariboo district during the summer, and believe
that it breeds there, though neither of them found a nest or saw
young.

166. Surf Scoter. Sea Coot.

Ordenua prespicillata (LINN.) STEPH. 1824.

A few specimens obtained from the Danish settlements in Green-
land. (Arct. Man.) Breeding sparingly along the coast of Labrador.
(Turner.) Abundant on the Labrador coast. They came down
the coast late in August and were soon very numerous on the fiords.
(Bigelow.) Common along the coast of Newfoundland, especially
during the breeding season. (Reeks.) Migrant along the coast of
Nova Scotia and New Brunswick; also in the Gulf and River St.
Lawrence. It is a rare migrant near Ottawa, Ont., but more com-
mon on Lake Ontario. Fieming records a young bird taken at Beau-
maris, Muskoka district, Ont., by Mr. Taverner.

Rare in Hudson strait, but quite common from Cape Jones to
_Richmond gulf in Hudson bay, June 1896; very abundant on the
west coast of James bay in July and August, 1904. (Spreadborough.)
Rather common in Hudson bay, south of Cape Eskimo. One taken
on Churchill river near Fort Churchill, another near Pine lake and
several were seen at Robinson portage, Keewatin. (Preble.) This
is a common species on the Arctic coast, and breeds abundantly
both there and on the ‘‘Barrens” along the Anderson river, near
Fort Anderson. (Macjarlane.) Saw a few on Lesser Slave lake,
Atha., in 1903. (Spreadborough.)

Abundant everywhere on the coast waters of British Columbia.
(Fannin.) Remains on Lake Okanagan throughout the winter.
Seen throughout the summer in Cariboo district, but does not breed.
(Brooks.) Common about Burrard inlet during the latter part of
April, 1889. (Streator.) Saw ten on the Arrow lakes, B.C., May
18th, 1902. Very abundant at Douglas, B,C., April and May, 1906.
(Spreadborough.)

Nelson and Turner both report this as a very common duck in
Alaska, but seem to know little of its breeding habits. Its great
breeding grounds are very likely the ‘‘tundra” bordering the arctic
coast southwest of Point Barrow. Bishop saw many specimens in

118 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

Alaska and northern British Columbia. No females were seen
though they were undoubtedly nesting in the vicinity of Lake
Lebarge.

BREEDING NoteEs.—This species breeds commonly on the marshes
along the Yukon, even above Fort Yukon. The main breeding
ground of this species remains unknown to me, for although females
and young were not rare in summer, yet they were not numerous
enough to account for the vast number of males to be found. From
the fact that immense flocks of the males are constantly seen off the
coast in summer it is evident that the females assume the duty of
incubating the eggs and rearing the young. (Nelson.) The remarks
made under O. degland: happen to be, in almost every respect,
equally applicable to the present species—the only difference noted
being that generally less hay and feathers were observed in the com-
position of its nest. (Macfarlane.) Audubon observed this species
breeding in Labrador. He found a nest in a fresh-water marsh,
among the tall grass and weeds. It was composed entirely of
withered weeds, lined with the down of the bird, and contained
five eggs of a pale-yellowish or cream colour. (McIlwratth.) I have
a set of eight eggs taken at the delta of the Mackenzie river, June
26th, 1901. The nest was made on the bank of the river amongst
drift wood. (Razne.)

LXIV. ERISMATURA Bonaparte. 1832.
167. Ruddy Duck.

Evismatura jamaicensis (GMEL.) SALVAD. 1896.

A rare and uncertain visitor on the Atlantic coast, though reported
from Newfoundland, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. More com-
mon in Quebec, and according to McIlwraith, generally distributed
in Ontario.

Abundant migrant near London. A few pairs breed in the
marshes at St. Clair flats. (Saunders & Morden.) In eastern On-
tario this is a rare duck. It is occasionally met with in the autumn
at Big bay, Wolfe island near Kingston, Ont. (Rev. C. J. Young.)

This is a common summer resident in Manitoba and Saskatchewan,
breeding on all the deep and reedy ponds. Stragglers have been taken
on Hudson bay, and Richardson says it breeds as far north as lat. 58°;

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 119

Spreadborough saw it at Egg lake and Stinking lake, Peace River
district; Ross says that it goes north to Great Slave lake, but is
rare. It is a regular summer: resident in the interior of British
Columbia, having been found breeding in the lakes along the Cariboo
road by Fannin in 1891. Brooks says it is a rare autumn visitor in
the lower Fraser valley.

BREEDING Notes.—Breeds on Lake Manitoba; and on Buffalo
lake, Burnt lake and many others in Alberta. On June 14th, 1896,
took a nest with two eggs and one egg of the canvas-back. (Dzppie.)
I have never found the nests of this species except in reeds and tall
grass growing in water on the margin of lakes and sloughs. Nests
rather bulky, made of grass. Saw a female with four young, about
a week old, on June 21st, 1896, in northern Labrador. This species
was found breeding sparingly from Richmond gulf to Ungava.
(Spreadborough.) I found this species breeding on Shoal lake, Mani-
toba, June 8th, 1894, and at Crescent lake, Sask., June 13, 1901.
(Raine.)

I have found the ruddy duck breeding at Raeburn and in other
large marshes in Manitoba but met with it more regularly between
Yorkton and Saskatoon, Sask. Did not observe it west of Saska-
toon. (Geo. Atkinson.) A common breeder in the Cariboo district,
B.C. Young when first hatched are, as might be expected, very
large and dive for their food, unlike all other young ducks, which
take their food from the surface for some weeks. (Brooks.)

The ruddy duck lays a beautiful, and for the size of the duck, a
large egg, and lays a great number, unless two or more lay in the
same nest, which is probably the case. It was common in 1894 at
Crane lake. The nest was usually amongst ‘‘cat-tails” (Typha
latifolia), while the scaups and redheads preferred to breed among
rushes (Scirpus lacustris). One nest was taken containing seventeen
fresh eggs, fourteen of which belonged to the ruddy duck, two to
the canvas-back and one to the redhead. Bluish-green and
creamy white eggs in the same nest made quite a contrast.

LXV. CHEN Bote. 1822.
169. Lesser Snow Goose.

Chen hyperborea (PALL.) BOIE. 1822.
Numerous in the spring about Fullerton, Hudson bay. Found
breeding on Southampton island at the end of June. Nests in

120 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

swampy ground, built up of moss and grass. (A. P.Low.) A few
seen on James bay, the last week in August, 1904. (Spreadborough.)

Messrs. Taverner and Swales record in The Auk, Vol. XXIII, p. 219,
the taking of two Ontario specimens of this bird; the first, an immature
male at Point Pelee, Ont., in 1905, the second, an adult male, at
Goose creek, St. Clair flats, Ont., November 5th, 1905.

This handsome goose is uncommon on the coast of Norton sound
and about the Yukon mouth. It arrives in spring, between the
5th and 15th of May, according to the season, and after remaining
a short time passes north. (Nelson.) This species occurs only
sparingly in the vicinity of St. Michael, and remains but a few days
till it goes farther north. JI am not aware that it breeds south of the
Arctic circle. (Turner.) All the snow geese taken at Point Barrow
were of this species. They are not at all common, but are occasion-
ally met with during the spring migrations. (Murdoch.) I saw
five snow geese at the Aphoon mouth, Alaska, August 28th, and a
large flock at St. Michael, September 11th. (Bishop.) A winter
resident on the coast of British Columbia. Tolerably abundant.
During some winters large numbers congregate off the mouth of
Fraser river. (Fannin.) The rarest of the geese in the Fraser
valley. (Brooks.) Wave a specimen shot at Calgary, Alberta in
the spring of “1893. (Dippie.)

One fine specimen was shot at Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, April
28th, 1897. (Geo. Atkinson.)

BREEDING Notes.—These birds seek a nesting ground along the
course of the lower Anderson river and the neighbouring region
along the Arctic coast. (Nelson.) The Eskimos assured us that large
numbers of ‘‘White Waveys” annually breed on the shores and
islands of Esquimaux lake and Liverpool bay, but strange to say
we never observed any on the Barren Grounds proper or on the
shores of Franklin bay. The Eskimos brought in to Fort Anderson
about one hundred eggs, which they claimed to have discovered
among the marshy flats and sandy islets on the coasts of Esquimaux
lake. (Macfarlane.) I have several sets of five to seven eggs that
were collected for me on islands in Mackenzie bay, middle of June
1905. The goose scrapes a hole in the sand and lines it with down
and feathers. (Raie.)

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 121
169a. Greater Snow Goose.

Chen hyperborea nivalis (Forst.) Ripcw. 1884.

Described from a specimen collected at Severn river, Hudson bay.
Preble cites many records of its having been taken in the vicinity
of Hudson bay, and it is probable that the Hudson bay references
under C. hyperborea should go here.

A few young birds are taken occasionally in Greenland, in New-
foundland and Nova Scotia; accidental in New Brunswick. The
same may be said of its occurence in Quebec and Ontario. A very
abundant migrant in Manitoba and eastern Saskatchewan in the
spring. In the autumn it migrates farther west and goes south
chiefly through Alberta and western Saskatchewan.

A small flock of snow geese was seen at Elmsdale, Muskoka, Ont.,
in the spring of 1898, and about a year later Mr. Handy saw a flock
of about seven pass north over Elmsdale. (J. H. Fleming.) Rather
rare migrant at Aweme, Man. First seen, April 26, 1902; last,
October 12, 1906. (Crtddle.)

BREEDING NoTes.—The remarks made by me under Chen hyper-
borea belong in part to this species, as at the time the eggs were
collected the forms were not separated. (Macfarlane.) Breeding
in immense numbers in the Barren Grounds Along the Arctic coast.
(Richardson.) Breeding on the Twin islands, James bay, in 1898.
(A. P. Low.) I havea set of five eggs taken at Franklin bay, June
gth, 1899. The nest consisted of a depression in the sand lined with
down from the mother’s breast. (Razne.)

169.1. Blue Goose.

Chen cerulescens (LINN.) GUNDL. 1865-66.

Interior of North America, breeding on eastern shores of Hudson
bay and migrating south in ‘winter. Occasional on Atlantic coast.
(A. O. U. List.) Said to be found principally about the southern
part of Hudson bay, and according to Indian information breeds
in northern Labrador. Recorded from several places on Hudson
bay. (Preble.) In a ficck of twenty-two geese seen at Fullerton,
Hudson bay, the first two in the flock seemed to be blue geese.
(A. P. Low.)

122 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

Two females and a male of this species were shot 11th October,
1886, within a few miles of Ottawa, Ont. by Mr. G. R. White. The
bills and feet were black instead of being lake-red as in Dr. Coues
description, but the birds correspond with it in every other parti-
cular. (Ottawa Naturalist, Vol. V.) A typical specimen was shot
by Mr. A. Ralph on the River Thames, 16th November, 1888. As
one foot was missing and the tissues completely healed over, the
bird was probably an adult and certainly agrees in every particular
with the {description given in Ridgway’s Manual. The bird has
been preserved and is in London, Ont. (R. Ellott.) An adult
male taken on the lake shore seventeen miles west of Toronto,
Ont., is in my collection; another, probably taken at the same
place, is in the collection at Trinity University. One specimen was
taken at Gravenhurst, Ont., about 1886. (J. H. Fleming.) A tran-
sient visitor in Manitoba. (FE. T. Seton.)

170. Ross Snowy Goose.
Chen rossw (Cassin) Ripcw. 1880.

According to Cassin this is the ‘‘Horned Wavey,” described by
Hearne, in 1795. After the description, Hearne says —

‘“‘This species is very scarce at Churchill river, and I believe is
never found at any of the southern settlements, but about two or
three hundred miles to the northwest of Churchill I have seen them
in as large flocks as the common wavey or snow goose.”

Nothing more was heard of this species until Mr. Robert Kenni-
cott and Mr. Bernard R. Ross, of the Hudson Bay Company, sent
specimens taken on Great Slave lake to the Smithsonian Institution,
and Mr. Cassin recognized it as a new species and named it after
Mr. Ross.

On September 20th, 1902, a specimen of this bird was taken
near Portage la Prairie, Man. bya young lad, F. Marwood, and
later the mutilated skin fell into my hands. I subsequently heard
that in 1901 two other specimens had been taken. (Geo. Atkinson.)
A regular migrant throughout the Calgary district, Alta. Every
fall a limited number are killed by local sportsmen here, who call
them the ‘‘little wavey.” (Dippie.)

This goose has been taken at the mouth of the Fraser river, and
also on Shuswap lake, and on Kuper island, B.C., but I am inclined
to think that its occurrence here is rare. (Fannin.)

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 123
LXVI. ANSER Brisson. 1760.
171. White-fronted Goose.

Anser albifrons (GMEL.) BECHST. 1809.

Casual in Eastern Greenland? (A. O. U. List.)

17la. American White-fronted Goose. Laughing Goose.

Anser albijfrons gambeli (HaRTL.) Cougs. 1872.

Not rare in fresh water between lat. 66° and 68° 30’ N. in west
Greenland. (Arct. Man.) I received one specimen shot at Hope-
dale, Labrador. So far as I can learn it is the only record. (Bigelow.)
Figured from a specimen procured from Hudson bay. Barnston
says that this species is seldom seen in the southern part of Hudson
bay, but is less rare at York Factory and is frequent at Fort Churchill.
(Preble.) Very rare around Newfoundland. (Reeks.) This species
‘has been noted at Montreal, and one was shot at Lac Jacques Car-
tier, north of Quebec, in the autumn of 1870. (Dionne.) A friend
and myself came across three individuals of this species on the Isle
de la Paix, Lake St. Louis, near Montreal, but failed to secure speci-
‘mens. (Winile.) Only a casual visitor in Ontario.

From the middle of April, or a week later, to the middle of May
this species is quite common in western Manitoba and eastern Sas-
katchewan. It is then passing to its breeding places which Richard-
son says are in the wooded districts, skirting the Mackenzie river
to the north of the 67th parallel, and the islands in the Arctic sea.
Macfarlane found it breeding on Franklin bay, Murdoch at Point
Barrow, Dall all along the Yukon, and Turner in its delta, Nelson
along the Arctic coast, and Fannin says it breeds on the mainland
of British Columbia, and that young fledglings have been taken on
Cowichan lake, Vancouver island. The breeding range of this bird
is therefore the whole northwestern part of the continent and its
peculiar spring migration accounted for.

BREEDING Notes.—A clutch of four eggs in my collection was
taken on an island in Mackenzie bay, west of the mouth of Mackenzie
river, June 5th, 1895. The nest consisted of a hollow in the sand
lined with down. (Raine.) When the white-fronted goose ‘rst
arrives in the north, the lakes are but just beginning to open and the

124 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

ground is still largely covered with snow. The last year’s heath-
berries afford them sustenance, in common with most of the other
wild fowl, at this season. The mating season is quickly ended,
however, and on May 27th, 1879, I found their eggs at the Yukon
mouth. From this date on, until the middle of June, fresh eggs
may be found, but very soon after the latter date downy young
begin to appear. These geese choose for a nesting place the grassy
border of a small lakelet, a knoll grown over with moss and grass,
or even a flat sparingly covered with grass. Along the Yukon, Dall
found them breeding gregariously, depositing their eggs in a hollow
scooped out of the sand. At the Yukon mouth and St. Michael
they were found breeding in scattered pairs over the flat country.
Every one of the nests examined by me, in these places, had a slight
lining of grass or moss, gathered by the parent, and upon this the ~
first egg was laid; as the complement is approached, the female
always plucks down and feathers from her breast until, when incu-
bation commences, the eggs rest in a soft warm bed. The eggs vary
considerably in size and shape. Some are decidedly elongated,
others are decidedly oval. In colour they are dull-white, but ordin-
arily present a dirty brown appearance from being stained in the
nest. (Nelson.)

This species arrives at Point Barrow, Alaska, about the middie of
May, and for a couple of weeks is generally found in small parties
along the lagoons and the small pools which have opened along the
crown of the beach. As the snow cleared off—early in June—they
scattered in pairs over the tundra, occasionally feeding together
in small parties of half a dozen or more. The eggs are always laid
in the black muddy tundra, often on top of a small knoll. The nest
is lined with tundra moss and down. The number of eggs appears
to be subject to considerable variation, as we found sets of four,
six and seven, all well advanced in incubation. The last egg is laid,
generally in the middle of the nest, and may be recognized by its
white shell unless incubation is far advanced, the egg being soiled
by the birds coming on and off the nest. (Murdoch.)

A considerable number of the nests of this ‘‘Gray Wavey”’ were
discovered in the vicinity of fresh-water lakes in timber tracts as
well as along the lower Anderson river to the sea. Some were taken
on the Arctic coast, and several, also, on islands and islets in Franklin
bay. In all, about one hundred nests were secttred. The nest,

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 125

which was always a mere shallow cavity in the ground, in every
observed and reported instance had more or less of a lining of hay,
feathers and down, while the maximum number of eggs in no case
exceeded seven. (Macfarlune.)

1716. Bean Goose.

Anser fabalis (LATH.) SALVAD. 1895.

Accidental in Greenland. (Winge.) Under the name segetum,
Richardson mentions this species as one of the geese which are known
to visit the Hudson bay region, but are rarely seen, being accidental
visitors. (Preble.)

LXVII. BRANTA Scopors. 1769.

172. Canada Goose.
Branta canadensis (LINN.) BANNISTER. 1870.

A common migrant in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. It
breeds in Newfoundland, in Labrador, in northern Quebec, on both
sides of Hudson bay, and on the island of Anticosti, where the
writer saw flocks of old and young feeding in bogs on the berries of
Empetrum nigrum in August, 1883. Not known to breed in the east,
north of Labrador. Spreadborough found it breeding along both
coasts of James bav.

This species is a migrant as far as known in Ontario, but west-
ward it breeds from Manitoba and the prairie region to the Pacific
coast. A few pairs breed in almost all the prairie lakes having
islands in them and where the waters on the outer fringe of a marsh
is over 30 inches deep. It was found breeding, by Spreadborough,
at Henry House, Athabasca Pass, 1898. Found breeding in the
marshes along the Bow river at Banff in 1891, in the marshes of the
Columbia below Golden in 1885, and near Revelstoke, B.C., in 1890.
Farther to the north it becomes more abundant and breeds in greater
numbers throughout the whole wooded country. It is not common
in Alaska but breeds in the interior and throughout British Columbia.
Brooks reports that a flock of Canada geese winters every year on
Shuswap lake, B.C., and says this is the only goose breeding in the
Cariboo district.

“126 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

This species breeds throughout the entire wooded region of the
Mackenzie River basin. Nests were discovered in the vicinity of
Fort Anderson, and to the borders of the forest on the east and west
sides of the river of that name. None were met with on the ‘‘Bar-
rens’”’ nor on the Arctic coast. Several deserted hawks’ nests were
found occupied by incubating females. (Macfarlane.)

BREEDING NotTes.—Have seen several nests, some on the ground
and others upon old musk-rat houses. Nests made of grass lined
with down. Breeds early; have seen the young the first week in June,
but also found eggs perfectly fresh June 9th, 1894. (Spreadborough.)
A nest with six eggs, incubated about one week, was found near the
Red Deer river, Alberta, May rith, 1888. Between Athabasca
Landing and Fort McMurray, two females with young about a week
old were seen June 11th. (J. M. Macoun.)

Breeds in Saskatchewan and Alberta, and is one of the earliest
breeders. Its eggs are often taken and put under fowls to hatch.
I have seen broods of young Canada geese that were hatched and
reared by turkeys at Rush lake. When the first clutch is taken the
bird lays another, sometimes on the same island. On May 25th,
1893, I found seven eggs in a nest built on an island in a small lake
north of Rush lake. A Canada goose had nested on this island for
several years. It is a remarkable fact that in Alberta this goose
often lays its eggs in the nests of buzzards. Mr. Neuman sent me
a set of five eggs he took from a buzzard’s nest on April 25th, 1896.
The nest was built in a dead cotton-wood tree 45 feet from the
ground and the bird was flushed off the nest and shot. I havea
photograph of the nest. (Raine.)

This species is one of the earliest to arrive in the Northwest. It
was first seen in 1894 at Medicine Hat on April 7th, by Spread-
borough, and was common by the 16th. It seems to have no fixed
place to breed as it has been found nesting on old musk-rat houses
in marshes, on masses of dead reeds, in buzzards’ nests, on low
trees along streams, and in two instances it nested‘in trees at least
forty feet from the ground. In one case the nest was in that of a
fish hawk, in the other in an old nest of the bald eagle. Also breed-
ing on rocks along Milk river, Alberta. :

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 127

172a. Hutchin Goose.

Branta canadensis hutchinst (RicH.) COUES. 1872.

This species, in company with the brant and snow goose, arrived
in great numbers on Wales sound, Hudson strait, September 6th,
1885, but was gone in a few days. (Payne.) Fort Churchill, Hud-
son bay. (Dr. R. Bell.) Several flocks of geese referred to this
species were seen on the Barren Grounds near Hubbard point.
(Preble.) Numerous in the spring about Fullerton, Hudson bay.
(A. P. Low.) Rare in spring and fallin southern Ontario. A female
taken at Toronto, Ont., October roth, 1905. (J. H. Fleming.)

Common in spring and fall in Manitoba. (E. T. Seton.) This
species has become fairly plentiful within recent years at Aweme,
Man., and to some extent has taken the place of the Canada goose.
They come down on to the stubble fields about the end of Septem-
ber and leave as soon as the small lakes freeze over. (Criddle.)
First seen in small flocks at Deep lake, Indian Head, Sask., April
29th; it never became common and all were gone by May 15th.
(Spreadborough.) Very common around the shores and on the
islands of the Arctic sea, and does not frequent the fresh-water lakes
of the interior in summer. (Richardson.) This species is very com-
mon in Alaska, breeding abundantly in the Yukon delta and north-
ward. Fannin and Brooks report it as an abundant spring and fall
migrant, wintering on the coast of British Columbia. The former
claims it as a resident, but Brooks says these are non-breeding birds.

BREEDING Notes.—Over fifty nests of this species were found on
the lower Anderson river as well as on the shores and islands of the
Arctic sea; almost all were placed on the earth and composed of
dry hay, feathers and down. The usual number of eggs was six.
(Macfarlane.) Found breeding on Southampton island in end of
June. Nests in swampy ground, built of moss and grass. (A. P.
Low.)

Dall says they choose in Alaska,, the hill tops for their breeding
places. He secured eggs on June 15th and the unfledged young
July 10th. The nesting habits, notes, and general mode of life of
the Hutchin gooseare identical with those of B. minima, so they
need not be specially referred to here. (Nelson.)

128 GEOI.OGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
172b. White-cheeked Goose.

Branta canadensis occidentalis (BAIRD) RipGw. 1885.

During my residence on the coast of Bering sea this bird was
not seen and as hundreds of the two other related species were exe
amined both at St. Michael and the Yukon mouth, it appears evident
that it is found in Alaska as astraggler or not atall. Dall records
specimens taken at Sitka. (Nelson.) Much rarer than the Canada
goose in the lower Fraser valley. (Brooks.) Pacific coast region,
from Sitka south, in winter, to California. (A.O. U. List.)

172c. Cackling Goose.

Branta canadensis minima. RipGw. 1885.

Nelson and Turner report this as being the most generally dis-
tributed goose in Alaska. Brooks and Fannin speak of it as a
winter resident on the coast of British Columbia.

BreepiInG Notes.—The upper Yukon district, the Yukon delta,
and south to the Bristol bay district abound with these birds in
the breeding season. They remain in these places until about the
first of October, while in the Aleutian islands they remain until the
middle of November. This bird does not winter in any part of
Alaska. The eggs vary from seven to thirteen; they are laid in a
carelessly arranged nest composed of dead grasses and a few feathers
The young remain with the parents until the latter moult by the
2oth of August, by which time the young are able to fly. The chief
food of the birds is the berries of the Vaccinium. (Turner.)

The last week of May finds many of these birds depositing their
eggs. Upon the grassy borders of ponds, in the midst of a bunch
of grass, or on a small knoll these birds find a spot where they make
a slight depression and perhaps line it with a scanty layer of grasses,
after which the eggs are laid, numbering from five to eight. The
eggs, like the birds, average smaller than those of other geese. As
the eggs are deposited the female gradually lines the nest with
feathers plucked from her breast until they rest in a bed of down.
When first laid the eggs are white but by the time incubation begins
all are soiled and dingy. The female usually crouches low on her
nest until an intruder comes within one hundred yards or so, when
she skulks off through the grass or flies silently away, close to the “

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 129

ground, and only raises a note of alarm when well away from the
nest. The young are hatched from the middle of June until the
middle of July. (Nelson.)

173. Brant.

Branta bernicla (LINN.) SCOPOLI. 1769.

Said not to breed in Greenland lower than lat. 70°, but does so
in great numbers on the Polar sea. (Arct. Man.) One of the first
birds of passage to arrive on Ellsemere island. Their nests were
found on islets in the sea or rivers and on the great plains. (E. Buy.)
This species breeds in numbers on the coasts and islands of Hudson
bay and the Arctic sea, and is rarely seen in the interior. (Aichard-
son.)

This species is a very &4bundant migrant on the whole Atlantic
coast (north of Hudson strait) filling at times the heads of all the
bays and feeding on seaweed, chiefly of the genus Ulva. It is
quite frequent in the St. Lawrence and is known to ascend the Ottawa
to thirty miles below the city. It is casual in Lake Ontario and said
to be a rare migrant in western Ontario. Occasionally seen in
Manitoba but not to the west of that province.

On the 13th December, 1903 I noticed a bunch of six brant near
Comox, Vancouver island, that kept separate from the large numbers
of black brant in the harbour; after a hard bit of work I managed
to kill one of them, which proved to be an adult female of the Atlantic
species. The others were undoubtedly an old male and three young
of the same species as they all looked very light coloured. The
specimen secured is in every way typical bernicla, with interrupted
collar, and sharply defined black breast, against the pale grayish
lower surface. It was very fat. I have since found that the eastern
brant is a fairly common migrant on the Pacific coast. Since shoot-
ing the first specimen, I have killed seven others, and have seen a
number of small bands that, as a rule, keep separate from the black
brant. I should say about eight per cent of the brant in Comox
bay are the eastern species. Only once have I killed both species
out of the same flock. There seems to be no tendency to inter-
gradation, unless the uniting of the neck patches in one bernicla
might be so considered. This was an adult male, in all other respects
typical bernicla, and the collar was barely united by the slightest
white tipping. (Brooks.)

9

130 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

173a. White-bellied Brant.

Branta bernicla glaucogastra (BREHM.)

Extreme northern part of North America. (A. O. U. List, Ninth
Supplement.) Dr. Coues. (The Auk, Vol. XIV, p. 207) gives what
appear to be satisfactory reasons for considering this a good sub-
species. It breeds ‘‘in arctic America, from the west coast of Green-
land as far as the Parry islands and north of lat. 73° as far as land
is known to extend.”

174. Black Brant.

Branta nigricans (LAWR.) BANNISTER. 1870.

About the middle of May this goose makes its appearance about
the mouth of the Yukon, and after a week or ten days passes north-
ward to breed. Its breeding ground lies considerably to the north,
for during the cruise of the Corwin, in the summer of 1881, we first
met it in the vicinity of Point Barrow, where the Eskimos brought
many of them on board. (Nelson.) About the middle of May a
great stream of these birds pours northward between St. Michael
island and Stewart island. Few are seen in the fall as they then
pass through the interior going south. (Turner.) This bird appears
at the end of the main spring migration of the water-fowl, but not in
considerable numbers. A few remain to breed and are seen flying
about the tundra during June. After the middle of August they
begin to fly across the isthmus of Pergmiak coming west along the
shore of Elson bay, crossing to the ocean and turning southward
along the coast. (Murdoch). An abundant winter resident along
the coasts of Vancouver island and British Columbia. (Fannin.)
Abundant at Douglas, B.C. Saw about 300 April 2oth, 1906, on
the flat when the tide was out. All had disappeared by May ist.
(Spreadborough.)

BREEDING Notes.—The nest of this bird is placed in rather
marshy ground and is a simple depression, lined with down with
which the eggs are completely covered when the bird leaves the
nest. They sometimes begin to sit on four eggs and sometimes
lay as many as six. (Murdoch.)

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 131
175. Barnacle Goose.

Branta leucopsis (BECHST.) BANNISTER. 1870.

A regular autumnal visitor at Julianshaab, and may perhaps
-breed in Greenland; recorded also from the east coast. (Arct.
Man.) Said by Richardson to be rare and accidental in Hudson
bay. A specimen in the U. S. National Museum collection was
obtained near Rupert House, James bay by Bernard R. Ross.
(Preble.)

LXVII. PHILACTE Bannister. 1870.
176. Emperor Goose.

Philacte canagica (SEVAST.) BANNISTER. 1870.

One specimen killed at Chemainus, Vancouver island, December,
1894. (Fannin.) Among the various species of birds, more or
less peculiar to Alaska, this goose is perhaps the most noteworthy.
The limited area covered by jts migrations, its narrow range, reach-
ing only across the area bounded by the Aleutian islands to the south,
and the vicinity of Bering strait on the north, and the little known
of its life-history, caused me to give it much attention at St. Michael.
(Nelson.) The habitat of this goose is strictly littoral-maritime,
frequenting only the reefs, rocks and shoals of the salt water and
brackish lagoons of the mainland coast. It is never found in fresh-
water localities excepting those contiguous to the sea, such as the
lower Yukon delta, mouth of the Kuskoquim river, and the bars
lying off the mouth of the Nuskagak river. (Turner.) Occurs
regularly on the Pribilof islands in the summer, but does not breed.
(Townsend.)

BREEDING NoTEs.—On May 22nd, my Eskimo hunter brought
in the. first one, a magnificent male in fine plumage. From that
time on they became more common daily until the first of June,
when they arrived in full force. Soon after their arrival they began
to pair, and were seen flying in couples, keeping close to the ground,
rarely flying twenty or thirty yards high, and often barely keeping
clear of the surface. Early in June they began depositing their eggs
on the flat, marshy islands bordering the sea. They nested most
abundantly on the salt-marshes adjacent to their feeding-grounds

9%

132 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

and their eggs were often placed among fragments of drift-wood
below the mark of the highest tides. Stray pairs were found nesting
further inland in the marshy meadows also frequented by other
species of geese, but on the salt-flats, near tide-water, the emperor
goose held undisputed possession. The majority of the nests found
contained from three to five eggs, the full complement ranging from
five to eight. As the complement of eggs approached completion
the parent made a soft bed of fine grass, leaves, and feathers plucked
from her own breast. As a rule, when driven from her eggs, the
female flew straight away and alighted at some distance, sometimes
half a mile from the nest, showing very little concern. (Nelson.)

LXIX. DENDROCYGNA Swarnson. 1837.

178. Fulvous Tree-duck.
Dendrocygna fulva (GMEL.) BURMEISTER, 1856.

In the Canadian Naturalist and Geologist, Vol. VI, 1861, p. 334,
there is what must stand as a good record of the fulvous tree-duck
in British Columbia. In an article entitled ‘‘Recollections of the
Swans and Geese of Hudson bay” Mr. George Barnston says:

“Two small species of southwest habitat, the Dendrocygna autum-
nalis and D. julva never come north, as far as I know. I have
never seen the first, but have shot one out of a pair of the latter on
the banks of the Colfimbia above Okanagan. This I daresay is
usually its limit to the north, and I believe it has never been seen
to the eastward of the great stony ridge. Neither of these elegant
little geese ever visit Hudson bay.” (J. H. Fleming.)

In September, 1905, Mr. J. S. Rollins saw eleven fulvous tree-
ducks on the flats near New Alberni, Vancouver island and shot five
of them. One specimen isin the provincial museum at Victoria
(Spreadborough.)

LXX. OLOR Wacter. 1832.
179. Whooping Swan.

Olor cygnus (LINN.) BONAPARTE. 1856.

Occasional in southern Greenland. (A.O.U. Lust.)

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 133
180. Whistling Swan.

Olor columbianus (ORD) STEJN. 1882.

This species is a rare and accidental visitor along the Atlantic
coast from Newfoundland southward. It is not uncommon in
the Gulf and River St. Lawrence and is a regular visitor on Lake
Erie and the Great Lakes generally. Migrants have been seen or
taken in all parts of Manitoba and westward over the prairie.
Apparently not breeding south of the Arctic circle.

This species breeds on the coast of the Arctic sea within the Arctic
circle and is seen in the interior only as a migrant. (Richardson.)
Whistling swans visit the western shores of Hudson bay in great
numbers in the spring and fall, and their assembled thousands
are said to present a beautiful and imposing spectacle during their
semi-annual visits. The broad expanse of Churchill river near its
mouth is a favorite place of resort. (Preble.) Both Nelson and
Turner speak of this bird being a common species in Alaska. Mr.
Turner says it migrates about the middle of October and at this
time the migration is always to the northward from St. Michael
and directed towards the head of Norton sound. From there it
evidently crosses to the Yukon and passes up it to the Rocky moun-
tains. A common migrant in British Columbia, and according to
Fannin very abundant during the summer in some portions of the
mainland interior. The young have been taken on Vancouver
island. Brooks says that a swan, (apparently this species) winters
in suitable localities in the Okanagan district, B.C.

BREEDING NoTEs.—Common on Southampton island, Hudson bay
and on the flat land north of Repulse bay. They breed in low
Jands where there are lakes. Their nests, constructed of seaweed,
grass and moss are very conspicuous. They are very bulky affairs,
about three feet in diameter at the base tapering to 18 inches at the
top and 18 inches high. (A. P. Low.) This species builds on the
ground and the nest usually contains five eggs; several were also
found on the coast and islands of Liverpool and Franklin bays in
the Arctic ocean. (Macjfarlane.) The birds arrive on the coast
singly or in small parties, and directly after scatter to their summer
haunts. At Nulato, Dall found them laying eggs by May 21st, but
on the sea-coast, May 3oth is the earliest date I have of their eggs
being taken. Dall states that they lay two eggs, but this must

134 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

refer to a single nest, for the ordinary number is from three to six.
The nest is usually upon a small island in some secluded lakelet,
or on a rounded bank close to the border of a pond. The eggs are
deposited in a depression made in a heap of rubbish gathered by the
birds from the immediate vicinity of the nest, and is composed of
grass, moss, and dead leaves, forming a bulky affair in many cases.
On June 14th, 1880, a swan was seen flying from the side of a small
pond on the marsh near St. Michael, and a close search finally re-
vealed the nest. The eggs were completely hidden in loose moss,
which covered the ground about the spot, and in which the bird
had made a depression by plucking the moss and arranging it for
that purpose. The site was so artfully chosen and prepared that I
passed the spot in my search, and one of my native hunters coming
close behind, called me back, and thrusting his stick into the moss
exposed the eggs. (Nelson.) I have a clutch of four eggs taken on
the mainland opposite Herschell island on June 15th, 1905 by Rev.
C. E. Whittaker. The nest consisted of a pile of weeds with a cavity
at the top lined with feathers and down. (Raine.)

181. Trumpeter Swan.

Olor buccinator (RICH.) WAGLER. 1832.

Stragglers are occasionally seen on Lake St. Clair and on the north
side of Lake Erie and doubtless on Lake Ontario, but by many
observers this species is referred to the more common whistling
swat.

Occasionally seen passing over Manitoba, flying high in the spring.
More plentiful in the autumn. Only a few specimens noted by
Spreadborough at Indian Head, Sask., in the middle of April, 1892.
Seen passing over Revelstoke, B.C., from 18th to zoth April, 1890.
This is the most common swan in the interior of the Northwest
Territories.

It breeds as far south as lat. 61°, but principally within the Arctic
circle and in its migrations generally precedes the geese by a few
days. (Richardson.) Richardson describes a specimen killed on
Hudson bay. Barnston speaks of the breeding of swans near East
Main fort, on James bay, and of eggs being brought to him from a
nest on the banks of a lake near Norway House. His remarks
probably refer to this species, as it has a more southern breeding

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 135

range, especially in the interior, than O. columbianus. (Preble.)
North to the Arctic circle, on the Mackenzie river, breeds along the
river. (Ross.) Very rare in Alaska, but not uncommon in northern
British Columbia, according to Fannin and Brooks.

BREEDING NOTES.—Several nests of this species were met with in
the Barren Grounds, on islands in Franklin bay, and on the beach
one was taken which contained six eggs. It was composed of a
quantity of hay, down and feathers intermixed, and this was the
general mode of structure of the nests of both swans. (Macjar-
lane.) A pair remained at Sumas lake, B.C., throughout the sum-
mer of 1891 and swans (apparently this species) winter on Lake
Okanagan, B.C.; swans of this species breed in northern Chilcoten.,
B.C. (Brooks.)It occasionally breeds in Saskatchewan, although its
natural breeding-grounds are much further north. A pair was
found breeding at Buffalo lake, Alberta, on April 7th, 1891. The
nest contained five eggs. Mr. Spaulding described the nest as being
a large structure, three feet in diameter, composed of sods, grass
and rushes and lined with feathers and down. Mr. Sanderson who
has lived all his life in Saskatchewan informs me that wild swans
used to- breed on some of the lakes before the Canadian Pacific
Railway was built. The last nest he found was during ¢he spring
of 1885, during the Northwest rebellion. It was at Sounding lake,
Sask., and contained four fresh eggs. (Razne.)

OrDER HERODIONES. Herons, Storks, IBISEs, &c.

Famity XV. IBIDIDZ. Isises.

LXXI. PLEGADIS Kavp. 1829.
186. Glossy Ibis.

Plegadis autumnalis (HASSELQ.) STEJN. 1885.

A flock ran the gauntlet and came along the coast as far north as
Country harbour, Nova Scotia. (Downs.)

Mr. John Bates shot a pair at the end of May, 1857, on a creek
near Hamilton water-works. These are the only birds of this species
ever seen in Ontario. (McIlwraith.)

136 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
187. White-faced Glossy Ibis,

Plegadis guarauna (LINN.) RipGw. 1878.

Found as a rare straggler in British Columbia. Only two speci-
mens known to have been taken in that province; one on Salt
Spring island in the Gulf of Georgia, and the other at the mouth of
the Fraser river. (Fannin.)

Famity XVI. ARDEIDAS. Herons, Bitrerns, &c.
LXXII. BOTAURUS Hermann. 1783.

190. American Bittern.

Botaurus lentiginosus (MONTAG.) STEPH. 1819.

This species is only a straggler in Greenland but is a summer
migrant in Newfoundland and Labrador. It breeds in Prince
Edward Island, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec and Ontario
and northward to Hudson bay, in all suitable localities.

Westward it becomes more abundant and is found commonly
from Manitoba to the Pacific, never being seen in flocks but turning
up in all Marshes and in weedy brooks. Spreadborough found it
in many of the marshes between Lesser Slave lake and Peace River
Landing, Atha. Richardson says it is common in the interior up
to the fifty-eighth parallel, and Bernard Ross says it descends the
Mackenzie to the Arctic sea. Although it is abundant and breeds
in British Columbia we have no record of its occurrence in Alaska.

BREEDING NoTtEes.—A pair breeds every year in Ashbridge bay,
Toronto, Ont. This species lays five eggs, occasionally six. (Raine.)
Breeds in the marsh on the north side of McKay lake, Ottawa and
in the marsh at the Experimental Farm. (W. T. Macoun.) Two
nests were found by me near Ottawa hidden in weeds near marshes.
The nests were flat, made of reeds and measured eleven inches in
diameter. (Garneau.)

I have found the nest of this species four times in the county of
Leeds, Ont. The bird lays its eggs very regularly about the 24th
of May apparently being little influenced by the season, just as in
the case of the loon. It also has a preference for the same locality
year after year, even though the eggs are taken. The first three

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 137

nests I found were in small ponds in a meadow nearly surrounded
by woods, and were built three successive years, in one or other of
the two ponds among the flags of last year’s growth, in one case
floating in two feet of water. The complement of five eggs,
once of six, was laid by the 26th of May, and in one case incubation
had commenced some days previously. The fourth nest I found
was in an open, but wet meadow, and the nest was formed of grass
in a springy place, very unlike the others. On the 3rd of June the
five eggs were much incubated. (Rev. C. J. Young.) This species
is rather common in the large marshes in western Ontario. It
makes a bulky nest in a dry portion of the marsh and lays four or
five eggs, generally four. It nests sparingly throughout all south-
western Ontario. Nests have been frequently reported near
London. (W. Saunders.)

Nests in the reeds and grass in nearly all marshes. On June 29th,
1892, found a nest at Indian Head, Sask., containing five eggs.
The nest was built on a mass of last year’s rushes about eighteen
inches above the water and consisted of the same materials. The
bird feeds upon mice, snakes, frogs and almost anything that has
life and that it is able to swallow. (Spreadborough.)

Breeding in large numbers at Crane lake, Sask., in the marshes.
The nest is generally on old dead grass in one or two feet of water,
but one containing two eggs partly incubated was found on dry
ground on June goth. On the 20th I found many nests but in
nearly all, the eggs were so much incubated that they were unfit
to take. Most of the nests contained four or five eggs. One nest
was taken which had five eggs in it, one of which was that of the
lesser scaup. (Macoun.)

LXXIII]. ARDETTA Gray. 1842.

191. Least Bittern.

Ardetta extlis (GMEL.) GUNDL. 1856.

A rare summer resident along the Bay of Fundy between Black
river and Mispec, New Brunswick. (Chamberlain.) Accidental at
Quebec. (Dionne.) Rare in the district of Montreal but perhaps
more plentiful than we think, as it is retiring in its habits. (Wznile.)
A summer resident near Ottawa. Known to build. (Ottawa

138 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA

Naturalist, Vol V.) Common summer resident at Toronto, Ont.;
breeds. (J. H. Fleming.) A regular summer resident in southern
Ontario. (MclIlwraith.) Accidental in Manitoba. (E. T. Seton.)
One specimen taken at Crane lake, Sask., in June, 1894, by Mr. W.
Spreadborough.

BREEDING Notes.—At Hamilton bay, Ontario, it is a regular
summer resident, raising its young in the most retired parts of the
marsh. The nest is large for the size of the bird, a platform being
made for its support by bending down the flags till they cross each
other a foot or more above the water-level. The whole affair is
very loose and readily falls asunder at the close of the season.(Mc-
Ilwraith.) The little bittern breeds in Ashbridge bay, Toronto,
and lays five eggs. (Raine.) A nest of the least bittern with eggs
in it was found by Dr. F. A. Saunders in the summer of 1902 in the
marsh at the Experimental Farm, Ottawa, Ont. (W. T. Macoun.)
A bird that is met with sparingly in suitable places near the St.
Lawrence; for example, at Escott pond, Leeds co., Ont.; the
neighbourhood of Gananoque lake, and around Kingston, Ont.
It is not a regular visitant; some years scarcely one is noticed, for
this bird makes its presence evident by its peculiar call. The nest
is hard to find. I found one at the first-mentioned place, the 9th
June, 1892. It was built amongst a very thick growth of last year’s
flags, about eighteen inches above the water, supported by the
matted vegetation and formed of the dead flag leaves, but quite dry.
It contained at that date six bluish-white eggs, quite fresh. (Rev.
C. J. Young.) Not uncommon in all the large marshes in south-
western Ontario and an abundant breeder in some of them. (W.
Saunders.)

191.1. Cory Least Bittern.

Ardetta neoxena Cory. 1886.

Sixteen of this interesting bittern have been taken at Toronto
(about two-thirds of the known specimens), between May 18th,
1890 and Sept. 8th, 1899. These dates are the earliest and latest.
The young have been taken from August 3rd to 17th. All the birds
have been taken in a comparatively small extent of marsh in Ash-
bridge bay. For a list of Toronto records see The Auk, Vol. XIII,
p. 11 and Vol. XIX, p. 77. The nest is described as simply a mass
of last year’s reeds. (J. H. Fleming.)

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 139

LXXIV. ARDEA Linn. 1758
194. Great Blue Heron.
Ardea herodias LINN. 1758.

Breeds in colonies in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward
Island, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and British
Columbia.

Richardson says that it is only accidental in the Northwest Terri-
tories and it seems to be rare in Alaska but likely breeds along the
Yukon or its branches. Grinnell records it as frequent along the
secluded inland shores at Sitka, Alaska.

BREEDING NotTes.—Downs reports a large heronry on Mount
Uniake, Nova Scotia, in the tops of birch trees. A few breed near
Rustico in Prince Edward Island. There is a large heronry on the
Quebec side of the Ottawa twenty-five miles below the city of Ottawa-
Mr. Seton in his Birds of Manitoba, mentions the discovery of a
heronry on Riding mountain in Manitoba, at the head of Bird Tail
creek, in the summer of 1880, and the writer, in June 1894, saw a
a small one on Skull creek, Sask., a small brook that descends from
the Cypress hills. °

The following description of the heronry on the Ottawa is taken
from MclIlwraith’s Birds of Ontario, page 110:

‘“‘The heronry is located in the centre of a thick swamp which,
‘on the occasion of our first visit, was so deeply submerged as to
bar all ingress. On the 19th July, however, the water was but
knee-deep. After proceeding about half a mile into the swamp,
our attention was arrested by a peculiar sound which we at first
thought proceeded from some distant saw-mill or steamer on the
river. As we advanced, however, the sound resolved itself into the
most extraordinary noises, some of which resembled the yelping
of dogs or foxes. On penetrating still deeper, into the swamp,
we discovered that the noises proceeded from an immense number
of herons, some perched on branches of trees, some sitting on nests,
and others flying overhead. The uproar was almost deafening and
the odour arising from the filth with which the trees and ground
were covered was extremely disagreeable. We tramped all through
the heronry and calculated that it must extend about half a mile

140 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

in each direction. The nests were all of the same pattern, great
cumbersome piles of sticks, about a foot thick, with but a very shallow
cavity and no lining.”

The heronry on Riding mountain, Man., is thus described by Mr.
E. Thompson Seton :—

“We had struck a heronry; hundreds of these birds were passing
to and fro, and, on going forward a hundred yards or so, we found
the tops of the poplars covered with their nests; the young birds,
full grown but not able to fly, perched on the highest trees. The
nests were made of the small dead branches of the poplar and were
placed as near the tops of the trees as possible. These mountains
are full of small ponds and deep marshes which swarm with
lizards and small fish, on which the herons feed. On getting to an
open space near the heronry we could see the old birds coming and
going in every direction. Those coming home were stuffed to
the bill with food for their young, making them present a very
ungainly figure, as they lazily flapped their way towards the
woods.”

In May, 1898, a small heronry was found in a birch grove near
one of the Gaspereaux lakes in Nova Scotia. The nests, to the number
of five within the space of one acre, were inaccessible owing to the
great size and nature of the trees selected for the nests. (H. F.
Tufts.)

A few years ago this species bred in the township of Escott, Ont.,
and some of the old nests were still left in 1895. In the next town-
ship—Yonge—a few birds still breed near MacIntosh Mills, and
their nests may be noticed on some tall pine trees. A large heronry
existed in a bush near the River Tay, Lanark county, in 1885.
The nests were built mostly on ash trees, three or four nests often
in one tree. It still breeds in the township of Elizabethtown, where
there is a large heronry near Graham lake. Two sets of eggs, five
of each, were taken from this heronry on May 6th, 1899. (Rev. C. J.
Young.) In The Ottawa Naturalist, Vol. XVIII, p. 119, Rev. G.
Eifrig gives a very full description of a heronry near Eganville,
Renfrew county, Ont. There were between 50 and roo nests all
in swamp elms, 30 to 50 feet from the ground.

In Muskoka, Ont., they build in tall pine trees. One tree on
an island in a lake about twelve miles from Bracebridge had between

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 141

fifteen and twenty nests in it. They used to breed in Muskoka in
great numbers, but have been driven farther back and are rather
scarce now. I have known one to sit upon a heap of floating mud
in a small lake, for thirty-six hours, catching fish. They feed upon
frogs and fish. At Crane lake, Sask., I counted thirteen nests in a
clump of Negundo aceroides on June 16th, 1894. (Spreadborough.)
Heronries are now generally deserted in the vicinity of London, Ont.,
and the birds are much less common than formerly. Single nests
are now more and more the rule. Eggs, four and five, sometimes
spotted with deep black. These spots consist of pitch which the
birds bring on their feet from the fish nets in Lake Erie, They may
be removed by the use of ether or other solvents of tar. (W.
Saunders.)

194a. Northwest Coast Heron.

Ardea herodias fannint CHAPMAN. I9gOI.

Queen Charlotte and Vancouver islands and coast region of
British Columbia. It is probable that all the great blue herons
on the west coast are this variety.

Common on the tide flats at Douglas, B.C. from April 15th when
I reached there until I left in May. Two seen at Chilliwack lake,
July soth, 1906. Breeds also on Vancouver island. (Spread-
borough.). Often seen feeding at low tide on the beaches and
mud flats of Skidegate and Cumshewa inlets, Queen Charlotte
islands. (Osgood.)

195. European Blue Heron.

Ardea cinerea LINN. 1758.

Said by Crantz to have been seen in south Greenland, August 27th,
1765; a young bird foung dead near Nenortalik in 1856 was sent
to Copenhagen. (Arct. Man.) Several specimens taken since 1856.
(Winge.)

LXXV. HERODIAS Bore. 1822.
196. American Egret.
Herodias egretta (GMEL.) CABANIS. 1856.

Casual in summer in Nova Scotia. (Downs.) One shot at Grand
Manan, New Brunswick, in 1878. (C. J. Maynard.) This species

142 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

was seen by Mr. Comeau at Godbout on the St. Lawrence in 1882.
(Dionne.) A rare visitor in the Montreal district. A pair was
observed at Beauharnois in the fall of 1889 and one shot; another
example was taken in the summer of 1891, at Isle aux Noix, forty
miles from Montreal. There is a record in The Auk, Vol. II., page
110, of a pair seen at Rockliffe, on the Ottawa river, in the spring
of 1883. The male was obtained and is now in the museum at
Ottawa. These were adults, but the specimen in my collection,
which was obtained at Rondeau, near the west end of Lake Erie,
and others which I have heard of along our southern border, were all
young birds. (McIlwraith.) The only definite record for the Tor-
onto region is a specimen in my collection taken at Port Union,
May 24th, 1895. Dr. Wm. Brodie says a pair bred regularly many
years ago at Port Union and several were shot. (J. H. Fleming.)
An adult specimen of this species was shot on Duck bay, Lake
Winnipegosis, in 1888, by Mr. David Armit. This I believe is the
northernmost record for the species. (E£. T. Seton in The Auk,
Vol. x. p. 40.)

LXXVI. EGRETTA Forster. 1817.
197. Snowy Heron.

Egretta candidissuma (GMEL.) GOSSE. 1847.

Casual visitor in Nova Scotia; one specimen shot in a marsh
near Halifax, another at Musquodoboit. (Downs.) Saw one shot
at Combermere, Renfrew county, Ont., in August, 1892. (Rev.C. J.
Young.) J have recently mounted a fine adult male shot May 11th,
1901, near Pincher creek, Alta. (G. F. Dippte.) Accidental in
British Columbia. Two specimens taken at Burrard inlet, B.C.,
May, 1879, (Fannin.)

LXXVIJ. FLORIDA Bairp. 1858.
200. Little Blue Heron.

Florida cerulea (LINN.) BairpD. 1858.

Accidental and very rare in Nova Scotia. (Downs.) On May
23rd, 1900, a specimen of this species was brought to Mr. Ernest
Doane at L’Anse au Loup, Labrador by a man who had shot it a
day or two before. Mr. Doane skinned the bird and ‘sent it to me.

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 143

(Outram Bangs.) There was brought to me at Quebec a specimen
of this bird, killed on the St. Lawrence by an amateur in October,
’ 1881. (Dionne.) A pair of little blue herons was taken by J. W.
Anderson at Aylmer, Ont., August 15th, 1901. Two more were
shot within a few miles of Toronto some time ago. (J. H. Ames.)

LXXVIII. BUTORIDES Buyru. 1849.
201. Green Heron.

Butorides virescens (LINN.) Bonar. 1855.

Occasional in Nova Scotia. (Downs.) A summer resident, but
rare, at St. John, New Brunswick; commoner in the northern
counties. (Chamberlain.) A scarce summer resident at Montreal.
May breed, as young birds were seen at Caughnawaga, on Sep-
tember 1, 1887. (Wuntle.) This handsome little heron finds its
northern limit along the southern border of Ontario. According to
Dr. Macallum, it breeds regularly on the banks of the Grand river,
near Dunnville, and has also been observed, occasionally, near
Hamilton and at St. Clair flats. (McIlwraith.) Often shot in Ash-
bridge bay, Toronto. (Raine.) Regular migrant at Toronto. Not
common. (J. H. Fleming.)

The writer thought he saw a number of specimens of this species
on the Assiniboine river, near the mouth of Shell river, Manitoba,
on the 26th September, 1881, but never having seen any since
believes now they were the next species. Seton records this species
in his Birds of Manitoba, on my authority and that of Mr. Hunter,
but as neither of us mentions the next species, I believe we mistook
our bird and the night heron was the bird we saw.

BREEDING NoTes.—A rare visitant in eastern Ontario. I have
met with the bird twice; the second time near MacIntosh Mills,
Ont., in May, in a locality where there was.a possibility it might be
paired and was breeding. The bird was very tame, and alighted on
the dead limbs of trees. Their principal place of resort on the St.
Lawrence is Charleston lake, where I found a small colony breeding.
On May 29th, 1899, I found two nests, one with three eggs, the
other close by, with one. On June 14th I saw a nest with five eggs
and another one in which the eggs had been destroyed. (Rev. C. J.
Young.) A rather common but very retiring breeder in south-

144 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

western Ontario. I found three nests in one morning in a clump of
tamarack of less than an acre and within four miles of London.
They appear to be spreading north steadily. (W. Saunders.)

LXXIX. NYCTICORAX StTerHEns. 1819.
202.. Black-crowned Night Heron.

Nycticorax nycticorax nevius (BODD.) ZELEDON. 1885.

A rare visitor in Nova Scotia. (Downs.) Fall migrant in Nova
Scotia; only immature specimens seen. (H. F. Tufts.) A summer
resident in New Brunswick; reported abundant at Bathurst andRiver
Charlo. (Chamberlain.) Abundant in September, 1882, at Port Daniel,
Bay of Chaleur, Quebec. (Macoun.) A single specimen taken at Lake
Mistassini on 6th August, 1885. (J. M. Macoun.) Not uncommon
at Beauport and River St.. Lawrence, Que. (Dzonne.) Shot in the
fall at Ashbridge bay, Toronto, Ont. (Raine.) Regular migrant at
Toronto, Ont.; rather rare in the spring. (J. H. Fleming.) Rare
migrant; not recorded as breeding in southwestern Ontario. (W.
Saunders.) One specimen in adult plumage was taken at Guelph,
Ont., about twelve years ago. (A. B. Klugh.) Common in western
Quebec and eastern Ontario, where it is known to breed. The young
of this species have been taken at Ottawa in July by Mr. G. R.
White.

A regular but not common resident. Individuals seen during the
whole summer and breeding here and there in the most retired
marshes and ponds around Prince Albert, Sask. (Coubeaux.) Not
uncommon in Manitoba, breeding in marshes, but not recorded from
Alberta. ;

BREEDING Notes.—Nests in great numbers in the reeds around
Shoal lake. They fix their nests to the reeds, about eight or nine
inches above the water, and deposit in each four or five roundish
blue eggs. I think this is the only place in Rupert Land where this
species is found. (D. Gunn, vide McIlwraith.)

203. Yellow-crowned Night Heron.

Nycticorax violaceus (LINN.) VIGORS. 1827.

Mr. Fred. H. Kennard in The Auk, Vol. XIX., p. 397, records the
taking of a specimen of this bird near Hawk Point, Cape Sable
island, Shelburne co., N.S. It was received in Boston, April 1st,

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 145

1902, from Yarmouth, N.S. Mr. Kennard learned that it had been
killed by Mr. Howard Smith, who wrote Mr. Kennard that two
other specimens had been captured that spring in Yarmouth co.,
Nova Scotia.

One taken on Sable island, N.S., April 13th, 1904. (Jas. Boutelver.)
A young bird was taken near Toronto, Ont., by Mr. John Maughan.
It is in the provincial museum at Toronto. (J. H. Fleming.)

OrDER PALUDICOLA. Cranes, Rats, &c.

Famity XVII. GRUIDA:. Cranes.
LXXX. GRUS Patras. 1766.

204. Whooping Crane.

Grus americana (LINN.) VIEILL. 1817.

Thirty years ago this species was found in all the large marshes
from the Red river to the Rocky mountains, but with the building
of the Canadian Pacific Railway and incfeased population, it is
gradually retiring northward. A few still breed in Saskatchewan,
but most pass northward into the Athabasca district and further
north. A pair was found, likely breeding, on Twelve-mile lake,
Wood mountain, June 6th, 1895. Richardson wrote many years
ago that this bird frequented all parts of the Northwest traversed
by him, and Macfarlane writes that though he never found any nests
he observed flocks both in spring and fall flying over Fort Anderson
near the Arctic sea. The only record MclIlwraith gives of the occur-
rence of this species in Ontario is at page 116 of his Birds of Ontario.
He says that a single specimen was taken in the township of Camden
in Addington co. on the 27th September, 1871, by Mr. Wesley
Potter.

Hearne says this bird visits Hudson bay in the spring though not
in great numbers. (Preble.) A pair was seen by Mr. Handy at
Elmsdale, Muskoka, Ont., in 1895. He was attracted by their loud
cries and watched them for some time. (J. H. Fleming.) Rather
uncommon at Aweme, Man. Arrives about April 15th and passes
south about the first week in October. (Criddle.) A number

10

146 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

observed at Kluskun lake, Grand Prairie, Peace River district in
1903. (J. AL. \Lacoun.)

Breepinc Notes.—I have a fine set of two eggs that were taken
by Mr. Hugh Richardson, June roth, 1896, south of Prince Albert,
Sask. Nest, a pile of marsh hay on the open prairie. On May
20th, r893 I found two pairs of this bird on the prairie ten miles
southwest of Oak lake, Man. The nest of one pair was located. It
consisted of a pile of marsh grass and contained one egg. These
birds had been nesting in this place for several years. The third
week in May seems about the right time to find fresh eggs in Mani-
toba. (Razine.)

205. Little Brown Crane. “ Sandhill Crane.”
Grus canadensis (LINN.) TEMM. 1820.

One obtained near Igloolik, in Greenland, June 20th, 1869. (Arct.
Alan.) Several pairs seen on Southampton island, Hudson bay.
Breeds there. (A. P. Low.) Noted several times on the Barren
Grounds, twenty-five miles south of Cape Eskimo, usually in com-
panies of four or five. “Forster recorded it from Severn river, Murray
from Trout lake, and King records its having been seen near the
mouth of Great Fish river. (Preble.) A young female of this
species was secured at Alexander, Prince Edward island, Sept. 22nd,
1905. (W. H. Moore.) This species passes through the Cariboo
district, B.C., as a migrant. (Brooks.) Near St. Michael we saw
flocks of from two to six individuals each almost daily during the
first half of September. (Bishop.) I found five on Kaminista lake,
St. Paul island, Alaska. Others had been seen by the natives and
one was caught in a trap in 1888. (Palmer.) Two specimens were
taken at Point Barrow, Alaska, June 25th, 1897. (MclIlhenny.)

Owing possibly to a misapprehension this species has been over-
looked in Manitoba and Seton only includes Grus mexicana in his
catalogue of Manitoba birds. Sir John Richardson on the other
hand does not include Grus mexicana in his Fauna Boreali Americana,
but says that some individuals are larger and have longer bills.
The sandhill crane reached Carlton House April 28th, 1887, and
Dr. G. M. Dawson recorded it at Dufferin, Man., between April 25th
and 30th, 1874.

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 147

In The Auk for January, 1893, Mr. Seton speaks of a specimen of
this bird being killed on the Qu’Appelle river. On September 16th,
1881, the writer shot a specimen near Fort Pelly which was certainly
the little brown crane as it was much smaller than the one taken
on the prairie in 1872. More light is needed on the distribution of
the two species named sandhill cranes by the people generally.
Either this species or the next is scattered over the country from
the 49th parallel to the Arctic ocean and is especially abundant in
Alaska and British Columbia.

BREEDING Notes.—As a rule this species is not seen on the lower
Yukon until about May 7th or later, when the ground is half bare
and the cranes can search every hillside for last year’s heath-berries,
which, with an occasional lemming or mouse, constitute their food
at this season. The site for the nest is usually on grassy flats,
where the drier portions or the slight knolls afford them suitable
places. The spot usually has an unobstructed view on all sides,
and it is common to see the female’s long neck raised suspiciously
at the appearance in the distance of anything unusual. The nest is
frequently a mere hollow in the ground, and is commonly lined with
more or less coarse grass-stems and straws. In one instance a nest
was found on a bare flat and was lined with a layer of straws an inch
deep, all of which must have been brought some distance; this is
unustial, however. The two eggs which this bird always lays, are
generally deposited during the last few days of May or early June.
(Nelson.)

206. Sandhill Crane.

Grus mexicana (MULL.) VIEILL. 1817.

A pair was taken many years ago at Toronto, Ont. Mr. Taverner
reports one taken at Beaumaris, Muskoka, several years ago. (J.
H. Fleming.) Occasional reports of this species in southwestern
Ontario still come in but it may safely be said to be a very rare
migrant. (W. Saunders.) Tolerably common at Aweme, Man.,
breeding in small bogs and marshes. Arrives about April rst, and
departs in October. (Criddle.) Saw thirty-five at Douglas, B.C.
flying northward April 28th, 1906; one at Elko, B.C. in 1904, and a
few seen all through April, 1903, at Penticton, B.C. (Spread-
borough.)

10%

148 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

Mr. McIlwraith in his Birds of Ontario gives two instances of the
breeding of this species in southwestern Ontario and mentions the
killing of another specimen at Rondeau, Lake Erie, in 1869.

I have carefully read Mr. Seton’s account of Grus mexicana in his
Birds of Manitoba, and am of the opinion that some of his ‘‘sandhill
cranes” were Grus canadensis. Indeed in quoting Dr. Coues he says
that he (Coues) found this species breeding west of Pembina when
in reality Dr. Coues says it was the brown crane he found there.
See Coues on Birds of Dakota and Montana, page 646. It is possible,
however, that Dr. Coues gave the wrong name to his species.

In my earlier explorations I was mislead in this same way by
both cranes being called ‘“‘sandhill cranes.’ In 1872 a specimen
of this species was caught with a lasso by one of our men, who ran
him down, when moulting in August of that year. This specimen
was mtch heavier than the 10 Ib. specimens of Mr. Seton. Richard-
son’s specimen, killed on Great Slave lake in 1822, was forty-eight
inches long, so that it was certainly this species also. Fannin and
Brooks say that it isa summer resident in southern British Columbia,
but chiefly east of the Coast range, though not so common as the
little brown crane which is, however, chiefly a migrant. Brooks
found G. mexicana breeding in suitable localities in the Cariboo

district.

BREEDING NoTEes.—The sandhill crane comes to southern Mani-
toba about the end of April, circling around high in the blue and
uttering its peculiar call. When mating it repairs to some hillock
or knoll and executes a sort of war dance by dancing around and
flapping its huge wings. It usually breeds on some ‘tussock of
decaying vegetation in a marsh, building quite a large nest of moss
and rushes. I have never seen more than two eggs in the nest.
These are shaped and coloured very much like those of the loon,
though perhaps, a little more pointed. The young leave the nest
almost immediately after hatching. They are clothed with a thick
ferruginous down, and have legs about four inches long. If caught
when very young they are easily tamed, readily eating bread or
scraps of meat, and are of great service to a gardener. I have seen
one about a month old go down a line of onions and take up every
cut-worm from their roots, as if an inch and a half of mould were
perfectly transparent. After the young are fully grown they gather

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 149

into flocks of from twenty to thirty and migrate southwards in the
early autumn. (Cecil Selwyn.)

Famity NVI. RALLIDA, Rats, GALLInutes, Coots.

LXXNI. RALLUS Linnazus. 1758.
208. King Rail.

Rallus elegans Aub. 1835.
Casual around Montreal in summer. (Dionne.)

This large and handsome rail, which until recently was considered
to be only a casual visitor to Ontario, is now known to breed plenti-
fully in the marshes all along the River St. Clair. It has also been
found at other points in southern Ontario, but the St. Clair flats
seem to be its favourite breeding place. Migrant at Toronto, Ont.,
probably accidental; one was taken in September, 1903, and there
are two other local records. (jJ. H. Fleming.)

It arrives in May and leaves in September. (MclIlwraith.) Ob-
served once at Plover pond, Middlesex county, Ont. (R. Ellzott.)

Mr. Hine and Mr. Seton have seen this species in Manitoba, where
it is evidently a casual.

212. Virginia Rail,

Rallus virginianus LINN. 1766.

A common summer migrant in New Brunswick. (Chamberlain.)
Not uncommon along the St. Lawrence. (Dionne.) A casual on
the coast of Labrador, Newfoundland and Nova Scotia. Common
in western Quebec and eastern Ontario, where it breeds. Generally
distributed throughout Ontario. A common summer resident in
eastern Manitoba.

Recorded from York Factory, Hudson bay, by Dr. Bell. (Preble.)
I have flushed this rail in many of the Manitoba marshes but never
found a nest. In July, 1906, flushed it at Hirzel, Touchwood hills,
Boulder lake and Little Manito lake, Sask., but did not see it
further west. (Geo. Atkinson.)

Found on both the mainland and Vancouver island; not common;
breeds. (Fannin.) Tolerably common summer resident in the

150 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

lower Fraser valley; winters at Lake Okanagan, B.C., and common
and breeding in the Cariboo district. (Brooks.)

BREEDING Notes.—While on a trip to the marshes in Lake St.
Francis near Summerton, Ont., June 6th, 1903, on a low boggy
island, less marshy than others and partially covered with alders
we found the sora and Virginia rails nesting. These nests were
miniature galinule’s, though better hidden, and were fastened low
down amongst the long marsh grass. (Lewis M. Terrill.) Nests
six inches in diameter, made of rushes, are to be found around
Ottawa among the reeds in marshy places. Two taken 13th May,
1905, and 21st May, 1906, were on the ground. On the 23rd July,
1905, I discovered a floating nest the size of the others among the
reeds in a marsh. (Garneau.) This species breeds wherever there
is a sufficiently large marsh, a small one of an acre being enough
to please, and sometimes even less willdo. (W. Saunders.) A nest
was brought to me from a slough near Carberry, Manitoba, July
30th, 1884. It was found in a tussock of coarse grass, and was
built of dry stems of the same. The eggs, eight in number, were
quite fresh, and differed from the Carolina rail only in being of a
lighter colour and with reddish instead of umber spots, these chiefly
about the larger end. The nest was of rushes, and built precisely
like that of the Carolina bird, but it was situated rather in a damp
meadow than a marsh. (Seton.) This is the commonest rail in the
St. Lawrence valley and breeds annually in the marshes along the
St. Lawrence and inland. It frequents larger marshes than the
sora, though occasionally they are found breeding in the same
localities. I have found several nests; two of these were in wet
places, formed by rank grass, &c., and placed simply in tussocks
of marsh grass. The third was near Gananoque lake among a
cluster of flags and bullrushes, and was formed of last year’s stems
of the latter, fastened among the rushes and floating in about
eighteen inches of water, like a gallinule’s. They are late breeders;
the first nest I found, containing nine eggs on the 17th June,
incubation only commencing; the last one, six eggs, incubation
advanced, on the 15th July, 1896. (Rev. C. J. Young.) This is
a rare bird in Manitoba. On the 12th June, 1893, I found a nest
with one egg at Reaburn, Manitoba, and shot the parent. (Dzppie.)

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 151
LXNNIL PORZANA Vielior. 1816.
213. Spotted Crake.

Porzana porzana (LINN.) BoucarD. 1876.

One specimen of this species is said to have been shot at Fredericks-
haab, Greenland, some years ago. (Hagerup.) One obtained at
Godthaab, September 28th, 1841; a second taken at Nenortalik
was sent to Copenhagen in 1856. (Arct. Afan.) Taken again in
1878. (Wirnge.) .

214. Carolina Rail. fora.

Porzana carolina (LINN.) Bartrp. 1845.

Casual in Greenland. One killed at Sukkertop, October 3rd,
1823. (Arct. Man.) Several taken in recent years in Greenland.
(Winge.) A summer migrant in Newfoundland, rare in Nova
Scotia, breeding in Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Quebec
and Ontario, apparently increasing in numbers to the west. Strag-
glers are found on Hudson bay and Spreadborough found them
breeding at Moose Factory, James bay, June oth, 1896, and a nest
with ten fresh eggs on the west coast of the bay, Julv 1oth, 1904.
It no doubt breeds throughout the whole wooded region west of
Hudson bay.

This is a common species, breeding from Manitoba westward
through the prairie region, Rocky mountains at Banff, and north
to lat. 55°; British Columbia, from Kamloops to the Pacific coast.
Sir John Richardson places its northern limit at lat. 62°, and Ber-
nard Ross places it on the Mackenzie river at Big island in nearly
the same latitude. Spreadborough found it to be common in all
the marshes between Lesser Slave lake and Peace River Landing,
Atha. This species is unknown in Alaska.

BREEDING Notes.—This species, like the Virginia rail, breeds
in all marshes of sufficient size throughout western Ontario. (IV.
Saunders.) Nesting in clumps of rushes and grass growing in water.
Nest rather compact, consisting of grass placed from six inches to
one foot above the water. Young leave the nest as soon as hatched.
A nest was taken at Deep lake, Indian Head, Sask., on June 29th,
. 1892, which contained three eggs and one young one just hatched,

162 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

the young one was dark slate on the back, below rather lighter, a
chin patch of bright orange, almost red, billflight horn colour,
except the base which was red. (Spreadborough.) A well-known
species in Ontario and more generally distributed than the Virginia
rail, though apparently not breeding so plentifully in the St. Law-
rence district. I met with the bird on the, Magdalen islands in
June, 1897, when on the 22nd of that month I found among bull-
rushes a nest containing six eggs and young ones just hatched.
The nest was a neat affair constructed of last year’s reeds and fas-
tened to the stalks, in water that was knee-deep and only a short
distance from a sandy bar that divided a large pond from the sea,
The first nest I found in 1895, near the St. Lawrence, was built of ,
grass-stalks in a tussock, where there was not much water. We
have therefore three species, the two rails and the American bittern
that vary their nesting location as well as the material they use,
thus showing that one must have considerable experience before
laying down as hard and fast facts, the site and construction of
nests. (Rev.C. J. Young.) Two nests seen in the vicinity of Ottawa
were fixed to the reeds in marshes like those of the red-winged
blackbirds. They are not so deep, however, and are made of dry
reeds. One was found in a tussock of grass. (Garneau.) Found
breeding in small numbers in wet meadows or sloughs near Crane
lake, Sask., and Many Island lake, Alta. (A. C. Bent.) Found
breeding at Reaburn, Man., and Buffalo lake, Alta. (Dippie.)

In a marshy lake grown up with Carex aristata, within a couple
of miles of Crane lake, Sask., the writer took a number of nests of
this species on June 9th, 1894. The nests were near the water
and constructed of dead Carex leaves. The eggs ranged in number
from nine to sixteen and were but slightly incubated.

215. Yellow Rail.

Porzana noveboracensts (GMEL.) BarIRD. 1845.

July 13th, 1900, I flushed five yellow rails in the marsh at Beacon
point, near York Factory. They were in open grassy places. I
heard about a dozen but was unable to flush more than five. B el
recorded this species from Fort George on the east side af Hudson
bay. (Preble.)) Rare in autumn in Nova Scotia. (Downs.)
Migrant in Nova Scotia. (H. F. Tujts.) A rare autumn visitor

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 153

in New Brunswick. (Chamberlain.) Rare migrant in Quebec.
(Dionne.) A rare migrant in Ontario; occasionally taken in Toronto
marsh. (MclIlwratth.) Of late years this bird has been taken at
Toronto, Ont., every year and must occur more commonly than is
supposed. (J. H. Fleming.) A fine specimen of the yellow rail
was shot at Rockland, Ont. (G. R. White.) I have found this
bird during the nesting season (June) at the mouth of the Thames
river, Ont. Seen and heard fifteen miles southeast of Red Deer,
Alta., in June, 1906, where it was undoubtedly breeding. (W.
Saunders.)

This species seems to be a far from rare summer resident in Mani-
toba. Seton in his Birds of Manitoba, gives many instances of its
“occurence and the writer’s own observations agree with his express-
ed opinions. A small rail that seemed to jump out of the sedge,
with legs hanging down, and just as suddenly drop again has been
observed as far west as Moose Jaw, but in no case was a specimen
obtained.

The following is Hutchin’s manuscript notice of the bird written
in 1777. ‘‘This elegant bird is an inhabitant of the marshes on the
coast of Hudson bay near the eflux of the Severn river, about 150
miles south of York Factory, from the middle of May to the end of
September. It never flies above sixty yards at a time, but runs
with great rapidity among the long grass near the shores. In the
morning and evening it utters a note which resembles the striking
of a flint and steel; at other times it makes a shrieking noise. It
builds no nest but lays from ten to sixteen perfectly white eggs
among the grass.”

216. Black Rail

Porzana jamaicensis (GMEL.) BAIRD. 1845.

Dr. Cottle of Woodstock, Ont., claims to have found a bird of
this species at Ingersoll in 1856, and from my knowledge of Dr.
Cottle I am satisfied his identification is correct. (McIlwraith.)
Mr. Nash, who collected in the Dundas marsh in 1874, writes Mr.
MclIlwraith as follows in January, 1894:

“Aug. 18th, 1874.—Shot four of these birds this evening at the
upper end of Dundas marsh. My dogs put them up where the

154 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

rushes had been mowed. This is the first time I ever noted them
here. After this date I saw several others about the same place,
during this year (1874). I also shot a few yellow rails, and saw
many.’

Cottle’s record is, I believe, correct and is the only authentic
Canadian record. (/. H. Fleming.) I believe I saw a black rail
at the mouth of the St. Clair in June. It flushed very close to me
and was very small with a sora-like bill and apparently exactly
like skins of the black rail which I have seen. (W. Saunders.)

LNXXUI. CREX BEcHSTEIN. 1802.
217. Corn Crake.
Crex crex (LINN.) SHARPE. 1884.

A rare casual in Greenland. One obtained at Godthaab and
sent to the museum of Copenhagen in 1851. (Arct. Man.) Taken
in Greenland in 1887, 1892, 1893 and 1894. (Wunge.)

In The Auk for January, 1899, Mr. James McKinley, of Pictou,
Nova Scotia, records the shooting of a specimen of this species
in a marsh near Pictou nearly twenty-five years ago. The speci-
men remained unidentified until a recent visit paid to Pictou by
Mr. Frank M. Chapman, who at once identified it.

LXXXIV. IONORNIS Reicuenpacu. 1852.
218. Purple Gallinule.
Ionornis martintca (LINN.) REICH. 1852.

A very rare casual in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. (Downs.
Chamberlain.)

Mcllwraith records the capturing of one individual at Pickering,
Ont., in April, 1892.

The above are all the records we have of this species.
LXXXV. GALLINULA Brisson. 1760.

219. Florida Gallinule.
Gallinula galeata (LicHT.) BOoNnap. 1832.

A rare casual in New Brunswick. One shot at Dick lake,
September, 1879. (Chamberlain.) One specimen was taken during

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 155

the last week of September, 1898, on the Canard river, N.S. (H.
F. Tufts.) A not uncommon summer visitor in Quebec. (Dionne.)
A common summer resident at Montreal, but more plentiful in the
autumn. (Winile.) Not an uncommon summer resident in Ontario,
and breeds from Ottawa to Lake Erie.

BREEDING Notes.—A nest of this species with seven eggs, partly
incubated, was taken at Kars, on the Rideau river, Ont., 9th July,
1890, by Messrs. W. and F. A. Saunders.

On June 6th, 1903, I visited the marshes at Lake St. Francis,
near Summerton, Ont., and found the Florida gallinule nesting on a
shallow platform of dead rushes fastened to reed stalks and elevated
several inches above the water level; the nest contained eleven
fresh eggs. (Lewis M. Terrill.)

A few years ago this was a common bird in many parts of Ontario
but is becoming scarcer every year—not by reason of hunters only,
but because of the draining and drying up of many of its former
haunts. It still breeds in the inland marshes between Kingston
and Brockville, and occasionally along the River St. Lawrence.
It constructs in the water a nest of last year’s stems of bullrushes,
well surrounded by a growth of the same. Except in one case
I have been able to row in a boat to all the nests I have found.
The eggs are usually laid from the middle of May onward, the largest
number I have found in one nest being eleven. They exactly re-
semble in size and colour the well known ‘“‘moor-hen”’ of Britain,
as does the location of the nest. (Rev. C. J. Young.) This species
builds in the larger marshes only. I have found it, however, in the
marsh at Toronto. The nest is built like that of a rail, fastened
to the surrounding rushes, and usually high enough to escape the
moisture. Eggs six to ten. (W. Sauiders.)

LXXXVI. FULICA Linnaeus. 1758.

220. European Coot.

Fulica atra LINN. 1758.

Accidental in Greenland. (A. O. U. Lust.) Collected in South
Greenland, and now in the Copenhagen museum. (MW nge.)

156 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
221. American Coot. Mud-hen.

Fulica americana GMEL. 1788.

Twice obtained in Greenland in the same year (1854); once at
Godthaab and once at Disco bay. (Arct. Man.) One shot on
a lake near Nain, Labrador, several years ago. (Packard.) Not
very common in the autumn in Nova Scotia. (Downs.) A summer
visitant, increasing in numbers in New Brunswick. (Chamberlain.)

Breeding in the valley of the St. Lawrence and western Quebec
and throughout Ontario, and westward to the Pacific coast and
Vancouver island. The writer found it scattered throughout the
prairie region, generally in large flocks, but often only a few.pairs,
or one pair, in small ponds. The chief breeding-grounds are in
Manitoba and northwestward. It was breeding in Vermilion lakes
at Banff, Rocky mountains, May 11th, 1891. Richardson says its
northern limit is lat. 53°, and Bernard Ross puts its limit at Fort
Simpson, on the Mackenzie, in lat. 62° 30’. Spreadborough found
it to be common in all the marshes from Lesser Slave lake to the
Peace river, Atha. Although quite common in British Columbia,
only one specimen is recorded by Nelson as taken in Alaska.

BREEDING NoTes.—The coot builds on a mass of old reeds. The
nest is composed of small pieces of reeds and marsh grass, with no
particular lining. The eggs, six or more in number, are of a clear
clay colour, dotted all over with specks of dark brown. As the
old bird has a habit of covering the nest over whenever she leaves,
it is very hard to find. Breéds in the marshes around Ottawa, Ont.
(G. R. White.) Breeds in the same localities with the Florida
gallinule, and constructs its nest in the same manner. (W. Saunders.)
Nests in reeds and grass growing in the water along the margins of
lakes and ponds. The nest is composed of reeds and grass, and
rather small and shallow. The young leave the nest as soon as
they are hatched. Found breeding in marshes at Indian Head
and Crane lake, Sask., at Banff, Rocky mountains, and at Kam-
loops, B.C. (Spreadborough.) Ina marsh at Crane lake, composed
chiefly of Carex aristata and a few clumps of Scirpus lacustris, the
writer, in the course of an hour’s wading, discovered eighteen nests
of this species, nearly all of which contained eleven eggs. From
ten to twelve was the usual number. The young hatch out very
irregularly, and as fast as they come from the shell they leave the

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 157

nest and take to the water. The nests were all made of the dead
Scripus and lined with the broad leaves of the Carex.

ORDER. LIMICOLA. Suore Birps.
Famity XIX. PHALAROPODIDAS. PuHaLaropes.
LXXXVIH. CRYMOPHILUS Visiuior. 1816.
222. Red Phalarope.

Crymophilus fulicarius (LINN.) STEJN. 1885.

Said to be the latest summer bird to arrive in Greenland; very
rare in the south and not known to breed below lat. 68° N., but
thence northward, common. (Arct. Man.) It isa common migrant
in Newfoundland, Labrador, Nova Scotia, including Sable island,

‘New Brunswick and Quebec, but rare in Ontario and prefers the
coast to the more inland waters. It is abundant on the shores of
Hudson strait and a few breed there according to Turner. Common
and breeding around Hudson bay. Only two specimens have been
seen on the prairies by the writer, one shot on Long lake, in July,
1879, and another on Old Wives lake, in May, 1895. Fannin men-
tions the species as being taken in British Columbia at Burrard
Inlet and at Chilliwack only.

This species abounds in high northern latitudes, breeds on the
North Georgian islands and Melville peninsula, and was often seen
by northern expeditions swimming in the sea far from land. (Rich-
ardson.) This bird is fairly abundant on the shores of Franklin
bay, where nests were obtained on marshy flats in the first week of
July, 1864. (Macfarlane.) This species arrives at the Yukon
mouth and adjacent parts of the Bering sea coast during the last
days of May and the beginning of June. It breeds abundantly on
all the coasts and islands and far into the interior. (Nelson.) The
red phalarope arrives at St. Michael about the beginning of June.
It is not abundant at any time but is rather more common on the
mainland than on the island of St. Michael. In the neighborhood
of the Yukon delta it is abundant throughout thesummer. (Turner.)
One of the commonest birds at Point Barrow, and remaining till late
in October when the sea begins to close. (Murdoch.) We sawfa

158 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

small flock of this species near Skagway, Alaska, and others I believed
to be this species near Wrangell narrows and in Prince Frederick
sound. (Bishop.) This species is an abundant migrant on the
Pribilof islands but found in the greatest numbers in the autumn.
(Palmer.)

BREEDING NoTEes.—Very early in June, at St. Michael, Alaska,
the eggs are laid in a slight depression, generally on the damp flats
where the birds are found. There is rarely any lining to the nest.
Towards the end of June most of the young are hatched and by the
middle of July are on the wing. The sites chosen for this bird’s
nest are very similar to those taken by P. lobatus, except that the
latter may pick drier situations. One nest was taken on June 8th
within six feet of a brackish pool, the eggs being deposited in a nest
of dried leaves under a dwarf willow. (Nelson.) Very common
around Fullerton and Southampton island, Hudson bay. They nest
around fresh-water ponds laying their eggs, without nesting material,
in depressions in the sand or moss, often in lichens. (A. P. Low.)

LXXNVIII. PHALAROPUS Brisson. 1760.
223. Northern Phalarope.

Phalaropus lobatus (LINN.) SALVAD. 1872.

Seems to be the commonest species of phalarope in Greenland,
and possibly very far to the northward. (Arct. Man.) Breeds on
islets in Ungava bay and is common along the northern coast of
Labrador. (Turner.) Observed about a dozen in a small pond
on an island in James bay, June 16th, 1896, where they were evidently
breeding. None were seen in the interior of Labrador. (Spread-
borough.) A migrant in Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, and New
Brunswick.

It is a common migrant in Quebec but rare in Ontario. Com-
mon in summer in all parts of Hudson bay, where it undoubtedly
breeds in large numbers, although it seems to be a rare migrant in
Manitoba. Dr. Coues found this bird in numbers in a pool near
the base of the Rocky mountains, not far from the International
Boundary, on August 16th, 1874, and thought it might breed there.
It was very abundant at Indian Head, Sask., in 1892. Spread-
borough says it was first seen there May 15th, but by May 25th to

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 159

30th there were thousands at Deep lake, yet on June 3rd they were
all gone. On June 3rd, 1895, specimens were shot by the writer at
Thirty-mile spring, and on June 6th others at Twelve-mile lake,
near Wood mountain, Sask. They seemed to be breeding. Bishop
and Bent saw several migrating flocks near Hay lake, Sask., May
29th, 1905, in company with sanderlings. Two males taken at
Big Stick lake by Bishop, June 14th, 1906, were in breeding condition.
A flock seen by Bishop, July 13th, was the beginning of the fall
migration. In August, 1906, Atkinson noted this bird in ‘‘countless
thousands’’ between Saskatoon, Sask. and Edmonton, Alta. Rich-
ardson, Ross and Macfarlane agree in saying that this species occurs
in immense numbers in the breeding season both in the wooded
country and Barren Grounds and extends right up to the Arctic
coast. Nelson and Turner both say that this is a very common
species in Alaska, breeding throughout most of the country, but
especially along the marshy northern coast. In British Columbia
it is a common migrant, and Mr. Fannin has taken it in July on
Burrard inlet, so it is probable that a few pairs breed there. Brooks
says that it may breed in northern Chilcotin, B.C.

BREEDING NoTES.—This species arrives at St. Michael, Alaska,
about May 25th. Its food consists entirely of aquatic worms,
slugs, larvae and flies. It breeds in June. The nest is placed
among the grasses and consists of a lot of grass blades arranged
with little care. Four or five eggs, of greenish ground, thickly
blotched with dark, are laid. The young are able to fly by the first
of August. (Turner.) The usual number of eggs is four, which
vary considerably in exact colouration. The. ground-colour in the
very large series before me, obtained in the vicinity of St. Michael,
shades by every degree from the greenish clay colour to warm, buffy
olive-brown. The spots and markings are very irregular in size
and shape, but are usually larger about the large end of the egg.
(Nelson.) The nest, like that of the red phalarope, is a slight de-
pression in the ground, lined with a few dry leaves and grasses, and
is almost invariably situated on the margin of small pools or sheets
of water. Upwards of seventy nests were secured, the number of
eggs being always four. (Macfarlane.)

Principally migratory, but a few breed on the Pribilof islands.
Elliot collected young on St. George island in 1873, and I obtained
two, just from the egg, on St. Paul island, July 2nd, 1890. These

160 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

birds arrive in small numbers about the end of May, and mostly
pass northward, only a few pairs remaining on the islands to breed.
(Palmer.)

LXXNIX. STEGANOPUS VIELLIOT. 1819.
224. Wilson Phalarope.

Steganopus tricolor VIEILL. 1819.

Occasional in Quebec. (Dtonne.) An accidental visitor in
Ontario. (McIlwratth.) Rare migrant at Toronto, Ont. (jf. H.
Fleming.) This is a common species throughout the whole prairie
region, breeding by marshy ponds in all suitable places, from Pem-
bina to the Rocky mountains, and may reach Hudson bay, as a
phalarope record from Fort Severn by Murray is thought to be
this species. Richardson says it does not extend to the north
farther than lat. 55°. Fannin has not seen it and Brooks only once
positively identified it in the Fraser River valley, at Chilliwack.

BREEDING NotTes.—This species was first seen, May 18th, 1892,
at Indian Head, Sask., but never became common, although it
breeds in large numbers in the “sloughs” to the south of Deep lake.
Its habits are much like those of the sandpipers as it runs up and
down the shore like them and swims very little. On June 23rd, a
young one had three black stripes on the back, one reaching from
the base of the bill to the rump. The rest of the body was bright
buff, almost orange. This species is common from Indian Head to
Edmonton, Alberta, nesting among short grass in low damp ground
near the water. Nest, a shallow hole in the ground, lined with a
little grass. Young leave the nest as soon as hatched. (Spread-
borough.) This species breeds at Reaburn, Man., Rush lake, Sask.,
and Buffalo lake, Alberta. (Dippie.) A number of nests of this
species were taken by the writer on June 5th and 6th, 1895, at
Twelve-mile lake, near Wood mountain, Sask. They contained
from three to four eggs each. The nest was a small hole in the
ground, generally between bunches of old grass, in a dry spot,
either in, or on the borders of, a marsh. One nest was in a tuft of
wild barley (Hordeum jubatum). Quite common at Crane lake,
Sask., and breeding, 1894. Found a nest with eggs nearly hatched
on June 7th. Nest on the ground beside a tuft of grass; breeding
also in a marshy pond at the east end of Cypress hills, June 26th,

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 161

1894, and at Cypress lake and Sucker creek, Sask., June 30th, 1895.
Found breeding in Saskatchewan by Bishop, Bent and Raine.

FAMILY XN. RECURVIROSTRIDA. AVOCETS AND STILTS.
XC. RECURVIROSTRA Linnazus. 1758.

225. American Avocet.

Recurvtrostra americana GMEL. 1788.

A single specimen of this bird was killed at St. John, N.B., and
is in Mr. Carnal’s collection. (Chamberlain.) I am aware of three
individuals of this species having been taken at different times at
Rondeau, on the north shore of Lake Erie, but these are all I have
heard of in Ontario. (McJIlwraith.) Accidental migrant at Toronto,
Ont. Two records. An adult male in gray plumage was taken
September 19th, 1901. (J. H. Fleming.)

Quite rare in eastern Manitoba, but common throughout the
prairie region—chiefly on the borders of brackish ponds, where it
breeds in great numbers. Its chief range is from the International
Boundary north to lat. 54°, but it has been taken as far north as
Fort Rae on Great Slave lake.

BREEDING Notes.—The breeding range of this species, accord-
ing to my observation, is from Indian Head to within a few miles
of the Rocky mountains. It was first seen at Deep lake, Indian
Head, Sask., on May 14th, 1892; by June ard it was breeding in
numbers:on a long point of land that ran far out into a small lake
in township 16, range 13. At various times after June 13th, took
numerous nest¢; one was taken with two eggs, none with more than
four. The nest, in nearly every case, was.a shallow depression in
the sand between three or four stones, and was lined with a few
pieces of grass. The chief nesting places are on the borders of
alkali ponds, and the nest is always near the water. Breeding
generally commences the last week in May, and the young leave
the nest as soon as hatched. (Spreadborough.)

My observations confirm Spreadborough’s in every particular.
Eggs and downy young taken near High river, Alta., June, 1906.
(W. Saunders.) Found breeding on the shores of Crane lake, Hay
Jake and on Gull island in Big Stick lake, Sask. (A.C. Bent.) On

II

162 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

June 1oth, 1891, I found a large colony of avocets nesting on an
island in a small lake ten miles north of Rush lake, Sask. I again
visited this place on June 15th, 1895, when I found the big colony
still at its old breeding haunts. There must have been some 200
nests on the island and they were so close together that I had to
use caution in walking for fear of treading on the eggs. The nests.
were simply hollows in the sand lined with bits of grass. (Raine.)

FamiLy XXI. SCOLOPACIDAH. Snipes, Sanpripers, &c.
XCI. SCOLOPAX Linnazus. 1758.
227. European Woodcock,

Scolopax rusticola LINN. 1758.

A single specimen is said to have been killed in the neighbour-
hood of St. Johns, Newfoundland, in January, 1862. (Reeks.) A
specimen was shot at Chambly, Quebec, on the 11th November,.
1882, by a French Canadian, and was secured by Mr. Brock Willett.
It was sent to the late Mr. William Couper to be stuffed, who re-
corded its occurrence in the Canadian Sportsman and Naturalist.
(Wintle.)

XCII. PHILOHELA Gray. 1841.
228. American Woodcock.

Philohela minor (GMEL.) Gray. 1841.

Several persons stated they had killed woodcock on the eastern
shores of Labrador. (Packard.)

This species is common in Nova Scotia and breeds‘early in spring.
(Downs, Tujts.) An abundant summer resident in New Brunswick
where it also breeds. (Chamberlain.) Found breeding at George-
town, Prince Edward island, August 17th, 1888; common in Quebec
and eastern Ontario, but more abundant in the western part of-
the province. It breeds throughout its range. Not so common
as formerly in most parts of Ontario.

This species is a rare summer resident in Manitoba, and pro-
bably does not extend farther west than Brandon, as no specimens
have ever been seen or recorded beyond that place—r50 miles
west of Winnipeg.

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 163

BREEDING Notes.—A pair nested in a field near Bracebridge,
Muskoka, Ont., a few years since, but the species is rare in this
district. (Spreadborough.) It is becoming scarcer every year in
the St. Lawrence valley. A few birds breed in the vicinity of the
lake near MacIntosh Mills, Ont. I met with a nest on June 3rd,
1891. It was made on a little mossy hillock in a small clump of
second-growth trees, near a large grove, and at no great distance
from the edge of the lake. -At that date the eggs—four in number
—were greatly incubated. They exactly resembled those of the
old-world species, but are smaller. This bird is still not uncommon
(1906) in the vicinity of Madoc, Hastings county, Ont. It breeds
in the townships of Huntingdon and Rawdon. (Rev. C. J. Young.)
On May 20th, 1895, Mr. Robert Johnson of the Geological Survey
found a nest of this species in a piece of swampy ground on the left
of the Chelsea road, south of the crossing of the Gatineau Valley
‘railway. It was on a hummock in the swamp and was merely a
depression lined with grass and sheltered by cedar bushes. The
locality is about four miles from Ottawa.

XCIII. GALLINAGO Leacu. 1816.

229. European Snipe.

Gallinago gallinago (LINN.) LicuT. 1854.

One received from Dr. Paulsen in 1845, but this species has been
so often observed in Greenland that it may very likely breed there.
(Arct. Man.) This species and the next are, according to Winge
(Greenland Birds, p. 176), about equally numerous in Greenland.
Neither is common. He thinks they may perhaps breed.

230. Wilson Snipe.
Gallinago delicata (ORD) A. O. U. List. 1886.

A common summer migrant and breeds in Newfoundland, Nova
Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and abundantly on
all the islands in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, as well as in Quebec
and eastern Ontario. Spreadborough found it breeding from Mis-
sinabi north to Cape Henrietta Maria, James bay, and at Great
Whale river, Hudson bay, where he saw one with a young brood in
July, 1896.

11%

164 GEOLOGICAL SUKVEY OF CANADA.

In the west, it is found throughout the whole prairie region,
especially in all marshes in the wooded country. This species is
found in British Columbia, from the International Boundary to
Alaska, and on Vancouver island, where it breeds, and according
to Brooks it is a common summer resident in the Cariboo district,
and a few winter on Lake Okanagan, B.C. Both Turner and Nelson
report it of wide distribution in Alaska, and Macfarlane found it
breeding on the Anderson river.

BREEDING Notes.—A few pairs still breed in the county of
Leeds, Ont. Early in June, 1892, a nest with four eggs was ob-
tained at ‘‘Black Pond’’ near Brockville; on the 9th June, 1896,
I saw one of these birds perched.on a stump in a wet meadow ;
no doubt the female was nesting in the vicinity. The place where I
have noticed this species breeding most commonly was on the Mag-
dalen islands. There it may still be said to be plentiful. I obtained
three eggs, incubated, early in June, 1897. It breeds principally in
boggy places not far from the sea, and in the breeding season is
quite noisy and soon makes its presence known. The nest on the
Magdalen islands is not, as a rule, placed in the wettest part of the
bog but near the edge of the growth of spruce, where a stunted tree
struggles to live here and there in the shaking bog. Alongside
one of these, or even under a branch, a nest may be found, in which
respect as far as the selection of a breeding-site goes, it differs some-
what from its very near relative, the European snipe. (Rev. C. J.
Young.) Iam informed by Mr..John Burke, a farmer near Rondeau,
Lake Erie, and an accurate observer, that he has of late years found
several nests of this species near the marsh. (W. Saunders.) Found
a nest with four eggs near Listowel, Ont., May 17th, 1905. A clump
of willows grew about six feet from a pool and midway between the
willows and the water was the nest. It was simply a slight de-
pression made by the bird in the moss and dry grass, lined with fine
dry grass. (W.L. Kells.) These birds dig their nests in the ground
in marshy places and line them with grass and ferns. I have found
two nests near Ottawa, Ont., one on the 22nd May, 1900, the other,
12th May, 1905. (Garneau.)

The favourite haunts of this bird are the open grassy sloughs or
bogs which intersect Manitoba. The position of the only nest of
this species that I found was on a slightly elevated tussock or sod
in the middle of a wide muskeg. The nest consisted of a slight

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 165

hollow, with a few straws for lining and was raised only a few inches
above the water. This was in the third week in July, and by the
27th of that month the four young ones were hatched and immedi-
ately left the nest. (E.T.Seton.) Found several pairs breeding in a
marsh near Sidley, B.C., May 13th, 1905. May 28th found a nest
with four eggs in a clump of grass under a small willow bush in a wet
marsh. Nest made of dry grass. (Spreadborough.)

In August, 1894, the writer saw a female and young birds of this
“Species in the marsh at St. Patrick Street bridge, Ottawa, Ont.;
early in May, 1890, he found a nest beside a log in a small bog close
to the Canadian Pacific railway water-tank at Revelstoke, B.C.
The nest was close to the water and any one walking along the
railway could see the bird, but she hatched out her young and led
them off in safety. Another nest was found in a bog a little south of
Donald ini the Columbia valley, B.C., in July, 1885; this contained
four eggs almost incttbated. Breeding at east end of Cypress hills,
Sask., on June 24th, 1894. Young ones able to fly. Mr. Fannin
writes that the eggs of this species were taken near Enderby, south
of Shuswap lake, B.C., May, 1891, by Mr. De Blois Green.

This species is not particularly numerous in the Anderson river
country, as we found comparatively few nests. I may here remark
that the nests of all the snipes and sandpipers are much alike in
composition, number of eggs, and situation. (Macfarlane.) I found
not less than four nests in a couple of hours in the Little Red Deer
region, Alta., on June 3rd, 1906. The nests were substantial ones
built in the centre of tufts of marsh grass growing around the margin
of a small lake. The birds sit so close that I found all the nests by
almost stepping on the bird. (Raze.) Breeds everywhere in suit-
able places in Manitoba and west to Edmonton, Alta. They
evidently breed early as I saw young flying well at Yorkton, Sask.
July 6th, 1906. (Geo. Atkinson.)

230.1. Greater Snipe.

Gallinago major (GMEL.) KocH. 1816.

Accidental in North America. Taken in Hudson bay. (Coues,
Auk, Vol. XIV., p. 209, 1897.)

166 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
XCIV. MACRORHAMPHUS Leacu. 1816
231. Dowitcher. Red-breasted Snipe.

Macrorhamphus griseus (GMEL.) LEACH. 1816

Occasional in Greenland. One sent from Fiskenaes to Copen-
hagen in 1824. (Arct. Man.) Rare at Fort Chimo, Ungava.
Common in southern and western portions of Labrador. (Turner.)
A summer migrant in Newfoundland and breeds. (Reeks.) Fort
Churchill, Hudson bay. (Wright.) Migrant in Nova Scotia. (H.
F. Tujts.) Autumn migrant in New Brunswick. (Chamberlain.)
Not uncommon in Quebec. (Dionne.) Occurs in small flocks along
the Richelieu river near St. John, Que., but is rarer near Montreal
on the St. Lawrence river. (Wintle.) Regular migrant at Toronto,
Ont. (J. H. Fleming.) A pair was shot at Ottawa, Ont., by Mr.
G. R. White, May 22nd, 1890, and a few others recorded. Mc-
Ilwraith says it is a straggler in western Ontario.

Its breeding grounds seem to be to the north and northwest of
Hudson bay. -

232. Long-billed Dowitcher.

Macrorhamphus scolopaceus (Say) Lawr. 1852.

Migrant in Nova Scotia. (H. F. Tujts.) Abundant on the
meadows bordering Button bay, near Fort Churchill, Hudson bay,
July 31st. The species was then moving southward and was not

seen after August 3rd. (Preble.) Rare migrant at Toronto, Ont.
(J. H. Fleming.)

This species takes the place of M. griseus from Manitoba west-
ward. Although not common in eastern Manitoba it becomes
abundant to the west, and during migration this species is very
plentiful throughout the prairie region. As it arrives in great num-
bers on the prairie in August its breeding places are likely south of
the Arctic circle. Besides covering much country east of the moun-
tains, it is very abundant in Alaska, breeding as far north as Point
Barrow, where Murdoch says it is not common in the breeding
season. It is very rare in the Rocky mountains, only one being
taken at Banff in 1891. Both Lord and Fannin say it breeds in
British Columbia, and Brooks found it common in autumn in the

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 167

Fraser valley. Spreadborough saw one individual in a marsh on
the Grand prairie, Peace river, Atha., in 1903, and found it in large
flocks at Stubbs island, west coast of Vancouver Island, August,
1893.

BREEDING NotTEes.—This species arrives quite early at the Yukon
mouth, often by the 1toth May. Towards the end of the month
it is plentiful and is beginning to breed. On June 16th, while cross-
ing a tussock-covered hill-top, over a mile from any water, I was
surprised to see a female of this species flutter from her nest about
six feet in front of me and skulk off through the grass with trailing
wings and depressed head for some ten or fifteen yards. She stood,
nearly concealed by a tuft of grass, and watched me as I pillaged
her nest of its treasures. The eggs, four in number, rested in a
shallow depression formed by the bird’s body in the soft moss, and
without a trace of lining. Other nests taken were of the same
character. By the last of July the young birds can fly with their
parents. (Nelson.) <A few nests of this species were taken between
the 21st June and July rst. The eggs were always four in number.
(Macjarlane.) 1 was astonished to find this Arctic-breeding bird
nesting amongst the muskegs in northern Alberta. On June 3rd,
1906, I found a nest containing four handsome eggs. It was built
in the middle of a bunch of grass like that of the Wilson snipe but
its eggs are not so olive in ground colour and are more like those of
the buff-breasted sandpiper. The bird sat close but was easily
identified as it flew and settled a short distance off. (Raine.) Mr.
Raine sends this note under the heading of M. griseus but from what
is known of the range of the two species the bird seen seems more
likely to have been M. scolopaceus. Until specimens are collected
the nesting of this bird in Alberta must remain in doubt.

. XCV. MICROPALAMA Bairp. 1858.
233. Stilt Sandpiper.

Micropalama himantopus (BONaAP.) Barrp. 1858.

Not common at Cow Head, Newfoundland. One specimen killed
in September, 1867. (Reeks.) Not rare in New Brunswick, but on
account of its rapid migration it is not often noticed. (Chamberlain.)
Fort Churchill, Hudson bay. (Wright.) A male bird was shot on
the mud beside a pool on the tundra about 50 miles north of York

168 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

Factory, July 19th. Several more were noted August 12th about
25 miles south of Cape Eskimo. (Preble.) Regular fall migrant
at Toronto, Ont., not common. Adults in full plumage, July 18th
to 28th and young August 9th to September 26th. There are records
of birds from June 25th to 30th but I have not seen these speci-
mens. (J. H. Fleming.)

It seems to be rare in Manitoba; as Seton records only one positive
capture, but Spreadborough foundit common at Indian Head,
Sask., in September, 1891. In the following spring it was first seen
on the 18th May, and had disappeared by June sth. Dr. Coues
obtained specimens in a pond near the eastern base of the Rocky
mountains on August 16th, 1874, in lat. 49°. Sir John Richardson
says it is not uncommon up to the 6oth parallel and still farther
north. It is frequent in the interior in the breeding season, and
resorts to the shores of Hudson bay in autumn, before going south-
It was found by Ross on the Mackenzie as far north as Fort Simp-
son, but rare. Kermode records one specimen as having been taken
by Brooks at Chilliwack, B.C., August 19th, 1899. -Our records of
this species are scanty, but its chief breeding haunts are likely along
the southwest side of Hudson bay.

BREEDING Notes.—The stilt sandpiper was fairly abundant on
the shores of Franklin bay, where a number of nests with eggs and
young were discovered. It is, however, very rare in the interior
only one nest being taken at Rendezvous lake on the borders of the
wooded country east of Fort Anderson. (Macfarlane.)

XCVI. TRINGA Linnzeus. 1758.
234. Knot. Gray-back. Robin Snipe.
Tringa canutus LINN. 1758.

Rare in the south of Greenland but often met with in the north;
believed not to breed below lat. 68°; reported to have been found
breeding on Melville peninsula and Parry islands. (Arct. Man.)
A migrant in Newfoundland; a rare autumn and winter visitant
in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. Rare in Quebec but commoner
in Ontario. On the 4th June, 1890, Mr. Ernest White of Ottawa,
Ont., obtained eight specimens out of a flock of about seventy, but

it has never been taken since. A few specimens are recorded from

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 160

Hamilton, Ont., by Mr.Mcllwraith. Fleming says that though rather
common in the spring he has seen no adult birds in the autumn-
Dr. Coues records taking a few specimens in immature plumage at
Henley harbour, Labrador, in 1860. A tolerably common migrant
in Manitoba but rare farther west. It is common in summer along
the shores of the Arctic sea and on the islands to the north. In
Alaska it is common in some localities and rare in others. Accord-
ing to Fannin it is abundant along the coast of British Columbia
during migration.

BREEDING NoTes.—Thek not breeds on Melville peninsula and
in other parts of Arctic America, and also on Hudson bay, down to
lat. 58°. It lays four eggs in a withered tuft of grass. (Richard-
son.) The knot bred, among other places, at the head of Gaasefjord,
Ellsemere island, where its young were found. (E. Bay.)

Major Henry W. Feilden, naturalist to the Nares Arctic Expe-
dition, says he was not so fortunate as to obtain the eggs of the
knot during his stay in the Polar regions, though it breeds in some
numbers along the shores of Smith sound and the north coast of
Grinnell land. On July 30th, 1876, however, three seamen walking
by the border of a small lake, not far from the ship, came upon an
old bird accompanied by three nestlings, which they brought to Mr.
Feilden. Lieut. A. W. Greely, U.S.A., commander of the late ex-
pedition to Lady Franklin sound, succeeded in obtaining the long-
sought-for egg of this species. The specimen of the bird and egg
were obtained in the vicinity of ‘“‘Fort Conger,” lat. 81° 44’N. The
egg was of a light pea-green colour, closely spotted with brown in
small specks about the size of a pin’s head. (The Auk, Vol. II., pp.

312-313.)
XCVIL ARQUATELLA Barrp. 1858.
235. Purple Sandpiper.

Arquatella maritima (BRUNN.) COUES. 1861.

Occurs in winter off the coast of Greenland, if the sea be open;
breeds on Melville peninsula and west side of Davis strait. (Arct.
Man.) Common in winter, and a few breed at Ivigtut, Greenland.
(Hagerup.) This species abounds on the Atlantic coast to the north
and south of Labrador in spring and fall. (Turner.), Only one was

170 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA

procured or seen at Wales sound, Hudson strait, in 1885. (Payne.)
A summer migrant, but rare, at Cow Head, Newfoundland; an un-
common winter resident on the Nova Scotia coast; not rare on the
coast of New Brunswick in winter; occasional at Beauport, Montreal,
and other points on the river St. Lawrence. Occasional at Ottawa,
Ont.,—one taken by Mr. N. Forbes on the Rideau river, October
28th, 1885, and another by Mr. G. R. White. The same year one
specimen was taken at Hamilton, Ont., by Dr. K. C. McIlwraith,
and a few others since. Fleming records it as a rare but regular fall
migrant at Toronto, Ont. It has never been noticed in the west,
and seems to be solely a northeastern bird.

BREEDING NotEs.—This species breeds so far to the north that
we can add nothing to what Sir John Richardson said so many
years ago—that it breeds abundantly on Melville peninsula and
the northern shores of Hudson bay.

236. Aleutian Sandpiper.

Arquatella couest R1ipGw. 1880.

This bird nests throughout the Aleutian chain from the western-
most island east to the Shumagin group, south of Aliaska. In
its autumnal wanderings it extends all along the eastern shore of
Bering sea and even along the coast of the Arctic sea. Its winter
range includes the Aleutian islands and the coast of Kadiak, with the
mainland to Sitka and probably farther south. (Nelson.) This
species arrives at St. Michael early in May, and is then strictly
littoral-maritime, resorting to the larger boulders and rocky shelves
covered with sea-weed, among which the birds search for slugs and
other marine worms. (Turner.) One specimen taken on Kadiak
island, Alaska. (Grinnell.) One specimen taken by Figgins at
Homer and three males and two sets of eggs by Anderson at Mueller
bay, Alaska. (Chapman.) Three specimens in winter plumage
were obtained at Port Clarence, Alaska, Aug. 22nd, 1898. (Mc-
Ilhenny.)

BREEDING Notes.—The Aleutian sandpiper arrives at St. Michae]
early in May of each year and in considerable numbers, being gener-
ally, on its arrival, in the dark plumage, which is changed for that
of summer by the first of June in this locality. By the middle of
June it is rare to see one of these birds in the winter plumage. On

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 171

assuming the summer plumage, their habits are entirely changed.
They build their nests on the dryer places of the marshy ground,
and are usually seen singly or in pairs. The nest is comfortably
made of dry grasses and a few feathers, placed on a dry tuft of grass,
perhaps surrounded by water. The young are able to leave the
nest by the roth of July. The number reared in a nest is four or
five. They follow their parents until they assume the winter plum-
age, in the latter part of August or September or even later. (Turner.)

237. Thick-billed Sandpiper. Pribilof Sandpiper.

Arquatella ptilocnemis (CouES) Ripcw. 1880.

Mr. H. W. Elliott, the discoverer of this species, speaking of its
range, says that besides the Pribilof islands, he found it just as
abundantly on St. Matthew island in 1874, 200 miles to the north,
where it was breeding in large numbers as it does on the Pribilofs.
A single pair was found nesting (by himself) on the south shore of
St. Lawrence island in June, 1881. Krause, in winter, secured three
specimens at Portage bay, which is on the mainland near the end of
Chilcat peninsula, but saw no large flocks until April, so that it is
probable they winter south along the coast of Alaska and possibly
British Columbia. (Nelson.)

BREEDING Nores.—I may say that this is the only wader that
incubates on the Pribilof islands, with the marked exceptions of
a stray couple now and then of Phalaropus hyperboreus. It makes
its appearance early in May and repairs to the dry uplands and
mossy hummocks, where it breeds. The nest is formed by the
selection of a particular cryptogamic bunch. It lays four darkly-
blotched pyriform eggs, and hatches them within twenty days.
The young come from the shell in a thick, yellowish down, with
dark-brown markings on the head and back, getting the plumage
of their parents and taking to wing as early as the 1oth of August.

(Elliott.)
XCVIII. ACTODROMAS Kavp. 1829.

238. Sharp-tailed Sandpiper.

Actodromas acuminata (HorsF.) Ripcw. 1880.

On September 16th, 1877, near St. Michael, I had the pleasure of
securing a handsome young female of this bird, thus adding this

172 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

species to our fauna. Afterwards it was found to be the most
common species of snipe at St. Michael, frequenting the borders
of brackish pools and tide-creeks in company with other species.
At Port Clarence and Kotzebue sound, single specimens have been
taken and these, with those taken by the writer at St. Michael,
include all the specimens up to date. (Nelson.) Took three and
saw about a dozen during the short time we were on St. George
island, Bering sea, Oct. 3rd. One secured at Unalaska, Oct. 5th.
(Bishop.) Taken at Massett, Queen Charlotte islands, B. C., Dec.
27th,1897, by Rev. J. H. Keen. (Fannin.) Saw one near the mouth
of Campbell river, Comox, Vancouver island. (Brooks.) A species
of Eastern Asia and evidently breeding near the mouth of the
Yukon.

239. Pectoral Sandpiper. Jack-snipe.

Actodromas maculata (ViBILL.) COoUES. 1861.

One was received from Greenland in 1851 by the Copenhagen
museum, and two others were sent there from near Disco in 1859.
(Arct. Man.) Occasional in Greenland. Several skins have been
taken since 1860. (Wunge.) First seen on the marshes about 50
miles north of York Factory, July 19th where it was rather common.
Common on the meadows bordering Button bay, July 31st and
abundant on the Barren Grounds south of Cape Eskimo, August
3rd to 13th. (Preble.) A common migrant along the whole Atlan-
tic coast from Cape Chidley south to New Brunswick and Nova
Scotia-and in Quebec, Ontario and Manitoba, but rare farther west.
Only one specimen was seen by Mr. Spreadborough at Indian Head,
Sask., in the spring of 1892, and further west, along Milk river, a
female was shot, July 16th, 1895. Dwight and Bishop found a
few adults at Big Stick lake, Sask., July 18th-22nd, 1905, and
Atkinson records it as abundant in 1906 after August 8th, between
Manito lake and Edmonton.

Nelson and Murdoch say that it is common in Alaska, breeding
in numbers as far north as Point Barrow. North of the Mackenzie
river and along the Anderson river, farther east, it is quite rare,
as Macfarlane saw very few and obtained no nests. Fannin and
Brooks report that it is not common in the migrations in British
Columbia. On Stubbs island, on the west coast of Vancouver islaud,
Spreadborough killed ten at one shot in August, 1893.

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 173

BREEDING Notes.—This species arrives at Point Barrow about
the end of May or early in June, and frequents the small ponds
and marshy portions of the tundra along the shore, sometimes
associated with other small waders, especially with the buff-breasted
sandpiper, on the high banks or the Nunava. They begin pairing
soon after their arrival, and are frequently to be seen chasing each
other in the air with a loud chatter. The nest is always built in
in the grass, with a decided preference for high and dry localities,
such as the banks of gullies and streams. It is sometimes placed
at the edge of a small pool, but always in grass and in a dry place,
never in the black clay and moss, like the plover and buff-breasted
sandpiper, or in a marsh like the phalaropes. All the complete sets
contained four eggs. (Murdoch.)

240. White-rumped Sandpiper.
Actodromas fuscicollis (VIEILL.) BONAPARTE. 1856.

Believed by Holbeell to breed near Julianshaab, Greenland, where
both old and young birds have been seen. (Arct. Man.) A few
skins taken in Greenland since 1840. Perhaps a few breed.
(Winge.) Rather common on the meadows bordering Button bay.
A number noted on the Barren Grounds below Cape Eskimo, Hud-
son bay. (Preble.) In flocks on the west coast of James bay in
August. (Spreadborough.) A common migrant along the whole
Atlantic coast and Gulf of St. Lawrence as well as the river up to
Montreal, becoming scarcer in Ontario and increasing again in Man-
itoba where it is common as a migrant. A few seen as far west
as Crane lake, Sask. A few must breed around Indian Head, Sask.,
as they were observed there from May gth to July 1st, 1892, when
Spreadborough left. Sir John Richardson says this species is not
infrequent on the shores of the small lakes that skirt the Saskat-
chewan plains. Murdoch records the shooting of two birds of this
species at Point Barrow and Mcllhenny five specimens at the same
place; these are the only Alaskan records. Payne says they occur
in large flocks in late summer at Cape Wales, Hudson strait, but
do not breed. Both Spreadborough and Turner found them in
Jarge numbers in Ungava bay, Labrador, in the autumn, and Mac-
farlane found a few breeding on the shores of Franklin bay, Arctic
sea. Their chief breeding-ground would seem to be north of Hud-

174 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

son bay and northwesterly along the shores of the Arctic sea to the
mouth of the Mackenzie river.

BREEDING NoTEs.—-‘Several nests of this sandpiper were taken
on, or near, the Arctic coast of Franklin bay. One taken July 3rd
containing four eggs with very large embryos. Another discovered
on the following day held but three eggs. A third found in the
Barren Grounds on the 29th June was, like the rest, a shallow
depression in the ground, lined with a few decayed leaves, contain-
ing four eggs, also having very large embryos. A fourth, on the
banks of a small river, held four eggs. (Macfarlane.) Breeds in
swampy ground around Fullerton, Hudson bay. (A. P. Low.)
This bird is a common summer resident on Herschell island. It
lays four eggs in a hollow in the moss about the middle of June,
selecting the higher parts of the island where a reddish kind of moss
grows and as the eggs are spotted with reddish brown they greatly
resemble the moss on which they are laid. (Razne.)

241. Baird Sandpiper.

Actodromas bairdit COouES. 1861.

Accidental at Digby, Nova Scotia. (Gilpin.) Migrant in Nova
Scotia. (H. F. Tufts.) Rare visitor at Montreal, one shot out
of a flock of semi-palmated sandpipers, September 17th, 1892.
(Wintle.) Prior to 1886, only one specimen of this species had been
recorded in Ontario. One specimen was taken on the 23rd of
August, 1886, and two more on the 1st of September. These fouy
are the only specimens known to the writer. (McIlwraith.) One
specimen taken on the Rideau river close to Ottawa, Ont. (Geo.
White.) Regular fall migrant at Toronto, Ont. (J. H. Fleming.)
A regular though rare migrant in southwestern Ontario. (W.
Saunders.)

This is a common migrant in Manitoba and westward to the
Rocky mountains. Spreadborough saw two in a small marsh at
Grand prairie, Atha., in 1903. It was first seen at Indian Head,
Sask.; on May gth, 1892, was common by the 16th and disappeared
on the 2nd of June. Rather rare in Alaska, but more common as
we proceed to the north. Nelson found it at places along the Arctic
coast, north of Kotzebue sound and at Point Barrow in August,
1881. Brooks found it abundant at Sumas lake, on the lower

5 CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 175

Fraser river, B.C., in the fall, but rare in the spring, on account of
the inundation of their feeding-grounds and took specimens at
Quesnel during the 1901 migration. Spreadborough shot three out
of a flock of ten on the 23rd August, 1893, on Stubbs island, west
coast of Vancouver island. Mr. E. Anderson took it on Lake Okan-
agan, B.C., in October, 1897.

BREEDING Notes.—On the 24th of June, 1864, a nest containing
four eggs was found in the Barren Grounds in a swampy tract
between two small lakes. It was composed of a few decayed leaves,
placed in a small cavity in the ground shaded with grass. It is
very uncommon in the north, though nests were discovered. (Mac-
jarlane.) This species arrives at Point Barrow about May 3oth.
After the tundra becomes clear of snow it retreats from the beach
and is especially to be looked for on dry grassy portions of the
tundra. It is never very common and is always solitary or in pairs.
The nest was always well hidden in the grass and never placed in
marshy ground or on the bare black portions of the tundra; it con-
sists merely of a slight depression in the ground, thinly lined with
dried grass. All the eggs we found were obtained from the last
week in June to the first of July, a trifle later than the other waders.
(Murdoch.) There is no doubt that the breeding-ground of this
species extends from the west side of Hudson bay along the Arctic
coast to Point Barrow. Spreadborough saw three on a small island
in James bay, Hudson bay, on June 16th, 1896, and believes they
were breeding.

242. Least Sandpiper.

Actodromas minutilla (VIEILL.) COUuES, 1861.

One shot in the spring of 1867 on Noursoak peninsula, Green-
land. (Arct. Man.) One taken at Disco Fjord, 1878. (Winge.)
-A common summer migrant in the Hudson bay region and along
the whole Atlantic coast, including the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and
doubtless breeds in small numbers in eastern and northern Labrador
as well as on Anticosti and the Magdalen islands. It is a common
migrant in Quebec and Ontario, and extends as a migrant across
the continent to the Pacific coast, where it was seen in large flocks
on Stubbs island, west of Vancouver island, 1893. Spreadborough
saw a few in 1903 on some of the lake shores in the Peace River
district, Atha. It is also found in the interior of Alaska, and may

176 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

be said to be a bird of general distribution, although very little is
known of its breeding habits. Mr. Dippie collected specimens at
Reaburn, Man., on June 15th, 1893, and believes a few pairs breed
there.

BREEDING NotTes.—Audubon, Vol. V., p. 282, states that he
found the nest and eggs, July 20th, 1833, in Labrador. Turner
believes that a few pairs breed at the mouth of the Koaksoak river,
Ungava bay. Spreadborough believes it breeds on James bay and
at Indian Head, Sask. Dr. Coues suspects that it breeds at Turtle
mountain, on the boundary of Manitoba. The writer found young
birds on Anticosti, near Southwest point, in August, 1883, and
very young birds at the east end of the Cypress hills, Sask., on
August 2nd, 1880. One nest was taken on Sable island in 1899 by
Mr. Boutelier, superintendent of life-saving stations.

Quite common on Sable island, N.S., where it breeds regularly.
(W. Saunders.) Breeding around Fullerton, Hudson bay. (A. P,
Low.) First met with at Fort Churchill where adult birds accom-
panied by young were seen on the meadows, July 26th. (Preble.)
Breeds sparingly by lakes in the Okanagan valley and in the Rocky
mountains. (Rhoads.) At the southern end of Lake Marsh,
Yukon, not far from where Six-mile river enters, the surrounding
country is level and at high water the lake stretches far back through
a dense growth of willows. At the time of our visit the retreating
waters had left a belt of grass between these willows and its margin.
Here on the evening of July 2nd I found three pairs of least sand-
pipers and after a long search I came upon a female surrounded by
four downy young. (Brshop.)

This species was found breeding abundantly at Fort Anderson,
on the borders of, as well as in, the Barren Grounds, and on the
near Arctic coast. (Macfarlane.) I met with this species on the
Magdalen islands, and was successful in finding its nest there on
June 22nd, 1897. We were driving along the edge of the sand-
hills, towards East cape, on that date. When passing a grassy flat
near salt water, a bird of this species rose into the air. I hid myself,
and soon had the satisfaction of seeing the bird alight in a dry place
in the salt meadow. I at once walked almost to the nest, and the
bird fluttered away from the four eggs at my feet. They lay with
the pointed ends together in a small nest of dried grass, slightly

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. ~ 177

concealed. Incubation had progressed about a week. I noticed
a small flock of these birds at the Magdalen islands on July ist,
1897. They were running about, among bunches of’ sea-weed,
feeding. It occurred to me these were possibly non-breeding birds,
or else males, the females nesting in the neighbouring bog. (Rev.
C. J. Young.) On June 13th, 1900, Mr. Day and I flushed a least
sandpiper from her nest on the Magdalen islands. The nest was a
mere hollow in the ‘‘barrens’’ just back from the edge of a slough,
among sparse growth of coarse grass and moss, the structural part
consisting of simply a few dry bayberry leaves. (H. K. Job.)

242.1 Long-toed Stint.
Acsptodromas damacensis (HorsF.) STEJN. 1883.

Asia, breeding toward Arctic coast; accidental on Otter island,
Bering sea, Alaska. (A. O. U. List.) A single specimen was taken
on Otter island by Mr. C. H. Townsend who says it was feeding in
a shallow lake with other Tringe.

XCIX. PELIDNA Cuvier. 1817.
243. Dunlin.
Pelidna alpina (Linn.) C. L. BREuM, 1831.

Bird of passage. Taken occasionally in Greenland. (Winge.)
Accidental in eastern North America, west side of Hudson bay.
(A. O. U. List.) Rare migrant in Nova Scotia. (H. F. Tufts.)

243a. Red-backed Sandpiper.
Pelidna alpina sakhalina. VIEILL. 1816.

A rare migrant along the Atlantic coast but commoner in Quebec
and Ontario. According to Seton it is tolerably comtmon in Mani-
toba, but the writer has never seen it nor heard of its being seen
west of that province. It is common in summer on Hudson bay
and along the Arctic coast generally, especially in northern Alaska,
where it breeds in great numbers, but never far from the sea. Both
Brooks and Fannin speak of this species as being common on the

British Columbia coast in spring and fall.
12

178 7 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

BREEDING Notes.—This bird breeds plentifully on the Arctic
coast. Its eggs are oil-green marked with irregular spots of liver-
brown, of different sizes and shades, confluent at the obtuse end.
(Richardson.) This species is common at Point Barrow, Alaska,
and breeds abundantly, although the nest is exceedingly hard to
find as the nesting birds are very wary and use every possible strat-
agem to mislead one when looking for the eggs. It arrives about
the end of May. Some of them, perhaps, arrive paired, but the
majority are pairing soon after their arrival, to: judge by their
actions. As the tundra gradually clears of snow they become more
scattered and spread further inland, deserting the shores of the
beach lagoons, although they hardly confine themselves as much
to the dry portions of the tundra as the Baird sandpiper is in the
habit of doing. The nest, which is like that of all the rest of the
waders, is always placed in the grass, sometimes in dry and some-
times in rather swampy places, but never like the phalarope’s, on
the black tundra or on the isthmuses between the ponds. Both
parents share in the work of incubation, though we happened to
obtain more males than females with the eggs. (Murdoch.)

In early seasons the first of these birds reach the Yukon mouth
and shores of Norton sound by the roth of May, and by the 25th
of that month they are in full force. They arrive in full breeding
plumage, and are generally in small flocks, which soon break up
and the birds scatter’in twos and threes over the moss and grass-
grown tundra to pair and attend to their summer duties. They
nest from the first of June to the first of July, and in 1877, I secur-
ed a set of four fresh eggs on the 3rd of the latter month. They
generally choose some dry knoll, or other slight elevation, over-
looking the neighbouring lakes and pools. Here, upon a bed of
last year’s grasses, but without the trouble of arranging a formal
nest, the female deposits three or four large eggs of a pale green-
ish varying to pale brownish clay colour, with dull chocolate and
umber-brown spots and blotches. (Nelson.)

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 179
C. EROLIA VistLLor. 1816.
244. Curlew Sandpiper.
Erolia ferruginea (BRUNN.) A.O.U. COMMITTEE. 1903.

Occasional in eastern North America and Alaska.

Very rare in Nova Scotia. One purchased on Halifax market.
(Downs.) Seen at Halifax, N.S. in October, 1864. (Gilpin.) I had
the good fortune to capture a male in full breeding plumage, the
only one seen, at Point Barrow, on June 6th, 1883. It was in com-
pany with a good sized flock of Tringa maculata. (Murdoch.)

Mr. J. H. Fleming of Toronto, Ontario writes that Mr. Ernest
T. Seton identified a specimen in the old Toronto Gun Club as this
species. The bird was taken at Toronto.

CI. EURYNORHYNCHUS Nitsson. 1821.
245. Spoon-bill Sandpiper,

Eurynorhynchus pygmeus (LINN.) PEARSON. 1836.

Accidental on the coast of Alaska. The presence of this little
sandpiper in the list of birds of Alaska is due to the capture of a
single specimen at Chloris peninsula, during the summer of -1849 by
the captain of the British ship Plover. Chloris peninsula is a sandy
spit which extends out into the head of Kotzebue sound and is
covered with pools of water. (Nelson.)

Cll. EREUNETES I uicer. 1811.
246. Semipalmated Sandpiper.

Ereunetes pusillus (LINN.) Cass. 1860.

A common fall migrant along the whole ‘Atlantic coast and Gulf
of St. Lawrence. In Quebec and Ontario it is equally abundant as
a migrant, and also in Manitoba and westward, at least as far as the
Rocky mountains.

In the spring of 1892 Mr. W. Spreadborough found the first birds
at Indian Head, Sask., on May 16th. He remained there until

July 1st and they were still there, so that he believes they breed
12% :

180 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

there. On May 25th, 1895, a pair was seen at a pool on the prairie
near Old Wives lake and later, on June 6th, a large number was
seen and a few specimens taken at Twelve-mile lake, near Wood

mountain, Sask.

One male taken at Ducks, near Kamloops, B.C., August 18th,
1889, by Clark P. Streator. Not uncommon in the lower Fraser
valley. Taken at Quesnel, B.C., during migration. (Brooks.)
Thirteen specimens were taken at Point Barrow and Port Clarence,
Alaska, in 1897. (MclIlhenny.) I saw a single bird on the Pribilof
islands that had just arrived from the south. (Palmer.)

Their great numbers in the east during the migrations and their
late and dilatory spring movement in the west, point to their chief
breeding grounds being on the southern and western shores of
Hudson bay, between James bay and York Factory, as here there
is a low marshy shore just suited for nesting. The Severn, where
Hutchins found them breeding, is in this district. Westward of
Hudson bay it extends to Point Barrow in Alaska, where Murdoch
says it arrives in large flocks in July and leaves in August. All
came from the east and the specimens taken were young birds.

BREEDING NotTes.—Occurs sparingly at the mouth of the Koak-
soak river, Ungava bay, Labrador, and from its actions indicated
breeding. Audubon, Vol. V., 278, states that he found them dis-
persed in pairs and having nests early in June in Labrador. (Tur-
ner.) Mr. Hutchins in 1770 writes as follows :—‘‘This species arrives
at Severn river (about 150 miles southeast of York Factory) by the
middle of May in large flocks, builds a nest early in June of withered
grass, and lays four or five black and white spotted eggs. Towards
the autumn it has a chirruping note, and in September it retires to
the southward.” (Richardson.) Common on the Labrador coast,
breeding locally. I took downy young on Seal island. (Bigelow.)
Adults and young were at Fort Churchill, Hudson bay, July 25th.
(Preble.) Common breeder in all the northern parts of the Hudson
Bay region. (A. P. Low.) We saw a few at Hay lake, May 29th
1905, Bishop collected a female that would soon have laid at Big
Stick lake, Sask., June 14th, 1906. (A. C. Bent.) *Fairly abundant
inythe Barren Grounds, but more so on the shores of Franklin
bay, where a number of specimens with eggs were procured.
(Macfarlane.)

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 181

247. Westorn Semipalmated Sandpip=r.

Eveunetes occidentalis LawR. 1864.

A male taken at Ducks, near Kamloops, B.C., August 22nd, 1889.
(Streator.) An abundant resident; it is found throughout the year
at Victoria, Vancouver island. (Fannin.) Abundant in the fall
at Sumas lake, in the lower Fraser valley. (Brooks.) A small
sandpiper supposed to be this species was seen on a beach in Cum-
shewa inlet, Queen Charlotte islands. Mr. Keen reports its occur-
rence at Massett. (Osgood.) As soon as the snow disappears on
the low ground about Norton sound, Alaska, these little birds
arrive on the shore of Bering sea, in the vicinity of St. Michael and
the Yukon mouth. It frequents the Arctic coasts of Alaska in addi-
tion to being found throughout the interior along streams where
suitable flats occur. (Nelson.) Abundant on all the Aleutian islands,
and at St. Michael outnumbers all other waders. (Turner.) This
was the common shore bird seen at Homer, Alaska. (Figgins.)

BREEDING NoTEs.—This species arrives at St. Michael by the
“middle of May. About the first of June it begins to build its nest
among the dry mosses found on the low grounds. The nest is only
a slight depression in the moss, containing a few feathers. Four or
five eggs are laid. The male assists in incubating, as the first speci-
men which I obtained fluttered from the nest as if it were wounded.
His fluttering wings, low piping note, and limping gait caused me to
detect the nest almost at my feet. (Turner.) By the 1st of June,
and earlier in some seasons, they have eggs, and in one instance
young were found as early as June 7th. Their nests are usually on
the drier part of the tundra, generally on a mossy hummock or slight
swell. A sheltering bunch of dwarf willow or a few grass stems, in a
tuft, form a favourite cover. The eggs are sometimes placed on a
thin layer of dead grass-stems, or willow leaves, loosely arranged, but
very commonly the mat of dry grass or willow leaves afforded by the
spot chosen serves as the nest without special arrangement. (Nelson.)

CII]. CALIDRIS Cuvier. 1799-1800.

248. Sanderling.

Calidris arenaria (LINN.) LEACH. 1816.

Scarce, and said not to breed further south in Greenland than
lat. 68°, but the young have been obtained at Godthaab; breeds

182 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

at Sabine island and Parry islands. (Arct. Man.) Winge reports
it from several localities in Greenland. It is said to be a much
commoner migrant in the autumn than in the spring on the whole
Atlantic coast, and the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and along rivers and
lakes in Quebec and Ontario. It is also a common migrant in Mani-
toba. It was found there as late as June r2th, 1881, on the shore
of Lake Manitoba by the writer, and in the autumn as early as the
beginning of August by Nash fide Seton. It doubtless breeds on
Lake Manitoba or Lake Winnipegosis in small numbers. It has
seldom been noticed by us further west than Indian Head, Sask.,
and it was rare there in the spring of 1892, and at Thirty-mile
spring, near Wood mountain, Sask., June 3rd, 1895. Bent reports
it as abundant near Hay lake, Sask., May 29th, 1905, and Bishop
took three at Big Stick lake, Sask., July roth. Spreadborough
saw three at Lesser Slave lake, Atha., Atkinson noted it in con-
siderable numbers in August 1906 between Saskatoon, Sask., and
Edmonton, Alta.

It occurs all around Hudson bay and along the Arctic coast, being
recorded by Ross, Richardson and Macfarlane. Neither Nelson,
Murdoch nor Turner found it in Alaska, but Dall says it is very
common at Nulato,and on the Yukon to the sea. Bishop saw three at
St.Michael and Figgins says that it is rather common but irregular
during migrations at Homer, Alaska. Specimens have been taken
at Sitka, Alaska, and at Port Simpson, British Columbia. Brooks
took it at Quesnel, B.C., in 1901 during migrations but says it is
rare in the lower valley of the Fraser.

BREEDING NoTes.—This bird breeds on the coast of Hudson bay
as low as the 55th parallel. Mr. Hutchins informs us that it makes
its nest in the marshes rudely of grass, and lays four dusky-coloured
eggs spotted with black, incubation commencing in the middle of
June. It feeds on marine insects. (Richardson.) On June 2oth,
1863, we discovered a nest of this species (the only one at the time
known to naturalists). on the Barren Grounds, about ten miles
west of Franklin bay. The nest was composed of withered hay
and leaves placed in a small depression in the ground. It contained
four eggs which were quite fresh. (Macfarlane.) Parry found
them breeding on the North Georgian islands, and they undoubtedly
breed along the barren Arctic coast east of Point Barrow. (Nelson).
Mr. W. Spreadborough observed a pair on a small island in James

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 183

bay on the 16th of June, 1896, which were doubtless breeding. As
the mouth of the Severn river, where Hutchins found it breeding,
is 300 miles to the northwest, this bird probably breeds on the west
and south shores of Hudson bay and on some of the larger interior
lakes. Found breeding at Fullerton, Hudson bay by Low.

CIV. LIMOSA Brisson. 1760.

249. Marbled Godwit.
Limosa fedoa (LINN.) SABINE. 1823.

Recorded from several Hudson Bay localities. A periodical
visitor in Newfoundland, especially in the autumn; very rare in
Nova Scotia and New Brunswick; rare in Quebec and Ontario,
and always as a migrant. It is a common summer resident from
eastern Manitoba to the Rocky mountains, seeming to prefer the
margins of brackish lakes and pools. It is more plentiful north of
the Canadian Pacific railway than south of it, and is particularly
abundant on the plains south of Battleford, Sask.

First seen at Indian Head, Sask., April 29th, 1892; after this
they kept arriving up to June 24th, when I saw a number in a
large marsh. They appeared to be breeding, but I failed to find
any nests. (Spreadborough.) Fannin reports this bird from the
Similkameen district, in southern British Columbia, and says it
breeds east of the coast range. MclIlhenny obtained one bird of
the year at Point Barrow, Alaska, August 26th, 1897.

BREEDING Notes.—Breeding on both coasts of James bay in
1904. (Spreadborough.) Very common about all the lakes we
visited in Saskatchewan. Breeding in the meadows. (A. C. Bent.)
Breeds regularly in all the larger marshes in Manitoba and was
noted in 1906 in similar localities as far west as Edmonton. (Atkin-
son.) Although this bird is so plentiful on the prairies its eggs are
seldom taken on account of the bird being so wary and the male
bird being always on the alert to warn the female. On June 6th,
1go1, while driving to Saltcoats marsh in northern Saskatchewan
we flushed a bird off its nest containing four eggs. The nest was
a mere hollow in the ground lined with bits of dry grass. (Raine.)

184 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

250. Pacific Godwit. ‘

Limosa lapponica bauert (NAUM.) STEJN. 1885.

This bird was found by Dall to be plentiful at the Yukon mouth;
found by me common at Unalaska and St. Michael in the early
part of May. (Nelson.) Met with as a migrant on the Aleutian
islands when on their way to the north. It doubtless breeds at St.
Michael, but I did not obtain eggs. (Turner.) This species only
occurs at Point Barrow as a straggler after the breeding season.
(Murdoch.) <A fairly abundant migrant on the Pribilof islands,
Bering sea. (Palmer.) e és

BREEDING NotEs.—This species frequents open grassy parts of
the country about St. Michael, and is quick to protest against any
invasion of its territory. Its nest was not found, but Dall informs us
that it lays two light olivaceous spotted eggs in a rounded depres-
sion in a sedge tussock, lined with dry grass. (Nelson.)

251. Hudsonian Godwit.

Limosa hemastica (LINN.) COUES. 1874.

This species is a common migrant in spring and fall in New-
foundland; an autumn migrant in Nova Scotia; occasionally in both
spring and fall in New Brunswick; rather rare in Quebec but more
so in Ontario. Its line of migration is from the Atlantic coast to
Hudson bay as it is frequently taken at Churchill and York Factory.
It is rare in Manitoba and Saskatchewan and none remain to breed.
It was first seen by Spreadborough at Indian Head, Sask., on May
11th, 1892, afterwards a few stragglers passed north but none
remained. Richardson says this species breeds abundantly on the
Barren Grounds and on the shores of the Arctic sea and migrates
southward in the autumn.

One singlé specimen from Nulato and two from the Yukon mouth
are all the records we have of the occurrence of this species in Bering
sea. A few have been taken in other parts of Alaska but only as
stragglers. (Nelson.) Two specimens were obtained at Point
Barrow, Alaska, by McIlhenney, July 14th, 1898.

BREEDING Notes.—This species is not very common on the
Barren Grounds, although several nests were taken near the post

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 185

on the lower Anderson river. The nests were all mere depressions
or small holes scooped in the earth, thinly lined with decayed leaves,
and in almost every instance they contained four eggs. (Macfar-
line.) Not rare on Southampton island, Hudson bay and breeding
there. (A. P. Low.) In large flocks along the west coast of James
bay and apparently breeding north of Cape Henrietta Maria. (Spread-
borough.)

252. Black-tailed Godwit.
Limosa limosa (LINN.) RipGW. 1885.

Occasional in Greenland. (Winge.)

CV. TOTANUS BecusTEIN. 1803.

254. Greater Yellow-legs.

Totanus melanoleucus (GMEL.) VIEILL. 1816.

This species is a common migrant in both spring and fall along
the whole Atlantic coast. And is abundant on both shores of
James bay and north to Fort Churchill. In the Gulf of St. Law-
rence and on the Labrador coast it breeds in some numbers. In
“ Quebec and Ontario it isa common migrant, but there are no records
of its breeding. It is an abundant migrant in spring, late summer
and fall in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, but not very common to
the west of that province, although taken all across the continent.
It was found by Spreadborough to be common on the shores of
nearly all lakes between Lesser Slave lake and Peace River Landing,
Atha., and Ross found it as far north as Fort Simpson, on the Mac-
kenzie, but neither Macfarlane nor Richardson found it near the
Arctic sea. A few specimens have been taken on the Pacific coast
at Sitka.

An abundant resident along the British Columbia coast in winter;
I found it breeding in the summer of 1891 around the lakes at Clin-
ton, B.C. (Fannin.) Abundant in the lower Fraser valley; pro-
bably breeds. (Brooks.) Saw one at Penticton, B.C. (Spread-
borough:)Two were seen and one of them taken on the beach at
Skidegate, Queen Charlotte islands, B.C., July 17th, 1899. Taken
at Fort Kenai, Alaska, by Bischoff May 6th, 1869. <A male bird

186 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

was taken at Iliamma village, Alaska, July 14th, 1900. A few days
later we found a pair in possession of a small pond on the portage
between lakes Iliamma and Clark. During a great part of each of
several trips that we made back and forth, they accompanied us,
making noisy and belligerent demonstrations. The long-legged
birds, perched on the topmost twigs of spruce trees, looked very
much out of place. The species was not seen again until Swan lake
was reached, where one was seen frequently, standing in a few
inches of water at the edge of a riffle in a small stream and watch-
ing the water intently. Another was seen on the Malchatna river,
September 3rd, 1900. (Osgood.)

BREEDING Nores.—Audubon, Vol. V., 319, states he found this
species breeding in June in Labrador. (Turner.) Found in abund-
ance on Anticosti, where it was evidently breeding; about the
mouth of the Mingan river it is said to breed regularly. (Brewster.)
Resident on Stubbs island, west coast of Vancouver island. Breed-
ing in wet meadows among the woods north of the prairie, and in
the foot-hills of the Rocky mountains. I have seen young, scarcely
able to fly, in July. When the old birds are disturbed they will
often settle in trees. (Spreadborough.) It is singular that the eggs
of this bird remained so long undiscovered. The first set of eggs
taken are in my collection. They were found in the Little Red
Deer River region, Alberta on May 5th, 1903. The nest was a
depression in the ground not far from water. These birds perch
with ease on tree tops. (Raime.) Breeding about inland lakes as
far south as Clinton, B.C. At this season both sexes stand sentinel
on the tops of trees in the vicinity of the nest, rarely alighting on
the ground in the presence of an intruder. The newly fledged
young often follow the example of their parents in this respect.
(Rhoads.) Breeding in many localities in the Cariboo district, B.C.,
but all efforts to find the nest were unsuccessful, owing to the ex-
treme watchfulness of the male bird which kept constant watch
from the extreme summit of some tall spruce. (Brooks.)

255. Lesser Yellow-legs.

Totanus flavipes (GMEL.) VIEILL. 1816.
One sent from Greenland to Copenhagen in 1854. (Arct! Man.)
This is a common spring and autumn migrant in Nova Scotia, New
Brunswick, Quebec and Ontario, but rarer than the preceding.

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 187

Reeks says it is a summer resident in Newfoundland, arriving in
May, and leaving in October. Spreadborough observed a number
about a small salt marsh on the shore of James bay on June 15th,
1896, and was sure they were breeding. He saw them in 1904 on
both sides of James bay, young flying early in July. They have
been observed on Hudson bay as far north as Fort Churchill, and,
no doubt, breed there. Mr. J.M. Macoun saw a pair, evidently breed-
ing, on Lake Mistassini, northern Quebec, in 1885. This species is
a common migrant in Manitoba and westward through the whole
prairie region and is found in the Rocky mountains and throughout
British Columbia as a migrant, though Fannin found it at Burrard
inlet all summer. Spreadborough saw it first at Indian Head,
Sask., on April 25th, 1892. By May ist it was common. A few
remained to breed as they were seen up to July when he left. Rich-
ardson says:—‘‘This is a very common bird in the Northwest Terri-
tories, and is seen either solitary or in pairs on the banks of every
river, lake and marsh up to the northern extremity of the conti-
nent.”’ Previous to going south from Hudson bay they gather in
‘small flocks on the shores.

On the lower Yukon, in Alaska, this bird is not common, and is
very rare along the shores of Bering sea. In the upper Yukon
region it is, however, more or less common, and skins procured at
Fort Reliance were brought to me. Specimens have been taken at
Sitka and Kadiak island, and Mr. Lockhart secured its eggs at Fort
Yukon. (Nelson.) Bishop saw two birds on Six-mile river close to
Lake Marsh, Yukon, and two on Lake Marsh. All were breeding
birds. Palmer saw one on St. Paul island, Bering sea.

BREEDING NoTes.—This is probably the most abundant and
certainly the noisiest of all the waders met with at Fort Anderson,
in the Barren Grounds. Nests were taken at Fort Anderson, on
the lower Anderson, in the wooded country, and along the rivers
which flow through the Barren Grounds. (Macjfarlane.) Found a
nest on June 8th, 1906, in northern Alberta. It was made on high
ground overlooking a muskeg and consisted of a depression in the
ground lined with dry grass. (Raine.) Mr. Spreadborough thought
a few pairs bred at Indian Head, Sask., in July, 1892; and in June,
1897, at Edmonton, in Alberta, he saw them often sitting in dead
poplars and upon stubs on the borders of wet meadows, but he

188 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA. .

could never find any nests. Mr. Dippie writes me that he believes
they were breeding at Reaburn, Man., in June, 1893, and at Buffalo
lake, Alberta, in July, 1896. On the 15th June, 1897, about 30
miles from Calgary, Alberta, the writer came upon a small flock at a
grassy pond in the foothills of the Rocky mountains, and from the
actions of the birds it seems certain they were breeding, but no
nests were found.

CVI. HELODROMAS Kavp. 1829.
256. Solitary Sandpiper.

Helodromas solitarius (WILS.) SHARPE. 1896.

A migrant in Newfoundland and Nova Scotia, though perhaps
breeding in Nova Scotia.

Common summer resident in New Brunswick. Mr. Banks took
a nest at Lily lake in June, 1880. (Chamberlain.) The writer saw
several pairs, which were evidently breeding, in July, 1888, along
Black River, Prince Edward island. Brittain and Cox found this.
bird in the valley of the Restigouche, N.B., in summer, evidently
breeding. Mr. J. M. Macoun found it a common summer resident
at Lake Mistassini, northern Quebec, in 1885. In other parts of
Quebec it is reported as a migrant. Spreadborough reports seeing
one individual.on the east coast of James bay. It is recorded as
a summer resident at Ottawa, Ont. Regular migrant at Toronto,
Ont., local and not very common. Recorded by many observers
in eastern Ontario and northwesterly across the province.

In Manitoba, Hine and Nash—both close observers—state that
this bird breeds there and is abundant. Mr Spreadborough only
saw a straggler at Indian Head, Sask., in the spring of 1892. In
the spring of 1897, he saw numbers at Edmonton, Alta., on the
borders of bogs, and as they took to the trees he believed they were
breeding. He also found them breeding at Jasper lake, Alta., in
July, 1898, and between Lesser Slave lake and Peace river Landing,
in 1903. While making a traverse of the northern part of Labrador
on July, 24th, 1896, he shot a specimen from the top of a spruce
tree near a peat bog close to Seal lake; none were seen after this.
Bernard Ross says that it extends as far north as Fort Simpson

on the Mackenzie river. Macfarlane does not mention it, but Sir
John Richardson says it has been shot as far north as lat. 64° 30’. | |

|.

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 189

Nelson, in his Birds of Alaska, says that a few skins of this species
were brought to him from Anvik and Nulato, both on the lower
Yukon, and their occurrence here involves their occurrence on the
upper Yukon. Fannin, Spreadborough and Brooks record it as
being tolerably common in British Columbia.

BREEDING NoTes.—We have very little actual knowledge of
the breeding habits of this bird other than that it is solitary in
its habits and has a tendency to take to trees when in proximity
to its nest. Hutchins found the nest on the shores of Hudson
bay; and according to Richardson their eggs were deposited on
the beach and no nest formed. This tallies exactly with the con-
ditions under which its nest was found near Castleton, Vermont,
by Mr. J. Richardson, in May, 1878. In the latter case the single
egg was placed in a small depression in the ground, without any
attempt at a nest. Knowing as we do now that this bird nests
usually, if not always, in trees and bushes the above references
must be considered doubtful.

In July, 1881, the writer, when leading an exploring expedition
up the Red Deer river, which empties in tothe head of Lake Win-
nepegosis, came upon a pair of these birds on a point of bare rocks
which jutted into the stream, and shot one. On the report of the
gun, a young bird—still in the down—jumped up and ran, but
was soon caught. On July 6th, 1896, while collecting plants in a
swamp near Prince Albert, on the Saskatchewan, he saw a bird of
this species sitting on a small birch, but could neither raise the
other bird nor find the nest. The next day he visited the same place
and found two birds sitting on trees, but failed to find the nest.

On July 19th, 1895, I came across a pair near Calgary, Alberta,
which undoubtedly had young in the grass; one bird kept flying
within a few yards of me as long as I stayed in a certain locality.
I also observed this species in summer at Buffalo lake, Alta. It
was. also seen at Manitoba House, Man., at the end of June, 1895.
(Dippe.) What seems to be the first clear breeding record of this
species for Ottawa and its immediate vicinity was made by Mr.
Edward White, who last July saw the tiny and downy young of
this species two or three days from the egg, together with their
agitated parents. This was on the Ottawa river about ten miles
from Ottawa. (Rev. G. Eifrig.) I am also satisfied that it breeds

iKele) GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

early in eastern Ontario as the following records shows: On August
1st, 1896, I saw young ones near Graham lake, Leeds county, Ont.,
on June 25th, 1899, I saw a single bird rise from a ditch at Lans-
downe, Ont., also two others near Lansdowne in June. In 1904,
on the 24th August, I saw six of these birds, four young ones and
the two old ones, about a mile north of Madoc, Ont. They rose
from a muddy pool by the roadside and all alighted on the fence
rail. They continued about the same place for more than a fort-
night, and I felt satisfied had been hatched near by. (Rev. C. J.
Young.)

The uncertainty that has existed for so long concerning the nest-
ing of the solitary sandpiper seems to have been at last dispelled
chiefly through the work of Mr. Walter Raine and his collectors.
In Volume XVIII, pp. 135-138 of The Ottawa Naturalist, he describes
at length the taking of the first three clutches of the eggs of this
bird. The following is his description of the nests and eggs.

Set. 1—Taken in northern Alberta, June 16th, 1903; four eggs
advanced in incubation; collector, Evan Thomson. This set was
found in an old nest of the American robin, built 15 feet up in a
tamarack tree, that was growing in the middle of a large muskeg
dotted with tamaracks; the bird was flushed off the nest but unfor-
tunately not secured. The eggs are exceedingly handsome and
very different from the eggs of any other American sandpiper.
The ground colour is pale greenish-white, heavily blotched and.
spotted, chiefly at the larger ends, with vandyke brown, chestnut
brown and purplish grey; the average size of these four eggs is
1.36 x.98, and they are very large for the size of the bird. Set II—
Northern Alberta, June 9th, 1904; four eggs found in the nest of
a bronzed grackle, built in a low tree; these eggs were unfortunately
lost owing to Mr. Thompson first blowing them and then leaving
the shells in the nest until he returned with his gun to secure the
parent bird, but on his return on the following day, no trace of
of the eggs was to be found, the bird evidently had carried them
away. Set IJI—Northern Alberta, June 24th, 1904; four eggs
found in the nest of a cedar wax-wing, which was built in a smal
spruce tree growing in a swamp, the nest being about five feet from,
the water, and Mr. Thompson was fortunate in shooting the parent
bird as she flew from the nest, and thus identification is very com-
plete, and established the fact once for all that the solitary sand-

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. Igl

piper does not lay its eggs in a nest on the ground like other sand-
pipers, but takes possession of the nests of other birds, built in
trees, just the same as its old world representative, the green sand-
piper, is known to do.

Mr. Raine sends the following note on the nests found by him
in 1906: ‘‘During June, 1906, we were fortunate in finding three
nests of this bird in northern Alberta. The first was on June 5th.
It contained four eggs laid in the old nest of a Canada jay that
was built in a small spruce tree five feet from the ground. On June
8th, 1906, we found another set of four eggs laid in the nest of a
Brewer blackbird about fifteen feet from the ground, and again
on June 11th we found another set of four eggs laid in an old king,
bird’s nest at least twenty feet up in a poplar tree. So far, I have
had nine clutches of eggs of this bird and all were laid in old nests
of other birds built in trees, and besides the above named nests,
this bird lays its eggs in that of the American robin, cedar wax-
wing and bronzed grackle.”’

Mr. P. Garrett, of Didsbury, Alta., found a nest of the solitary
sandpiper in a spruce tree at Fallen Timber creek, Alta., in an old
nest of the Bohemian waxwing. The spruce was about twelve feet
high and the nest about four and a half feet from the ground. . The
tree was near a slough, watered by springs flowing out slowly into
the river. The nest contained three eggs.

256a. Cinnamon Solitary Sandpiper.

Helodromas solitarius cinnamomeus BREWSTER. 1890.

Summer resident in the interior of British Columbia; at Ducks
near Kamloops, I saw individuals that were not yet able to fly.
and must have been hatched in the vicinity. (Streator.) Tolerably
common migrant in Saskatchewan, June 30th to July 30th, 1906.
(A. C. Bent.) The common form near Didsbury, Alta. Only one
specimen of typical solitarius seen. (P. Garrett.) Taken at Chil-
liwack and Okanagan, B.C., by Mr. A. C. Brooks. (Kexmode.)
Seen at Log Cabin, B.C., and Lake Marsh and Little Salmon river,
Yukon. (Bishop.)

It is probable that all the British Columbia and Alaska references
under solitarius and many of those from the Northwest Territories
should go here.

192 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

257. Green Sandpiper.

Helodromas ochropus (LINN.) Kaup. 1829.

An individual of this species exists among a collection of birds
from the Northwest Territories, sent to the British museum by
the Hudson Bay Company. Pennant says he also observed it
among birds collected by Mr. Kuckan in North America. (Rich-
ardson.) Accidental in Nova Scotia. (A. O. U. List.)

CVII. SYMPHEMIA RarFinesgue. 1819.
258. Willet.

Symphemia semtpalmata (GMEL.) HaRTL. 1845.

A common spring and autumn migrant in Newfoundland. (Reeks.)
Common in summer and fall in Nova Scotia. Breeds at Port Pet-
piswick. (Downs.) Rather common at Grand Manan, New Bruns-
wick. (Herrick.) Very little is known of this species in Ontario.
On two occasions I have seen it brought in from the Hamilton
marsh by gunners, but I never saw it alive. (McIlwratth.)

258a. Western Willet.

Symphemia stmipalmata inornata BREWST. 1887.

This is a common species in the prairie region west of Manitoba.
It frequents the margins of saline ponds and brackish marshes from
western Manitoba to the Rocky mountains, and from lat. 49° to
56°. It breeds throughout its range.

Rare migrant at Toronto, Ont. I can find only five specimens
in local collections. A careful comparison proves them to belong
to the western form. (J. H. Fleming.) A-rare migrant in Mani-
toba. In 1906 I first noticed it as a breeding species west of Salt-
coats, Sask. (Atkinson.)

One specimen taken at Clover point, Victoria, Vancouver island,
August 8th, 1898, by Mr. J. Henley. (Fannin.)

While in a meadow near Lake Marsh, Yukon, I heard a willet
whistle several times its unmistakable ‘‘pill-willet”, but failed to
see the bird. (Bishop.)

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 193

BREEDING NoTEs.—First seen at Indian Head, Sask., May 6th,
1892. It was quite common a few days later, and spread itself
through the marshes where it breeds in considerable numbers;
breeding also in great profusion in the marshes around Crane
lake in June, 1894. (Spreadborough.) On May 23rd, 1883, on the
alkali plain, north of the land office at Turtle mountain, I started
a willet from her nest, which was placed in a slight hollow, shaded
on one side by the skull of a buffalo and on the other by a tuft
of grass. It contained four eggs, ground colour, dark olive-brown,
with heavy, round, dark spots of brown and purple, evenly dis-
tributed without any approach to a rind (sic) about the large end.
(E. T. Seton.) This species breeds in both Manitoba and Alberta. In
the latter province, at Buffalo lake, I found the young in the grass
on July 4th, 1895. (Dippie.)

CVIII HETERACTITIS Strejncer. 1884.
259. Wandering Tatler.

Heteractitis incanus (GMEL.) STEJN. 1884.

This bird has been noted over the entire Pacific north of the
equator. It is met with sparingly along the coast of Alaska, and
seems to prefer the rock-bound portions. From the records obtained
it must breed nearly, if not quite, to the Arctic circle. (Nelson.)
This species was found to be a rare bird in that part of Alaska visited
by me. The natives report that they breed on Whale island, near
St. Michael, and from their actions I believe this to be true. (Turner.)
Noted at Skagway, St. Michael and Unalaska, Alaska. (Bushop.)
A pair taken and two others seen on a rocky islet about 28 miles
south of Sitka, Alaska. One adult male, taken at Orca, Prince
William sound, Alaska. (Grinnell.) Only one specimen seen at
Homer, Alaska. (J. D. Figgins.) A migrant on the Pribilof
islands, Bering sea. (Palmer.)

Mr. Fannin found this species common along the whole coast
of British Columbia, where it breeds and is tolerably common.

The writer obtained both young and old birds on rocky ledges in
Barclay sound, on the west coast of Vancouver island, in August,
1887.

13

194 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
CIX. PAVONCELLA LeEacu. 1816.
260. Ruff.

Pavoncella pugnax (LINN.) Leracw. 1816.

Accidental in New Brunswick. (Chamberlain.) This species
was killed on Toronto island in the spring of 1882, and this is the
only instance I know of its occurrence in Ontario. (McIlwraith.)

CX. BARTRAMIA Lesson. 1831.

261. Bartramian Sandpiper.

Bartramia longicauda (BECHST.) BOoNapP. 1857.

Occasionally met with in Newfoundland in the spring migrations.
Casual in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, and a rare migrant in-
Quebec. Preble saw several both north and south of Cape Eskimo,
Hudson bay.

The only point in southern Ontario at which I have heard of
these birds being seen lately is on the Lake Erie shore not far from
Dunnville, where Dr. MacCallum is aware of at least two pairs having
raised their broods during the two past summers—1893-94. (MclIl-
wraith.) Said to have been an abundant migrant at Toronto, Ont.
Now rare. (J. H. Fleming.) Near Renfrew, north of Kingston,
Ont., this species was noted in the fields. I have now traced this
bird in eastern Ontario over a region of nearly 100 miles square.
(Dr. C. K. Clarke.) Rare and irregular, but is a summer resident
throughout the country near London, Ont. (W. Saunders.)

This species is an abundant summer resident in the whole prairie
region extending from the Lake of the Woods to the Rocky moun-
tains, and from the International Boundary to lat. 54° in the eastern
part of the region, and northwesterly to far north of the open prairie
of the Peace River district. According to Fannin one specimen was
taken at Comox, Vancouver island, August 28th, 1895, by Mr. W.B.
Anderson. Its occurrence in Alaska is accounted for by its north-
west extension on Peace river. Only a few specimens, taken at
Fort Yukon, are recorded from Alaska.

Saw one at Sidley, east of Osoyoos lake, B.C., May 25th, 1905.
(Spreadborough.) Frequently seen in both spring and autumn
migrations and taken at Quesnel and 150-mile House, Cariboo dis-
trict, B.C., in 1901. (Brooks.)

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 195

BREEDING NoTEs.—For some years past I have seen a few pairs
of these birds every year in the neighbourhood of Kingston, Ont.
Favourite resorts are Simcoe island and Amberst island, Lake
Ontario, as well as eastward. A few sets of eggs are found yearly
in the month of May; in June, 1894, a pair hatched out a brood in
a pasture field near Lansdowne station, on the Grand Trunk rail-
way. A dry rough field is its favourite abode; in this respect it
differs from other members of the family. It makes a nest of
withered grass, which it partially conceals amidst the dry growth
of last year, and lays four eggs, resembling the woodcock’s, but
larger. (Rev. C. J. Young.) I have part of a set of eggs taken by
the late Robt. Anderson, at Aylmer, Ont., and have myself seen
the birds in spring, summer and early fall in the London district,
the summer birds being undoubtedly residents. Mr. Roger Hedley,
of Dunrief, near London, knows of this species summering at least
twice in the last eight years near that place. (W. Saunders.) Its
breeding centre is in western Manitoba and eastern Saskatchewan.
This species is quite rare in western Saskatchewan and southern
Alberta, and prefers well grassed prairie to that with a thin sod
and little water.

CXI. TRYNGITES Cazpanis. 1856.
262. Buffbreasted Sandpiper.

Tryngttes subruficollis (VIBILL.) RiIpDGW. 1885.

This is a migrant along the whole Altantic coast and in the Gulf
of St. Lawrence, as well as along the river itself. Preble saw it on
the higher parts of the tundra north of Cape Eskimo, Hudson bay,
and also below Cape Churchill.

Regular fall migrant at Toronto, Ont., but rare. (J. H.
Fleming.) One specimen shot at Templeton, Que. (Geo. White.)
In the first edition of this Catalogue the finding of the nest of this
bird was credited to Dr. MacCallum. Later investigation proved
this nest to be that of the Wilson Phalarope. See addendum.

Seton says it is a rare migrant in Manitoba and no specimens have
been observed by the writer west of that province. On the Mac-
kenzie, Bernard Ross reports this bird to be rare, while on the
Barren Grounds to the northeast, Macfarlane says it is common.

13%

196 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

Murdoch found it common at Point Barrow, while Nelson saw
only a few specimens at the Yukon mouth. On the other hand,
Mr. Fannin reports it as tolerably common throughout British.
Columbia and also a resident. Mr. Brooks says it is a rare migrant
in the lower Fraser valley in the autumn.

BREEDING Notes.—This species is common on the Arctic coast
and on the Barren Grounds east of Horton river. Between
the 26th June and the oth July, upwards of twenty sets of
eggs were secured, and there were four in every nest, which was
a mere depression in the soil, scantily lined with a few withered
leaves and dried grasses. When the nest was approached, the
female ustially made a low flight to a short distance. (Macjarlane.)
This is an abundant summer resident at Point Barrow, and was
more plentiful in the season of 1883 than it was the year before.
They arrived in both seasons ina body about the same time (June
6th to 8th), and were first seen on the dry banks below the village
feeding greedily on the flies and beetles, which were out sunning
themselves. By the middle of June they had spread pretty well
over the dryer parts of the tundra, but always confined themselves
to high and dry banks, or what we called the black tundra.
The eggs, as might be inferred from their colours, are laid in
the latter locality, as a rule, where they harmonize very well with
the black and white ground and moss. Like the rest of the
waders, this bird builds no nest, but deposits the four eggs,
smali end down, in a shallow depression in the ground lined with
moss. Four is the usual number of eggs in a complete set, though
we collected one set with five. (Murdoch.) I have a set of four
eggs taken on Herschell island, June 18th, 1902, by Rev. C. E. Whit-
taker. The nest was simply a hollow in the moss. The bird was
secured to prove identity. (Ratne.)

CXII. ACTITIS Itiicer. 1811.
263. Spotted Sandpiper.

Actttts macularia (LINN.) NAUMANN. 1836.

This is a common species in Labrador, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia,
Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Quebec and Ontario. In
all these provinces it breeds, either by the sea, shores of lakes or
banks of rivers, but never in colonies. Seldom more than one pair

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 197

is found in the same place. Saunders reports it as now abundant on
Sable island, though rare there a few yez..s ago.

This species is found throughout the region as far north at least
as Fort Churchill. It was not seen on the shores of Hudson bay,
but a specimen was collected on the Churchill river, near Fort
Churchill. (Preble.) Common from Missinabi, Ont., to Cape Hen-
rietta Maria, Hudson bay. (Spreadborough.)

From Manitoba to the Pacific it is found breeding in suitable
situations, both in the mountains and on the plains. Spreadborough
reports it to be common in the Peace River district and nesting in
many parts of British Columbia. According to Ross and Macfarlane,
it extends almost to the Arctic sea, being common on the Barren
Grounds and in the Mackenzie River valley. Figgins and Anderson
found it common and breeding on Sheep creek, Kenai peninsula,
Alaska. Bishop records it from many places in the interior of
Alaska and the Yukon district. Reported from the Yukon valley
by several collectors.

BREEDING NotTes.—Found breeding from Muskoka, Ont., to
Victoria, Vancouver island, and northeast to Ungava, in Labrador.
Nest, a hole in the ground lined with grass, and placed beneath a
tuft of old grass or small bush, always near water. The young
leave the nest as soon as hatched. Found a nest on west coast of
James bay, in the sand, under a small willow. The nest was made
of dry grass. (Spreadborough.) This species, besides breeding
inland in all suitable places, is especially common near the St.
Lawrence river. I have found numbers of their nests in June along
the gravel bar at the foot of Amherst island, lake Ontario; also on
the small islands down the river. They usually construct a nest in
a bunch of weeds, of dried grass, chips or anything to hand, conceal-
ing it well. I have found the nest twice in a field of grain, away
from water, and once under a bush among trees on an island in a lake.
The first eggs are usually laid about the zoth May, but are occa-
sionally met with as late asJuly 1st. I met with this bird frequently
breeding in the Magdalen islands, Gulf of St. Lawrence, and found.
a nest with four eggs on June 26th, 1897, built in a dry grassy place
amongst spruce bushes in just such a place as one would occupy in
Ontario. (Rev. C. J. Young.) The nests are made of a few bits of
grass placed in a hole in the ground, or simply on the ground. The

198 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

vicinity of rivers and ponds is the site chosen. Sets of four and
sometimes three eggs are found near Ottawa at the end of May and
in June. (Garneau.) The writer has found this species breeding
in the sandhills at Brackley point, Prince Edward island, and on
Cape Forteau, near Yarmouth, N.S., where a nest containing four
eggs was taken on June 23rd, 1883. On June 29th, 1895, a nest
containing four eggs was taken on the shore of Cypress lake, Sask.
The nest was of dried grass, concealed under a tuft of old grass, close
to the lake and was only discovered by flushing the bird.

CXIII. NUMENIUS Brisson. 1760.
264. Long-billed Curlew.
Numenius longirostris Wits. 1814.

A rare migrant in Newfoundland, and still rarer in Nova Scotia
and New Brunswick. Rather more common in Quebec and Ontario,
but only known as a migrant. In Manitoba, this bird is compara-
tively rare as a breeding bird, but in Saskatchewan and Alberta,
it is common, and extends its breeding-grounds across the Rocky
mountains into British Columbia, where Mr. Fannin found it breed-
ing at Okanagan and Similkameen. Its range to the north is limited,
as we have no notices of it from north of the prairie districts, and
only one specimen is recorded from Alaska. A few specimens have
been taken at Victoria and in the lower Fraser valley, B.C.

BREEDING NoTes.—A nest of this species was taken by Col.
Wyndham, on the Bow river, about fifty miles southeast of Calgary,
Alta. Nest just a hollow in the ground, on the bare prairie, lined
with a few straws. (Dzppie.) Fairly common at places visited by
us in western Saskatchewan and eastern Alberta, breeding in hollows
on the prairie. Downy young found June 1st, 1905, and June 11th
and 18th, 1906. (A.C. Bent.) In May, 1906, we found this bird
common south of Lethbridge, Alberta, where it lays its eggs in
hollows on the open prairie. (Raine.) Rather rare at Aweme,
Man. A few breed on the open prairie. Arrives early in April,
(Criddle.) Breeding in the Lac la Hache valley, B.C., but not
observed in the Cariboo district proper. (Brooks.)

This bird nests on the open prairie and its nest is exceedingly hard
to find. The male flies towards any intruders and makes the air

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 199

resound with its cries. It is soon joined by other birds from a con-
siderable distance, who join in attracting attention by their noise
and actions. The young are easily found, as at least one parent
keeps in their vicinity. This species was found breeding at Wood
mountain, in June, 1895, and for 150 miles to the west towards the
Cypress hills, upon which numbers were breeding in 1894. In the
summer of 1897, it was found in southern Alberta, and was breed-
ing, or rather caring for its young, west of Fort McLeod, in the latter
part of July. In June, 1889, it was found breeding on the dry hills
south of Kamloops, B.C.

265. Hudsonian Curlew.
‘Numenius hudsonicus LATH. 1790.

Occasional in Greenland. Abundant in Newfoundland during the
migrations, but does not breed on this island. An uncommon
autumn visitor in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. Brewster saw
several large flocks of curlews, which he took to be this species, at
East point, Anticosti, on July 7th. Said not to breed on that
island. It is a scarce migrant in Quebec and rather more common
in Ontario, but is becoming scarcer according to McIlwraith. This
species is not mentioned by Seton in his Birds of Manitoba, nor has
the writer seen it in any part of the Northwest. It is occasionally
seen on the coast of British Columbia, but appears to be far from
common, only two specimens having been taken. Hudson bay and
westward along the Arctic coast seem to be its summer haunt. It
was common at Fort Churchill in 1884, according to Dr. R. Bell;
and Hearne says it was common on the shores of the bay in his time.
Macfarlane says it is by no means rare on the Barren Grounds, but
is more common to the west. From May 18th to 25th these birds
begin to make their appearance on the coast of Norton sound,
Alaska, where, however, only a very few pairs remain to nest, the
others passing on still farther to the north to the extended open
country bordering the shores of the Arctic sea. Bishop saw a few
individuals on the Alaskan coast. Palmer thinks it is a regular
migrant on the Pribilof islands, Bering sea.

BREEDING Notes.—The chief breeding haunts of this bird seem
to be still unknown, but the fact of Hutchins speaking of it shows
that many of the eastern migrants must breed along the south shore

200 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

of Hudson bay. Preble records seeing it daily, sometimes in con-
siderable numbers between York Factory and Fort Churchill and
northward but says nothing of finding nests or young birds. Mr.
Low says curlew are not uncommon and breed on Southampton
island but as no specimens were collected it may have been either
this bird or the next which he saw.

266. Eskimo Curlew.

Numenius borealis (Forst.) Latu. 1790.

By far the most common species of curlew on the coast of New-
foundland, but a periodical visitor. (Reeks.) The Eskimo curlew
are hardly a remnant of their former numbers on the Labrador
coast. JI heard of only about a dozen, which were seen on the coast
this fall (1902). Of these I saw five. (Bzgelow.) Casual in Green-
land, and not uncommon in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island,
but a rare autumn visitor in New Brunswick. A rare migrant in
Quebec. Accidental in Ontario; Mr. MclIlwraith says he is aware
of only three specimens being taken in Ontario in twenty years.
In addition to these Mr. J. H. Fleming cites the capture of one bird
in 1873 at Wolfe island, near Kingston, Ont. This specimen is in
the British museum.

Mr. L. M. Turner observed several large flocks of this species flying
over the mouth of the Koaksoak river, Ungava bay; plentiful in the
fall in southern Labrador, but the flocks do not stop. Mr Spread-
borough saw none when he made a traverse of Labrador in July,
1896. It was found in large numbers in August, 1884, by Dr. R.
Bell, at Fort Churchill, or Hudson bay.

Macfarlane found it breeding in great numbers on the Barren
Grounds: It is an irregular visitor at Point Barrow, and not a
common one, but Murdoch says it is well known to the natives.
Mr. Nelson reports this species to be the commonest of the curlews
in northern Alaska, more especially along the coasts of Bering sea
and Kotzebue sound. Elliott collected a single specimen on St.
Paul island, Bering sea. Figgins took a specimen, a male, on the
barren grounds of Kenai mountains at 2,200 feet altitude. It was
fairly common at Homer and very shy.

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 201

BREEDING Nores.—This curlew frequents the Barren Lands
within the Arctic circle in summer, where it feeds on grubs and
fresh-water insects and the fruit of Empetrum nigrum. On the 13th
June, 1822, I found one of these curlews hatching on three eggs on
the shore of Point lake. (Rzchardson.)

This species breeds abundantly in the Barren Grounds to the
eastward of Fort Anderson—and, except when otherwise described,
these are the ‘‘Barrens” which are invariably referred to, right up
to the Polar sea. The nests, in every observed instance, were mere
holes or depressions in the ground. Great difficulty was frequently
experienced in finding them, as the eggs closely resembled the sur-
rounding vegetation, and the bird glided off while we were still at
some distance. Thirty sets of eggs were gathered, including several
from the aforesaid lower Anderson ‘‘Barrens.” (Macjarlane.)

267. Whimbrel.

Numenius pheopus (LINN.) LaTH. 1787.

Nearly a dozen examples sent from all parts of Greenland have
been received at Copenhagen. Although Holbeell doubts its doing
so, Prof. Reinhardt thinks that this species may breed in Greenland.
(Arct. Man.) An example of this species was shot near Assuk,
Greenland, on May 25th, 1885. (Hagerup.) Winge believes that
this species may sometimes breed in Greenland and cites many
instances of its having been taken in recent years.

268. Bristle-thighed Curlew.
Numenius tahitiensis (GMEL.) Ripcw. 1880.

On May 24th, 1880, a pair of these birds settled near by, where
I was shooting black brant, on a rising stretch of land covered with
large tussocks. I secured the male, which was in fine plumage, but
could not find the female, although mortally wounded. This is the
second known instance of this bird’s occurrence on the shores of
Alaska, the former record resting on the capture of a specimen at
Kadiak island by Bischoff. (Nelson.)

202 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
Famity XXII. CHARADRIIDE. PLovers.
CXIV. VANELLUS Brisson. 1760.

269. Lapwing.

Vanellus vanellus (LINN.) LICHT. 1854.

One obtained 7th January, 1820, near Fiskenes, Greenland; a
second received at the Museum in Copenhagen from Julianshaab,
in 1847. (Arct. Man.) On the islands in Norton sound, Alaska.
(A. O. U. List.) A single specimen was taken near St. Johns, New-
foundland, November 27th, 1905. A full account of this capture
was printed in The Auk, Vol. xxiii., p. 221.

CXV. EUDROMIAS Brexum. 1831.
Dotterel.

Eudromias morinellus (LINN.) BREHM. 1831.

One specimen was taken at King island, Alaska, July 23rd, 1897,
an adult female just beginning to moult. (McIlhenny.) The only
American record.

CXVI. SQUATAROLA Cuvier. 1817.
270. Black-bellied Plover.

Squatarola squatarola (LINN.) CUVIER. 1817.

Rare in Greenland, but found in both Inspectorates; said to breed
on Melville peninsula. (Arct. Man.) Found at Whale point, Roes
Welcome, Hudson bay, and evidently breeding there. (A. P. Low.)
Common along west coast of James bay, August, 1904. (Spread-
borough.) A common autumn migrant in Newfoundland, Nova
Scotia and New Brunswick. A migrant in Quebec and Ontario in
both spring and fall. Reversing its line of migration, this bird
appears in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta in spring, and has
been killed by Dippie at Reaburn, Manitoba, as late as June rst,
Bent reports seeing it in large flocks at Hay lake, Sask., May 29th
to June rst, 1905. Atkinson says that in Manitoba and further
west, it appears in uncertain numbers in May, sometimes in large
flocks and then being absent for several years. Spreadborough

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 203

found it common at Lesser Slave lake, Atha., September 3rd, 1903.
On Hudson bay it is common, and extends its range thence west-
ward, including the whole Arctic coast and all northern Alaska and
down the Pacific coast to the southern boundary of British Columbia.

BREEDING NoTes.—Our first introduction to this handsome and
somewhat rare Arctic plover was on Island point, in Franklin bay,
on July 4th, 1864. The nest contained four eggs and was composed
of a small quantity of withered grass, placed in a depression on the
side or face of a very gentle eminence. Both parents were seen and
the male shot. On the following day, another nest with four eggs
was discovered, and a third also met with. In 1865, seven nests
were gathered by our party in the same quarter. (Macfarlane.)

CXVII CHARADRIUS Linnavs. 1758. __
271. Golden Plover.

Charadrius apricartus LINN. 1758.

One specimen, taken in summer plumage, was shot in the spring
of 1871, on the Noursoak peninsula; and believed by Dr. Finch to
breed in East Greenland. (Arct. Man.) The Director of the colony
of Frederickshaab reports taking a young bird of this species in
August, 1887. (Hagerup.)

272. American Golden Plover.

Charadrius dominicus MULL. 1776.

Somewhat rare in Greenland, but possibly breeds there as it does
jn considerable abundance on swampy places on the Parry islands.
(Arct. Man.) A common autumn migrant in Newfoundland, Nova
Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Quebec and Ontario.
It is rarely seen in the spring, and we have no account of its breed-
ing in any of these provinces. In Manitoba and the other prairie
provinces it is both a spring and autumn migrant, and leaves for the
north the last week in May, returning about the middle of August.
It is not known to breed in Labrador, but doubtless does along the
western coasts of Hudson bay. Its breeding grounds are from
Hudson bay westward, including the Barren Grounds and the coasts
of the Arctic sea, to the north of the Mackenzie, Point Barrow and
southwestward around the whole northern coast of Alaska, where

204 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

it seems to meet the Siberian form. It is said to breed in northern
British Columbia, and the specimens taken, although not referable,
according to Mr. S. N. Rhoads, to C. fulvus, are darker underneath
than eastern specimens. Brooks saw it, in the Cariboo district,
however, only during the fall migration.

BREEDING NotTEs.—The breeding quarters of this well known bird
are the Barren Grounds and the coasts and islands of the Arctic sea.
It hatches early in June, and retires southward in August. (Richard-
son.) This beautiful species is very numerous in the Barren Grounds
from the outskirts of the forest to the shores of the Polar sea. The
nests were found to be precisely similar to those of C. squatarola.
They were also as difficult to detect, and for the same reason, a
harmonizing resemblance of the egg markings to the surrounding
soil and a timeous departure of the female bird from her nest. I
find 170 nests recorded in my notes. Except when there was reason
to believe that the full number had not been deposited, four eggs
were always met with. In one case there were five and in another
only one. (Macfarlane.) Breeds commonly on Herschell island,
from where I received a number of sets of eggs. It makes a hollow
in the moss on the slopes of elevated and rising ground. (Razne.}

This species arrives on the shores of Norton sound, Alaska, about
the end of May. They soon pair and disperse, so that a few days
after the main arrival, their nests may be looked for. The nests
are generally in small depressions, which may be found among the
moss and dried grass of a small knoll, and at times a slight structure
is made of dried grass. The grass, and perhaps, a few dead leaves
of the dwarf willow are arranged in a circular, saucer-shaped form,
about four or five inches across, and contain four eggs, which have
a pale, yellowish ground colour, with very dark well-defined umber-
brown spots, scattered rather profusely over the shell, especially
about the larger end. (Nelson.) The golden plover arrives at
Point Barrow about the end of May. It was nesting before June
2oth, both seasons I was at Point Barrow, though I was unable to
find its nest before the 22nd. The nest is exceedingly hard to find,
although it is not concealed at all, but is simply a depression in the
bare black clayey tundra, lined with a little dried moss. The only
vegetation on this part of the tundra is white and grayish moss,
which harmonize so extraordinarily with the peculiar blotching of
the eggs, that it is almost impossible to see them unless one knows

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 205

exactly where to look. A favourite nesting place is on the high
banks of the gullies or small streams. No nests were found in the
grass or in swampy ground. (Murdoch.)

272a. Pacific Golden Plover.

Charadrius dominicus fulvus (GMEL.) Ripcw. 1880.

This form and the eastern one seem to grade into each other on
the northern Alaskan coast, but C. fulvus is the commoner toward
Bering strait, and breeds along the coasts of both continents around
the northern shores of Bering sea. Whether typical dominicus
occurs on the Pacific coast is doubtful, but I have never taken such
absolutely typical fulvws as some I collected at Comox, Vancouver
island, after November 3rd, 1903. (Brooks.) Fairly common about
St. Michael, and seen also on St. George island and Unalaska, Bering
sea. (Bishop.) Said to be fairly common at Homer, Alaska, during
September. I took specimens there during the latter part of August,
and one at Popof island, December 15th. (Figgins.) A common
migrant on the Pribilof islands, Bering sea. (Palmer.)

It is not uncommon on the islands off the coast, and Turner speaks
of it being taken on the Aleutian islands. Nelson says that on the
Siberian coast of Bering sea the typical Asiatic form is common, and
is of much rarer occurrence on the Alaskan coast, from the peninsula
of Alaska north to Point Barrow.

CXVIIIl. OXYECHUS Reichenbach. 1852.
273. Killdeer Plover.

Oxyechus vocifera (LINN.) REICH. 1852.

This is a rare migrant in Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, New Bruns-
wick and Quebec. In Ontario, it is much more common, and breeds
in suitable localities throughout the province. Throughout Manitoba
and the whole prairie country, this bird breeds abundantly. It is
also common in the Rocky mountains and British Columbia, and
breeds almost to the coast. Its northern limit is very likely the sub-
arctic forest, as it seems to prefer open plains where brackish marshes
are of frequent occurrence. Preble saw several on the grassy
meadows between Fort Churchill and the mouth of the Churchill

river.

206 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

BREEDING NotEs.—This bird is to be met with in those parts of
Ontario that are in any way adapted to its habits. Its favourite
haunts are rough pastures with here and there a few scrubby bushes
scattered about; if there are a few stones and gravel, so much the
better; the birds take kindly to such spots. I meet with a few pairs
of this species every year, and notice that they breed comparatively
early, the full complement of four eggs sometimes being laid as early
as the 26th of April. I have found a number of their eggs, and
notice that for a nesting place they usually choose a small stony or
gravelly patch in a pasture; once I found a nest among small stones
and rock close to a quarry, where the year before I had taken two
nighthawk’s eggs. (Rev. C. J. Young.) The killdeer plover breeds
in small numbers all over western Ontario. It lays four eggs, which
are so placed as to be very difficult of discovery. (W. Saunders.)
This species nests in the gravel at the margin of lakes and ponds,
also on bare ground on the prairie and in ploughed fields throughout
the whole prairie region. The nest is a hole in the gravel or ground,
usually not far from water. Eggs, four, always standing upon the
small end in the nest. (W. Spreadborough.) One set of four eggs,
taken near Ottawa, 30th May, 1900, was on a stump, level with the
ground. The nest consisted of small pieces of the rotten wood of
the stump. Another set of four eggs in a nest made of lichens and
small bits of stones, was found on a large rock at Britannia, Ont.,
June 1toth, 1900. (Garneau.)

CXIX. AHGIALITIS Bore. 1822.
274. Semiplmated Plover.

gialitis semtipalmata Bonap. 1838.

This species is a summer resident in Newfoundland, Labrador
and the islands in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, breeding more or less
abundantly. In Nova Scotia it has been found breeding on Seal
island, Yarmouth county, by Tufts and on Sable island by Saunders.
In New Brunswick, Prince Edward island and Quebec it is reported
as a migrant only; yet, as Mr. Young shows, it breeds in Ontario,
and doubtless in some of the other provinces also. In Manitoba and
eastern Saskatchewan it is a common migrant, and breeds sparingly.
The writer saw young birds of this species at the salt springs at the
head of Lake Winnipegosis on 22nd July, 1881.

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 207

This bird may be said to make its summer home and bring forth
its young from Ungava bay on the northeast coast of Labrador to
Alaska on Norton sound. It is, however, more plentiful east of the
Mackenzie than west of it. It is known only as a rare migrant in
British Columbia, and not known to breed.

BREEDING NoTEs.—This bird is found every fall and spring
on the gravelly bars at the foot of Amherst island, Lake Ontario.
There, on the 24th of June, 1895, I found a nest containing four
fresh eggs. It was built on a gravelly beach, at no great distance
from the water, amongst a spring growth of a little grass and sedge,
and in the early spring would probably have been within reach of
the high water. I met with two pairs of these birds at the Magdalen
islands in June, 1897, but could not locate the nest though I knew
they were breeding. (Rev. C. J. Young.)

This bird is quite common on parts of the Arctic coast and along
the Anderson and Lockhart rivers, as well as in the country between
Fort Anderson and Fort Good Hope, Mackenzie river. Most of the
twenty nests taken contained four eggs, and several but two or three.
When closely approached, the female glided from the nest and ran
a short distance before flying, occasionally drooping her wings and
pretending lameness. The nest is a mere cavity in the sand, lined
with a few withered leaves and grasses. (Macfarlane.) In June,
1896, this species was found to be common from Moose Factory,
James bay to Richmond gulf, Hudson bay. On the 18th June
Mr. A. P. Low found a nest containing four eggs. Nest in sand,
beside a stone, composed of a little dry grass. This bird was
observed throughout the interior of Labrador in summer wherever
there were large lakes with sandy shores. Common along both
shores of James bay in 1904. On July 7th saw young still unable to
fly. (W. Spreadborough.) A nest found by Bishop at Lake Marsh,
Yukon district was a hollow, lined with a few grasses and dead
leaves and was situated about eight feet from the water in the
drift debris among the stones on the beach.

275. Ring Plover.

Aégialitis hiaticula (LINN.) BOIE. 1822.

Breeds generally in Greenland and found on Clavering and Sabine
islands; said to be abundant on the shores of Possession bay and

208 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

Regent inlet. (Arct. Man.) This species was observed on August
15th, 1886, near a shallow lake, about 1100 feet above sea level;
a nest and eggs were found near Godhavn, Greenland, on June
14th, 1880. (Hagerup.)

276. Little Ring Plover.
Zegialitis dubta (Scop.) SWINH. 1871.
Accidental on the coast of Alaska. (A.O.U. List.)
277. Piping Plover.
Aegialitis meloda (ORD) BONAP. 1838.

This species, besides being a migrant, breeds in suitable places
in nearly all the eastern provinces. It was found breeding by
Downs at Port Petpiswick, Nova Scotia, by Tufts on Seal island,
Yarmouth county, N.S.; by Bishop, near high water-mark on the
Magdalen islands; and by W. Saunders on Pelee point, Lake Erie.
It is not a widely distributed species and seems to prefer the sea
coast. Mr. Saunders writes that while there is no doubt that this
bird formerly was found at Point Pelee and Rondeau, Lake Erie
its place has now been taken there by the belted piping plover, and
at Toronto, according to Mr. Fleming, all the specimens in local
collections taken before 1894 are referrable to meloda ; the first record
of circumcincta was in 1891, and all recent records belong to this form.

BREEDING NotTes.—A very noisy species that is quite abundant
at the Magdalen islands, where I found four nests in 1897, but I
have not observed it in Ontario. It is an interesting bird running
along the sandy beach at a great speed and stopping now and again
to utter its shrill note. Being so much lighter in colour it is at
once distinguished from Z. semipalmata, as well as by its note.
The first nest I found was on the 16th of June. It was on one of
the sandy bars of Grindstone island. The nest consisted of a little
hole scooped out on a small hummock of sand, and was tesselated
as it were with broken pieces of clam shells, after the manner of
the ring plover of Great Britain. No grass or bits of bark are used
as with 42. semipalmata. The other nests were identical, the eggs
being fresh in the second week in June. (Rev. C. J. Young.) In
the latter part of June, 1888, the writer found three nests of this

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 209

species on the sands of Brackley beach, Prince Edward Island.
They were mere holes in the sand or rather fine gravel and broken
shells and without any lining whatever. The bird and its sur-
roundings were so much alike that it was only by accident that any
nests were found. Mr. W. Saunders writes that he has an egg,
which is probably of this species, from Long Point, Lake Erie, and
also a young bird, only a few days old, taken on Point Pelee, Lake
Erie.

277a. Belted Piping Plover.

AZ gialitis meloda circumcincta RipGw. 1874.

This form is quite common on Sable Island nearly 100 miles east
of Canso, N.S., and breeds there in numbers every year. The
writer procured specimens on the island in August, 1898, and saw
no difference between them and those taken at Indian Head, Sask.,
in 1892. No doubt this is the form mentioned under the head of
piping plover by Seton in his Birds of Manitoba. This species did
not reach Deep lake, Indian Head, Sask., until May 16th, 1892. In
three days they were common. Shortly after they dispersed to
breed, only a few pairs remaining at the lake. I am, informed by
Mr. Dippie that a nest of this species containing four eggs was taken
at Manitoba House, Manitoba lake, in June, 1895, and that downy
young have been taken also.

This species is occasionally taken at Toronto, Ont. All recent
records belong to this form. (J. H. Fleming.) All the birds seen
by me in 1905 and 1906 on the former breeding-grounds of the
piping plover were the belted plover. (W. Saunders.)

BREEDING NoTes.—On June 19th, 1895, Mr. Oliver Spanner
found a nest of this species on Birch island near the west shore of
Lake Manitoba. The nest consisted of a depression in the sand
lined with bits of drift-weed and contained three eggs, which are
similar to those of the common piping plover; the ground colour is
pale buff which is finely spotted with black and purple and gray.
The eggs average in size 1.25 x 1.00 inches. Both eggs and skin
of the parent are now in my collection. Mr. Spanner also obtained
young birds in the down at the same time. He saw several pairs
of the plovers in company with solitary sandpipers, which were no
doubt nesting in the vicinity. (Razne.)

14

210 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

On June 18th, a nest containing three eggs was discovered on a
long point extending into Deep lake, near Indian Head, Sask. It
was in a shallow hole in sand behind a large stone, and no grass or
weeds within twenty feet of it. (Spreadborough.) Breeding abund-
antly on gravelly beaches at Big Stick lake, Sask., June, 1906.
(A.C. Bent.) Mr. W. Saunders in The Ottawa Naturalist, Vol. XVI,
p. 25, gives a detailed account of the breeding habits of this bird on
Sable island, N.S.

278. Snowy Plover.

AEgiahtis nivosa Cass. 1858.

A casual straggler from the western United States. A specimen
of this bird was shot at Toronto, Ont., in May, 1880, by Mr. J.
Froman of that city, and identified by Mr. Ernest T. Seton. See
MclIlwraith’s Birds of Ontario, page 166. There is a specimen
in Mr. J. H. Ames’ collection taken at Toronto, July 6th, 1897.
(J. H. Fleming.)

279. Mongolian Plover.
Aegialitis mongola (PALL.) SWINH. 1870.

This handsome addition to the plovers of North America was
made by the captain of the ship Plover, during his visit to Kotze-
bue sound, in the summer of 1849, when he secured two specimens
upon Chloris peninsula. It is a common stummer resident on the
Commander islands where it was found breeding by Stejneger.
(Nelson.)

BREEDING NoTEs.—Nests of this bird were found by Stejneger
early in June. A nest was found on June 4th and contained three
eggs. It was in a hollow between the stems of four specimens of
Angelica archangelica and lined with dry fragments of leaves and
stems of the same plant.

CXX. OCHTHODROMUS RercHenpacu 1852.

280. Wilson Plover.
Ochthodromus wilsonius (ORD) REICH. 1852.

Casual north to Nova Scotia. (A. O. U. List.) The authenticity
of the records for Nova Scotia is very doubtful.

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 211
CXXI. PODASOCYS CovEs 1886.

281. Mountain Plover.

Podasocys montanus (Towns.) CouEs 1866.

Chiefly the plains, from central Kansas to the Rocky mountains,
north to the British Boundary, breeding from Kansas northward.
(A. O. U. List.) Dr. Elliott Coues found this species at the mouth
of Frenchman river and westward to near the Sweet Grass hills in
July, 1874, and there is a specimen in the British Museum labelled
“North American Boundary Commission, 49th parallel, June 24th,
1874, No. 91. G. Dawson.” In June, 1895, the writer was on
Frenchman river, Sask., for many miles and did not see a trace of
the bird so that lat. 49° must be close to its northern limit.

Famity XXIII. APHRIZIDAG. Surr-Birps AnD TURNSTONES.
CXXII. APHRIZA Avupvupon. 1839.
282. Surf Bird.
Aphriza virgata (GMEL.) Gray. 1847.

Four specimens of this bird were taken in the vicinity of Sitka
by Bischoff. It is a wide-spread Pacific species, occurring only as
a rare summer or fall visitant on the shores of the North Pacific
and Bering sea, reaching the vicinity of Bering straits in Norton
sound. A pair was seen one autumn at St. Michael and a few
others at various times. (Nelson.) Sixteen taken from a flock on
a rocky islet, Sitka, Alaska, July 21st, 1896. These were all appar-
ently immature birds, that is, non-breeding birds of the second
year. (Grinnell.) Not uncommon along the whole coast of British
Columbia. It has been taken in Howe sound by Mr. R.V. Griffin ;
at Port Simpson by Mr. W. B. Anderson; and at Nanaimo and Fort
Rupert by Lord. It was also found very abundant on Stubbs
island on the west coast of Vancouver island, in August, 1893, by
Mr. W, Spreadborough; it very likely breeds there. In August,
1904, Mr. Spreadborough saw two large flocks of what he took to be
the surf bird on the west coast of James bay, Hudson bay. He
took no specimens but writes that the birds seen were in appear-

14%

212 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

ance exactly like those taken by him on the Pacific coast. The
region in which these birds were seen is so far from the known range
of the surf bird that we would without hesitation express our belief
that Mr. Spreadborough was mistaken, were it not that he is such a
careful observer and is so familiar with the appearance and habits
of most of our shore birds.

CXXIII. ARENARIA Brisson. 1760.

283. Turnstone.
Arenaria interpres (LINN.) VIEILL. 1819.

Not common, according to Holbcell, in Greenland. It breeds,
however, generally along the coast of Greenland, as well as on
Sabine island and at Cape Breer Ruys; also recorded from Winter
island in June, and breeds on the Parry islands. (Arct. Man.) An
abundant fall migrant on the Pribilof islands, Bering sea. I saw
none in May or June except four at Unalaska, May 19th. (Palmer.)
Figgins collected two specimens at Homer, Alaska, in August, 1901,
which Chapman says are ‘‘obviously to be referred to interpres.”
Typical breeding birds and many young were taken by MclIlhenny
at Point Barrow and Port Clarence, Alaska. Bishop says, The Auk,
Vol. XXIII, p. 335, that three specimens in his collection, taken at
Nome, Alaska, are intermediate between A. interpres and A. mort-
nella. Both he and Oberholser think that morinella is merely a
sub-species. The writer is also of that opinion.

283.1 Ruddy Turnstone.
Arenaria morinella (LINN.) PALMER. 1899.

This species is a common autumn migrant in Newfoundland, less
so in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. It is more rare in the gulf
and along the River St. Lawrence, and still rarer in Ontario, though
Fleming records it as a regular migrant at Toronto, Ont., common
in the spring. Not uncommon in Manitoba and eastern Saskat-
chewan asa spring and autumn migrant. It was first seen at Indian
Head, Sask., May 15th, 1892, and finally left for the north on June
2nd. Its breeding grounds may be said to extend from Hudson |
bay westward around the whole Arctic coast of North America and
up to the 75th parallel. It also extends along the whole coast of

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 213

Alaska, breeding in some places, but as a migrant in others. On
the British Columbia coast it is always a migrant and not a common
one.

Preble, Low, Bell and other collectors record the turnstone from
the Hudson bay region, Preble as morinella, the earlier collectors as
tnterpres. Without specimens it is of course impossible to deter-
mine the species to which records made before 1899 should go, but
so far as known true interpres is, in North America, confined to
Greenland and Alaska, an occasional specimen being taken farther
south on both sides of the continent. Most of the earlier Alaskan
references doubtless refer to true interpres. The occurrence of
intermediate forms makes it appear probable that morinella is at
best only a sub-species.

BREEDING NoTeEs.—In June, 1864, a dozen birds were observed
at Fort Anderson, and one was shot. This species breeds on the
shores of Liverpool and Franklin bays, and on the lower Anderson
river. Several nests were secured in the latter region; but none
were met with in the Barren Grounds. Four was the maximum
number of eggs in a nest, which was similar to that of the other
waders. (Macfarlane.)

284. Black Turnstone.

Arenaria melanocephala (Vic.) STEJN. 1884.

This species is far more plentiful on the coast of Bering sea than
the preceding species and is one of the most abundant waders from
Sitka north along the mainland and coast of Alaska. I found it
also along the coast of the Arctic sea from Bering strait to Point
Barrow, and it was also observed sparingly on St. Lawrence island,
It breeds among the brackish pools on St. Michael island, and is
found scattered over the brackish flats everywhere. (Nelson.)
Although I did not find the nest and eggs of the bird, it breeds
along the entire coast of the mainland of Alaska. It is one of the
earliest arrivals in the vicinity of St. Michael and after the ice has
-left the shores it is ever on the alert for food along the beach.
(Turner.) Four adult specimens taken at Orca, Prince William
sound, Alaska. (Grinnell.) Common at Homer, Alaska, during
migration. (Figgins.)

214 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA. ?

According to Mr. John Fannin this species breeds along the
shores of British Columbia and is more or less common on the shores
of Vancouver island. Mr. W. Spreadborough saw several specimens
on Stubbs island, Clayoquet sound, in August 1893.

FamMity XXIV. HASMATOPODIDAS. OvystEeR-CaTcHERs.
CXXIV. HASMATOPUS. Linnzvus. 1758.
285. European Oyster-catcher.
Hematopus ostralegus LINN. 1758.

One specimen was sent to Copenhagen from Julianshaab in 1847,
. another in 1871 from Godthaab, and a third from Nenortalik in
1859. (Arct. Man.)

286. American Oyster-catcher.
Hematopus palliatus TEmM. 1820.

Aud. Vol. V, page 237, says he found several pairs breeding in
Labrador. (Turner.) North to Grand Manan, N.B. (A. O. U.
List.) °

287. Black Oyster-catcher,

Hematopus bachmant AupD. 1839.

This bird is found abundantly at Sitka and Kadiak and Dall
found it a summer resident on the entire Aleutian chain. Its range
is not known to extend to the north beyond the Aleutian islands.
(Nelson.) This species is found on the islands of Alaska that lie
south of the peninsula of Alaska and as far east as the Shumagin
group and to the westward as far as Kiska island of the Aleutian
chain and is a constant resident of this area. It is strictly littoral
in its habits and always flies over the sea when moving from
point to point. (Turner.) Taken at Nutchuk, Prince William
sound, Alaska. (Grinnell.) An abundant resident along the coasts
of British Columbia and Vancouver island.

BREEDING Norss.—This bird breeds throughout its range. The
eggs are laid on the bare rocks, just above high-water wash. The
number of eggs varies from one to three, usually two, and are laid
about the roth June. (Turner.) <A nest of this species found in
Cumshewa inlet, Queen Charlotte islands, June 17th, 1899, was
merely a hollow about two inches deep and almost perfectly round,
scooped out of a weedy turf a few feet above high-water mark. The
bottom of the hollow was covered with bits of broken stone, evidently
placed there by the old bird. (Osgood.) Dall found two nests on
the Shumagin group, June 23rd, 1872. In both cases the eggs were
placed directly on the gravel of the beach; one nest contained two
eggs, the other one. Mr. John Fannin says that the eggs are
generally two and laid on the bare rocks close to the water.

ORDER GALLINA. GaLuinaceous Birbs.
Famity XXV. TETRAONIDAS. Grouse, PARTRIDGES, &C.
CXXV. COLINUS Gotpruss. 1820.

289. Bob-white. Quail.

Colinus virgintanus (LINN.) STEJN. 1885.

The Bob-white may be claimed as a permanent resident in southern
Ontario, which is the northern limit of its range, but it has hard
work to hold its own against the many influences that are contin-
ally operating against it. (MclIlwraith.) Breeds all through the
southern part of the southwestern peninsula of Ontario, commonly
below lat. 43° and more rarely up to lat. 44°. (W. Saunders.)
The quail was at one time found along the north shore of Lake
Ontario, certainly as far east as Port Hope. I doubt if any quail
of pure blood are left east of Lake Erie. (J. H. Fleming.)

CXXVI. OREORTYX Bairp. 1858.

292. Mountain Partridge.
Oreortyx pictus (DOUGL.) BAIRD, 1858.

Quite common on Vancouver island. Introduced from Califor-
nia. (Fannin.) Very plentiful on the Sooke hills, about 25 miles
from Victoria, Vancouver Island in 1906. (Spreadborough.)

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 7 215 «

e 216 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
CXXVII. LOPHORTYX. Bonaparte. 1838.
294. California Partridge.

Lophortyx californicus (SHAW) BoNnaP. 1838.

Vancouver island. Introduced from California. (Fannin.) They
were quite numerous in the autumn of 1892, but the winter of 1892-93
being very severe a great number died. They have increased
rapidly since and in the autumn of 1906 were very abundant
near Victoria, Vancouver island. (Spreadborough.)

CXXVIII. DENDRAGAPUS. ELLioT. 1864.
297. Dusky Grouse.
Dendragapus obscurus (Say) ELLioT. 1864.

We have no specimens of this grouse in our collections, nor are
we sure that this form occurs in Canada. It is more than probable,
however, that it is partly the blue grouse of southwestern British
Columbia. In the United States it has been taken in Montana and
Idaho and hence may cross the British Columbia boundary.

297a. Sooty Grouse.
Dendragapus obscurus fuliginosus RipGw. 1885.

On my arrival on the coast of British Columbia, in the month of
April, 1889, the calls of this species could be heard nearly through-
out the day. (Streator.) West of the Coast range, in British
Columbia, including all the larger islands, an abundant resident.
(Fannin.) Abundant on the western slope of the Coast range, B.C.
(Brooks.) Common in all parts of Vancouver island; begins to call
about April 1st ; quite common at Hastings, B.C., in April, 18809,
when it made the woods resound with its almost constant calls.
Common along the international boundary from Whipsaw creek
west to Chilliwack, B. C., in 1905; rare on the mountains along
the Chilliwack river, B.C., in 1906. (Spreadborough.) Bischoff
secured seven of these birds in the vicinity of Sitka, and
Hartlaub records it from Portage bay. There is no doubt that this
bird occurs considerably farther north than Sitka along the coast
region. (Nelson.)

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 217

Several heard booming about Cumshewa inlet, Queen Charlotte
islands, B.C., early in June, 1899. A pair of adult birds was taken
at an altitude of about 3,000 feet in the mountains at the head of
Cumshewa inlet, June 23rd. (Osgood.) We were told that grouse
were common on the heights above Skagway, Alaska, but although
we often found droppings we saw no birds. (Béshop.)

297b. Richardson Grouse.
Dendragapus obscurus richardsonit (DoUGL.) RipGw. 1885.

This large grouse inhabits the Rocky mountains up to lat. 64°.
(Richardson.) North to Fort Halkett on the Mackenzie river; only
in the mountains. (Ross.) Seen along the trail from Jasper
House, Rocky mountains, to Camp river, B.C.; also at timber line
on the mountains in the summer of 1898; common on the hills
around Midway, B.C., not so plentiful at Sidley; a few seen on the
hills at Osoyoos lake; common between the Columbia river and
Cascade, B.C. (Spreadborough.) East of the Coast range, includ-
ing the Rocky mountain districts. An abundant resident. (Fan-
nin.) This species was found to be a common resident of the
interior, and takes the place of the sooty grouse. (Sireator.) Com-
mon in the partially wooded country in Lac la Hache valley, Chil-
cotin, and at Soda creek, and again on the summits of the moun-
tains of the Cariboo range, B.C., but not in the intervening heavily
wooded country. All secured showed faint traces of a terminal
bar. (Brooks.)

This species is general throughout the mountains from the east
side of the Coast range to the eastern foothills of the Rocky moun-
tains in Alberta. It is found in company with Franklin grouse at
from four to seven thousand feet altitude, and in British Columbia
even lower.

BREEDING NotTEes.—One nest of this species was taken on the
slope of the mountain near Revelstoke, B.C. It was placed on the
ground close to a partly rotten log, and the nest was made chiefly
of dead wood. There were six eggs perfectly fresh on May 22nd,
1890, when the nest was discovered, and from the constant calling
and drumming both this and the gray ruffed grouse must have been
puite plentiful.

218 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
CXXIX. CANACHITES. Grant. 1893.
298. Hudsonian Spruce Grouse.
Canachites canadensis (LINN.) GRANT. 1893.

Labrador, Hudson Bay region and westward to eastern Alaska.
(A. O. U. Check-list, Eleventh Suppl.) A very rare and uncertain
straggler from Labrador to Newfoundland. (Reeks.) A common
resident in Nova Scotia, but will soon be exterminated on account
of its tameness. (Downs.) A resident in New Brunswick, but
rather rare in the St. John district. (Chamberlain.) Saw a female
with young at Richmond gulf, June 30th, 1896. None observed
elsewhere in Labrador. Said to be plentiful a short distance up
the river from Fort Chimo; common from Missinabi to Raft river,
James bay. (Spreadborough.) Breeds sparingly in the northern
part of the Bruce peninsula of Ontario. (W. Saunders.) Formerly
common in ‘the central parts of eastern Ontario, but now (1906) it
is all but extinct. (Rev. C. J. Young.) An abundant resident
throughout the wooded parts of Labrador, the whole province of
Quebec, and northern and northwestern Ontario. According to
Seton it is common at Lake Winnipeg, and extends northwesterly
in the spruce forests; Preble found it northeasterly from Lake Win-
nipeg to Oxford lake and Hayes river and it has been recorded from
York Factory, Fort Churchill and the Severn river; indeed its range
is the spruce forests of the Atlantic coast, and thence across the
sub-arctic forest’ to the Yukon. Nelson says it is found on the
shores of Bering sea where the spruce forest touches the coast.

2980. Alaska Spruce Grouse.
Canachites canadensis osgoodt BISHOP. 1900.

The range of this species is northern British Columbia, Yukon
district and Alaska. Nelson records the Canada grouse, doubtless
this variety, from the shores of Bering sea wherever the spruce
forest touches the coast. First met with by Bishop and Osgood
in 1899 at Bennett City, B.C.; also seen by them at Lake Marsh,
Lake Lebarge and Thirty-mile river, Yukon district and reported
to them from Rampart City and the Kuskokwim river, Alaska.
Found by Osgood in 1901 to be abundant in all the Cook inlet

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 219

region and inland from Cook inlet in 1902, specimens taken there
agreeing with typical osgoodi from the Yukon valley. In 1901
Figgins found it to be common and breeding throughout the Kenai
peninsula, as did Anderson in 1903.

298e. Canadian Spruce Grouse.
Canachites canadensis canace (LINN.) NORTON. 1g01.

Northern Minnesota, northern New York, northern New England,
New Brunswick, and the Canadian zone of southern and eastern
Canada. (A. O. U. Check-list, Eleventh Supplement.) Many of the
eastern, and probably all the Ontario references under C. cana-
densis should go here. According to Mr. Fleming, Zepher, Ont.,
about 45 miles northeast of Toronto is the most southern point in
Ontario where this partridge is found.

299. Franklin Grouse.
Canachites jranklinit (DOUGL.) GRANT. 1893.

‘Northern Rocky Mountains, from northwestern Montana to the
coast ranges of Oregon and Washington, and northward in British
America, reaching the Pacific coast of southern Alaska, (lat. 60° N.)
{A. O. U. List.) This bird inhabits the valleys of the Rocky moun-
tains from the sources of the Missouri to those of the Mackenzie.
(Richardson.) Saw one near Midway, B.C., in the thick woods,
April 12th, 1905, and ‘another on the Hope trail, July 8th. A few
observed on mountain sides and in thick woods at Cascade and
Trail, B.C. in 1902. (Spreadborough.) Abundant in suitable local-
ities in the Cariboo district, B.C.; to the northward it will probably
intergrade with the Canada grouse as many of the specimens secured
showed a decided infusion of canadensis blood, the tail being nar-
rowly tipped with fulvous or white. (Brooks.) Throughout the
wooded portion of the interior of British Columbia, east of, and
including the Coast range to Cassiar. An abundant resident.
(Fannin.)

This grouse was quite common along the line of the Canadian
Pacific railway, in the Rocky mountains, in the Bow River pass
and westward, in 1885. It is so tame that it is named the ‘‘fool

220 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

hen,” and many are killed with sticks as they sit on the low branches.
Reported as common about Jasper House, on the Athabasca river,
in the summer of 1898, by Mr. W. Spreadborough.

BREEDING NoTES.—This species seems to nest exactly like the
other grouse. One nest found at the base of a tree at Hector,
Rocky mountains, on July 29th, 1885, contained eight eggs. The
young were just emerging from the shell and would evidently leave
the nest at once, as indeed two of them attempted to do as we stood
by them.

CXXX. BONASA STEPHENS. 1819.
300. Ruffed Grouse. “ Partridge.”
Bonasa umbellus (LINN.) STEPH. 1819.

From all I have observed, I think that we have in Ontario in-
dividuals of both Bonasa umbellus and Bonasa umbellus togata, that
these two intergrade and produce a mixed race which is found
throughout southern Ontario, but cannot properly be classed with
either of the varieties. (McIlwrazth.)

It is doubtful whether true uwmbellus is found in Canada, but
until more material has been collected and all the old collections
have been examined MclIlwraith’s statement must stand. On the
other hand, further study may show that fogata is not separable
from umbellus.

300a. Canadian Ruffed Grouse.
Bonasa umbellus togata (LINN.) RipGw. 1885.

Common from Missinabi river to Moose Factory, James bay.
None observed in Labrador in 1896. I think they go very little
further north in Labrador than the birch and poplar. (Spread-
borough.) Northeasterly from Lake Winnipeg to Oxford lake and
Trout river; recorded by Foster from Fort Albany and Severn
river and by Bell from York Factory. (Preble.)

This is an abundant resident in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick,
Prince Edward Island, Quebec and Ontario. It seems to range

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 221

all through southern Labrador with stragglers well to the north.
Westward from Ontario it extends across the whole wooded country
being found in the spruce forest north of the prairie region to the
boundaries of the Barren Grounds. The Rocky mountain district
may have this species in considerable numbers, but as we have no
specimens from there its distribution is still uncertain.

East of and including the coast range, an abundant resident.
(Fannin.) Typical birds of this sub-species as well as B. sabini
occur in equal numbers as well as every intergradation between
them in the lower Fraser valley; most of the ruffed grouse of the
Cariboo district are intermediate between this form and the next
but ultra-typical examples of each were taken in 1891. (Brooks.)
Common in the interior; found about thickets that border running
water in British Columbia. The specimens are identical with
those from New Brunswick. (Streator.) Common along the Chilli-
wack river up to Chilliwack lake, B.C., in August, 1906. (Spread-
borough.)

BREEDING NoTes.—In the sunny weather towards the begin-
ning of April if there is a crust on the snow the ruffed grouse resorts
to the hill-sides facing the sun and the males strut about with their
tails spread out to their fullest extent and their wings trailing the
the ground like a turkey cock. If,the spring be early the males
begin to drum and continue drumming from a month to six weeks.
In the meantime the females have chosen nesting sites on the ground,
usually at the root of a tree but sometimes under a log or beneath
a bush. The eggs in a nest vary from nine to thirteen. Upon
leaving the nest the female always covers the eggs with dry leaves.
In summer the young and old feed upon larve, insects and berries,
and are very fond of clover. In the autumn they feed upon black
cherries, haws, mountain-ash berries and rose-hips. In the winter
they feed, in flocks of ten to twenty or more, on the buds of birch,
maple or ironwood, and seem to prefer the latter. During the
winter they feed but twice a day in cold weather. These times
are at dawn, indeed almost before it is light, and just as it is getting
dark. As soon as they have eaten their fill, they dive under the
snow and remain there until their next time of feeding. (Spread-
borough.) It breeds early, usually commencing to lay in April.
In April, 1897, I saw an egg as early as the 14th. Sometimes a

222 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

strange. locality is chosen for a nest. Once I found one contain-
ing twelve eggs at the foot of a beech tree, against the trunk and
protected by it; forty feet up was a red-shouldered hawk’s nest,
which in due time hatched out, as did the grouse at the foot. (Rev.
C. J. Young.)

3008. Gray Ruffed Grouse.
Bonasa umbellus umbelloides (DouGL.) BartrpD. 1858.

According to the A. O. U. List this form ranges from the United
States northward into British America, north to Alaska and east to
Manitoba. Mr. Seton, in his Bards of Manitoba, makes this form
the resident of the aspen woods of Manitoba, and the writer believes
this to be the species found in all parts of the wooded portions of
the western prairie and the foothills of the Rocky mountains, includ-
ing the aspen forests on the Peace river and northward down the
Mackenzie. Mr. W. Spreadborough reports this form to have been
common from Edmonton to Jasper House in the Yellow Head pass
in 1898, and from Lesser Slave lake to the Peace river, Atha., in
1903. In Alaska, however, Nelson states that this form is the only
one, and that it has its home in the spruce forests and goes north as
far as these forests extend. He also asserts that all specimens from
north of Great Slave lake, excepting the coast form, found along
the Pacific, are referable to the gray northern form. By a careful
sifting of the statements of the various observers it will be seen that
the range of the gray ruffed grouse and the Canadian ruffed grouse
are not well defined, and that these forms are so closely related that
Mr. Seton’s line of demarcation seems to be the true test of the
form, or rather colour, and that the resident of the aspen woods is
B. umbelloides, while that of the spruce forests is B. togata. This
leaves B. umbellus togata on the Atlantic coast and B. umbellus
sabini on the Pacific coast.

The common form in Manitoba. It was collected in 1906 in bluffs
and woods from Portage la Prairie, Man., to Edmonton, Alta.
(Atkinson.) Moderately common at Aweme, Man., in aspen and
willow thickets. Both the gray and the rusty forms are found at
Aweme in aspen woods though the latter is much the rarer one.
(Criddle.) Common at Midway, B. C., seen at Meyers creek,Sidley
and Penticton, B.C. (Spreadborough.) Most of the ruffed grouse

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 223

in the Cariboo district could be referred to this form but some
specimens were closer to typical wmbellus or to togata. (Brooks.)
Seen fat Lake Lebarge, Lower Lebarge and Rink rapids, Yukon.
We were told at Lower Lebarge that this species was rare there but
common near Rampart City Alaska. (Bzshop.)

BREEDING NotEs.—Two nests of this species were taken by the
writer at Revelstoke, B.C., on the 13th and 18th of May, 1890.
Both nests were in the same situation, on a burnt hillside beside a
fallen log. One contained six and the other seven eggs. Both sets
were quite fresh, but in each case the old bird rose from the nest or
near it. All the birds shot around Revelstoke were of this form,
except one which is good B. togata. This specimen may be a young
bird only a year old, and might have changed to true B. umbelloides
at the next moult.

300c, Oregon Ruffed Grouse.
Bonasa umbellus sabini (Douci.) Cours. 1872.

A few specimens of this bird were taken about Sitka by Bischoff,
and others have been found in British Columbia, so that there is no
doubt it occurs along the northwest coast as far as the heavily
wooded region in the vicinity of Kadiak and the adjoining main-
land. (Nelson.) One of the most abundant birds of the coast
region of British Columbia, including all the islands in the Gulf of
Georgia, Vancouver island and Queen Charlotte islands. To me
this form is quite distinct, but yet I have been told by sportsmen
that three varieties have been found in the same covey.

CXXXI. LAGOPUS Brisson. 1760.
301. Willow Ptarmigan.
Lagopus lagopus (LINN.) STEJN. 1885.

This species and the rock ptarmigan with their sub-species are
found throughout the whole northern part of the American con-
tinent including all the islands on the Atlantic side from Newfound-
land westward. Both species breed to the north of the thickly
wooded country but the willow ptarmigan is more southern and
less elevated in its range. In winter it enters the sub-arctic forest

“224 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

and often descends to the margins of the northern settlements,

but the rock ptarmigan is much less common.
The breeding range of this species extends across Labrador and

the region west of Hudson bay and stretches northward into the
Barren Grounds and southward into the spruce forest along their
southern border. In Alaska it is also abundant but is restricted
in summer to the barren sea-coast or on the open grounds of the
interior. Its winter range is less defined as it is found much further
south in some winters than in others. Mr. Brewster found this
species with young birds at Fox bay, Anticosti, in summer, so that
the southern breeding limit may extend much further south than
is indicated above.

A transient visitor about Montreal in winter, but common in
eastern Quebec north of the St. Lawrence. We have no account
of its occurrence in New Brunswick or Nova Scotia. A casual
visitor on the Gatineau, north of the city of Ottawa, and at the
Sault Ste. Marie, Lake Superior. Mr. Fleming records the taking
of a specimen near Whitby, Ont., May rsth, 1897. An unusual
southern migration took place in the winter of 1896-97 when Mr.
Fleming recorded willow ptarmigan from as far south as Lake Nipis-
sing. The points cited above show that it may be looked for in
winter in all the northern forests. Its winter range westward of
Lake Superior to Lake Winnipeg is not well defined but Mr. Seton
cites many instances of its occurrence in northern Manitoba and
west and east of Lake Winnipeg. Thence westward its winter
tange seems to be confined to spruce woods, seldom coming south of
lat 53° in the Saskatchewan country. Nelson and Turner unite in
stating that it is a plentiful resident on the entire mainland coast
of Alaska in summer; in winter it retires to the forest. Figgins
records it from Homer, the Kenai mountains and Popof island,
Alaska, Anderson from Mueller bay and Grinnell from Kadiak
island. The only notices of its occurrence in British Columbia are at
Dease lake and Atlin in the northern part of the province.

BREEDING NoTeEs.—Mr. A. P. Low has taken many eggs in Labra-
dor and says that the set ranges from nine to twelve. There is
nothing peculiar about the nest that would separate it from that
of the ruffed grouse. It was always found in a sheltered place,
however. First observed in Labrador on June 23rd a short distance

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 225

north of Fort George. Mr. A. Young on that date found a nest
with thirteen eggs. Incubation pretty far advanced. After this
a few were seen every day on islands in the bay until Richmond gulf
was reached. From there across Ungava to Ungava bay they
were very numerous and numbers of young were running about by
the first week in July. I have very little doubt that they pair in
the breeding season as we always found both old birds with the
young brood, and the males make just as much fuss as the female
if one happens to go near their young. Young birds nearly full
grown were shot August 13th, 1904, forty miles south of Cape Hen-
rietta Maria, James bay. (Spreadborough.)

30la. Allen Ptarmigan.
Lagopus lagopus allent STEJN. 1885.

Very abundant throughout the year, and the only lowland species
indigenous to Newfoundland. (Reeks.)

302. Rock Ptarmigan.

Lagopus rupestris (GMEL.) LEACH. 1817.

The range of this species is more alpine and more northern than
that of the willow grouse and hence its breeding range is more
northerly and its southward movement little beyond the margin
of the open country or Barren Grounds. This species is very abun-
dant on both sides of Hudson Strait, breeding in vast numbers on
the islands to the north of the strait. No authentic records of its
being taken in Ontario or southern Quebec have been seen, and
the same statement may be made of Manitoba and westward.

This bird is found around Hudson bay, on Melville peninsula
and the Barren Grounds, seldom going further south in winter than
lat. 63° in the interior, but descending along the coast of Hudson
bay to lat. 58°, and in severe seasons to lat. 55°. (Richardson.)
In crossing Ungava from Richmond gulf to Ungava bay, in 1896,
only two young ones were seen, and these were near Ungava bay,
on Sept. 14th. (Spreadborough.) Common from Hamilton inlet,
Labrador, northward. Beyond Okak the rock ptarmigan proba-
bably belong to the race retnhardi. (Bigelow.) Fairly common
as far north as the willow is met with. Found throughout the

15

226 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

year at Fullerton, Hudson bay but only in small numbers during
the winter, the main body migrating southward early in October.
Thousands were seen at that date crossing Chesterfield inlet in flocks
of several hundreds. They return from the south in May usually
in ‘small flocks. (A. P. Low.) North of the Mackenzie to the
Arctic coast, rather rare. (Ross.) This species is not nearly so
plentiful as the willow ptarmigan, and we only met with it in any
considerable numbers from Horton river, Barren Grounds, to the
shore of Franklin bay. Very few nests were found to the eastward
of that river or on the coast or ‘‘Barrens” of the lower Anderson.
(Macfarlane.) Common on the summits of most mountains on the
British Columbia mainland and on Vancouver island. Quite com-
mon at Atlin, B.C. (Kermode.) Three males were taken at White
Pass summit, B.C. (Bishop.) This beautiful bird is a common
resident of the Alaskan mainland, from Bering strait to the British
border on the east, including the entire north and south extent of
the mainland. (Nelson.) This species is found on all the hills
and higher ground along the entire coast region of Alaska. In the
interior it is found only on the mountain chains. It is abundant
within the Arctic circle down to Kadiak island. It is the only
species of ptarmigan found on the eastern Aleutian islands. (Turner.)
This species is a much less plentiful resident at Point Barrow than
the willow ptarmigan. It breeds not far from the station, aa I
never found its nest. (Murdoch.)

BREEDING Notes.—The rock ptarmigan builds its nest of grass,
etc., lined with finer grasses and some of its own feathers. The
usual complement is eight to ten eggs. (A. P. Low.) I have two
clutches of eggs from Herschell island, one of eleven the other of
eight eggs. Both nests consisted of hollows in the moss lined with
a few feathers. (W. Raine.)

302a. Reinhardt Ptarmigan.

Lagopus rupestris reinhardi (BREHM) BLasiIus. 1862.

The only species of the genus that inhabits Greenland, where it
occurs equally on the east as on the west coast, found on both Sabine
and Clavering islands; in great abundance on Parry islands and
Melville peninsula. (Arct. Man.) A resident at Ivigtut, but most
abundant in winter. (Hagerup.) According to Sabine, this bird

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 227

inhabits the islands lying on the southwest side of Baffin bay.
(Richardson.) The ptarmigan is common on Ellesmere island. Only
the hens change colour and become dark in the spring; with the
exception of a few dark feathers on the crown of their head the
cocks retain their white winter garb. (E. Bay.)

3026. Nelson Ptarmigan.
Lagopus rupestris nelsont STEJN 1884.

The types of this race were taken by Mr. Nelson, in spring, at
Unalaska, and Dall collected winter specimens at the same place.
This ptarmigan is common on the Aleutian islands at least from
Unalaska eastward, where it frequents the mountain tops and slopes,
breeding there in June. (Nelson.) A few pairs were seen on barren
rocky parts of the ‘‘Portage mountain’”’ between the head of the
Chulitna river and Swan lake, Alaska, and they were seen again
in the mountains on the Kanatak portage and about Cold bay. With
the material at hand I have been unable to satisfactorily distinguish
the rock ptarmigan of the Alaska peninsula from those of Unalaska
island. (Osgood.)

302c. Turner Ptarmigan.
Lagopus rupestris atkhensts (TURNER) NELSON. 1883.

This ptarmigan is quite plentiful on Atka, Amchitka and Attu
islands; it frequents the lowlands and hills of the western islands
of the Aleutian chain. The nest is built amongst the rank grasses
at the bases of the hills and lowlands near the beach. (Turner.)

302d. Townsend Ptarmigan.
Lagopus rupestris townsendt ELLIOT. 1896.

Kyska and Adak islands, Aleutian chain. The specimens, a
male and female, upon which this sub-species is founded were taken
on the 8th June, 1894, on Kyska island, and on the 4th July, 1893,
on Adak island, by Mr. Townsend. (The Auk, Vol. XIII, pp. 26-29,
1896.)

15%

228 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

302e. Evermann Ptarmigan,
Lagopus evermannt ELLIOT. 1896.

Seven specimens, five males and two females, from Attu island,
one of the Near Island group, brought by Prof. B. W. Evermann,
Mr. C. H. Townsend and Dr. S. I. Call are all the representatives
of this species yet obtained. The specimens described were taken
in May 1892, and June 1894. (The Auk, Vol. XIII, pp. 24-26,
1896.)

303. Welch Ptarmigan.
Lagopus welcht BREWST. 1885.

A truly alpine species in Newfoundland, rarely found below
the line of stunted black spruce. (Reeks.) When Mr. Reeks
wrote as above he believed this form to be the common rock ptar-
migan. Since then Mr. William Brewster, of Cambridge, Mass.,
obtained specimens from Newfoundland, collected in 1883 by Mr.
Welch, which led him to separate this form from the rock ptarmigan.
Mr. Brewster says that according to Mr. Welch these ptarmigan
are numerous in Newfoundland, where they are strictly confined
to the bleak sides and summits of rocky hills and mountains in the
interior. Unlike the willow grouse of that island, which wander
long distances and frequently cross the gulf to Labrador, the rock
ptarmigan are very local, and for the most part spend their lives on
or near the hills where they were reared.

304. White-tailed Ptarmigan.
Lagopus leucurus Swains. & RIcH. 1831.

Mr. Drummond obtained four specimens of this bird in lat. 54°,
and another was obtained nine degrees further to the north by Mr.
Macpherson. They inhabit the summits of the Rocky mountains.
(Richardson.) North on the Mackenzie to Lapierre House in the
mountains. (Ross.) Observed on the mountains above timber
line both east and west of McLennan river, lat. 54°, B.C., in July
and August of 1898; not rare on the mountains along the Chilliwack
river, B.C. (Spreadborough.) Summits of most of the mountains
of the mainland; Beaver pass, Mr. George Hyde; Cassiar, Mr.

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 229

James Porter. (Fannin.) Resident on mountain tops; the only
species of ptarmigan observed in the Cariboo district in winter.
(Brooks.) Chapman refers summer specimens collected by Osgood
at Glacier bay and White pass to true leucurus, Cook inlet specimens
to peninsularis.

BREEDING Notes.—This species was found on the summits of
all the western mountains which have been ascended by the writer.
On July 18th, 1887, a hen bird with a brood of chicks was found at
an altitude of 6,000 feet on Mount Arrowsmith, Vancouver island ;
on August 812th, 1889, numerous broods were seen on the Gold
range, B.C., at an altitude pf 7,500 feet; on August 24th, 1885, three
large broods were seen on the summit of Avalanche mountain,
near Glacier, B.C.; and lastly a brood was seen on the summit of
Sulphur mountain, close to Banff, Rocky mountains, on September
ist, 1897. In all the cases cited, the birds were quite tame and the
chicks had no apparent fear. In only one case was the nest found.
It was a slight depression by a large stone with a lining of grass and
a few feathers.

304a. Kenai White-tailed Ptarmigan.

Lagopus leucurus peninsularis CHAPMAN. 1902.

Described from twenty-six specimens collected by Figgins in the
Kenai mountains, Alaska.

One specimen taken at Bear creek, Cook inlet, Alaska; said to be

found in a few restricted localities in the mountains on the northwest
side of Lake Clark, Alaska peninsula. (Osgood.)

CXXXII. TYMPANUCHUS Gtocer. 1842.
305. Prairie Hen. Pinnated Grouse.

Tympanuchus americanus (REICH.) RipGw. 1886.

In the first week of May, 1886, one specimen was shot on Hamilton
beach; from various sources I have learned that this species is still
seen along the southwestern frontier of Ontario, but their numbers
are decreasing. (McIlwraith.) Mr. Fleming does not believe that
the specimen recorded by MclIlwraith was a native bird or that it
ever came as far east as Lake Ontario. Mr. E. T. Seton in his Birds

230 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

of Manitoba gives a circumstantial account of the introduction of
this bird into Manitoba, and shows that its first recorded appearance
was in 1881 when one specimen was shot near Winnipeg. In the
autumn of 1882 one specimen was shot at Portage la Prairie. From
that time on it became more and more abundant in Manitoba, and
in the autumn of 1895 the writer saw one in the flesh killed at Indian
Head, Sask. This species seems to be a true prairie bird as observers
speak of it always being found in the open, even in the severest
weather.

Rapidly increasing in numbers with the spread of settlement in
Manitoba and the west preferring cultivated lands. It is resident
wherever found and will scratch through 4 considerable depth of snow
for food in stubble fields and on ploughed lands, seldom feeding in
the bush from wild food. I have specimens from southern Sas-
katchewan where the bird is making its way in from Dakota.
(Atkinson.) This bird has to a large extent taken the place of the
sharp-tailed grouse in Manitoba. Nests have been found in long
grass and in stubble fields. (Criddle.)

CXXXIII. PEDIGECETES Batrp. 1858.

308. Northern Sharp-tailed Grouse.
Pediecetes phasianellus (LINN.) ELLioT. 1862.

One speeimen taken at the Saguenay river; another was ex-
posed for sale in the market of Quebec, 1887; Mr. Cooper says
it has been taken in the valley of Lake St. John. (Dionne.) Re-
ported as being found on the market at Sault Ste. Marie by Mr.
Bampton. (McIlwraith.) Only one observed during the trip
to Labrador in 1896. This specimen was shot, June 18th, a short
distance south of Fort George. Said to be common at Moose
Factory and Fort George in winter. Common on James bay from
the mouth of Hannah river to East Point. Young able to fly July 8th,
1904. On Oct. 13th, 1896, a specimen was brought to me at Beau-
maris, Muskoka lake, Ont. It had been killed within a mile of the
place. Shortly afterwards I heard of two more being taken by Mr.
Fraser, of Port Cockburn, at the head of Lake Joseph. Also of one
or more at Bracebridge and several at Parry Sound. The bird I
handled was a very dark bird and it is evidently to be classed with
the northern variety. Since the above capttres I have not heard

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 231

of any other birds being taken in Muskoka district. (Spreadborough.)
Two males taken at Norway House, Lake Winnipeg, June 18th,
common there in September. Downy young taken at Oxford
House and‘old birds at Echimamish. (Preble.) According to
Bishop Newnham, the sharp-tails arrive at Moose Factory, James
bay from the northeast. They frequently stay all winter and leave
inthespring. At Lake Abitibi they are said to occur pretty regularly
in October. On Lake Temiskaming they do not seem to occur
regularly, though the bird is frequently found there in October.
(J. H. Fleming.) :

Mr. A. P. Low puts its northern limit in Labrador at lat. 57°. It
has been killed in winter at Great Whale river. Since the building
of the Canadian Pacific railway this bird has been seen frequently
on the line between Mattawa, on the Ottawa river, and Fort William,
west of Lake Superior. It has been supposed to be the prairie species
working east, but its dark colour shows that it is the northern bird.
It is extremely probable that in coming years it will be a common
“ species in the sparsely settled parts of northern Ontario.

The northern limit of the range of this grouse is Great Slave
lake, on the 61st parallel. It abounds on the outskirts of the
Saskatchewan plains, and is found throughout the wooded districts
of the Northwest Territories. (Richardson.) This grouse breeds
in the pine forests on both sides of the Lockhart and Upper Anderson
rivers, where one or two nests were met with. (Macfarlane.) The
form occuring at Quesnel, B.C. is apparently the typical northern
species. (Brooks.) This bird is mentioned by Dall as a not un-
common species at Fort Yukon and for 200 miles down this river
to the Ramparts, below which it was not found. (Nelson.)

BREEDING NoTes.—These birds keep in pairs or small flocks
and frequent the juniper plains all the year. The buds of these
shrubs are their principal food in winter, as their berries are in
summer. They generally remain about the same spot, unless dis-
turbed; their flights are short. They frequently walk on the ground
and when raised will fly to the top of an adjacent tree. In June
they make a nest on the ground with grass and feathers. They lay
from four to seven white eggs with coloured spots. (Hutchins vide
Seton.)

232 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

308a. Columbian Sharp-tailed Grouse.
Pediecetes phasianellus columbianus (ORD) CouEs. 1872.

An abundant resident east of the Coast range. I found this
bird very abundant along the Cariboo road, from Pavillion mountain
to the 108-mile post. (Fannin.) Common in some places in the
interior, but said by settlers to be constantly diminishing in numbers.
(Streator.) Seen at Midway, Meyers creek, Similkameen river and
Lake Osoyoos, southern B.C., in 1905, young hatched by May 2nd.
Common among the sage brush at Penticton, B.C.. I found the males
in bands of 10 to 25 dancing all through April, 1903. I shot five
and all were males which leads me to think that the females take no
part in the dance. Not uncommon at Spence Bridge and Kamloops,
B.C. in 1889. (Spreadborough.) Abundant at 150-mile House,
B.C.; scarce at Quesnel. Those taken at the latter place show a
close approach to typical phastanellus. (Brooks.)

308). Prairie Sharp-tailed Grouse.

Pediecetes phasianellus campestris RipGw 1884.

This form is very abundant from Manitoba westward. It has
been taken in the foothills but not high up in the mountains. We
have arbitrarily, and without seeing the specimens, referred all
prairie records here.

Common in the broken woody country, essentially a bird of small
bluffs and usually nesting close to bushes, laying from 10 to 24 eggs.
At the approach of winter a large percentage of these birds retire to
the more wooded country and to the low sand-hills near Aweme,
Man. (Criddle.) Very abundant at Indian Head, Sask., found
feeding in stubble fields and around old straw-stacks. The males
collect in large numbers on some hill about the end of April or
beginning of May to have their annual dance which they keep up for a
month or six weeks. It is almost impossible to drive them away
from one of their hills when they are dancing. One day about
the middle of May, I shot into a dancing party killing two and
wounding another which flew a short distance. I went to get it and
before I got back to pick up the dead birds the others were back
dancing around them, I fired into them again, killing two and in
less than five minutes they were back dancing again as though

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 233

nothing had happened. The furthest west I have seen these birds was
25 miles west of Edmonton, Alta. and on the Peace River prairies,
Atha. (Spreadborough.) Abundant from Portage la Prairie north-
westward to Edmonton, Alta. This bird and the pinnated grouse
do not agree well together. (Atkinson.) Very common in willow
thickets and other low underbrush near Crane lake, Bear lake, and
Cypress hills, Sask. (Bishop & Bent.)

The prairie sharp-tailed grouse is of comparatively recent in-
troduction in Ontario, coming east after the building of the Canadian
Pacific railway and occurring at Port Arthur and possibly elsewhere.
(J. H. Fleming.)

BREEDING NoTEes.—The nest of this species is placed in the
long, rank grass under some tuft that will aid in its concealment,
and is usually not far from a tract of brush-land or other cover.
It is little more than a slight hollow in the ground, arched over by
the grass. The eggs are usually fourteen, but sometimes fifteen
or sixteen in number. Immediately before expulsion they are of
a delicate bluish-green; on being laid they show a purplish grape-
like bloom; after a few days exposure they become of a deep choco-
late brown, with a few dark spots. After a fortnight has transpired
they are usually of a dirty white; this change is partly due to bleach-
ing, and partly to the scratching they receive from the mother’s
bill and feet. (Seton.) Our eggs of this species are exactly the size
of the upland plover, being 1.75 x 1.25.

CXXXIV. CENTROCERCUS Swainson. 1831.
309. Sage Grouse.
Centrocercus urophasianus (BONAP.) SWAINS. 1831.

In June, 1895, while the writer was making an examination of
the prairie region north of the International boundary between
Wood mountain, Sask., on the east and Chief mountain in the
west, special efforts were made to map out the range of the sage
hen. It had been found in the valley of Frenchman river by the
Boundary Commission in 1874, where it was recorded by Dr. G.
M. Dawson. On June 14th we went into the ‘‘Bad Lands,” south
of Wood mountain and had the good fortune to come upon about
a dozen males where there was a little sage brush (Artemisia cana.)

234 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

They all escaped and a whole day was spent trying to locate the
females but none was seen. A week later we reached the valley
of the White Mud or Frenchman river, a tributary of the Missouri,
and before an hour had seen a number of old birds with young,
and located a nest under sage brush where the chicks were just
emerging from the shell. From this nest I obtained two nearly
perfect eggs. Specimens were procured and later we traced the
birds up the valley of the White Mud to its source in the Cypress
hills. In no case was any bird found away from Artemisia cana.
At Osoyoos lake where the species has heen taken, the true sage
brush (Artemisia tridentata) occurs in some quantity. We saw no
signs of this species in the upper Milk river valley although we
travelled along it for more than 100 miles.

The only sage grouse we recorded was seen by Mr. C. S. Day,
one of our party near Skull creek, Sask., June gth, 1905. (A.C.
Bent.) Three specimens were taken by Mr. G. B. Martin, M.P.P.,
at Osoyoos lake, B.C., in October, 1864. Mr. Charles de B. Green,
writing from Osoyoos, March 21st, 1896, said he had two most
reliable reports of the occurrence of sage hens in this locality,
(Fannin.) .

Famity XXVI. _PHASIANIDA Pueasants, TurKEYs, &c.
CXXXV. MELEAGRIS. Linnaeus. 1758.
310a. Wild Turkey.

Meleagris gallopavo silvestris (VIEILL.) ALLEN. 1902.

Wild turkeys were formerly quite common in southwestern
Ontario, but are now getting rare. In 1880 Dr. Garnier, of Luck-
now, killed two males ‘‘at Leguis farm near Mitchell bay,’ and in.
1884 saw a dead female at Chatham station which had just been
killed. (McIlwratth.) Last specimen seen alive at Plover Mills,
Ont., was in 1870. (R. Elliott.) Dr. Brodie says that many years
ago (between 1840 and 1850), a well known and reliable hunter
saw a flock on the west side of Yonge St. in the township of White-
church, near Toronto, Ont.; wild turkeys certainly came as far
east as Hamilton and Mr. C. W. Nash was informed by an old resident
of Dundas that they were found at one time on a farm, now just
outside of the city limits. (J. H. Fleming.)

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 235
CXXXVI. PHASIANUS Linnaeus. 1858.
Ring-necked Pheasant.
Phasianus torquatus LINN. 1858.

Introduced from China; now thoroughly acclimatized on Van-
couver island and portions of the mainland of British Columbia.
(Fannin.) There were many pheasants in the fields near Victoria
in the winter of 1906-1907. I saw as many as 50 0r 60 at one
time. (Spreadborough.)

ORDER COLUMB: PIcEons.

Famity XXVII. COLUMBIDZ Piczons.

CXXXVII. COLUMBA Linnaeus. 1758.
312. Band-tailed Pigeon.

Columba fasciata Say. 1823.

Never seen in large flocks in British Columbia. (Lord.) A very
common summer resident in the coast district; flocks of several
hundred have been seen sitting in the trees at one time. (Streator.)
Irregular through the southern portions of British Columbia; a
summer resident; tolerably. common. (Fannin.) Abundant sum-
mer resident in lower Fraser valley. (Brooks.) Abundant on the
south end of Vancouver island. A summer resident also on the
mainland and in the valley of the Fraser river. Saw a number in
the trees on the beach at Douglas, B.C., April 17th, 1906, and others
in the Chilliwack valley later in the season. (Spreadborough.)

CXXXVIII. ECTOPISTES Swainson. 1827.
315. Passenger Pigeon. A
Ectopistes migratorius (LINN.)» SWAINS. 1827.

The passenger pigeon is now extinct in Canada. The references
which follow show its former distribution. Recent supposed records
all probably refer to the next species. In The Auk, Vol. XX p. 66
and The Ottawa Naturalist, Vol. XX, pp. 236 and 237, Mr. J. H.
Fleming gives lists of all the latest records.

236 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

At one time breeding in Nova Scotia, but now scarcely if ever
seen. (Downs.) Very seldom seen in New Brunswick now, but
formerly abundant. (Chamberlain.) Specimens obtained at Moose
Factory, Hudson Bay, by Drexler, August, 1860. Verrill saw a
single individual at Heath point, Anticosti, in 1860. (Packard.)
Fort Churchill, Hudson bay. (Clarke.) Charlesbourg, possibly
breeds in Quebec. (Dtonne.) Common migrant in the district of
Montreal, in 1862. (Dr. Hall.) Transient visitor; scarce. Two
were shot the latter end of August, 1883, at Chambly, and one
was shot September 15th, 1885, on the spur of Mount Royal; and
two were shot at the latter place by myself, one, September 1oth,
1886, and the other one September 1st, 1888, both of which are
now in my collection of bird skins. Mr. C. W. Johnson, of Lachine,
says he shot fifteen wild pigeons in the woods, four miles north of
that place on the 9th December, 1888. The specimens I shot
appear to be a female and young male bird. I saw a female or
immature passenger pigeon in a tree in Mount Royal Park, June
4th, 1891. (Wunile.) A summer resident; breeds. (Ottawa Nat-
uralist, Vol. V.) I shot a bird of this species about three miles
west of Renfrew, Ont., in September, 1888. (Rev. C. J. Young.)
A few straggling pairs are still seen in southern Ontario where
they probably breed, but the large annual migrations have entirely
ceased. (MclIlwraith.) Breeding in an aspen grove at Northwest
Angle, Lake of the Woods, Man., 1873. (G. M. Dawson.) Has
been very rare for a number of years at Aweme, Man. The last
individual seen was a male bird on Sept. 21st, 1902. The first
arrival in 1899 was April 8th. (Criddle.)

This celebrated pigeon arrives in the Northwest Territories in
the latter end of May, and departs in October. It annually reaches
the 62nd parallel in the warmer central districts, but reaches the
58th parallel on the shores of Hudson bay in fine summers only.
(Richardson.) North, on the Mackenzie, to Fort Norman; not
common. (Ross.) Probably now extinct in British Columbia.
(Fannin.)

In Birds of Manitoba Mr. Seton shows that it still bred in con-
siderable numbers in northern Manitoba, as late as 1887. While
making an exploration in northern Manitoba, in the summer of
1881, the writer had the good fortune to discover a small breeding

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 237

place of these birds on the 23rd June. It was on the left bank of
the Waterhen river, a deep stream which connects Lake Manitoba
with Lake Winnipegosis. There were less than a score of nests
which were variously placed, some of them less than ten feet from
the ground, and not in large trees. They were such flimsy struc-
tures that the eggs were clearly seen through the interstices from
below, and one old bird was shot as she sat. Only two eggs were
taken.

In the latter part of August and early in September of the same
year, on the Swan river, above Livingstone, and also on the upper
Assiniboine, we saw large flocks and as food was scarce we shot
large numbers for the pot. The low flats along the river were
covered with Cornus stolonifera, and on the ripe berries of this
shrub they were feeding.

CXXXIX. +» ZENAIDURA Bonaparte. 1854.
316. Mourning Dove.
Zenaidura macroura (LINN.) RipGw. 1885.

Appears to be becoming common. A few killed every year in
Nova Scotia. (Downs.) Several records and captures in Nova
Scotia, most often in October. (H. F. Tujts.) Occasionally taken
in New Brunswick. (Chamberlain.) Taken at Chateau Richer,
Montmorency county; three specimens at Godbout, one at St.
Joachim, and one at Quebec. (Dionne.) One killed in the district
of Montreal, in June, ,1838. (Dr. Hall.) The mourning dove
breeds sparingly throughout southern Ontario. (McIlwratth.)
Regular summer resident at Toronto, Ont., never very common.
(J. H. Fleming.) I met with this species in Leeds county, Ont.,
on two occasions and more recently (1903) in the township of Oso,
north Frontenac. A few pairs breed there; one nest was placed
in a large stump. More common to the west of London, Ont.,
than in its vicinity. Sometimes comes into the outskirts of the
city and breeds in gardens. (W. Saunders.) Occasionally seen in
winter at Plover Mills, Ont. (R.. Eliott.)

Has become quite common at Aweme, Man., within recent years.
Flocks of a hundred or more are not uncommon. (Criddle.) In-

238 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

ereasing in numbers in Manitoba and the west with the increase
of settlement. Very abundant along the Assiniboine river, and in
1906 noted regularly and in considerable numbers as far west as
Yorkton, Sask., but not beyond that point. (Atkinson.) A few
stragglers, males, seen at Indian Head, Sask., in the spring of 1892.
One seen on the trail between Lesser Slave lake and the Peace river
in 1903. (Spreadborough.) Common, breeding in the timber on
Maple creek and Skull creek, Sask. (A.C. Bent.) Maple creek,
Cypress hills and Big Stick lake, Sask., and MacKay creek, Alta.
(Bishop.) This bird is increasing rapidly in Manitoba and the
Northwest. a

Never seen in large flocks in British Columbia. (Lord.) Not
uneommon in the interior; more were seen near the coast. (Streator.)
Saw one at Chilliwack lake, B.C., a few at Trail, Columbia river, B.C.,
two at Osovoos lake and several on the Similkameen river. (Spread-
borough.) Mainland and Vancouver island; , nowhere conimon.
(Fannin.) Tolerably common summer resident in the lower Fraser
valley; scarce in southern parts of Cariboo district. (Brooks.)
The writer has found this bird numerous at only two points, between
Manitoba and the Pacific coast. These were Medicine Hat, Sask.,
and Spence Bridge, B.C. In both places they were evidently breed-
ing but no nests were taken.

BREEDING Notes.—A tolerably common summer resident near
Portage la Prairie, Man., breeding in small wild plum trees. It
arrives about the first of May. Nest found containing two eggs,
on which the bird was sitting, June 7th, 1885. (Nash vide Seton.)
On July rst, 1899, Mr. Robert Fraser, of Plover Mills, Ont., found
a nest of this species in the middle of his clover meadow. This
is the first that has come under my notice of this bird nesting on
the ground. I examined the nest and saw the shells of two eggs.
Nest a poor affair of a few small twigs. (R. Elliott.) These birds
have two or three broods in a season, usually building a frail nest
of sticks in a bush or tree, three or four feet from the ground, in
which they lay two white eggs. Nests late in the season are
much more compactly built and are lined more or less with the
inner bark of aspens. These birds are very fond of salt. (Criddle.)

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS 239
RAPTORES. Birps oF PREY.
FaMiIty XXVIII. CATHARTIDAs. AMERICAN VULTURES.

CXL. GYMNOGYPS. SEsson. 1842.

324. California Vulture.

Gymnogyps californianus (SHAW) SESSON. 1842.

A rare visitant at the mouth of the Fraser river, B.C., apparently
attracted by the dead salmon.

In September, 1880, I saw two of these birds at Burrard Inlet.
(Fannin.) This species was said by David Douglas to be a common
species as far north as the 4oth parallel in 1826. At that time it
was extremely abundant in the valley of the Columbia between the
Grand Rapids and the Pacific. (Richardson.) Seen on Lulu island
(in the Fraser river near its mouth) as late as ‘‘three or four years
ago’? by Mr. W. London. None seen since 1892. (Rhoads.) On the
roth September, 1896, I saw between Calgary and the Rocky moun-
tains two fine specimens of the California vulture. (J. Fannin in
The Auk, Vol. XIV, p. 89.) As the specimens were not collected
we are inclined to doubt the occurrence of this species so far east.

CXLI. CATHARTES. Iiicer. 1811.
325. Turkey Buzzard.

Cathartes aura (LINN.) SPIX. 1825.

A turkey buzzard was shot in 1905 near Renews, not far from
the whale factory at Aquaforte, Newfoundland. (Wm. Brewster.)
Mr. John Crowell informs me that he has taken a specimen at Seal
island, Yarmouth county, N.S. (H. F. Tujts.) Accidental in New
Brunswick. One was taken in Victoria county and is now in the
Crown Lands Department at Fredericton. Another was observed
the same spring but no dates were given. (W. H. Moore.) One
specimen recorded as taken in New Brunswick by Mr. Boardman.
(Chamberlain.) About 1oth January, 1884, some farmers in the
neighbourhood of Nequac, an Acadian village on the northern

240 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

shore of Miramichi bay, New Brunswick, observed what they took
to be a stray turkey feeding almost daily around their houses and
farm yards. The imposture was discovered when it was found
feeding on a dead sheep, and it was killed on the 29th of the same
month. Towards the middle of September, 1886, I was astonished
to learn that another turkey buzzard had been captured by Mr. David
Savoy, of Black Brook, about 20 miles from Nequac in a direct line.
I am also informed by a gentleman who saw the bird after it was
killed that a turkey buzzard was shot five years’ago in the vicinity
of Kingston, Kentco. (Philip Cox, jr., in The Auk, Vol. IV, 205.)
The Bishop of Moosonee informed me that a specimen was taken
at Moose Factory, on James bay, in June, 1898, by one of his men.
Accidental near Toronto, Ont. One was killed in the township of
Pickering (about 30 miles east of Toronto) in 1887. (J. H. Fleming.)
As far as I am aware this species has been observed only in the
southwestern part of the province of Ontario; Mr. Wagstaff writes
that he has frequently seen it in Essex co. and once at Baptiste
creek, some years since. (MclIlwratth.) Mr. John Sullivan of Ker-
wood, Lambton co., has found the nest of this bird, and as it is
common in the three western counties it doubtless breeds in fair
numbers. I once saw 19 individuals in a single field at Forest,
Ont. (W. E. Saunders.) In Upper Canada near Sandwich and
Lake St. Clair, in 1823, I saw vast numbers of C. aura and had
every opportunity of watching their habits. (David Douglas.)
The above extract taken from Richardson’s Fauna Boreali Ameri-
cana shows the change that has taken place since then.

Very rare in Manitoba. May possibly breed at Aweme, Man.
(Criddle.) This bird is a regular summer resident about Portage la
Prairie and generally throughout Manitoba where it is a daily visitor
at the slaughter houses and refuse dumping grounds. (Atkinson.)
A tolerably common summer resident in many parts of the prairie
region extending from Winnipeg, Man., to the Rocky Mountains.
Seton, in his Birds of Manitoba, says that it breeds near Qu’Ap-
pelle, and as others have seen it in pairs it doubtless breeds in other
localities. In May, 1895, the writer found it breeding near Home’s
Ranch at the mouth of Old Wives creek in eastern Saskatchewan.
In June of the same year a few pairs were seen in the Cypress hills
at Farewell creek, and occasional birds were noticed at Medicine Hat,
Crane lake, at West Butte and along the Milk river; three were

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 241

seen at different times at Edmonton, Alta., in May, 1897, by W.
Spreadborough. One was seen at Banff in 1891, and they were
seen in numbers at Deer Park on the Columbia river in June,. 1890;
a few observed at Vernon, B.C., in July, 1889. (Macoun.) A few
seen sailing over the timber on Skull creek, Sask., June 5th, 1905,
and June 25th, 1906. (A.C. Bent.) Distributed throughout British
Columbia, but nowhere common, though in September, 1887, I saw
about a dozen together at the mouth of Harrison river. (Fannin.)
One seen at Nanaimo, July 11th, 1893, and in the autumn of 1889
about a dozen at Victoria, Vancouver island; saw two at Elko, B.C.,
May 2nd, 1904; one at Sidley, B.C., May 15th, 1905, and found it
common on Lake Okanagan, B.C., in 1903; in June, 1901, eight
were seen at Chilliwack, B.C., and one in 1906. (Spreadborough.)
Fannin, on page 34 of the catalogue of the museum at Victoria,
B.C., describes two vultures in the park at Beacon hill. He has
since written me that they proved to be this species.

BREEDING NoteEs.—I never saw the turkey vulture in Manitoba,
but have often seen it in Saskatchewan, where it breeds. A set
of two eggs in my collection was taken near Moose Jaw, Sask.,
May 12th, 1897. I also found it breeding at Rush lake in May,
1893. It lays two eggs on the ground, usually on the sloping bank
of a stream. (W. Raine.) Nest on the ground or in a hollow log
or stump. (McIlwraith.)

CXLII CATHARISTA VreEILLoT. 1816.

326. Black Vulture.
Catharista urubu VIEILL. 1817.

About half a dozen specimens taken near St. Stephen, N:B., by
Mr. Boardman. (Chamberlain.) A black vulture was shot at Pug-
wash, Cumberland county, N.S., on Jan. 12th, 1896, and was brought
to Halifax where I identified it. (Harry Piers in The Auk, Vol,
XV, 1896.) On the 28th October last a black vulture was killed
on the beach at Beauport, about six miles from Quebec; the bird
was flying towards carrion. This is, I believe, the first record of a
bird of this species being found so far north. It was an adult male.

(C. E. Dionne in The Auk, Vol. XV, 53.)
16

242 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
Famity XXIX. FALCONIDA. Fatcons, Hawks, Eacizs, &c..
CXLIU. ELANOIDES Viervor. 1818.
327. Swallow-tailed Kite.
: Elanotdes forficatus (LINN.) CovuES. 1875.

Casual. One specimen was observed through a glass by Mr.
G. R. White, perched on a flag-staff at the rifle range at Ottawa.
prior to 1881. (Ottawa Naturalist, Vol. V, p. 38.) Mr. Hay reports
one as having been seen at Port Sidney, Ont., on July 15th, 1897;
it sailed several times about his place, and was distinctly seen.
I have also an old specimen taken many years ago in Ontario.
(J. H. Fleming.) Only one individual has been seen at Aweme,.
Man., in 23 years. (Criddle.)

CXLIV. CIRCUS. Lac&pEpE. 1801.
331. Marsh Hawk. Marsh Harrier.
Circus hudsonius (LINN.) VIEILL. 1807.

Rare in Newfoundland. Only once seen at Cow head. (Reeks.):
Rather uncommon at Humber river, Newfoundland. (Lows H.
Porter.) ‘Audubon. saw it in Labrador. (Packard.) The following
are our most northern references to this bird: Spreadborough found
it abundant on both sides of James bay in July and August, 1904;
Preble saw it at York Factory and Fort Churchill; Dr. Robert Bell.
records it from York Factory, Hudson bay; Clarke mentions its
occurrence at Fort Churchill, on the west side of the bay, and Rich-
ardson places its northern limit at Great Bear lake, in lat. 65°.
Bernard Ross, on the other hand, places its northern limit at Great.
Slave lake, and says that it is scarce there.

It is a summer resident and generally distributed in Prince Edward
Island, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Qyebec:
and Ontario, and is very abundant throughout the whole prairie
region, breeding as far north as Great Bear lake.

Rare in the mountains, but not uncommon in the Columbia
valley from Revelstoke south. Rather common westward, and
becoming abundant at Sicamous and westward to Spence Bridge,

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 243

B.C. (Macoun.) Seen at Penticton, Meyers creek and Sidley, B.C,
(Spreadborough.) Abundant on the mainland of British Columbia
at Sumas, Chilliwack, mouth of the Fraser, and east of the Coast
range. Partially migratory. A few are found throughout the
winter in the neighbourhood of Ladner’s, near the mouth of the
Fraser. (Fannin.) Observed in winter at Lake Okanagan, B.C.
(Brooks.) Noted at every stopping-place in British Columbia.
Nowhere abundant. (Rhoads.) These birds are numerous through-
out northern Alaska during the migrations. They are seen frequent-
ly along the barren coast of Bering sea, and have been recorded as
rather uncommon in the interior. (Nelson.) This bird appears
to be a resident of the Yukon district only between the early part
of April and late November. The species is a rare summer visitor
on Attu island. (Turner.) I saw this species- at Cape Blossom,
Kotzebue sound, Alaska, on two occasions. Marsh hawks were
frequently noted at our winter camp on the Kowak the last of
August. (Grinnell.) Seen at several places in the interior of Yukon
and Alaska in 1899. One was seen at Homer, Alaska, and another
at Hope, in 1900. Noted at Nushagak, and by the Chulitna and
Kakbitul rivers, Alaska peninsula. (Osgood.) Hawks are not
common in the Cook inlet region, Alaska. This species is probably
the most common. It was seen at all points visited. (Figgins.)

BREEDING NoTEes.—This species breeds frequently in the neigh-
bourhood of Ottawa. Its nest is composed of dry grass with a few
dry sticks, probably to strengthen it. There is an inner lining of
feathers few and far between to form a bed for the eggs, which are
from four to six in number, of a dull white with the faintest shade
of green and soiled, but no decided spots on them. The nest is
built on the ground, or at the base of a low bush near a marsh,
about the middle of May. (G. R. White.) Besides in the large
marshes and the small ones, this bird will even breed in an unculti-
vated field at times, and is, if anything, more common than formerly.
Nest on the ground, among shrubs, generally in a swampy place.
Eggs four or five, white, rapidly soiled. (W. E. Saunders.) An
abundant breeding species everywhere throughout Manitoba and
west through Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta. Noted breed-
ing in all stages of plumage from reddish brown of first year to blue
of mature birds, but also note that pairs are always alike in plumage.
I never saw a red marsh hawk with a blue mate. (Atkinson.)

16%

244 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

This is a well-distributed summer resident in the counties of
Renfrew, Leeds and Lanark, in eastern Ontario. It arrives in the
early part of April and does not leave until October. I have found
its nest, on several occasions, in marshy places. Once in a small
marsh, township of Escott, Leeds county, near a public road. This
was on the 22nd May, 1893. The nest contained five eggs almost
as much spotted as those of the red-shouldered hawk. The nest.
was built on the end of an old log that was partly covered with
moss and other growth and surrounded by rushes. It was formed
of sticks, and grass stalks were used for lining. This species breeds
every year at the head of Wolfe island and lower down the St,
Lawrence. Its eggs are seldom laid before May 18th in eastern
Ontario. (Rev. C. J. Young.) Breeds in abundance on the prairies,
but prefers bushy places for nesting in. Its nest is built on the
ground, of sticks and lined with coarse grass. Mr. Spreadborough.
found two nests near Medicine Hat in May, 1894. Both were located
amongst a low growth of snow-berry (Symphoricarpus racemosus)
and contained four eggs. (Macoun.)

I have found this bird breeding throughout Manitoba, Saskatche-
wan and Alberta. It makes its nest on the ground, consisting of
a heap of marsh hay, and lays from five to seven eggs. I took a
set of five eggs at Crescent lake, Sask., on June 5th, 1901. I have
another set of seven eggs taken in northern Alberta, May 24th, 1898.
(W. Raine.)

In June, 1865, an Eskimo snared a female bird on her nest in a
willow bush along the lower Anderson river, about lat. 68° 30’. It
contained five eggs. In June, 1866, a nest composed of twigs and
grasses, &c., was found in a similar position; ‘there were six eggs
in this nest. (Macfarlane.)

CXLV. ACCIPITER. Brisson. 1760.
332. Sharp-shinned Hawk.

Accipiter velox (WILS.) ViGoRS. 1824.
U

This is one of the commonest hawks we have in the greater part
of the Dominion.

Spreadborough saw only one, when exploring, in northern Labra-
dor, July 8th, 1896. Richardson records the taking of one at

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 245

Moose Factory on James bay, and Fieldon records one taken by
Captain Markham near York Factory in August, 1886. These re-
cords cover our knowledge of its occurrence in the Hudson bay
region, though Preble saw it at Norway House, Oxford House and
Hill river. Reeks and Porter record it as a common summer resi-
dent in Newfoundland, the writer found it common on Prince
Edward Island, Downs and Tufts say it is equally so in Nova Scotia
and Chamberlain says it is the commonest hawk in New Brunswick.
All observers agree that in Quebec and Ontario it is a common
summer resident. Seton makes it a common species in the wooded
_ parts of Manitoba, and the writer found it everywhere on the prairie
regions where there was brush or trees. Ross says it is common
on the Mackenzie to lat. 62° at Fort Simpson. With the above
records we are safe in saying that it is found in all the wooded
country south of lat. 60°. Our mountain records show that it is
common at Banff and in the whole valley of the Columbia, more
especially at Revelstoke and Arrow lakes, also in the valley of
the Thompson river, from Eagle Pass to Kamloops, but in southern
British Columbia, it is apparently not so common. Fannin and
Brooks report it common west of the Coast range in British Columbia,
while the writer and Mr. Spreadborough found it common on Van-
couver island. Turner and Nelson say that it is common in the
wooded parts of Alaska, straggling northward into the tundra.

Two small hawks, supposed to be this species, were seen at Skide-
gate, Queen Charlotte islands, July 12th, 1900. Mr. Keen reports
its occurrence at Massett. One specimen was seen in battle with a
pair of ravens at Malchatna river, Alaska. (Osgood.) Seen occa-
sionally in the timber belt at Homer, Alaska. (Figgins.) Sevgal
sharp-shinned hawks were seen about our winter quarters on the
Kowak, Kotzebue sound, Alaska, the last week in August. Noted
on several occasions on wooded mountain sides at Sitka, Alaska.
Noisy young were following their parents on August 5th, 1897.
(Grinnell)

BREEDING NotEs.—In the vicinity of Ottawa this species gener-
ally builds about the end of May or first of June in a hemlock tree,
about twenty feet from the ground. The nest is made of dry sticks,
lined with some kind of bark and nearly resembles a crow’s nest.
The eggs, four or five in number, are white with a slight purplish

246 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

tint marked with splashes of various shades of brown. (G. R.
White.) This species breeds, in small numbers only, in the vicinity
of London, Ont. The nest is usually in pine trees and the eggs four
to six. (W. E. Saunders.) Frequently seen in Ontario, but an
uncommon breeder. I have seen two nests, both built in hemlock
trees, the first in Leeds county, about twenty feet from the ground;
the second one on an island in Sharbot lake, Frontenac county,
which, on June 6th, 1905, contained four fresh eggs. (Rev. C. J.
Young.) A nest of this species was taken at the corner of Dow
swamp, near the canal, close to the city of Ottawa, July 6th, 1900. It
was in a balsam fir, about fifteen feet from the ground, built of sticks,
and lined with cedar bark (Thuya occidentalis). It is quite common
in Saskatchewan, and a number of nests were taken in June, 1895.
On June 12th, a nest was taken in a willow thicket at the police
station, Wood mountain. It was in the crotch of a willow, less
than ten feet from the ground, built of sticks and lined inside with
finer material of the same character. There were four eggs partly
incubated, light greenish in colour and heavily spotted with brown.
Another nest, in a spruce tree, was taken, built of the same class
of material, on Farewell creek, Cypress hills, June 27th. In this
nest the eggs were half incubated. (Macoun.) I have clutches of
eggs of this little hawk taken near Toronto, also others taken in
Muskoka, Manitoba and Saskatchewan. It builds its nest in tree-
tops and lays from four to six handsomely marked eggs. (W.
Raine.) This bird has always been regarded as a rare summer
resident near London, Ont., but during the summer of 1900, six
-nests were found by three observers, and it may prove to be more
common than was supposed. Its silent, unobtrusive manners may
have been its shield from observation. These nests, as well as
four others taken in previous years, were all in conifers, five of the
ten being in tamarac. All of them were built of twigs, and many
had a few flakes of bark asa lining. One nest was on an old founda-
tion, but all the others were entirely new. In height from the ground
they varied from fifteen to thirty feet. The birds were in some
cases fairly silent and peaceful, and in others very noisy and aggres-
sive; in one case particularly the male would attack a man 100
yards distant, although the nest was not found. All the sets of
eggs taken, varying from three to six to the set, are very handsome,
particularly one set of six fresh eggs, in which the colour of the

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 247

markings is a very bright reddish brown. (W. E. Saunders.)
Tolerably common at Aweme, Man., nesting in low trees about
four to twelve feet from the ground. (Criddle.) Osgood found
a nest of this species about fifteen feet from the ground in a small
spruce near the centre of an-island near Nordenskiold river, Alaska.
(Bishop.)

333. Cooper Hawk.

Accipiter coopertt (BONAP.) GRAY. 1844.

This species is either unequally distributed or not readily separated
from other species by observers.

An uncommon summer migrant in Newfoundland. (Reeks.)
Very scarce in Nova Scotia. Col. Egan procured and mounted one
specimen. (Gilpin.)| Not common at Wolfville, Kings county,
N.S.; absent in winter. (H.F.Tujts.) Seen on Cape Breton island,
N.S. (Townsend.) <A pair seen in Brackley point woods, Prince
Edward island. (Macoun.) An uncommon summer resident in
New Brunswick. (Chamberlain.) Common in the Restigouche
valley, and sparingly distributed through the whole St. Lawrence
valley and westward throughout Ontario. (Macoun.) Rare mi-
grant at Toronto, Ont. (J. H. Fleming.) One seen on the Hayes
river, Keewatin. (Preble.) Rather rare; evidently breeds at Aweme,
Man. (Criddle.) This species is a summer resident in Manitoba,
and extends north to the Saskatchewan. (£.T.Seton.) Ihave a mature
bird, taken on April 25th, 1896, at Banff, Alberta. (J. H. Fleming.)
Apparently rare in the Rocky mountains. Not common in the
Columbia valley, but was taken at Revelstoke, May 5th, 1890, and
seen later at Nelson, on Kootenay river. (Macoun.) Met with, in
British Columbia, only at the Ducks, near Kamloops. (Streator.)
Tolerably common summer resident in the lower Fraser valley.
(Brooks.) Found both on Vancouver island and on the southern
mainland, east and west of the Coast range. (Fannin.) Distribu-
tion general. Breeding at Lake la Hache, B.C., and in the Rocky
mountains at Field; alt., 7,000 feet; rare. (Rhoads.) Saw a pair
at Elko, B.C., 1904; a pair at Midway, B.C., April 25th, 1905, and
two at Penticton, B.C., in 1903. (Spreadborough.) Several seen
during the second and third weeks of August at Sitka, Alaska.
(Grinnell.)

e
248 ; GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

BREEDING NotTes.—This species comes in April and stays until
late in the autumn. Though not common in eastern Ontario, it
is met with more frequently than the preceding one. I have seen
its nest several times; one in the township of Lansdowne, contained
four fresh eggs, on May 8th. Another.in a beech tree near Sharbot
lake, Ont., resembled the nest of a red-shouldered hawk and con-
tained five eggs, on May 1oth. (Rev. C. J. Young.) Not acommon
bird around London, but breeds sparingly in the western part of
Ontario. (W. E. Saunders.)

334. American Goshawk.

Accipiter atricapillus (WILS.) SEEBOHM. 1883.

Taken or noted by several collectors in the Hudson bay region.
(Macoun.) One observed at Seal lake, Ungava district, July 24th,
1896, and another a short distance above Ungava bay, August 23rd,
the same year. (Spreadborough.) Resident in Ungava district.
(Packard.) Settlers report the occurrence of this hawk in New-
foundland. (Reeks.) This is the commonest hawk in Nova
Scotia (Downs) and winters, as a pair did at Digby gut in the winter
of 1880. (Gilpin.) Resident near Wolfville, N.S., but rather un-
common. (H. F. Tufts.) Resides in New Brunswick throughout
the year and breeds. (Chamberlain.) Common winter visitant in
Quebec. (Dionne.) In Ontario this bird is an irregular winter
visitor, sometimes appearing in considerable numbers and again
being altogether wanting. (McIlwraith.) A tolerably common
fall and winter visitant in Manitoba, usually appearing in August.
Not seen during the breeding season. (E. T. Seton.) Not observed on
the prairie or in the Rocky mountains nor in southern British
Columbia in summer. Not uncommon at Edmonton, Alta., where
they were evidently breeding in June, 1897. Two seen on Bear
river, Peace River district, August 14th, 1903. (Spreadborough.)
Seen only at Vernon in British Columbia. (Rhoads.) Rather com-
mon in the interior of British Columbia, the coast bird may be the
next species. (Sitreator.) Has been taken on Vancouver island
and on the mainland east and west of the Coast range. (Fannin.)
Have taken this form both east and west of Coast range, the only
hawk observed in the Cariboo district in winter. (Brooks.) Fuller
notes on the distribution of this bird will be found below.

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 249

BREEDING Notes.—Permanent resident at Scotch lake, York
county, New Brunswick. Breeds. (W. H. Moore.) Immature
goshawks come regularly to Toronto in the autumn arid often
remain all winter. Until 1896 full plumaged birds were almost
unknown, certainly I was not aware of any records of mature birds
for ten or fifteen years previous to that date. In October, 1896
a remarkable migration of mature birds took place. They spread
themselves all over Ontario in large numbers, and I believe the
New England States were invaded in like manner. I received the
first mature bird on October 26th from Toronto, and from then
till December the birds continued to come in. The deer hunters
reported that the hawks were playing havoc with the partridges
and hardly a shooting party returned in November without one
or more mature goshawks. I fancy that the sudden inroad of the
sharp-tailed grouse into Muskoka and the migration of the gos-
hawks were likely caused by the same necessity—lack of food.
Both species appeared in Muskoka together. Never a scarce bird
in the districts of Parry Sound and Muskoka; the number of breed-
ing birds has greatly increased since the autumn of 1896. (J. H.
Fleming.) The only nest I ever saw of this species in Muskoka
was in the fork of a large black birch (Betula lenta) about forty feet
from the ground. It was made of sticks lined with leaves and clay.
In it I found four young ones all differing in size, which leads me
to think that they are not all hatched at the same time. In the
nest I found a bluejay and a hairy woodpecker which had been plucked
by the old birds. Beneath a maple log that was lying about 100
yards away from the tree having the nest, and several feet from
the ground, I found a large quantity of feathers which the old birds
had plucked from barn-yard fowls and other birds. It was evident
that the old birds had carried their prey here and picked it before
taking it to their young. The nest was within half a mile of Brace-
bridge, and about 300 yards from the south branch of the Muskoka
river. They are more plentiful in Muskoka in winter than in sum-
mer. (Spreadborough.) A not uncommon bird in winter in Ontario,
but as a rule going north to breed. I found a nest of this species
near Otty lake, in the county of Lanark, Ont., in 1885. It was
a large structure built in the fork of a beech tree, about thirty feet
from the ground, and on the 3rd of May contained three almost
bluish-white eggs, incubation commenced. In addition to the
breeding of this bird in the county of Lanark, Ont., I find that it

250 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

nested regularly in the township of Oso in Frontenac county, Ont.,
up to 1901, but will probably soon cease to do so as the larger timber
is rapidly being cleared away. It seems to affect woods where
beech and black birch are plentiful, not far, however, from a growth
of evergreens. (Rev. J. C. Young.)

This bird is generally distributed in the forest country north
of the prairie. Richardson records it from Jasper House in the
Rocky mountains, and describes one shot from the nest on the
Saskatchewan, May 8th, 1827. He also speaks of another taken .
at York Factory, Hudson bay, August 14th, 1822. Apparently it
has the same range yet. (Macoun.) This species is confidently
believed to breed, in small numbers, however, between Fort Good
Hope and the Anderson, Mackenzie district. (Macjarlane.) Toler-
ably common in autumn and winter at Aweme, Man. A few remain
to breed. A nest was found high up in a tree containing four fresh
eggs on April 29th. (Criddle.)

I have eggs from Oak lake and Crescent lake, Sask., and also
sets from Alberta. I have a set of two eggs that was taken by
Mr. Wenman at Stedman river, Alberta; the female was shot and
is now in my collection. I have another set of three eggs collected
by Dr. George in northern Alberta, May 1oth, 1894. The female
of this nest was also shot by Mr. Wenman. Dr. George also took
a clutch of four eggs out of this same wood in May, 1893. It makes
a large nest of sticks, weeds and roots, and builds in the highest
tree tops. The American goshawk is a rare summer resident in
northern Manitoba, but is more plentiful in northern Saskatchewan
and Alberta. The eggs are bluish white, unmarked, although they
are sometimes nest-stained. (W. Raine.)

334a. Western Goshawk.
Accipiter artricapillus striatulus Ripcw. 1885.

Tolerably common throughout British Columbia. More abun-
dant west of the Coast range. (Fannin.) One seen at Sooke, Van-
.couver island, August 2nd, 1893. On April roth, 1903, found a
pair in a cotton-wood tree at Penticton, B.C. Nest was a bundle of
sticks without lining. Shot both birds. Found an egg in the
oviduct of the female, fully formed and shell pale blue. (Spread-

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 251

borough.) This seems to be the form that breeds in southern British
Columbia, where I have noticed it in summer as far east as Arrow
lakes, Columbia: river, in lat. 50°. (Brooks.) I found this form
very common at Skidegate, Queen Charlotte islands, in August,
1895. (Kermode.) Mr. Frobese shot an immature male on August
5th, 1897, at Sitka, and others were seen after that date. (Grinnell.)
This species was seen in the mountains about Ilianana pass, and
daily at the mouth of the Chulitna river, and others were seen at
Nushagak in 1902. Frequently seen at Tyonek, Cook inlet, Alaska.
(Osgood.) One immature male at Sheep creek, Alaska. (Anderson.)
Some of the British Columbia references under A. atricapillus pro-
bably should go here.

CXLVI. BUTEO Cuvier. 1779-1800
337. Red-tailed Hawk.

Buteo borealis (GMEL.) VIEILL. 1816.

We have no records of this species being seen in the district of
\Ungava (Labrador), but it breeds in Newfoundland, Nova Scotia,
Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Quebec and Ontario. Mr.
Spreadborough saw a few specimens on the Missinabi river and on
Moose river, near James bay. Preble saw it, evidently breeding,
at several places between Lake Winnipeg and Hudson bay, and
Dr. Bell took it at Fort Churchill, Hudson bay. This species is
abundant in the wooded portions of Manitoba, especially in the Rid-
ing mountains, Duck mountains, Porcupine hills and northward to
the Saskatchewan. Westward, Spreadborough found it nesting at
Indian Head, Sask., also near Peace River landing and Dunvegan,
Peace River district., and south along the foothills to Crow Nest
pass, but not being a prairie species it disappears with the wood.
I agree fully with Seton in his ‘'‘Birds of Manitoba,’”’ when he says
on page 529: ‘‘This species seems to be the complement of Swainson
hawk in Manitoba, adhering to the forest regions, while the latter
is found only in the more open places. The differences of habit
presented by these two species are slight but quite appreciable.”’

This species is common in the Northwest Territories, which it
visits in summer. Specimens were shot in the Rocky mountains,

252 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

on the plains of the Saskatchewan, and at York Factory, Hudson
bay, between lat. 53° and 57°. (Rzchardson.) This species is far
outnumbered at London, Ont., by the red-shouldered hawk. More
common in the more remote districts. (W. E. Saunders.)

BREEDING Notes.—This is a rare bird along the St. Lawrence.
In eleven years I am only certain of having seen one specimen.
In the counties of Lanark and Renfrew it is common, and I used
to see it every year. It breeds within a few miles of the village of
Renfrew and sparingly near Sharbot lake. (Rev. C. J. Young.)
The red-tail breeds in scattered pairs about one to four of the red-
shouldered. It nests a little earlier and lays two to three eggs.
(W. E. Saunders.) This bird breeds in Welland county and through-
out southern Ontario. (W. Raine.) On May 31st, 1891, I took a
nest of this near Indian Head, Sask. The nest contained three eggs
and was built of sticks in a dead poplar (Populus tremuloides) about
thirty feet from the ground. This species feeds chiefly on gophers
and mice. (Spreadborough.)

3370. Krider Hawk.
Buteo borealis kridertt HOOPES. 1873.

High central plains of the United States and probably adjoining
British provinces. (Cowes.) A young bird taken near there, was
seen in a taxidermist’s shop in Maple Creek, Sask. Bishop thought
it was nearer calurus than kriderw. (A.C. Bent.) A careful exami-
nation of a specimen collected at Edmonton, Alta., by Spread-
borough shows it to be this form, and his notes on the breeding
of the red-tailed hawk at Edmonton which were given under borealis
in the first edition of this catalogue are now placed under krederit.
It is more than probable that many of the prairie references given
under borealis should go here.

BREEDING NoTEs.—At Edmonton, on the North Saskatchewan,
in 1897, I observed a number of nests mostly along the river and
small streams. These were nearly always in cottonwood trees
(Populus balsamtfera) but I think it is on account of these trees
having large branches near the top that they seem to prefer them
than from any other cause, as I also observed a few in poplar trees
(Populus tremuloides) where the branches were suitable for them

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 253

to build upon. The nests were scarcely ever less than thirty feet
from the ground. In the summer of 1891 it was common at Banff
and hence breeds there. (Spreadborough.)

3376. Western Red-tailed Hawk.

Buteo borealis calurus (Cass.) RipGw. 1873.

I have obtained from Mr. M. J. Dodds, St. Thomas, Ont., a fine
adult of the western red-tail, which was killed near there in the
fall of 1885, by Mr. John Oxford. This appears to be the first
recorded occurrence of this species in Ontario. (W. E. Saunders
in The Auk, Vol. V., 203.) Mr. J. Hughes-Samuel took a specimen
of this form at Toronto on November 4th, 1895. (J. H. Fleming.)

Rare; a few seen at Kamloops and Ducks in central British Col-
umbia in June, 1889. (Streator.) Very: abundant east and west
of Coast range. (Fannin.) Resident at Chilliwack, B.C., and
tolerably common; rather rare in winter at Lake Okanagan.
(Brooks.) This species was common at Revelstoke, B.C., in the
spring of 1890. First observed on the 9th April, and became com-
mon before the end of the month; on 30th May two pairs were
found nesting on the cliffs at Deer park, Arrow lake, Columbia
river, B.C., and a female shot; another nest was found in a cliff
at the mouth of Pass creek, near Robson, B.C., 1902; a few were
seen near the 49th parallel between Trail and Cascade; observed
two at Fernie, B.C., and several at Elko, in 1904, and two at Midway
in 1905; seen on Vancouver island at Victoria, 1oth September,
1893. (Spreadborough.) Distribution and abundance like that of
the eastern form. Breeding near the summits of the Rocky moun-
tains at Field, B.C. (Rhoads.) There are specimens in the Geologi-
cal Survey museum which were taken at Agassiz and Lake Shuswap,
B.C., in 1889. A solitary individual was seen flying near the head
of Cumshewa inlet, Queen Charlotte islands, 1900. (Osgood.) A
young bird taken near Sitka, Alaska. (Dr. Bean.) This is pre-
sumably the common hawk of the upper Yukon. (Bishop.) In
North American Fauna, No. 19, p. 73, Bishop gives a full account

of the occurrence of this bird in the parts of Alaska traversed
by him.

254 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

BREEDING NotEes.—Found a nest in a large bull pine near Fernie,
B.C., about 70 feet from the ground, bird sitting, May 14th, 1904.
At Sidley, B.C. saw a nest in a western larch about 100 feet from the
ground. Nest a large bundle of sticks. (Spreadborough.)

339, Red-shouldered Hawk.
Buteo lineatus (GMEL.) VIEILL. 1816.

This species may reach Newfoundland occasionally, as it has
been taken in Nova Scotia and on Cape Breton island. It is rare in
New Brunswick, though Chamberlain says it may breed near St.
John. In Quebec it becomes more common, and in the St. Lawrence
valley it is far from rare. Quite a common summer resident in
Ontario, breeding freely, and extending westward to eastern Mani-
toba. Our most northern reference is York Factory on Hudson bay,
where it was collected by Dr. R. Bell. This seems to be an eastern
species with its centre of distribution in Canada, north of Lake
Ontario: It is much more restricted in its range than the red-tail.

Have met with these birds occasionally in December and January,
and know of at least one having been taken in the latter month. On
the 8th January, 1900, I saw two. While wintering they seek the
shelter of deep ravines. (J. Hughes-Samuel.) This bird is more
abundant through western Ontario than the red-tail but they
seem to be located in sections and after passing through a red-
shouldered section one will come to a red-tailed section. In the
immediate vicinity of London the red-shouldered is practically the
only big hawk, but about five miles out one begins to meet the red-
tailed. The former returns year after year to the same woods, even
when the eggs are taken and is most loyal to the nest location. (W.
Saunders.) Although previously recorded from Manitoba, I have
seen but one specimen in the province in ten years, though I have
searched constantly and carefully for it. This specimen was noted
on the Assiniboine river between Portage la Prairie and Winnipeg in
July, 1901. (Atkinson.)

BREEDING NoTES.—This species builds about the middle of
April. The nest closely resembles a crow’s, but is larger and very
untidy. It is composed of coarse sticks loosely placed together
with fine ones, and lined with bark of a vine (probably grape vine),

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 245

and pieces of rough bark. The nest is placed near the trunk of
the tree at from 20 to 60 feet from the ground. The eggs, three
or more in number, are yellowish white, with blotches of yellowish
brown and slate. A nest found on 30th April near the mouth of
the Gatineau river at Ottawa, Ont., was built in a swamp ash (Frax-
imus sambuctfolia) about 20 feet from the ground. The old bird
was sitting at that date. (G. R. White.) On May sth, 1906, I dis-
covered a nest in a small wood near Ottawa. It was 20 feet from
the ground and made of green pine branches and lined with bark.
Outside diameter 24 inches by 5 inches in height; inside diameter
eight and five inches by two inches deep. (Garneau.) A nest con-
taining three eggs was found in a beech tree about 25 feet from the
ground near Hull, Que., May ist, 1907. (C. H. Young.)

Strangely enough this is the most common hawk along the St.
Lawrence between Kingston and Brockville, though I never saw
it in the counties of Renfrew and Lanark. It seems to just take
the section of country where the red-tail is absent. It is an early
breeder, returning to the same woods year after year, even though
disturbed. It usually builds or repairs a nest in a beech tree, but I
have seen nests in maple, ash, oak, pine, elm, and once in hemlock.
The earliest eggs I have seen were a set of four on April 14th, 1898, an
unusually early date; the latest was May 23rd. The average time
of laying is about April 25th; the favourite tree for nesting, a beech.
This bird becomes scarce in the northern townships of Ontario.
(Rev. C. J. Young.) Rather common, breeding in all suitable woods
in the vicinity of London, Ont. In the early nineties I climbed to a
nest about fifteen miles west of London, Ont., and the birds have
lived in the woods ever since then when I have been able to visit them,
often using the original nest in a sloping oak which I climbed first on
April 20th, 1894, and several,times in intervening years and I last
climbed it on April 21st, 1906. A series of eight sets of eggs taken in
eight different years, nearly all consecutive, shows plainly the life of
three different females in that period. (W. Saunders.)

339. Red-bellied Hawk.
Buteo lineatus elegans (Cass.) Ripcw. 1874.

Not very common. I have taken it at Burrard inlet, B.C. Mr.
W. B. Anderson found it at Port Simpson, B.C., and Mr. Brooks

250 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

at Chilliwack. I have no record from Vancouver Island. (Fannin.)
Only noticed west of the Coast range; rare. (Brooks.) Hawks,
presumably of this species, were thrice seen in the British Columbia
interior. (Rhoads.)

342, Swainson Hawk.
Buteo swainsont. BoNap. 1838.

One specimen collected at Moose Factory in 1881, by W. Haydon
is in the U.S. National Museum collection. (Preble.) Accidental
visitant; rare. A few examples of this large hawk have been shot at
Montreal, Que. I saw a fine dark specimen which was shot early in
the spring of 1894 near the city, and was stuffed by Mr. Bailly,
taxidermist. (Wuintle.) Rare around Toronto, Ont. I have two
specimens taken at Toronto, Ont., both in the dark plumage, and
I have seen two more local specimens. (J. H. Fleming.) This
species arrives on the southern prairie in March, and soon becomes
abundant. It is the characteristic hawk of the prairie, and is found
in every part of that extensive region and is of great service in re-
stricting the multiplication of gophers and other rodents. Although
a prairie bird it ranges in the valley of the Mackenzie beyond the
Arctic circle, and has been taken at Nulato on the Yukon. It is very
rare in the Rocky mountains; only one pair was seen in four months
residence of Mr. Spreadborough, at Banff, in 1891, and only one, a
female, was seen and killed at Revelstoke by him in 1890.

On British Columbia mainland and Vancouver island. Nowhere
common. (Fannin.) I once observed a flock of some hundreds,
all of the dark phase, at Chilliwack, B.C., and have seen young
birds in the autumn; this dark form is a common breeder on all the
mountains, at high elevations, being only found in open or park-
like country. The only pair of white-breasted birds I ever saw in
British Columbia was breeding on a low mountain at Vernon,
(Brooks.) Saw three at Penticton, B.C., in 1903. (Spreadborough.)

BREEDING NoOTES.—Seton in ‘‘Birds of Manitoba,’ on page 532,
says: ‘‘The nest of this bird is not peculiar. I have examined
about fifty altogether, and have hitherto failed to find one that
answers the published descriptions, which credit the bird with using
a lining of hair and other fine material. All the nests examined

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 257

early in the season were merely masses of sticks and twigs, with
a slight hollow to contain the eggs, and had no special lining. But
nests examined after the growth of leaves—usually about the end
of May—were more or less lined with twigs plucked with green
leaves on them, and these, when slightly wilted, readily flatten down
and form a wind-proof screen.

“In general appearance this nest is much like that of the red-tail,
but the position is different, being usually. less elevated. I have
seen many that I could not reach from the ground. The favourite
sites are the crown of a dense clump of willows, or the highest fork
of a low scrub oak; occasionally I have observed the nest at a height
of 20 or even 30 feet, in some poplar, but this is unusual.

‘“‘The eggs are commonly three but sometimes four in number;
they are more or less spherical and vary muchin colour. The young,
when hatched, are the purest and downiest looking of innocents,
and it is only on examination of the tiny though promising beak
and claws that one can credit that little snowball with the makings
of a ruthless and bloodthirsty marauder.”

First seen on April 4th, 1892, at Indian Head, Sask.; common
by the 16th. May 25th, found a nest with one egg, nest in live
poplar, made of sticks, lined with a few twigs from the living poplar
trees with the leaves on. All the nests that I saw later were built
in the same way, and all contained the green twigs and leaves.
They invariably repair the old nests and only one new nest was seen
during the season. Nests contained 2-4 eggs. Farther west they
build their nests chiefly in clumps of willow along the banks of
streams and the edges of sloughs, and scarcely ever in thick woods.
Where there are no willows or trees, they will build their nest in a
clump of rose bushes or upon a ‘‘cut bank” (a cliff of earth by a
stream). Their principal food is gophers and mice, of which they
kill a great number. They are a great benefit to the farmer, but
he does not seem to know it, for in southwestern Manitoba, last
autumn (1891), I counted no less than nine dead buzzards along a
trail in less than half a mile. Found two nests in trees at Crane
lake, Sask., in June, 1894. The nests were built of sticks and lined
with dried grass. One had two eggs, the other three. I shot one
of the old birds as it came from the nest and it proved to be a male,
showing that both took turns at the nest. This species is a very

17

258 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

late breeder, and only in one case did I find eggs before the first of
June. (Spreadborough.)

The writer has taken many nests of this species in Saskatchewan,
and has found that a tree is preferred to nest in but that they change
the site to agree with changed conditions. Where oak scrub exists,
they prefer oak; farther west, poplar (Populus tremuloides), and on
treeless plains they descend to low bushes and last of all, cut banks
where they often make a bulky nest. In the summer of 1895, nests
were taken in box elder (Negundo aceroides) on Old Wives creek.
These were lined with the outer bark of dead trees of this species.
Each nest contained only two eggs, both fresh, May 27th and June
1st. A nest was taken at the forks of the creek on June 2nd. This
was under a cut bank, about six feet below the summit. This nest
was lined with green poplar twigs, having young leaves. Later,
nests were taken at Wood mountain, Sask., in willow clumps and
under banks, and towards the last of the month, on the Cypress hills,
in choke-cherry bushes. In the Milk River country, the nests were
chiefly under banks.

In July, 1861, we discovered a nest of this species which was
built on a spruce tree along Onion river, the principal tributary of
the Lockhart. It contained two well-grown birds. Both parents
were about and made a great ado in endeavouring to protect their
offspring. The male was shot. In June, 1865, another nest was
found on the top crotch of a tall pine in a ravine, some 20 miles
southeast of Fort Anderson, lat. 68° 30’. In composition, it was
similar to the nest of an Archibuteo. The female was shot as she
left the nest, which contained but one egg in a well developed stage.
The male was not seen. (Macfarlane.)

This bird breeds commonly throughout Manitoba, Saskatchewan
and Alberta, seldom having eggs before the third week in May, and
is, therefore, a late breeder. Between June 5th and 13th, 1901, I
examined close upon thirty nests in northern Saskatchewan. All
these nests just contained three eggs each, no more or no less, show-
ing that three eggs is the number laid. Incubation was advanced
at this time, but I did not find a single nest containing young. Some
of the nests were built in fire-killed willows, and so low that I could
reach the eggs from the ground. A few nests were in poplars and
built from 10 feet to 20 feet from the ground. I never found two

t

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 259

pairs of birds occupying the same bluff, and the. nests are usually
a quarter of a mile from each other. This hawk has a habit of
lining its nest with green poplar leaves, and the eggs look very
pretty lying on the green leaves. It is a most useful bird to the
farmer, devouring an immense quantity of gophers and mice.
(Ratne.)

343. Broad-winged Hawk.

Buteo platypterus (VIEILL.) FAXON. 1Igo01.

This species probably occurs in Newfoundland. (Reeks.) It is
very rare in Nova Scotia. (Downs.) Rare summer resident in
Nova Scotia. (H. F. Tufts.) Not uncommon on Cape Breton
island. (Townsend.) A rather rare summer’ resident in New
Brunswick, according to most observers, but Mr. W. H. Moore
reports it to be the most common hawk at Scotch Lake. It is in-
creasingly common as we go west in the valley of the St. Lawrence.
It is found all over Ontario and extends westward to Winnipeg,
where it breeds. As a straggler, it has been seen by Seton at
Carberry, in Manitoba. Sir John Richardson records its occur-
rence at Moose Factory,on James bay, and in June, 1896, Mr. Spread-
borough found it «common on Moose river, but none were seen
north of Moose Factory. This may be considered the northern
limit.

BREEDING NoTeEs.—I observed three of these hawks, old and
young, 24th July, 1887, circling round above Mount Royal park,
Montreal, and heard them uttering a note very much like that of
a cowbird. I also saw a pair in the trees near the same place on
June 4th of the same year, and probably they bred there. I have
observed this species here from March 30th to October rgth.
(Wintle.) This species breeds about the middle of May, and seems
to prefer a hemlock or swamp ash tree to nest in. The nest is
placed about 20 feet or more from the ground, is composed of dry
sticks and lined with pieces of bark and dead leaves and is rather
larger than a crow’s. The eggs, two or more in number, are of a
dirty yellowish or grayish white with blotches of reddish brown.
This species is not rare around Ottawa, Ont. (G. R. White.) The
writer shot a female of this species as she rose from her nest, which
was on a swamp ash in what was then Stewart’s bush, within the

17%

260 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

limits of the city of Ottawa. This was on 24th May, 1884. Since
then the city has extended over a mile to the south of this locality,
and night hawks nest on the roofs of the houses built on the same
spot.

This is a hawk whose young are commonly met with near the
St. Lawrence in September and October. Only once have I met
with its nest there—24th May, 1899. This nest was built against
the trunk of a maple and contained two fresh eggs. It is a late
breeder, seldom laying before the last week in May, though once
I found the eggs earlier. It is the commonest hawk in the county
of Renfrew, near the Ottawa river, and is also common in the county
of Lanark. Unlike the red-shouldered, it is partial to thick, swampy
woods near creeks, and builds its nest more often against the trunk
than among the limbs of a tree. I have seen five nests. Four of
these were in birch trees and one in a maple. The earliest date
for its eggs was 8th May, 1886, and the latest, 3rd June, 1888. The
average time is about 24th May. The favourite trees selected seem
to be black or yellow birch. (Rev. C. J. Young.) Common in Parry
Sound and Muskoka districts. A large number breed. Found a
nest at Emsdale, Parry Sound district, 27th May, 1897; it was appar-
ently an old nest and contained three eggs. It was built about 30
feet from the ground in a birch. (J. H. Fleming.)

Very common in the woods around Muskoka lakes. Always
builds its nest in the large black birch trees. I have never seen
one in any other tree and I have taken many nests. The nest is
made of sticks lined with leaves and bark. The food of the young
appeared to be chiefly frogs. A person will scarcely ever miss
seeing one or more sitting upon a stub of a dead tree just above the
water in which frogs are plentiful in spring. They also catch mice
and a few young birds. On one occasion I saw one carrying a
snake more than two feet long. I think that the reason they pre-
fer the birch is on account of thick foliage and the forked nature of
the tree near the top, which makes a very suitable place to nest in.
I have always found the nests in thick woods, and as I have never
seen a nest anywhere except in Muskoka, they have always been
near water, as it would be hard to be otherwise. (Spreadborough.)
We found this bird nesting at Woodlands, Manitoba, June 11th,
1894. The nest contained two eggs. (W. Raine.)

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 261
CXLVII. ARCHIBUTEO Breum. 1828.
347. Rough-legged Hawk.
Archibuteo lagopus (BRUNN.) GRAY. 1841.

Several specimens from St. Michael and one obtained by me on
Unalaska are indistinguishable from European birds contained in
the National Museum collection. On the northern coast of Alaska,
including the shore of Bering sea and the Arctic, and thence in the
interior along the entire course of the Yukon, many specimens of
the rough-legged hawk have been taken, but none from this region
are in the melanistic phase so common among birds from the Hudson
bay country. In fact, all the specimens from northwestern Alaska
appear referable to the Old World form, as certainly are the examples
mentioned. (Nelson.) Early in September we saw at St. Michael
large hawks which, from their proportions and flight, were either
buteos or archibuteos. (Bishop.) Two females and a male were
taken at Muller, Alaska, and one set of three eggs at Herendeen bay.
(Anderson.) Mr. Chapman says of Anderson’s specimens that the
females are virtually indistinguishable from some and even paler
than other, European specimens in the collection of the American
Museum of Natural History, and he doubts the propriety of recog-
nizing a New World form.

3472. American Rough-legged Hawk.
Archibuteo lagopus sancti-johannis (GMEL.) COUES. 1872.

This species is the common hawk of Labrador, Ungava and the
barren grounds extending west from Hudson bay. It breeds
especially in the northern part of its range and eastward,to New-
foundland. It is a winter migrant in Nova Scotia and New Bruns-
wick. Mr. Wintle remarks that it is a transient visitor at Montreal,
especially in November.

A spring and autumn migrant in Ontario. (MclIlwraith.) Regu-
-lar winter migrant. A remarkable migration of these hawks took
place in October, 1895, and a considerable number was killed at
Toronto. The flight was simply enormous. I could have bought
over one hundred had they been any use to me. I obtained four
or five of the black form. (J. H. Fleming.) This bird is far from

262 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

common in Manitoba, and so far as noted, it is found only in the .
spring and fall. (E. T. Seton.) Ismost abundant in spring and fall, in
all stages of plumage, all over Manitoba, but not noted during the
breeding season. (Atkinson.) One taken at Indian Head, Sask.,
in the spring of 1892, and one observed at Edmonton, Alta., in
April, 1897; saw one at Peace River Landing, Atha., in 1903. (Spread-
borough.) Sometimes abundant at Aweme, Man., in spring and
fall; possibly breeds. (Criddle.) Two seen at Swampy lake, and
one was given us at Norway House, Keewatin. (Preble.) Rich-
ardson, Ross and Macfarlane found it in the northern forest in
summer, but in all my wanderings south of the Saskatchewan or
in the mountains, I have never met with it. I am led to believe
that the following references belong to a race distinct from the
eastern bird, which seems to have its centre of migration in Ontario.
(Macoun.)

Both on the mainland and Vancouver island, B.C. In my ex-
perience, rare. (Fannin.) Tolerably common migrant at Chilli-
wack, B.C.; rather scarce in the Cariboo district of British Columbia
in winter. (Brooks.) Sumas and Osoyoos lakes. (Lord.) One
seen at Vernon, and a specimen seen at the same place in the collec-
tion of Mr. Pound. Another shot on Vancouver island is in the
possession of Mr. Lindley, of Victoria. Considered a very rare
bird on the Pacific coast. (Rhoads.) No examples of this bird
were secured by me in northern Alaska, nor have I seenany. Several
specimens from Kadiak are the only ones known from Alaska.
(Nelson.) Specimens taken July 24th, 1896, at Jak lake, Prince
William sound, Alaska. (Grinnell.) A pair and two young, able
to fly, were found in possession of an islet in Lake Clark. Others
were seen on Chulitna river and at Nushagak, Alaska peninsula,
in 1902. (Osgood.)

BREEDING NotTEs.—First observed on Hudson bay north of
Great Whale river, 28th June, 1896. It breeds on nearly all the
high cliffs all the way across Ungava district from James bay to
Ungava bay. On i3th July, Mr. Russell found a nest with three
eggs, incubation far advanced. I found a nest on a cliff at east
end of Seal lake, 3rd August in which the young were about half
grown. The nest was a mere mass of sticks lined. with dry grass.
This is the common large hawk of the country. (Spreadborough.)

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 263

Nests on the top of cliffs, not on the side like the duck hawk. (A.
P. Low.)

This form of A. lagopus is abundant in the Anderson district as
specimens have been obtained from all parts of the surrounding
forest to the borders of ‘‘the barrens,” as well as from the Arctic
coast. Over seventy nests were collected during the period of
exploration treated of by these notes. About fifty-five of them were
built in the crotches of trees not far from the top and at a height
of twenty to thirty feet from the ground. They were externally of
sticks, twigs and small branches, rather comfortable, lined with hay,
mosses, down and feathers. The remaining fifteen were situated
near the edge of steep cliffs of shaly rock on the face of deep ravines
and on declivitous river banks, and these were usually made of
willow sticks and twigs, but with a thicker lining of hay, moss and
other soft materials. The eggs varied from three to five, never
more than the latter number, and their contents were like those of
some other birds’ eggs gathered by us, in different stages of in-
cubation in the same nest. (Macfarlane.)

A rare summer resident in northern Saskatchewan and northern
Alberta from where I have received both eggs and skins. I have
sets of eggs taken by Mr. L. Dicks at Hamilton inlet, Labrador,
May 17th, 1897, also sets taken by Mr. Stringer at Mackenzie bay,
Arctic America. This is the common hawk of Herschell island, where
it builds its nests on the cliffs. They consist of a mass of weeds and
grass and contain usually four eggs. I have several sets from Her-
schell island. (W. Ravine.)

348. Ferruginous Rough-legged Hawk.
Archibuteo ferrugineus (LIicHT.) GRAY. 1849.

Apparently rare in Manitoba as Seton does not record it in his
“Birds of Manitoba.” In The Auk, Vol. X, 49, however, he states
that a fine specimen of this bird is now in the Manitoba Museum,
taken by Mr. Hine. Dr. Coues found it breeding in the Pembina
mountains on the International Boundary in July, 1873.

This is not a rare species in the prairie region. In 1895 the writer
found it at Old Wives creek, Sask. Two nests were taken at this
point on 27th May, eggs in one just hatched. The species was seen
at Wood mountain and everywhere on the prairie west to the Cypress

264 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

hills and south to Milk river. It was common in the West Butte
and along St. Mary river north of the 49th parallel. It seems to be
purely a prairie species, not being recorded from the Saskatchewan.

One was shot by me at Aweme, Man. They are doubtless over-
looked and taken for the rough-legged hawk. (Criddle.) Avrare
breeding species but possibly increasing in number in Manitoba. The
first specimen recorded was taken north of Portage la Prairie, May
7th, 1898. It was an immature female and is still in my collection.
Travelling west, however, in 1906, we came into the regular range
of the species just west of Yorkton, Sask., and from that point to
Edmonton it was regularly and commonly noted. (Atkinson.)

BREEDING NoTes.—A pair was seen at Indian Head, Sask., on
Ist May, 1892. On 16th I shot a fine female that had a nest in a
dead poplar about twelve feet from the ground. The nest was made
of sticks and lined with dry grass and contained five eggs. Another
nest in live poplar had the same number of eggs and was lined with
the inner bark of dead poplar. This bird was tolerably common all
summer. In May and June, 1894, a number of nests were found in
box elder (Negundo aceroides) at Medicine Hat, Crane lake, and
along Skull creek, and in the Cypress hills. In the summer of 1895,
they were found breeding in the same situation. I have found
their nests in poplar, cottonwood, box elder, upon ‘‘cut banks”
(clay cliffs) of streams, and upon clay domes in the “bad lands”
south of Wood mountain. In the spring of 1894 one pair built a
nest upon the tower of a windmill at Langevin on the C. P. Ry. west
of Medicine Hat.. It had to be taken down, however, as it inter-
fered with the working of the mill. The highest nest I have seen was
not more than thirty feet from the ground. Nests were always near
water, but I think that this is more because the cut banks and trees
are usually along the streams and not for any preference that they
have for it. On 11th June, 1894, took two nests at Crane lake,
Sask. Both contained young ones. The nests were very large.
One was built of sticks and cow dung lined with dry grass; the other
of sticks alone lined with dry grass. The young are white when first
hatched. Their chief food is gophers, of which I have seen a number
in the nests, as well as at the foot of the tree or bank where the nest
was. (Spreadborough.) Breeding in large trees in timber and in
isolated trees along creeks in western Saskatchewan. (A. C. Bent.)

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 265

I have examined about a dozen nests of this bird in northern
Saskatchewan. It is an early breeder, laying its eggs early in May,
and building a very large nest in the highest trees it can find. It
lays from three to five handsomely marked eggs. Most of the
nests I have examined contained dead gophers, proving that this
is another useful hawk to the farmer. (W. Raine.)

This species builds a very large nest and seems to prefer the old
one to a new structure. All the nests seen were composed of large
sticks for the body of the nest, then the droppings of horses and
cattle to consolidate the margins, and lastly lined inside with the
inner bark of dead box elder and poplar. Two nests were taken on
27th May, 1895, each had three eggs originally, but in one the young
were just hatched. Each nest was in the fork of a box elder about
ten feet from the ground.

CXLVIII. AQUILA Brisson. 1760.
349. Golden Eagle.

Aquila chrysaétos (LINN.) SPRUNGLI. 1776.

Specimens procured in the Ungava district. Breeds in the north-
east portions among the hills. A pair also breed at the ‘Forks’
in the Ungava district. (Packard.) Saw what I took to be an
example of this species near the ‘‘Forks” above Ungava. While at
Fort Chimo, September, 1896, saw the skin of one that the Indians
had shot a few days before on the river. (Spreadborough.) I ex-
amined a live specimen in young plumage, captured June 23rd, 1892,
near New London, Prince Edward island. After visiting the locality
I am inclined to doubt whether the bird was bred on the island.
(Dwight.) Not a common bird in Nova Scotia, but breeds there
and resides throughout the year. (Gilpin.) Rare at Wolfville, N.S.
(H. F. Tufts.) Only one specimen known to have been taken in
New Brunswick. (Chamberlain.) Taken at Beauport; a summer
resident in Quebec. (Dzionne.) ‘Transient visitant’’ at Montreal;
rare. Saw a fine specimen of this eagle in the Bonsecours market in
the month of May, 1891. It was evidently shot near Montreal.
(Wintle.) <A bird of the year of this species was given to me, which
had been caught in a trap near High Falls, Que., forty miles northeast
of Ottawa. It measured seventy-seven inches from tip to tip.
(Rev. G. Exfrog.)

266 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA

Saw one individual on Missinabi river, Ont., in September.
(Spreadborough.) Edwards figured a specimen from Hudson bay.
We saw several of these birds as we were passing through Hell Gate
gorge and noticed two of their nests. (Preble.)

A female was shot 30th October, 1883, at Casselman, near Ottawa,
Ont., by Mr. J. S. Castleman, and another was seen near the same
place shortly afterwards. (Ottawa Naturalist, Vol. V.) It breeds
in the Laurentian hills. (G. R. White.) Breeds in the rugged hills
of eastern Canada, and is frequently taken at Hamilton and Toronto,
but chiefiy young birds. (McIlwraith.) There are four Ontario
specimens of the golden eagle in the Geological Survey Museum.
They are from Odessa, Westbrooke, Woddbridge and Brampton.
(J. F. Whiteaves in The Ottawa Naturalist, Vol. XV., p. 249.) Near
Lambeth, Middlesex co., Ont. (J. E. Keays.) One captured by
Mr. A. Cole while feeding on the carcass of a horse west of Listowel,
Ont. (W.E. Kells.) Occasionally met with in Frontenac co., Ont.
(Rev. C. J. Young.) A golden eagle was killed at Toronto, Ont.,
on October 24th, 1896. The only record in many years. I received
a golden eagle shot at Loring, Ont., about the first of March, 1897.
One was killed at Lake Scugog, Ont., on October 20th, 1897. I

_ received two females from Dunchurch, shot in March, 1898 and three
more from Loring, two females and a male. It is a remarkable fact
that till 1896 I had not met with a single golden eagle from Parry
Sound. Bald eagles always abundant but no golden eagles. (J.
H. Fleming.) Very rarein Manitoba. Possibly resident. (E. T.Seton.)
A rare species in Saskatchewan, but was seen in the ‘‘bad lands’’
south of Wood mountain in June, 1895, and in July of the same year
on the West Butte and at ‘‘Writing on Stone” on the Milk river.
Mr. Spreadborough believed it was breeding in the above locality.
(Macoun.) Only noted as an irregular migrant in Manitoba. Fre-
quently falls a prey to poisoned meat. (Atkinson.) One seen at
Crane lake, June 26th, 1906. (A. C. Bent.)

This powerful bird breeds in the recesses of the sub-alpine country
which skirts the Rocky mountains and is seldom seen farther to the
eastward. (Richardson.) Extends north in the Mackenzie valley
to the Arctic coast. (Ross.) The whole of British Columbia, but
chiefly east of the Coast range, where it is a resident; rarely west to
Vancouver island. (Fannin.) Resident but not common in the
lower Fraser valley. Not common in winter in the Cariboo district,

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 267

B.C.; also in the winter at Lake Okanagan, B.C. (Brooks.) Saw
one near Midway, B.C., one at Elko, B.C. and a pair near Midway,
April 28th, 1905 that seemed to be building. (Spreadborough.)
Rare in British Columbia. A few specimens seen around the higher
mountains at Ducks and Kamloops. (Streator.) Seen two or three
times on the interior mountains. As rare in British Columbia as on
the Atlantic seaboard. (Rhoads.) Throughout a large portion
of Alaska, especially that part which is more or less heavily wooded
and interspersed with mountains, the golden eagle is found. The
Point Barrow party secured a single specimen taken by the natives
east of Colville river. It extends its range west along the Aleutian
chain, having been obtained by Dall on Unga island, who mentions
it as a common resident on the Aleutian chain as far west as Un-
alaska. (Nelson.) The golden eagle is not rare in the vicinity of St.
Michael. It is more frequently seen further north in the vicinity of
Norton bay, and in the hills back of Pastolik than on St. Michael
island. On the Aleutian islands it is quite a common bird. At’
Unalaska they are fully as common as the bald eagle, and are re-
ported to breed in March on the high bluffs on Makushin point.
(Turner.)

BREEDING NotTes.—From various points along the valley of
Anderson river lat. 68°-69° 30’ to its outlet in Liverpool bay and from
the mouth of the Wilmot Horton in Franklin bay, an aggregate of
twelve nests of this eagle was obtained by us in the course of the
seasons from 1862 to 1865, inclusive. Ten of this number were built
against the face of steep and almost inaccessible banks of shale or
earth at a height of seventy to eighty feet, and from twenty to thirty
feet below the summit. One thus examined,’in 1864 was found
to be of considerable size; it was composed of a large platform
of built-up twigs and sticks, having a bed of hay, moss, and feathers
in the centre, and, as this and other similarly constructed nests
appeared to be annually renovated prior to reoccupation, they
must ultimately assume vast proportions. Pillaged nests are,
however, frequently deserted for a period, but in one instance where
the female had been snared upon her nest and the eggs taken it was
found occupied the following season, probably by the widowed male
and another mate. In two instances only were the nests constructed
near the top of tall spruce trees; the sandy nature of the soil in
their vicinity was not favourable to building on cliffs. (Macfarlane.)

268 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

In the spring of 1891 Mr. Hine of Winnipeg found this noble
bird breeding in a cliff on the Winnipeg river. In June, 1893, I
saw a golden eagle at Morley in Alberta and was informed a pair
nested in the Rocky Mountain foothills. My collection contains
thirty-six eggs of this eagle collected in California and Montana.
It lays two eggs, sometimes three, and some are very heavily marked,
like buzzard’s eggs. (W. Raine.)

CXLIX. HALIASETUS Savicny. 1809.
351. Gray Sea Eagle.
Halieetus albicilla (LINN.) LEACH. 1816.

General in Greenland; has been taken in many places. (Herluf
Winge.) Inhabits generally and breeds in the whole of Danish
Greenland, including the eastern coast. Its northern range not
as yet determined. (Arct. Man.) A common resident at Ivigtut,
Greenland, and breeds there; more common in winter. (Hag-
erup.) Lieut. Satterlee of the Corwin found a dead bird of this
species at Unalaska, Oct. 5th, 1899, which proved to be a young
female. In a small collection of bird skins bought in the fall of
1903 by Dr. Dwight and myself from Mr. Fred. Foster, a taxider-
mist in Victoria, B.C., we found a single specimen of this species in
first winter plumage. It was taken on the coast of Vancouver
island, March 18th, 1898. The range of this bird is thus extended
almost to Washington, and it seems probable that it will yet be found
breeding in Alaska or the Aleutian islands. (Bzshop.)

BREEDING Notes.—At Ivigtut, Greenland, Mr. Hagerup, obtained
a clutch of eggs on May 15th that had been taken from the nest
two weeks previously; they had been sat upon about one week.
On June roth another clutch was secured that had been taken about
three weeks before, and these were almost wholly incttbated. It is
probable that nests with fresh eggs can be found in April. (Chamber-
lain in The Auk, Vol. VI., 292.)

I have a set of three eggs taken at Godthaab, Greenland, April.
2oth, 1898; the nest was built on the ledge of a sea cliff. I have
another set of two eggs taken in south Greenland, June 15th, 1890.
(W. Ratne.)

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 269
352. Bald Eagle.
Haheetus leucocephalus alascanus C. H. TOWNSEND. 1899.

Though typical leucocephalus probably occurs in eastern Canada the
references cannot, in default of specimens, be separated and all are
left here. Mr. Fleming finds that all Toronto specimens are refer-
able to alascanus.

A pair of this species was seen on-August 17th, 1896, by Mr. A.
P. Low near Ungava bay and one by Mr. Spreadborough at East
point, James bay, June 8th, 1904. Preble says this bird is occa-
sionally seen at Fort Churchill, Hudson bay. Though far from
common, it breeds in suitable situations in Newfoundland, Nova
Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, and westward
to the Pacific. In its northern range in the Mackenzie river valley it
descends to the Arctic coast. It is extremely common on the coasts
of British Columbia and very common in the interior of the pro-
vince. Passing to the north it becomes still more abundant on the
Aleutian islands.

Very common on Queen Charlotte islands in 1900. A number of
specimens were seen at Lake Clark, Swan lake, Malchatna river and
Becharof lake, Alaska, in 1902. (Osgood.) Common along the
Inside passage, especially near Wrangell narrows, Alaska. In the
interior this bird is much rarer though I saw one at Log Cabin and
another at Bennett, Yukon. We saw the birds occasionally about
lakes and once or twice along the river, the last being observed near
the White river, July 31st. (Bishop.) One set of eggs taken at
Muller bay, Alaska, May 22nd. (Anderson.) The natives say it is
occasionally seen about the Pribilof islands, Bering sea. (Palmer.)

While collecting on the Bay of Chaleurs at Port Daniels near
Gaspé in August, 1882, the writer amused himself watching a fish
hawk trying to supply its young with flat-fish caught in the shallow-
waters of the bay. At some distance from the shore on the margin
of the forest were a series of large trees that had been killed by fire.
In a tall one of these an eagle usually stationed himself and kept
an eye on the hawk. As soon as the hawk caught a fish the eagle
would move out in pursuit and then would commence a series of
gyrations by both birds. The aim of the eagle was to get above
the hawk and if he failed to accomplish this the hawk won. If

270 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

the hawk was beaten the eagle would come dowa on him, the fish
was dropped, the eagle caught it and each would sail away, the
eagle to the forest, the hawk to the sea. Day after day this per-
formance was repeated and the hawk’s nest was located but that of
the eagle was not seen.

In June, 1893, the writer was collecting at Comox, Vancouver
island, and observed the same thing to a less extent, but besides
getting a supply from the hawks the eagle fished for himself. Not
by diving, however, but by going to stony flats at Cape Lazo and
fishing for himself. Shallow pools were left when the tide was
out and in them numerous small fish, chiefly under stones. We
had been collecting seaweeds and small fish and a “singing fish,”
we were told, was found there. This fish certainly made a booming
noise and guided us to its retreat, and numerous specimens were
collected. The eagle seemed to be guided by the sound for he, too,
obtained specimens under our very eyes. All my observations are
against this form killing birds. I have seen him catch snakes and
fish, steal fish from the fish hawk and eat carrion, but beyond that
I never saw him go. All observers report this species as breeding
near water and it seems to know that it is an advantage to build its
nest as near the food supply as possible.

BREEDING NotEes.—This bird is fast becoming scarce in eastern
Ontario. Up to the year 1895 there was a nest every year in a tall
pine about seven miles east of Gananoque and a mile from the St.
Lawrence. There is still (1901) a nest every year near Charleston
lake, about ten miles from Lansdowne. It also breeds on Simcoe
island, opposite Kingston, Ont. I was present at the taking of its
eggs on 28th April, 1900, two in number and almost ready to hatch.
As the seventy acres of woodland in which this nest is situated are
being cleared of timber it is probable that the bird will shortly be
banished from this locality, but it still nests undisturbed on the
Duck islands and Timber island, Lake Ontario, and up to the year
1902 it nested in a large elm on Horse-shoe island, opposite Kingston,
Ont. (Rev. C. J. Young.)

This species nests regularly, though rarely, along the shores of
Lake Erie, and along other large bodies of water in Ontario where
the country is not too thickly settled, but I have never heard of, nor
seen it, breeding away from the water. (W. E. Saunders.) At

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 271

Shuswap lake, British Columbia, in July, 1889, I saw a nest in a
large cottonwood tree about forty feet from the ground, near the
shore of the lake. Nest very large, made of sticks and must have
been three feet in diameter. The young were as large at this time
as old birds. The young feed a good deal on dead fish that float
ashore and also upon carrion. Common throughout Vancouver
island. At Comox shot many specimens both young and old. At
this time, June, 1893, they were feeding on the singing fish which
they caught from under stones when the tide was out. (Spread-
borough.)

Several nests were found with eggs and young in them on Lock-
hart and Anderson rivers. They were built on high trees close to
the river banks and composed of dried sticks and branches lined
with deer hair, mosses, hay and other soft materials. There were
from two to three eggs in each nest. In one instance the parents
made hostile demonstrations when their nests were being robbed,
but they generally flew away and kept at a safe distance. They
are not very numerous, and it is very doubtful if any breed to the
northward of Fort Anderson, lat. 69° 30’. (Macjarlane.)

This bird nests in Muskoka and in northern Alberta. I have six
clutches of eggs, some of which were taken in northern Ontario and
the others in northern Alberta. (W. Raine.) May 16th, 1897, a
set of two partly incubated eggs was taken from a nest on Raza
island, Toba inlet, Gulf of Georgia, B.C., by Charles Collier. The
nest was in a tree about 90 feet from the ground. It was at least
four feet across and built of sticks. In the middle on the level top
there was an inner nest about 16 inches across with a slight depres-
sion in the centre where the two eggs lay. The inner nest was
almost entirely composed of moss. (W. Harvey.)

CL. FALCO. Linnaus. 1758.
353. White Gyrfalcon.

‘

Falco islandus BRUNN. 1764.

Common in Greenland. (Wznge.) In summer more common in
the northern inspectorate of Greenland than in the southern, but
occurring according to Dr. Finsch also on the eastern coast. The
limits of its breeding-range in either direction have not been deter-

272 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

mined. (Arctic Manual.) Common at Ivigtut. (Hagerup.) The
residents of Fort Churchill spoke of a white hawk sometimes seen
there which is probably this species. Richardson described a mature
bird from Hudson bay, Murray recorded it from York Factory, Ridway
described a specimen from Moose Factory and Dr. Rae collected it
at Repulse bay. (Preble.) Taken at McCormack bay, and at Disco
island, Greenland, by the Peary and Relief expeditions. (Wztmer
Stone.) Common at Fort Chimo and east coast of Labrador. Re-
sident in northern portions, breeds at Fort Chimo. (Packard.) Two
specimens killed at Port Burwell, Hudson strait, July, 1884. (Dr.
R. Bell.) Seen along the south side of Hudson strait, skin and eggs
taken at Cape Chidley. (A. P. Low.) A very fine male of this
species was shot at Point des Monts, eastern Quebec, and another
seen in the spring of 1885 by Mr. N. A. Comeau. (The Auk, Vol. II,
315.) We have received a specimen of this species from Ungava
bay, Ungava district, shot by Mr. Thomas Mackenzie in 1890.
(J. A. H. Brown in The Auk, Vol. VIII, 236.) Pretty regular in its
fall migrations but does not breed in Newfoundland. (Reeks.) A
casual visitor to Nova Scotia. (Dowmns.) Occasionally seen in New
Brunswick. (Chamberlain.)

“Accidental visitant;’’ rare at Montreal. Mr. Kuetzing says he
has purchased four examples of this species in the Bonsecours market.
I have not heard of any gyrfalcons occurring here in recent years.
(Wintle.) A very rare visitor at Ottawa, Ont.; one fine specimen
taken. (G. R. White.) A female taken by Mr. Frank Otto, Nov.
2oth, 1905, is the only record for Toronto, Ont. (J. H. Fleming.)
Rare at Aweme, Man. One was shot near there, Dec. 2nd, 1902,
and others have been seen from time to time. (Criddle.) The
gyrfalcon is a constant resident in the Hudson bay territories, where
it is known by the name of the ‘‘Speckled Partridge Hawk” or by
that of the ‘‘Winterer.” I have ascertained that it is occasionally
seen as far south as lat. 52°. It is found northward to the coast of
the Arctic sea, and probably in the most northern Georgian islands;
it is a well-known inhabitant of Iceland and Captain Sabine observed
it on the west coast of Greenland, as high as lat. 74°. (Richardson.)

A fine adult female was brought to me at Comox, Vancouver
island, Dec. 4th, 1903. (Brooks.) During my residence in the north
I secured only a single specimen of this bird, an Eskimo skin taken

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 273

at Cape Darby on the Alaskan shore of Bering strait. (Nelson.) A
single specimen of this species was killed at St. Michael, 15th May,
1877. It is not a common bird in this vicinity, and oftener seen in
spring than at other seasons. (Turner.)

354. Gray Gyrfalcon,
Falco rusticolus LINN. 1758.

The darker form of great northern falcon, by some held to be
distinct both from F. tslandus and F. gyrfalco. The northern limits
of its breeding range have not yet been determined. A young male
falcon killed 24th September, 1872, on the Fiskenes, referred by
Dr. Finsch to F gyrjalco probably belonged to this form. (Arct.
Man.) Common in north Greenland. (Winge.) Common resident
in Greenland and breeding at Ivigtut. (Hagerup.) Winter speci-
mens only obtained at Fort Chimo. Not known to breed in the
Ungava district. (Packard.) Probably occurs in Newfoundland.
(Reeks.)

Casual. One specimen of this species was shot by Mr. E. White
on the banks of the Rideau, below Cummings Bridge, Ottawa, on
3rd December, 1890; another was shot by G. R. White some years
before. (Ottawa Naturalist, Vol. V.) Since the year 1885, I have
received over thirty sets of the eggs of this fine bird from Iceland.
It lays from three to four handsome eggs, making a slight nest on
ledges of the sea cliff. (W. Raine.) Very rare at Aweme, Man.
(Criddle.) A female was caught in a trap at St. Michael, Alaska,
Sept. 21st, 1899. (Bishop.)

354a. Gyrfalcon.

Falco rusticolus gyrfalco (LINN.) STEJN. 1885.

There is no doubt but that this form was included in F. tslandus
by Sir John Richardson as he found the birds nesting not far from
where Macfarlane found this species 40 years later.

Taken in several places on Ellesmere island. (E. Bay.) Seen
from 6th to 20th September, 1884, flying south at Wales sound,
Hudson strait. (Payne.) Taken at Fort Churchill, west side of
Hudson bay. (Clarke.) York Factory, Hudson bay. (Dr. R. Bell.)
One specimen taken at Disco, Greenland, 1891. (Wztmer Stone.)

18

274 GEULOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

Very rare at Aweme, Man. One shot, October, 1906, while after
poultry. (Criddle.) One specimen was shot at Comox, Vancouver
island, October, 1894, by W. Harvey. (Kermode.) A regular,
though scarce, fall and spring visitor at Chilliwack, B.C. (Brooks.)
Throughout all Alaska, from the Aleutian islands north, both along
the coast and through the interior, extending from Bering strait
across the northern portion of British America, the present falcon is
the commonest bird of prey. It frequents the vicinity of cliffs and
rocky points about the sea coast, or the rocky ravines of the interior
during the breeding season, and the remainder of the year, especially
in the fall, it is found wandering over the country everywhere that
food can be obtained. (Nelson.) Several specimens of this gyr-
falcon were obtained in the vicinity of St. Michael, where it is a
constant resident, with probably exceptions during protracted periods
of very severe weather. The natives assert that this bird breeds on
the high hills, either on a rocky ledge or on the moss-covered ground.
(Turner.) An adult female was taken at Muller bay, Alaska.
(Anderson.) One specimen was collected by Elliott on St. Paul
island, Bering sea, and Dr. Bean shot one at sea about 60 miles
southeast of St. George island. (Palmer.) The only hawk obtained
at Point Barrow was of this variety. Hawks were seen in 1882 and
1883, but were always very wild and difficult to approach. (Mur-
doch.) Observed numerous individuals along the Kowak, Kotzebue
sound, Alaska, during 1899. (Grinnell.) Two-specimens taken at
Point Barrow, Arctic sea, Alaska, September, 1897. (Wztmer Stone.)

BREEDING Nortes.—This gyrfalcon is common in the wooded
country on both sides of the Anderson river. Over 20 nests were
secured, and with only two exceptions which were built one on a
ledge of rocks and the other against the side of a deep ravine, they
were found close to or near the top of the tallest tree of the neigh-
bourhood. They are similar in composition, but smaller in size
than those of the bald eagle; and while the number of eggs was
either three or four, their contents were frequently found in different
stages of development. The earliest date for finding a nest was
May roth. The eggs were quite fresh, though one taken five days
later contained partially formed embryos. In a few cases young
birds were in the same nest along with the eggs, the contents of
which were but little changed, and in another an egg perfectly fresh
was found with several ready to hatch. This falcon is supposed

-CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 275

to be a ‘‘winterer” in the northern parts of Canada where its prey
is said to consist chiefly of ptarmigan. The allied F. rusticolus or
probably F. Islandus, breeds in small numbers in the same region,
as the Indians often spoke of a large hawk, twice observed by
myself, which had successfully eluded all attempts to capture itself
or its eggs. (Macfarlane.)

354b. Black Gyrfalcon.

Falco rusticolus obsoletus (GMEL.) STEJN. 1885.

Abundant at Fort Chimo, Ungava. Eggs obtained 24th May.
Very rare in winter. (Packard.) Common near Cape Chidley,
Ungava, and inland. (A. P. Low.) Common on the river below
Fort Chimo, Ungava, Sept. 18th, 1896. (Spreadborough.) Rare on
the Labrador coast; one taken at Port Manversin 1901. (Bzgelow.)
Rare winter visitor in Nova Scotia. (H. F. Tufts.) A number of
individuals of this species have been taken at Godbout, on the lower
St. Lawrence, by Mr. Comeau and I have known two individuals to
be taken at Quebec. (Dionne.)

In 1896 Mr. John Burton, of Hamilton, presented me with a skin
of this bird which he obtained at Long point, Lake Erie, in the fall
of 1893. This is the only record of this bird occurring in Ontario.
Mr. MclIlwraith, of Hamilton, in his work, ‘‘Birds of Ontario,’ has
no record of this bird, although at the time he wrote his book there
was the above skin at the home of Mr. Burton in Hamilton. This
skin is now in the possession of Mr. Fleming, of Toronto, whose
collection is rich in rare Ontario birds. (W. Raine.) Mr. Fleming
writes that this bird more nearly approaches F. rusticolus gyrfalco
than F. r. obsoletus.

Seton, in his ‘‘Birds of Manitoba,’’ doubtfully refers this bird to
that province as a winter visitor. Later, in The Auk, Vol. X, p. 49,
he says: ‘‘Since I wrote the ‘Birds of Manitoba,’ two fine specimens
have been taken, and are now in the Manitoba museum.’’ In the
opinion of the writer his quotations from Hearne and Hutchins refer
to the preceding subspecies and not to this one. Criddle says this
bird is rare at Aweme, Man.

18%

276 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
355. Prairie Falcon.

Falco mexicanus SCHLEG. 1841.

The first time the writer observed this species was in September,
1885, at Rush lake, Sask., on the line of the C.P. Ry. There were
a number of them and they seemed to be quitetame. Each telegraph
pole was occupied, and as the bird was new to me I shot one. For
years after that I saw no more, but in the spring of 1892 Mr. Spread-
borough shot one at Indian Head, Sask. In the summer of 1895
none was seen on a traverse of 600 miles or until we reached the
West Butte. At the police station named Pend d’Orielle, on the
Milk river, they were numerous and doubtless they bred there.

One specimen was taken at Deer park, Columbia river, B.C.,
June 9, 1890, and one seen at Lake Osoyoos, B.C., in 1905. (Spread-
borough.) Formerly a regular fall and winter visitor and may breed
in the mountains in the lower Fraser valley, B.C. (Brooks.)

BREEDING NoTES.—At one of our astronomical stations, on the
west branch of the ‘‘Two Forks” of Milk river no less than four
species of large hawks had their nests within sight of each other, and
only a few hundred yards apart. These were the Swainson and the
ferruginous buzzards, the common falcon and the present species.
* - * The nest to which I ow refer was discovered 18th
July, 1874, on the perpendicular face of the ‘‘cut bank” of the
stream. It contained three young scarcely able to fly. Two of
these were shot on the wing close to the nest, and the third was
brought to me alive by a soldier. This nest was built behind an
upright column of earth, partly washed away from the main embank-
ment, in such a position that no full view of it could be obtained
from any accessible standpoint. But it was certainly placed directly
on the ground, in a little water-worn hollow of the bank, behind the
projecting mound, so that it was almost like a burrow. (Coues on
Burds of Dakotah and Montana.)

I have a set of four eggs taken in southern Alberta, May 17th,
1897. The nest is merely eggs simply laid on the gravel in a hollow
on the high bank of a river. (W. Razne.)

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 277
356.- Duck Hawk.

Falco peregrinus anatum (BONAP.) BLasius. 1862.

A common species in Greenland. (Winge.) Said to breed
generally throughout Greenland, certainly up to lat. 69° N. and in
many of the lands to the westward of Baffinbay. Examples obtained
by Dr. Walker of the ‘‘Fox”’ R.V.S., at Port Kennedy, lat. 72° N.,
are specifically indistinguishable from European specimens. (Arct.
Man.) Frequently observed in the vicinity of Ivigtut. (Hagerup.)
On Marble island and at York Factory, Hudson bay, September,
1885. (Dr. R. Bell.) One seen on the Barren Grounds below Cape
Eskimo, Hudson bay, August 5th, 1901. Recorded by Murray
from Trout lake and Severn House and by Clarke from Fort Churchill.
(Preble.) More common than the gyrfalcon in the Hudson bay and
strait region. (A. P. Low.)

This species is rare in Newfoundland and Nova Scotia. Reported
to breed in New Brunswick by Chamberlain and known to breed in
Quebec and Ontario. Probably breeds in northern Manitoba, but
is rare on the prairies. Only three specimens were seen by Mr.
Spreadborough at Indian Head, Sask., in the spring of 1892. It is
commonly met with in the wooded country north of lat. 52° in the
autumn. It is rare in the mountains as no specimens were ever
seen between Calgary and Kamloops, B.C. It is not a rare bird
west of the Coast range and is a resident on Vancouver island.
Apparently common throughout Alaska and breeding.

Rare at Aweme, Man., probably breeds. Arrives about April
14th, returns in October and departs towards the end of that month.
(Criddle.) A regular migrant in Manitoba. Not seen in 1906 on
the western prairie until Tramping lake, Sask., was reached early in
August but from there west, about the larger waters, it was seen
pursuing ducks. I found it also ruthlessly pursuing avocets and
willets. (Atkinson.) Seen almost every day between Stewart river
and Circle, Alaska, and at many places between Circle and the mouth
of the Yukon. (Bishop.) On Popof island, Alaska, a pair of these
birds was seen nearly every day. (figgins.) So far this is the only
species of peregrine I have been able to secure at Comox. I expected
Pealei to be the common form on Vancouver island. (Brooks.)

BREEDING Notes.—Abundant at Fort Chimo, Ungava bay, nest-
ing on cliffs. Eggs obtained May 24th. (Packard.) Said to breed

278 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

at St. Martins, on the Bay of Fundy, N.B. (Chamberlain.) One
old bird and two young ones shot on Marble island, Hudson bay,
1st September, 1884. (Dr. R. Bell.) Said to nest on the cliffs along
the Humber river, Newfoundland. (L. H. Porter.)

Yamaska mountain, at Abbottsford, about forty miles east of
Montreal, has been a breeding place for this species for many years.
Mr. Fisk reports that a pair of these hawks had a nest on the west
side of the mountain, and he has observed this species there every
year for forty years past. He took two eggs of the duck hawk in
April, 1891, there, from under a rocky ledge; no material was used
for the nest, only a slight hollow scratched out by the hawks under
a shelving rock. (Wuntle.) A pair nest on Lake Muskoka, Ont.,
regularly. Mr. Taverner took a set of four eggs from the nest on
24th May, 1898; it formerly bred on the Bruce peninsula. (/. H.
Fleming.)- On 15th April, 1894, saw a pair that were breeding in a
hole in the high ‘‘cut bank”’ of the Saskatchewan at Medicine Hat,
Sask. (Spreadborough.)

This falcon constructs no nest whatever so far as I know. It lays
its eggs on the most inaccessible ledge of a river cliff of earth or rock.
Four is the usual number, and in some instances the eggs were larger
than in others. All of the discovered nests were found in the country
to the southward of the post, and it is doubtful if they breed much
beyond lat. 68° north. Early in August, for several successive years,
young birds of the season, fully fledged, but still attended by their
parents, were noticed along the limestone and sandstone banks of
the Mackenzie river. (Macfarlane.) Bishop and Osgood saw many
nests on cliffs along the Yukon river.

This bird breeds rarely in eastern Ontario. I saw it in April,
1899, and the following year. A nest containing four eggs was
taken near the Blue mountain, Leeds co., Ont., by Mr. W. G. Shel-
bourne. I visited the locality on the 23rd April, 1901, and saw
the birds, but they had not yet laid their eggs. The nest was
secured later, on the 9th May, and it and the eggs are now in a
private collection in Kingston. It also breeds at Diamond lake,
in North Hastings, Ont., and was still breeding at Charleston lake,
Leeds co., in 1905. (Rev. C. J. Young.)

I have eight clutches of eggs of this bird, taken in Muskoka and
northern Alberta. One set of four eggs was collected by Mr. P. A.

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 279

Taverner, at Muskoka lake, May 22nd, 1898. The nest was on a
ledge of a cliff overhanging the water, twenty-five feet from the top
of the cliff and seventy feet above the water. The nest was only a
slight hollow on a ledge two feet -wide, the half-devoured remains
of a ruffed grouse and pileated woodpecker were lying on the ledge
near the nest. Mr. Wenman has collected for me two sets of eggs
on the banks of Blindman river, Alberta. There was no nest in
either case, the eggs being simply laid on the gravel. A pair nest
on Scarboro cliffs, seven miles west of Toronto, and three miles from
my house, but the nest is inaccessible. (W. Raine.)

356a, Peale Falcon.
Falco peregrinus pealei RipGw. 1880.

Mainland of British Columbia and on Vancouver island. Chiefly
coastwise. (Fannin.) Mounted specimens of this form, were seen
in the shop of Mr. Inglis, Vancouver, B.C. (Rhoads.). Animmature
female was shot in Hecate strait, a few miles off Scudder point,
Burnaby island. Several others were seen near Provost island
and in Houston Stewart channel, B.C. (Osgood.) One specimen
taken at Chilliwack, B.C., October 5th, 1901. (Spreadborough.)

Along the southwestern coast of Alaska, from Kadiak to Sitka,
this dark handsome variety of the duck hawk is found, perhaps
entirely replacing its more eastern and northern relative. It has
not been recorded from the interior or northern portion of the
territory to the north of the Alaskan mountains; but it is known
to extend to the extreme western end of the Aleutian chain.
(Nelson.) One-flew around the Corwin, when we were some distance
south of the Aleutian islands and out of sight of land, October 7th,
1899. (Bishop.) This falcon was frequently observed on Amchitka
island in the month of June, 1881; and on Attu island during 1880
and 1881. It breeds on nearly all the islands of the chain, and is
a winter resident of the Nearer group at least. On Agattu it is
‘reported to be very common; and on Amchitka I knew of three
nests on the ledges of the high bluffs hanging over the sea. (Turner.)

357. Pigeon Hawk.
Falco columbarius LINN. 1758.

This species was scattered all across the district of Ungava from
the mouth of Whale river almost to Fort Chimo in the summer
of 1896, and others were taken off Cape Chidley in Hudson strait;

280 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

abundant from Cape Henrietta Maria to Moose Factory in 1904.
(Spreadborough.) Audubon, Vol. I, 89, states that eggs and nest
were found in Labrador about June 1st. Coues met with it (p. 216)
on two occasions at Groswater bay on 5th August and on 25th of
same month at Henley harbour. (Packard.)

This species is more or less common, breeding in suitable places
in Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Bruns-
wick, Quebec and Ontario. It is also common in the wooded parts
of Manitoba, extending north to Fort Churchill on Hudson bay,
where it was taken by Dr. R. Bell, and Cape Eskimo, where one
was seen by Preble. Richardson says it makes its appearance on
the coast of Hudson bay in May about York Factory in lat. 57°.
He also saw what he took to be the same species at Great Bear lake
in lat. 66°. This was in the spring of 1825. Atkinson writes that
this is a regular breeding species throughout Manitoba and that he
noted it at several points between Portage la Prairie and Edmonton,
Alta. Ross records it north to Lapierre House in the vallev of the
Mackenzie. It is a common species in the wooded portion of Alaska,
and extends west to Unalaska, according to Turner. It descends
south into British Columbia east of the Coast range, where it is
fairly common though rare on the coast, according to Fannin.
A mated pair seen at Lake la Hache, B.C., by Mr. Rhoads.

On the prairie it is not very common, but one was taken at Medicine
Hat in May, 1894, and a pair in the Cypress hills in the same year.
A few were observed on Old Wives creek, Sask., in 1895. None
were seen in the mountains by Mr. Spreadborough in 1890, 1891,
1897 and 1898, but a pair were found breeding by him in the summer
of 1902 at Cascade, B.C., on the 49th parallel, and a nest was taken
by him at Edmonton, Alta., in May, 1897. In 1903 one was seen
by Mr. Spreadborough at Spirit river, Peace River district, Atha.,
and at Lesser Slave lake he found it to be common. In 1905 he
saw one at Meyers creek, B.C.

I found the pigeon hawk quite common during August along the
Kowak, Kotzebue sound, Alaska. (Grinnell.) We saw a pigeon
liawk near Charlie creek. Osgood took a young male, twelve miles
above Circle and I saw one at Aphoon mouth, Yukon river. (Bishop.)
Homer, Alaska. (Figgins.) An adult male was taken at Seldovia,
Alaska. (Anderson.)

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 281

BREEDING NoTES.—We have few authentic records of the nesting
of this bird.

It breeds every year in the Magdalen islands in the Gulf of St.
Lawrence, selecting a thick bushy place. (Rev. C. J. Young.)
A pair built regularly on an island in Lake Joseph, Muskoka, Ont.
(J. H. Fleming.) This falcon ranges along the Anderson river
almost to the Arctic coast at Liverpool bay. Several of their nests
had apparently been built by them on pine trees, and others on the
ledges of shaly cliffs. The former were composed externally of a
few dry willow twigs, and internally of withered hay or grass, &c.,
and the latter had only a very few decayed leaves under the eggs.
I would also mention the following interesting circumstance. On
May 25th, 1864, a trusty Indian in my employ found a nest placed
in the midst of a thick branch of a pine tree at a height of about six
feet from the ground. It was rather loosely constructed of a few
dry sticks and a small quantity of hay. It then contained two eggs.
Both parents were seen, fired at and missed. On the 31st he revisited
the nest which still had two eggs, and again missed the birds. Several
days later he made another visit thereto, and to his surprise the eggs
and parents had disappeared. His first impression was that some
other person had taken them. After looking carefully around he
perceived both birds at a short distance and this led him to institute
a search, which soon resulted in finding that the eggs must have been
removed by the parent birds to the face of a muddy bank at least
forty yards distant from the original nest. A few decayed leaves
had been placed under them, but nothing else in the way of lining.
A third egg had been added in the interim. There can hardly be
any doubt of the truth of the foregoing facts. (Macfarlane.)

I have sets of eggs taken in Muskoka and southern Labrador, also
others from northern Manitoba and northern Saskatchewan. One
of the sets was taken at Lake St. Joseph, Muskoka, Ontario, by
J. D. MeMurrick. The nest was built in a tall pine and contained
four handsome eggs. (W. Raine.) A regular breeding species
throughout Manitoba and noted at several points between Portage
la Prairie and Edmonton, Alta., in 1906. (Atkinson.)

282 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
357a, Black Merlin.

Falco columbarius suckleyt RipGw. 1873.

A common summer resident along the coast of British Columbia.
Abundant on Vancouver island. (Fannin.) Resident in the lower
Fraser valley; commoner than the pigeon hawk. (Brooks.) One
seen at Sooke, Vancouver island, August, 1893; one taken at Douglas,
B.C.,in 1906. (Spreadborough.) Examples seen on the coast should
be cldssed under this name, though Mr. Fannin has both forms
west of the Coast range. A specimen from Victoria is in the collec-
tion. (Rhoads.) A small dark hawk was indistinctly seen flitting
from the top of a spruce, Cumeshewa inlet, Queen Charlotte islands.
Mr. Keen reports it from Massett. (Osgood.)

858. Richardson Merlin.

Falco richardsontt R1ipGw. 1870.

One specimen, the only individual of this species observed, was
taken on the headwaters of the Mouse (Souris) river (near the Inter-
national Boundary, lat. 49°), 8th September, 1873. (Coues.)
During the first week of May, 1904, I observed several pairs of
these birds in poplars along the Belly river, Alta. (W J. Brown.)
Rare at Aweme, Man., in late autumn, winter and early spring.
(Criddle.) One specimen was shot by the writer at ‘‘the elbow”’
of the South Saskatchewan, Sask., 9th September, 1880.

A single pair was seen in the neighbourhood of Carlton House in
May, 1827, and the female was shot. In the oviduct there were
several full-sized white eggs, clouded at one end with a few bronze-
coloured spots. The specimen killed at .Carlton House is, beyond
doubt, an old female merlin just beginning to have its new feathers.
(Richardson.) Carlton House: was situated about lat. 53° on the
North Saskatchewan, about 100 miles north of the Canadian Pacific
Railway. Macfarlane had no certainty of the occurrence of this
species on the Anderson river, and I am inclined to believe that only
stragglers reach the North Saskatchewan. Nutting records it from
the Grand rapids of the Saskatchewan.

Taken at Chilliwack on the Fraser by Mr. Brooks and near Victoria
by Mr. A. H. May. (Fannin.) Occurs in migrations only, both
east and west of the Coast range, B.C.; a few individuals seen at

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 283

Lake Okanagan in the winter of 1897-98. (Brooks.) One shot at
the head of Lake Okanagan, B.C. (Rhoads.) At Circle, Alaska,
I shot a young female merlin, which is intermediate between colum-
barius and richardsonit. (Bishop.)

BREEDING Notes.—Breeds in Alberta and western Saskatchewan.
The first authentic set on record is in my collection. It was taken
by Mr. Roy Ivor, south of Moose Jaw, Sask., on May 2oth, 1893.
The nest, containing four eggs, was made of sticks and weeds and
built in a poplar tree-top. The next set recorded was found by
J. E. Houseman, at Calgary, Alberta, May 12th 1894. Mr. House-
man kindly sent me these eggs to make drawings of some time after
he collected them. It is a handsome clutch and is now in the collec-
tion of Mr. Crandell. Mr. Dippie has also taken eggs, young birds
and parents near Calgary. A handsome set in my cabinet was taken
at Fort Saskatchewan, May 17th, 1899, showing this bird usually
has eggs by the middle of May. In 1906 we found several pairs in
the Belly River bottoms at Lethbridge, Alta., nesting in old nests
of the magpie. The female sits very close and does not fly out of
the nest until one begins to climb the tree. The male bird is always
on the look-out, perched on some tree-top not far from the nest.
(W. Raine.) Mr. W. J. Brown, in The Ottawa Naturalist, Vol. xx,
p. 111, gives a very full account of the nesting of this bird near
Lethbridge, Alta’ He found the first nest, May 7th, 1904. It was
an old magpie’s nest situated in a poplar about seven feet from the
ground. The nest contained a set of five eggs, which were simply
laid on the crumpled mud. During the next three weeks Mr. Brown
located three magpie’s nests containing full sets of merlin’s eggs.
Early in June Mr. Brown found another set of five eggs in a deserted
nest of the rough-legged hawk.

358.1. Merlin.

Falco merillus (GERINI.) OBERHOLSER. 1899.

A specimen caught at sea, lat. 57° 41’ N., long. 35° 23’ W., in
May, 1867, by Mr. E. Whymper, and by him presented to the
Norfolk and Norwich museum, seems to have reached the most
western limit of the species known. (Arctic Manual.) A specimen
of this species was shot at Cape Farewell, Greenland on 3rd May,
1875, which is now in the collection of the public museum at Mil-
waukee, Wisconsin. (Bendire, Vol. I., 304.)

284 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
359.1. Kestrel.

Falco tinnunculus LINN. 1758.

One said to have flown on board ship off Cape Farewell, south of
Greenland, on Parry’s first return voyage, and killed. (Arctic
Manual.)

360. American Sparrow Hawk.

Falco sparvertus LINN. 1858.

Dr. Coues saw a single individual ‘of this species in Labrador.
It is not rare in Newfoundland, and breeds in Nova Scotia, Prince
Edward Island, New Brunswick, Quebec and Ontario. Its occur-
rence in small numbers and breeding is recorded by many observers.
Dr. R. Bell took a male at York Factory, Hudson bay, and Preble
saw it at several points between Lake Winnipeg and Hudson bay.
Spreadborough observed it from Missinabi north to Moose Factory.
Seton, Atkinson and Criddle say that it is very plentiful in Mani-
toba, and the writer’s own observations and those of Mr. Spread-
borough give the same result for the whole prairie region, including
Saskatchewan and Alberta. It is a common species in the valleys
of the Rocky mountains at Banff and westward. Abundant at
Revelstoke, on the Columbia, where it was first seen in 1890, on
April 9th. Later it became quite plentiful and was abundant
down the Columbia to Robson. This species is abundant westward
through British Columbia, but doubtless becomes mixed with the
desert sparrow hawk in the country around Lake Okanagan. Mr.
Fannin reports it common on the coast and Vancouver island.

Richardson places its northern limit in lat. 54°, but Spreadborough
found it to be common between Lesser Slave lake and the Peace
river, Atha., and Ross saw it as far north in the Mackenzie river
valley as Lapierre House, though rather rare. In Alaska it is very
rare, as Nelson says only one specimen was known until Krause
found them numerous on Chilcat river near the end of August.
Bishop saw this bird, however, at several places along the Yukon
river, between Log Cabin and Circle.

BREEDING Nores.—This is the commonest of our small hawks
and breeds every year in suitable places in eastern Ontario. It
selects a hole, usually a flicker’s, in a dead pine or some other tree,

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. ‘ 285

and lays its eggs about 15th May. I have seen the young able to
fly in July. (Rev. C. J. Young.) Breeds in Toronto, Ont., and
around the city, as well as in the Parry Sound district. (J. H.
Fleming.) This bird seems to prefer holes in trees, the old nests
of the flicker are probably the ones used. The eggs, five in number,
are of a buff or pale yellowish brown, with splashes of dark brown
all over, but most numerous at the greater end. About the first
week in May, the nest may be looked for in the neighbourbood of
Ottawa. (G. R. White.) Breeds always in cavities in trees—
eggs, 4-6. (W. E. Saunders.) Breeds sparingly on islands in the
St. John river and on large burnt areas in New Brunswick. For a
number of years a pair nested in a spire of a church entering at a
hole made by Colaptes auratus. (W.H. Moore.)

This species was first seen in 1892 at Indian Head, Sask., on 16th
April, and was common by the 24th. It breeds in the woods and
in trees in the stream valleys. A nest was found in an old flicker’s
nest in a poplar, June 5th; it contained five eggs. In April, 1894,
it began to breed on the 17th in holes in poplars. On the 27th
May, 1895, a nest was discovered in a flicker’s hole in a box elder
tree on Old Wives’ creek, Sask. The female sat so close that she
had to be shoved with a stick before she would move. The nest
contained five eggs of a deep cinnamon buff, but becoming brown
or cinnamon at the larger end. This species is also common on
Vancouver island, always breeding in holes. It feeds upon mice,
young birds, grasshoppers and other insects and on one occasion
I saw one catch a small snake. I have seen nests from sixty to
seventy feet above the ground. (Spreadborough.) It breeds in
the interior at least as far north as Fort Rae, Great Slave lake,
in lat. 62° N. (Bendre, Vol. I., 309.)

360a. Desert Sparrow Hawk.
Falco sparverius phalena (LESSON) NELSON. 1902.

Near the mouth of Milk river, Montana, June 30th, 1874, collected
by Dr. Coues. (Mearns in The Auk, Vol. IX., 266.) Abundant
resident; Mr. Brewster informs me that my Chilliwack specimens
of sparverius belong to this form. It is a permanent resident
throughout the southern part of British Columbia; a few remain at
Lake Okanagan all winter. (Brooks.) Common in woods along

286 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

Maple and Skull creeks, Sask. Found six nests in 1905 and one in
1906 in natural cavities and in woodpecker’s holes. (A. C. Bent.)
Nesting commonly at Lethbridge, Alta., in May, 1906, laying five
or six eggs in old woodpecker’s holes. (Ratne.) Medicine Hat,
Sask.; common along the 49th parallel between Trail and Cascade,
and westward from Midway to the Skagit and Fraser valleys.
(Spreadborough.) ‘

CLI. POLYBORUS VIEILLor. 1816.
362, Audubon Caracara.

Polyborus cheriway (Jacg.) CaB. 1848.

The occurrence of this species on the north shore of Lake Superior,
not far from Port Arthur, on July 18th, 1892, is reported by Mr.
George E. Atkinson, to the Natural History Society of Ontario.
(William Brewster in The Auk, Vol. X, 364.)

CLIL PANDION Savicny. 1809.
364. American Osprey.

Pandion haliaétus carolinensis (GMEL.) R1ipGW. 1870.

A single specimen was obtained at Godhavn, Greenland, by
Mr. E. Whymper and sent to the museum at Copenhagen. (Arctic
Manual.)

This species is a common summer resident and generally distributed
along rivers or the borders of lakes, in Newfoundland, Nova Scotia,
Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick and Quebec. It is rarer
in Ontario and seldom found breeding west of Toronto. Westward
it is found under the same conditions throughout the prairie regions
and the mountains to the Pacific coast, though neither Atkinson
nor Criddle have found it breeding in Manitoba. Northward it
is found in all the forest country to the edge of the Barren Grounds
and beyond the Arctic Circle in the valley of the Mackenzie. In
Alaska, Nelson places its breeding range beyond the Arctic Circle,
so that it breeds almost throughout its range.

BREEDING NotTes.—About the beginning of May the osprey
commences to build. Its nest is built near the top of a tall tree

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 287

and is apparently occupied year-after year by the same birds.
Each year a fresh layer of dry sticks is laid on top of the old nest
and it soon becomes a very bulky structure. The female lays
two or more eggs. A nest found at Lake of Islands north of Ottawa,
Ont., would be nearly six feet across and is apparently made of
large sticks, weeds, cornstalks and bark. (Geo. R. White.)

This bird is becoming very scarce along the St. Lawrence.
During the last ten years I have only seen a few examples. A
nest was found on May 23rd, 1900, at Gananoque lake, built on
top of a large broken pine, which contained three eggs. This is
the only case I know of its breeding in the county of Leeds, Ont.,
but I formerly saw its nest frequently in the counties of Lanark and
Renfrew, built on top of pine stubs. (Rev. C. J. Young.) Generally
distributed in the Muskoka and Parry Sound districts. I met with
a nest in the centre of a heronry in Parry Sound. (J. H. Fleming.)

Three specimens were observed on Moose river, near Moose
Factory, James bay, June 7th, 1896. A pair were breeding in the
top of a dead spruce tree. None were observed further north. In
1904 found a pair breeding at the junction of the Poplar and Moose
rivers. Nest on the top of a dead spruce about fifty feet from the
ground. (Spreadborough.) The fish-hawk breeds about four miles
up Northwest river above Hudson Bay Company’s station, Labrador.
(Packard.)

Breeds amongst the lakes of Muskoka, Ont. In June, 1893, we
shot a specimen at Banff, Rocky mountains, and Mr. Fear informed
me a pair had a nest behind Tunnel mountain. I have a series of
200 eggs of the osprey and they are the most handsome of all hawk’s
eggs; this bird usually lays three eggs, but occasionally four. (W.
Raine.) Almost invariably there is a fish-hawk nesting with the
great blue heron at Sydney, Cape Breton island. At the heronry I
visited, the hawks chased the herons whenever they came near the
nest, but Bayley tells me that the hawks have been with the herons
for several years. Later I was told of several former colonies, and
in each case a fish-hawk nested among the herons. (C. R. Harte.)

An abundant summer resident throughout British Columbia.
Its nest is usually on the broken top of a tree, not far from water.
(Fannin.) Common throughout Vancouver island. Nest very
bulky and generally placed on the broken top of a tall dead tree.

288 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

I have seen a few nests, however, on living trees. The food of
this species consists principally of fish. I have watched them,
after flying slowly over a shallow bay, stop and hover for a few
seconds, then close their wings and drop like a meteor upon some
luckless fish which they seldom fail in catching. On a few occa-
sions I have seen them with snakes. Their nest is a huge heap of
sticks, usually placed on the top of a tall stub, scarcely ever less
than fifty feet from the ground. (Spreadborough.)

Famity XXIX. STRIGIDA. Barn Owts.
CLIT. STRIX. Linnzus. 1758.
365. American Barn Owl.

Strix pratincola BonaPp. 1838.

Apparently rare in Newfoundland, only one specimen taken.
(Reeks.) In May, 1882, a specimen was killed by young Mr. Reid,
gardener, York street, Hamilton, and in the fall of the same year
another was found in an empty out-house near the canal leading
to Dundas. Dr. Garnier, of Lucknow, Ont., saw one some years
ago; and Mr. C. J. Brampton, of Sault Ste. Marie, reports having
seen two at that place. (McIlwraith.) A specimen was captured
alive on a coal dock near the bay-front, Toronto, on September
7th, 1899. The bird soon died and proved to be a male. This is
the only Toronto record of which I am aware. (J. H. Fleming in
The Auk, Vol. XVII, p. 177.) In the Bryant collection in the
Museum of Comparative Zodlogy there is an American barn owl
taken by Mr. Louis Cabot at Long Point, Ont., early in November,
1899. The specimen (No. 1482) was secured for the collection
by Mr. H. B. Bigelow. (Reginald Heber Howe, jr., in The Auk,
Vol. XIX., p. 79.)

Famity XXX. BUBONIDAS. Hornep Ow1s, &c

CLIV. ASIO. Brisson. 1760.
366. American Long-eared Owl.

Asto wilsonianus (LEss.) Cougs. 1882.

This species, like most of the owls, is so retiring in its habits
that their absence from a district is more apparent than real. On
this account we conclude that it breeds in its range from New- |

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 289

foundland, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick,
Quebec and Ontario westward. We have records of its occur-
rence in all these provinces, but not as being anywhere common.
Hutchins records it from Fort Severn, Hudson bay.

After long watching I at last found a small colony of these birds
(seven in number) in a cedar swamp some miles from the city of
Ottawa, Ont., and secured a fine pair on the rst November, 1901.
(G. R. White.) Rarely observed in eastern Ontario. One speci-
men shot near Lynn, Leeds county, in the fall of 1893. (Rev. C. J.
Young.) Common fall migrant, but rare summer resident, at
Toronto, Ont. (J. H. Fleming.)

This is a tolerably common summer resident in Manitoba, and
evidently breeds throughout the province. (£. T. Seton.) One
of the most regular breeding species in Manitoba, and observed
occasionally in 1906 west to Edmonton in the more wooded dis-
tricts. (Atkinson.) One seen at Indian Head, Sask., on April
13th, 1892, but not seen again until June. The one killed had a
white-footed mouse and some large beetles in its stomach. On
May 8th, 1894, a pair was seen at Medicine Hat, Sask., and others
were seen on Old Wives creek, Sask., May 1895; it was not observed
anywhere in the Rocky mountains, but: was not uncommon in the
woods at Edmonton, Alta., in May, 1897; a pair seen at Sicamous,
B.C., in July, 1889, and a single specimen at Penticton, April 23rd,
1903. (Spreadborough.) This bird has been found as far north
as lat. 60°, and probably exists as far north as the forest extends.
It is plentiful in the woods skirting the Saskatchewan plains, and
frequents the shores of Hudson bay only in summer. (Rzchardson.)
North to Fort Simpson on the Mackenzie; rare. (Ross.) Com-
mon throughout British Columbia. (Lord.) Rare; I have taken
it on Vancouver island only. (Fannin.) Not common in the
lower Fraser valley; resident; not uncommon on Lake Okanagan
in the winter of 1897-98; resides in the Cariboo district of British
Columbia throughout the winter. (Brooks.) Rare everywhere but
likely to turn up anywhere in British Columbia. (Rhoads.)

BREEDING Notses.—Not common, breeds in old crow’s nests.
Eggs five or six. (W. E. Saunders.) A pair found breeding in an
old rough-legged hawk’s nest on Bear creek, Sask., with five eggs
nearly hatched, June 2nd, 1905. (A.C. Bent.) Tolerably common

19

290 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

in woodlands in Manitoba, nesting on the ground or in old crow’s
nests. (Criddle.) May 2oth, 1881, found a nest in a clump of
willows about 20 miles west of Winnipeg, Man.; nest, a small bundle
of sticks lined with the inner bark of the willow, about eight feet
from the ground; eggs, three. Found a nest not quite finished at
Medicine Hat in the spring of 1894 in a Manitoba maple; nest about
the same height from the ground as the first. Saw another nest
at Edmonton in the spring of 1897 in a black spruce tree; all the
nests were alike, composed of sticks and lined with dry grass, and
near water. The long-eared owl feeds upon mice and small birds,
also upon insects; I have found a number in their stomachs. (Spread-
borough.) On May 22nd, 1893, I found a nest at Oak lake, Man.
that was only five feet from the ground; it contained five eggs.
This bird is an early breeder and usually has fresh eggs by the end
of April or early in May, but the next species—the short-eared
owl—is a late breeder and seldom has eggs before June. (W. Raine.)
During the last few years the long-eared owl has been found by. Mr.
E. Beaupré breeding in the neighbourhood of Cataraqui marsh,
near Kingston, Ont., in April, laying its eggs in an unused crow’s
nest located in a pine tree. (Rev. C. J. Young.)

367. Short-eared Owl.

Asto acctpitrinus (PALL.) NEwT. 1872.

A scarce species in Greenland, but perhaps breeds there, though
not further to the south than lat. 65°. Its northern range alto-
gether unknown, but it has been shot on the Green island in’ Disco
bay, lat. 68° 50’. (Arct. Man.) Rather common and quite gener-
ally distributed throughout the region west of Hudson bay. (Preble.)
Fort Churchill, Hudson bay. (Clarke.) Fort Churchill and York
Factory, Hudson bay. (Dr. R. Bell.) Very abundant on both
shores of James bay in 1904. (Spreadborough.) This species is a
summer resident at Fort Chimo, Labrador; specimens obtained in
Davis inlet; plentiful on the east shore of Hudson bay. Not known
to winter in the Ungava district. (Packard.) Rather common at
Port Manvers and Nachvak, Labrador, in September. (Bigelow.)
A summer resident but not common in Newfoundland. (Reeks.)
Not common in Nova Scotia, but breeds there. (Downs.) Summer
resident in Nova Scotia but more common during migrations. Some-
times remains all winter. (H. F. Tujts.) Rare at St. John,New

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 291

Brunswick. (Chamberlain.) Not uncommon some years ago at
Scotch Lake, York county, N.B. (W. H. Moore.) On July 22nd,
1889, two were seen by Mr. Gardenain, on Niapisca island, one of
the Mingan group, Quebec. (Brewster.) An owl believed to be this
species was seen in the marshes on the Magdalen islands. (Bzshop.)
Summer resident in Quebec. (Dionne.) A common, but transient
visitant at Montreal; more plentiful in the autumn. Specimens
taken at Montreal in October, 1889 and 1890, and others seen at
Boucherville island in October, 1892. (Wzintle.) A pair was shot
October 6th, 1883, by Mr. G. R. White, and one was seen the same
month by Mr. W. L. Scott; these are the only records. (Ottawa
Naturalist, Vol. V.) This is a commoner species than the long-eared
owl and is likely more northern in its range. I have often observed
this species skimming noiselessly over the inlets and moist meadows
along the shores of Hamilton bay. (McIlwraith.) The only records
I have heard of in the districts of Parry sound and Muskoka are of
two found at Port Sidney by Mr. Kay. Regular migrant, common
in the autumn at Toronto, Ont. (J. H. Fleming.) These birds
visit us in varying numbers at Toronto each fall. During October,
1896, they were particularly abundant and while walking on the
island it was not at all unusual to see upwards of a dozen on the
wing at the same time. Everywhere on the island their advent
was clearly marked by the vast numbers of bird remains scattered
around, among which I noticed those of many of the woodpeckers.
I also noticed the remains of several smaller owls which leads me to
conclude that they are not altogether innocent of cannibalism.
(J. Hughes-Samuel.)

This species is tolerably common in Manitoba, but is a dweller
amongst the marshes and is seen there chiefly. It breeds through-
out the province. (E. T. Seton.) Two individuals were seen at
Indian Head, Sask., April 6th, 1892; soon afterwards they became
common, and began to breed. They fly often in the daytime in
bright sunlight and on one occasion I saw one fly aimlessly about
for over an hour and clapping its wings together so rapidly that
they sounded like a rattle; quite common at Medicine Hat and
Crane lake, Sask., in May and June, 1894; in July, 1895, they were
common along Milk river and on the West Butte, lat. 49°, Alta.;
a few individuals seen at Edmonton, Alta., in May, 1897; not rare
between Lesser Slave lake and the Peace river in 1903; not observed

19%

292 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

in the Rocky mountains, but seen in the Fraser valley at Agassiz
in May, 1889. (Spreadborough.) More numerous and more gener-
ally distributed than the preceding species, breeding in grass fields
and marshes instead of woods. Noted at several points along
the Grand Trunk Pacific railway west to Edmonton, Alta. (Atkin-
son.) A fair number to be seen in summer in the Red Deer district,
Alta. (W. E. Saunders.)

This owl is a summer visitor in the Northwest Territories, arriv-
ing as soon as the snow disappears and departing in September.
We observed it as far north as lat. 67°, and a female killed at Fort
Franklin on the 20th May, contained several pretty large eggs nearly
ready for exclusion. (Richardson.) North of Fort Simpson on the
Mackenzie; common. (Ross.) Sumas and Chilliwack prairies.
(Lord.) Found only on the coast; a male was taken at mid-day at
New Westminster. (Sitreator.) Abundant, both on the island and
on the mainland; remains on the coast throughout the winter.
(Fannin.) Abundant resident in the lower Fraser valley, B.C.;
rather common in the Okanagan district in winter; occurs in the
Cariboo district in winter. (Brooks.) Vancouver and Lulu islands
and about the lakes of the interior. (Rhoads.) The short-eared
owl was noted everywhere during the summer from the vicinity of
Cape Blossom up to the Kowak, at Kotzebue sound, Alaska. (Grin-
nell.) This species is a regular and common migrant and summer
resident at St. Michael and is found as far north as Kotzebue sound
where skins were procured in 1880. (Nelson.) This is the com-
monest bird of prey in Alaska. It is to be found on all of the main-
land and Aleutian islands. (Turner.) Numerous specimens were
collected at St. Michael and one at Unalaska. (Bishop.) Not
uncommon in most places visited by us at the base of the Alaskan
peninsula in 1902. (Osgood.) Occasionally seen on the Pribilof
islands, especially in winter. (Palmer.) A series of nine specimens
was collected at Point Barrow, Alaska, June, 1898. (MclIlhenny.)

BREEDING Notes.—Not uncommon in the fall in eastern Ontario.
One specimen shot near Lansdowne, Ont., in 1891. Breeds every
year on the Magdalen islands, Gulf of St. Lawrence. This bird
forms a slight nest on the ground amongst carex, sedge, etc., some-
times among low bushy shrubs, and lays from five to nine eggs in
the month of June. I have a set of nine eggs taken June 14th,
1898, in the northernmost part of the islands, and have no doubt a

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 293

few pairs breed there every year. A nest containing seven eggs
was found in Cataraqui marsh near Kingston, Ont., on May 23rd,
1902, by Mr. Ed. Beaupré, Kingston. It was in a wet but grassy
place. Last year (1906) I was fortunate enough to see a nest myself

in Cataraqui marsh, containing two well grown young on May 30th.
(Rev. C. J. Young.)

Twelve nests of this species were found in various situations in
the ‘‘barrens”’ as well as in wooded tracts, but all were on the ground,
and mere depressions apparently scraped for the purpose, and lined
with dried grasses and withered leaves; a few feathers were noticed
in about half of them, and they seemed to have been plucked from
her breast by the parent bird. She occasionally sits very close on
her nest. The number of eggs in a nest varied between three and
five, and but one contained as many as seven. On 30th June, 1865,
an owl was observed flying about a particular spot in the barren
grounds, and we concluded that its mate was not far off, a suspicion
confirmed by its uneasy excitement as soon as a search was instituted.
Myself and four of our party were thus fully engaged over an hour
ere success rewarded our efforts by the female getting off her nest
in the centre of a small clump of dwarf willows, one foot in height,
just as she was almost trodden upon. It was composed of withered
grasses and feathers, and contained five eggs. We must have
frequently approached her in the course of our protracted search.
(Macjarlane.)

I have found this species nesting in Manitoba and Saskatchewan,
making its nest on the ground; it lays from five to seven eggs.
I have three sets that were taken at Shoalwater bay and Mackenzie
bay, arctic America. One set of five eggs was taken June 6th, 1898,
another set of four, June 4th, 1890, and another set of five, June 7th,
1898, so that the first week in June appears to be the time this bird
has fresh eggs in the arctic regions. The Eskimo name for this
bird is Nipaiclooktik. (W. Raine.)

CLV. SYRNIUM Savicny. 1809.
368. Barred Owl.

Syrnium varium (BARTON) PREBLE. 1902.

Apparently a summer resident but not common in Newfound-
land. (Reeks.) Several specimens of the barred owl have been taken
at Moose Factory, James bay. (Preble.) A common resident of

204 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

Nova Scotia both winter and summer. (Downs; Gilpin; Tufts.)
An abundant resident in New Brunswick. (Chamberlain.) A
permanent resident at Scotch Lake, York county, N.B.; tolerably
common. (W. H. Moore.) Taken at Beauport; a resident in
Quebec. (Dionne.) A permanent resident at Montreal, but not
common. I shot a female and male specimens October 25th, 1889,
and February 8th, 1890, on the spur of Mount Royal. (Winile.)
A moderately common resident in the Ottawa district. (Ottawa
Naturalist, Vol. V.) Along the southern boundary of Ontario the
barred owl is by no means rare, but farther north I have not heard
of it being observed. (McIlwraith.) A common resident in Parry
Sound and Muskoka districts; also at Cache lake, Algonquin park.
Regular winter resident at Toronto, Ont. (J. H. Fleming.) The
most northern point I have met this bird is Whitney on the Parry
Sound railway, northern Ontario. (J. Hughes-Samuel.) <A rare
resident in the London district. (W. E. Saunders.) Rare and
probably migratory. A summer resident though rare; more com-
mon east of Winnipeg, Man. (E. T. Seton.) I have two records of
this species for Manitoba, one at Ochre river, the other within the
Portage la Prairie town limits. (Atkinson.) This species was
described from a specimen sent from Hudson bay by Mr. Graham.
I have never observed the bird in my travels in America. (Rzchard-
son.)

BREEDING Notes.—A few of these birds are met with every
year along the St. Lawrence but it is not common. The nest has
been found in a hole in a tree near Kingston, Ont., and a few years
ago I saw five young birds that were shot about a mile outside of
the town of Brockville, Ont., in July. (Rev. C. J. Young.) Rare;
no authentic record of its breeding near London, Ont., though
doubtless it does so. (W. E. Saunders.)

369a. Spotted Owl.

Syrnium occidentale caurinum C. H. MERRIAM. 1898.

I saw a specimen of this owl which was taken a few miles down
the Fraser from Chilliwack, B.C.; apparently confined to the lower
Fraser valley, where it is a rare and local resident. (Brooks.)

CATALOGUE OF *CANADIAN BIRDS. 295
CLVI. SCOTIAPTEX Swarnson. 1837.
370. Great Gray Owl.
Scotiapies nebulosa (FORSTER) PREBLE. 1902.

Specimen No. (32,306) in the Smithsonian Institution collection
was obtained by James McKenzie at Moose Factory, James,bay.
No record from any other part of the country. (Packard.) One
seen on the Humber river, Newfoundland, August 28th, 1899.
“(L. H. Porter.) A specimen taken a few years ago in Pictou county,
Nova Scotia, is the only one known except one in the collection of
the late Dr. McCulloch. (Gilpin.) Occurs in winter at Grand
Manan, N.B. (Herrick.) Taken at Lorette; resident in northern
Quebec. (Dionne.) A scarce winter visitant at Montreal. During
the winter of 1889~90 this owl appeared at Montreal in great numbers
and many specimens were taken. (Wuntle.) A rare winter visitor
at Ottawa. (G. R. White.) A specimen was shot November 2oth,
1905 by Mr. M. W. Kelley a farmer of South March, fourteen miles
from Ottawa. (Rev. G. Exfrig.) In southern Ontario this species
is a casual visitor in winter only. I have seen specimens taken in
Muskoka and at Hamilton. (McIlwraith.) Sometimes abundant
in the Parry Sound and Muskoka districts in winter. Occurs ir-
regularly about Toronto, Ont.; it sometimes appears in southern
Ontario in numbers, but is usually absent, such migrations are
rare, the last one at Toronto was about 1889; the last Toronto
specimen was recorded in 1896. (J. H. Fleming.) On 28th Feb-
ruary, 1896, a specimen was taken on Toronto island. In December,
1898, I saw one, taken at Whitney, on the Parry Sound railway,
and I was shown two fine specimens which were taken at Scotia
Junction, on the same railway the preceding year. (J. Hughes-
Samuel.)

Rare winter visitor in Manitoba. Found chiefly along the Red
river and at Lake Winnipeg. (£. T. Seton.) An irregular winter
visitor in Manitoba, some years abundant, others entirely absent,
(Atkinson.) Rare at Aweme, Man. (Criddle.) One seen at Lesser
Slave lake, Atha., and another between that lake and Peace River
Landing in 1903. (Spreadborough.) This imposing bird which
was first described from Hudson bay is by no means a rare bird in
the Northwest Territories, being an inhabitant of all the wooded

296 GEOLOGICAL £URVEY OF CANADA.

districts lying between Lake Superior and lat. 67° or 68°, and between
Hudson bay and the Pacific. It is common on the borders of Great
Bear lake; and there and in the higher parallels of latitude must
pursue its prey during the summer months by daylight. It keeps
however, within the woods and does not frequent the barren grounds
like the snowy owl. (Richardson.) A rare species; shot at Sumas
only. (Lord.) A rare species; I have one specimen, taken at
Chilliwack, B.C., in November, 1887; and another that was taken
at Stewart lake, B.C., lat. 54°, 1891. (Fannin.) Rare at Chilli-
wack; most probably breeds; rare in winter at Lake Okanagan,
B.C. (Brooks.) One shot at Vernon, B.C., was mounted by Mr.
Pound last year, 1891. (Rhoads.) This fine owl is a common
and well known resident throughout all the wooded parts of Alaska
from Sitka north to the northern tree limit, and from the vicinity
of Bering strait throughout the territory. (Nelson.) This species
is a resident of the Yukon valley and was obtained on the coast at
Uphim slough, the northern part of the Yukon delta. (Turner.)
Reported by Bishop from two or three places in the interior of
Alaska.

BREEDING Notes.—I should not say that this owl was in “‘great
abundance” in the Anderson region, as inadvertently stated on
page 33, Vol. III. of the Land Birds. We certainly observed very
few specimens, and we found but one nest, that referred to in the
same paragraph, on the r9th July, 1862, near Lockhart river, on
the route to Fort Good Hope. It was built on a spruce tree at a
height of about twenty feet, and was composed of twigs and mosses
thinly lined with feathers and down. It contained two eggs and
two young, both of which had lately died. The female left the nest
at our approach and flew to another tree at some distance, where
she was shot. (Macfarlane.)

During the winter of 1895-96 Mr. Dippie and myself received
over a dozen of these birds in the flesh that were shot in Alberta.
We also received about 50 American hawk owls in the flesh that
same winter. Settlers informed me that the whole of Alberta
swarmed with owls and they femained until April when all migrated
north except one pair of great gray owls which remained and nested
in the Red Deer River district, and Mr. Dippie secured the eggs along
with the parent which is probably the only record of this bird ever
nesting as far south, as its summer home is along Great Bear lake

.CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS 297

and northward. It breeds at the mouth of the Mackenzie river,
arctic America, making a nest of sticks and weeds in the highest
spruce trees it can find. (W. Raine.)

370a. Lapp Owl.

Scotiapiex nebulosa lapponica A. O. U. CoMMITTEE, 1903.

A single specimen of this species was taken in the Yukon delta
on April 15th, 1876, and sent to me. It is said to be quite rare.
(Turner.)

CLVII. CRYPTOGLAUX Ricumonp. 1001.
371. Richardson Owl.

Cryptoglaux tengmalmi richardsont (BONAP.) RICHMOND. 1901.

Recorded from Repulse bay and York Factory. It probably
occurs throughout the Hudson bay region. (Preble.) A possible
resident of Newfoundland, but I have not seen it. (Reeks.) Rare
winter visitor in Nova Scotia. (Downs; Gilpin; Tufts.) Oc-
casionally met with at St. John, N.B. (Chamberlain.) One taken
at Scotch Lake, York county, N.B., in winter. (W. H. Moore.)
Taken at Beauport; winter resident in Quebec. (Dionne.) A
scarce winter visitant at Montreal. (Winile.) This is a winter
visitor at Ottawa, Ont., and has been taken by Mr. G. R. White
and seen by Mr. Lees. (Ottawa Naturalist, Vol. V.) My specimens
of this species were shot at Toronto, Ont., and I have very few
records of its occurrence in other parts of the province. (McIlwratth.)
Winter migrant of irregular occurrence at Toronto. Mr. Kay has
met with one or two in the Parry Sound district. (J. H. Fleming.)
‘Probably resident in the wooded sections of Manitoba. A common
winter visitor; in January, 1885, Mr. Hine of Winnipeg showed me
several dozen skins taken that fall near Winnipeg. (E. T. Seton.)
A regular and rather common winter visitor in Manitoba. (Atkin-
son.) Rather rare winter visitor at Aweme, Man. (Criddle.) I
cannot state the range of this species but believe that it inhabits ah
the wooded country from Great Slave lake to the United States.
On the banks of the Saskatchewan it is so common that its voice
is heard almost every night by the traveller wherever he selects

298 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

his bivouac. (Richardson.) This owl, or one very like it, was
repeatedly observed in the country between Fort Good Hope and
Anderson river. (Macfarlane.) North to Fort Simpson on the
Mackenzie; rather rare. (Ross.) <A rare winter visitant at Chilli-
wack, B.C.; a considerable irruption of this owl occurred throughout
the southern interior during the winter of 1898-99; rare in the
Okanagan district in winter; resident throughout the winter in
the Cariboo district, B.C. ; taken at Quesnel, Cariboo district,
B.C., in 1901. (Brooks.) This handsome little bird is common
throughout all northern Alaska, wherever trees or bushes occur to
afford it shelter. (Nelson.) This owl does not occur at St. Michael,
on the coast. It inhabits the wooded districts. (Turner.)

BREEDING NotEes.—This small owl is occasionally: met with in
eastern Ontario in the late fall. I have seen a specimen shot near
Kingston. It breeds not uncommonly on the Magdalen islands,
ustially selecting a hole that had been made by the ‘‘flicker” in a
dead spruce stub. I saw two sets of eggs, of four and five respect-
ively taken in 1898. The set of four together with part of the
remains of the parent bird, killed by ravens that occupied an ad-
joining tree, I now have. These were laid early in. April. The
other set was taken on May 3rd, the old bird being captured on the
nest at the same time. (Rev. C. J. Young.) Dr. George informs
me that the Richardson owl nests in northern Alberta. (W. Raine.)

372. Saw-whet Owl.
Cryptoglaux acadica (GMEL.) RICHMOND. 1901.

Specimen (No. 32,301) in Smithsonion Institution collection was
obtained at Moose Factory, James bay, by James McKenzie. (Pack-
avd.) Anot uncommon summer migrant in Newfoundland. (Reeks.)
A resident but becoming rare in Nova Scotia. (Downs.) A common
resident in Nova Scotia. (Gilpin.) Present throughout the year
at Wolfville, York county, N.S.; most common in winter. (H. F.
Tufts.) A pair heard at Sydney, Cape Breton island, June 12th,
1902. (C. R. Harte.) Resides throughout the year, but more
common in winter at St. John, N.B. (Chamberlain.) Permanent
resident; not common; breeds at Scotch Lake, York county, N.B.
(W.H. Moore.) Taken at Beauport; resident in Quebec. (Déionne.)
Permanent and common resident at Montreal. I have taken this

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 299

little owl, May 24th, 1884, in the woods below Hochelaga; also on
Isle Jesus and Mount Royal. (Wintle.)

A moderately common resident in the Ottawa district. (Ottawa
Naturalist, Vol. V.) This species though a resident in Ontario is
of infrequent occurrence and in some winters is not seen at Hamil-
ton while in others it has been taken in numbers. (MclIlwraith.)
Not common at Emsdale; reported as resident at Port Sydney,
Parry Sound and Muskoka districts; generally distributed but not
abundant in Ontario; large flocks have been seen on Toronto island
in the autumn; a regular winter resident at Toronto, probably
breeds as I have a young bird taken May 15th, 1889, and another in
August; observed at CAche lake, Algonquin park. (J. H. Fleming.)
Not common in summer in the London district, though young have
been found; more often noticed in winter and fall. The fact that
twenty-four of these were found dead in the few miles I covered on
the coast of Lake Huron in 1906 proves this species to be migratory.
(W. E. Saunders.)

A tare resident; noted only on Red river and eastward in Mani-
toba. (E. T. Seton.) A very irregular migrant and irregularly
distributed in Manitoba. Appearing in numbers some seasons and
others entirely absent. May possibly breed but never noted during
the summer. (Atkinson.) Rare at Aweme, Man. (Criddle.)
Blindman river, Alta. (C. F. Dippie.) At Edmonton, Alta., but
not noticed in the mountains until'the Columbia River was reached;
a few specimens were seen in the Columbia River valley at Arrow
lake in June, 1890; others were seen at Sicamous in July, 1889,
and one heard at our camp on the Skagit river, B.C. on the night of
July 1st, 1905. (Spreadborough.) This owl was not noticed on the
route of the expedition, but specimens were sent from New Caledonia
by Mr. Archibald McDonald. (Richardson.) Obtained only east of
the Coast range. (Lord.) Not by any means common; I have
taken it in winter at Burrard inlet; and a few have been taken on
Vancouver island; Mr. Anderson reports it from Port Simpson,
B.C. (Fannin.) Tolerably common at Chilliwack, B.C.; a possible
resident; common in the winter at Lake Okanagan, B.C.; resident
in winter in the Cariboo district, B.C. (Brooks.) An immature
male was taken at Vernon, B.C., in July, 1892. (Rhoads.)

BREEDING NoTEs.—I have a set of five eggs of this owl taken May
23rd at Scotch Lake, N.B. The eggs ranged from fresh to incubation

300 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

well begun, showing that incubation begins when the first egg is
laid. The nest was in an old nest of Colaptes auratus twenty feet up
in a spruce stub. (W. H. Moore.) A nest taken in April, 1902
contained six eggs. Another was found in King’s county in April,
1906, in the deserted nest of a flicker. It was twenty feet from the
ground in a pine stub in dense woods. (H. F. Tujts.) This owl
breeds sparingly along the St. Lawrence, as in June, 1892, I saw a
young one captured alive on one of the wooded islands of the river.
The bird has also been obtained near Kingston, Ont., (Rev. C. J.
Young.) A young bird in pin feathers was shot near St. Thomas,
Ont.,in June. Doubtless breeds in some of the heavy cedar swamps.
(W. E. Saunders.) I have a set of eggs taken north of Peterboro,
Ont., May 17th, 1894. The eggs were laid in a woodpecker’s hole.
(W. Raine.)

372a. Northwest Saw-whet Owl.
Cryptoglaux acadica scotaea (OsGooD.)

This dark-coloured form of the Acadian owl doubtless ranges through-
out the humid Pacific coast region. Its rarity probably accounts
for its having been previously overlooked, for its characters are in
general the same as those of the numerous other forms peculiar to
the same region, which have long been recognized in nomenclature.
The only specimens that I have examined besides the type are several
imperfect ones from Puget sound, which are in the National Museum
collection. These agree with the type in richness of colour and
extent of dark markings. The type was collected by Rev. J. H.
Keen, who very generously presented it to the Biological Survey
collection. A small owl, apparently this species, flew over our
vessel at 11 o’clock on the night of July 4th, while we were at anchor
in Houston Stewart channel. This was the only owl seen at any
time during our visit to the islands. (Osgood.) Puget sound region
north to Queen Charlotte islands. (A. O. U. Check-list, eleventh
Suppl.)

CLVHI. MEGASCOPS Kauvp. 1848.
373. Screech Owl.
Megascops asto (LINN.) STEJN. 1885.

A summer migrant in Newfoundland and tolerably common.
(Reeks.) Apparently very rare at St. John, N.B.; but said to be
common and breeds at Grand Manan. (Chamberlain.) Very rare

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 301

at Scotch Lake, York county., N.B. (W. H. Moore.) Winter
visitant at Montreal, but scarce; both forms occur here. (Winile.)
After hunting and watching for some years, in December, 1902, I
obtained my first specimen of this owl, taken at Ottawa, Ont.; it
was in the gray or normal phase, and in fine plumage. (G. R.
White.) In the same month a fine specimen was taken by Mr.
Young, at Hurdman Bridge, near Ottawa, and another was seen
sitting in a tree on Daly avenue, Ottawa, in open day. (Macoun.)
This species has been definitely established as breeding at Ottawa.
In July and August, 1906, Mr. Geo. White found at various times
four to five in a rarely used outbuilding to which they had found
an entrance but could not find an exit. (Rev. G. Exfrig.)

This is the most abundant of the owls in the vicinity of Hamil-
ton, and as many as forty were seen during the winter of 1883-84;
in 1885-86 not a single individual was seen. (McIlwraith.) Rare
at Emsdale; Mr. Kay reports it as resident at Port Sydney, Mus-
koka and Parry Sound districts; breeds about Toronto in limited
numbers. The red phase of plumage is rare, usually cccurring
for several years in succession and then disappearing. (J. H.
Fleming.) A fairly common resident in the London district, but
only accasionally noted in Bruce county, Ont. (W. E. Saunders.)
Mr. Hunter claims the screech owl for Manitoba saying: ‘I saw a
pair at Sabaskong bay, Lake of the Woods, and in 1871 heard them
at Point du Chene.” (E. T. Seton.) Rare at Aweme, Man. (Crid-
dle.) The writer reported this species from near Fort Pelly, Man.,
but discovered later that it was the Acadian owl.

BREEDING NoTes.—One of the owls that is becoming more numer-
ous than formerly, and breeding in suitable woodlands in eastern
Ontario. I both hear of and have seen it on Wolfe island, and have
seen the young near Lansdowne. It is a common thing to hear
it at night in the fall. Recently it has been found breeding in the
grounds of Rockwood Asylum, Kingston, Ont. (Rev. C. J. Young.)
Well distributed in the London district; breeds in cavities in trees.
(W. E. Saunders.) .

373d. Kennicott Screech Owl.
Megascops"asio kennicottia (ELLIOT) STEJN. 1885.

The type of this bird in the tawny brown phase, was taken at
Sitka and described by D. T. Elliott. Within the last few years

302 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

we have learned that it extends down the northwest coast from
Sitka to Oregon. (Nelson.) I obtained a male from Mr. Lindley
of Victoria, B.C. (Rhoads.) An abundant resident throughout
British Columbia. Breeds in the neighbourhood of Victoria. (Ker-
mode.) Seen at Masset, Queen Charlotte islands by Mr. Keen.
(Osgood.) Bishop and Osgood saw two specimens of what they
thought to be this form at Cariboo Crossing, B.C.

373h. Macfarlane Screech Owl.
Megascops asto macfarlanet BREWST. 1891.

Southern portion of the mainland of British Columbia east of
the Coast range. (Fannin.) A specimen seen at Sicamous, B.C.,
July 16th, 1889, is referred here. (Macoun.)

373k. Puget Sound Screech Owl.
Megascops asio saturatus BREWST.

Vancouver island and coast of southern British Columbia; breeds
in the neighbourhood of Victoria. (Fannin.) Common resident in
the lower Fraser valley. (Brooks.) Common in the woods around
Chilliwack lake, B.C., July and August, 1901; a common resident
throughout Vancouver island. (Spreadborough.)

CLIX. BUBO Dumert. 1806.
375. Great Horned Owl.
Bubo virginianus (GMEL.) Bonap. 1838.

Summer resident in Newfoundland and breeds. (Reeks.) Com-
mon on the Humber river, Newfoundland. (L. H. Porter.) Abun-
dant throughout the year in Nova Scotia. (Downs; Tufts.) Both
breeds and winters in Nova Scotia and Cape Bretonisland. (Gilpin.)
A common resident in New Brunswick. (Chamberlain.) Several
young observed in the Restigouche valley, N.B. (Brittain & Cox.)
Permanent resident; rare at Scotch Lake, York county, N.B. (W.
H. Moore.) Once seen and frequently heard, Cumberland county,
N.S., winter of 1897-98. (Morrell.) Fort Churchill, Hudson bay.
(Clarke.) Taken at Beauport; a resident in Quebec. (Dzonne.)
A common, permanent resident at Montreal. I saw two of these

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 303

owls October 18th, 1885, in woods at St. Martin Junction, and two
others the next year in the same place ; in both cases they were
mobbed by crows. Many specimens are taken in the vicinity.
(Wintle.) Two individuals observed on Moose river, northern
Ontario, June 2nd, 1896. None seen while crossing Ungava.
(Spreadborough.) A rare resident in the Ottawa district. (Ottawa
Naturalist, Vol. V.) This species is generally distributed through-
out Ontario and is very variable in colour. (McIlwraith.) A
common breeding species and a resident in the districts of Parry
Sound and Muskoka; regular winter resident but rare in summer
around Toronto, Ont.; also in Algonquin park, a few breed. (J. H.
Fleming.) On the 29th March, 1897, I took one of these birds whose
stomach contained the greater part of a crow, primaries and all.
If this powerful rascal is in the habit of paying nocturnal visits to
the roosting places of the crows in bad weather it is small wonder
that the retaliative instinct asserts itself in daylight. (J. Hughes-
Samuel.) Observed three young ones and an old one on the Missi-
nabi river, June 20th, 1904. (Spreadborough.) Well distributed
throughout the London district; breeding in large nests in the early
spring. (W. E. Saunders.) The typical form occurs in British
Columbia as well as every possible intergrade between the darkest
saturatus and subarcticus, almost light enough for arcticus. (Brooks.)
A discussion of the horned owls of Washington and British Columbia
will be found in an article in The Auk, Vol. X., p. 18 (1893). It is
probable that all the races of Bubo virgintanus are to be found in
British Columbia. (Rhoads.)

BREEDING NoTES.—When we first came to Muskoka they were
very rare, I only observed two in twenty years, but during that
time the barred owl was very abundant. Since the horned owl
has become common it has almost disappeared and now one sel-
dom hears or sees one and the horned has become just as common
as the barred used to be. This leads me to think that it has been
killed or driven away by the other. The horned owl is not beneath
killing a mouse if there is no larger game about but I think
hares are its chief food during the winter. It kills a good many
skunks in the summer. On one occasion my brothers found one
that had seized a skunk which had bitten it so badly that it had
died from the wounds. It kills muskrats in the fall when they are
building their houses and when they are out upon the marshes

304 ' GEOLOGICA] SURVEY OF CANADA,

getting grass to build with. One night two winters ago one came
into a barn-yard and killed two geese. The farmer caught it in a
trap a few nights after. These owls are usually found along the
rivers and streams in thick woods. The western form in Manitoba
and the northwest is usually found in willow thickets along the
banks of streams and the edges of sloughs. I have seen them time
and again fly from a log or a stone, up the bank of a stream at my
approach, which leads me to think that they are very fond of bathing
and washing themselves, although I never saw one in the act. They
feed chiefly upon the hares that live in the thickets. (Spread-
borough.) This species builds in holes in trees when such can be
found, it also builds in hemlock, beech or other large trees in the
vicinity of Ottawa. The nest is placed near the trunk of the tree
and is composed of dry sticks, probably lined with leaves and feathers,
the eggs are two or three in number. (G. R. White.) A fairly
common species along the St. Lawrence, but rapidly becoming
rarer. I have seen the nest several times; one near Perth, Ont.,
in a tamarack tree not more than twelve feet from the ground, which
on May 30th, 1886, contained two young ones just able to fly. It is
a very early breeder; on the 11th April, 1895, I found a nest with
two much incubated eggs. The nest occupied was in a yellow
birch, and the previous year had been tenanted by a pair of red-
shouldered hawks. This nest was again occupied by the owls
three years later. Again in 1899 I found the nest in a hemlock
about sixty feet from the ground on March 28th, when the weather
was very cold and snow covered the ground. This nest contained
two eggs, incubation far advanced. This owl is easily kept in con-
finement and does not appear to suffer from changes of weather.
I have had one for fifteen years. (Rev. C. J. Young.) A nest of
this species found in May, 1900, containing two large young, had
beneath it numerous fragments of birds and mammals, among the
former were remains of a broad-winged hawk, two red-shouldered
hawks and one red-tailed hawk. This is our earliest resident breeder;
full sets have been taken as early as February 24th near London,
and all the eggs are generally laid by March roth. (W.E. Saunders.)

375a. Western Horned Owl.

Bubo virginianus subarcticus (Hoc.) 1852.

Of recent record at Toronto, Ont.; there are none in old collections.
I have examined four well marked birds since 1893; of these two

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 305

were typical, the others rather more heavily marked but none ap-
proached occidentalis, there being comparatively little ochraceous
underlying the white. (J. H. Fleming.)

This form is a common resident in Manitoba wherever there is
timber. Evidently a common permanent resident in Manitoba.
(E. T. Seton.) Geographical location alone seems to distinguish
this variety from plain wrgintanus and the lighter variety arcticus,
as the three types merge so gradually into one another that the
line of distinction cannot at times be otherwise drawn. I have
grouped all those.specimens taken in Manitoba under this type but
I believe specimens showing all characteristics of the other varieties
can be readily secured in Manitoba as all shades and sizes are handled
every season when there is any extensive movement among the owls.
Horned owls, whatever they may ultimately prove to be, breed
regularly and commonly through all the wooded districts of Manitoba
and west to Edmonton. Frequently very small and light coloured
birds are secured either spring or fall and possibly these will prove
to be arcticus. (Atkinson.) Tolerably common resident at Aweme,
Man. (Criddle.) Fine specimens of this form were taken at Indian
Head, Sask., in May, 1892; at Medicine Hat and Crane lake, Sask.,
May, 1894; and in the Cypress hills in June of the same year; a
few were seen on Old Wives creek, Sask., and at the West Butte,
lat. 49°, Sask., 1895; occasionally seen at Banff, Rocky mountains,
in the summer of 1891; observed near Cascade and on Sophie
mountain, B.C., at the International Boundary- in July, 1902; one
taken at Agassiz, B.C., May, 1889. (Spreadborough.) This bird
is found in all parts of the Northwest Territories where the timber
is large and was taken by Mr. Drummond in the Rocky mountains.
(Richardson.) North to Arctic Circle and beyond, on the Mackenzie
river. (Ross.) Abundant east and west of the Coast range. (Lord.)
Common in British Columbia. (Streator.) An abundant resident
throughout the province. (Fannin.) Rather common in the
lower Fraser valley. (Brooks.) This bird is found throughout
the entire wooded part of northern Alaska, extending its range
in autumn to the open treeless shore along Bering sea and portions
of the Arctic coast. (Nelson.) This bird is only an occasional
visitor at St. Michael, its place on the barren grounds being taken
by the snowy owl. (Turner.)

20

306 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

Recorded by Bishop from many places in Yukon and Alaska,
and reported by Osgood to be common in the parts of Alaska tra-
versed by him in 1902.

BREEDING NoTES.—September 18th, 1884; Portage la Prairie:
Mr. C. W. Nash gives me a very interesting note on a pair of horned
owls that had nested in the woods here, and from the indications
observed there seems little doubt that they subsist chiefly on fish,
which were abundant in a small creek running from a lake through
these woods to the Assiniboine river. On examining the gizzards
of two of the young of this pair which Mr. Nash shot, he found them
full of fish. At one place there were, unquestionably, evidences of
an owl having seized a large fish with one foot and held on to the
bank with the other. The creek being very small, and surrounded
with large bare trees, is a favourite run between the river and the
lake for large fish at night, so that all the circumstances are very
favourable for the prosecution of the piscatorial pursuits of the owls.
On the 8th May, 1884, I found a pair of these birds in possession of
an old nest in the Big Swamp on the Assiniboine river, south of
Big Plain. This nest was about 30 feet from the ground, in the
crotch of a poplar tree, which was as yet without leaves. The nest
was formed of sticks and twigs and was indistinguishable from that
of a red-tailed buzzard. Once or twice I tried to shoot the old bird on
the nest, but she was too wary, and evidently had all her wits about
her even in the day time. (FE. T. Seton.)

As early as 20th March, 1892, at Indian Head, Sask., a pair of
these birds was nesting. On May 24th I visited the nest and took
the two young birds home with me. They soon became quite tame
and would allow me to stroke them, and although they often pecked
my hands they never were able to draw blood. They seem to have
little power with their beak. By July 7th they were as large as the
old ones. It depends very much on their food how often they eject
pellets. If fed on chopped gophers, skins and all, they would eject
about five times a week, if on the bodies of birds that had been
skinned, about three times a week. On June 3rd found a nest with
two very young ones. Their eyes were not open yet, and they
seemed only about five days old. On the 7th one opened its eyes
and on the roth the other one. They were quite white when very.
young and altogether without ear tufts. Their eyes are very small

CATALOGUE OF. CANADIAN BIRDS. 307

at first and the iris a dirty white, and it was not until they were a
month old that their eyes attained the bright yellow appearance.
(Spreadborough.)

3750. Arctic Horned Owl. i

Bubo virginianus arcticus (SwAINs.) Cass. 1854.

The following citations are all probably referable to subarcticus
but without the specimens this cannot be determined.

One shot near Duck mountain, Manitoba, in the fall of 1883;
another individual was taken by Macoun in October, 1880, in the
Touchwood hills, Sask. (E. T. Seton.) This very beautiful owl
appears to be rare, one specimen having been seen flying at mid-day
in the immediate vicinity of Carlton House and was brought down
by an arrow by an Indian boy. (Richardson.) One seen at Peace
River Landing, Atha., in 1903. (Spreadborough.) This owl or the
other variety was repeatedly observed in the country between Fort
Good Hope and the Anderson river. (Macjarlane.) This pale-
coloured form is sometimes seen in northern Alberta where it breeds.
(W. Raine.) Bent and Bishop collected four specimens in western
Saskatchewan which were all more or less intermediate being fully
as light coloured as the average arctic but having spotted rather
than pure white feet.

375c. Dusky Horned Owl.

©

Bubo virginianus saturatus RipGw. 1877.

Not rare at Fort Chimo, Ungava. Resident. Downy young
obtained June 20th, 1884. (Packard.) <A rare winter visitant at
Montreal. I purchased a fine specimen of this owl, February 8th,
1892, in the Bonsecours market, which was shot at Boucherville
four days previously. (Wintle.) Among the horned owls taken at
Toronto in winter are a few very dark birds usually of large size
and apparently referable to the form heterocnemts of Oberholser.
(J. H. Fleming.)

This species is an extremely dark-coloured form of the horned
owl, found along the damp, heavily wooded south coast of the
Alaskan territory, and extending its range southward to Washington.
(Nelson.) An abundant resident west of the Coast range. (Fannin.)

20%

308 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

Saw two near Elko, B.C., May 14th, 1904, and two young half-
grown May 20th. Also observed this species at Midway, Meyer
creek, Sidley and Skagit river, B.C. (Spreadborough.) Mr. Ander-
son collected an adult male on Sheep creek and another at Caribou
camp, Kenai peninsula, Alaska, which are referred here by Mr.
Chapman.

BREEDING Notes.—A fine skin of the dark-coloured race of the
genus Bubo with the two eggs was collected for me by Mr. Dicks at
Sandwich bay, Labrador. The eggs were taken May ist, 1896, and
the nest was built in the top of a spruce, a large structure of sticks,
weeds and rubbish. (W. Raine.) April roth, 1903, at Penticton,
B.C., I found a nest in a cluster of branches growing from the trunk
of a large cotton-wood tree. It was made of a large bundle of sticks
and contained two nearly fresh eggs. I am not sure of this bird.
It is rather dark for the western and not dark enough for the dusky. ,
(Spreadborough.)

NOTE.

Mr. H. C. Oberholser in Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. Xxvu, 1904, p. 177-
192, has published a revision of the American great horned owls
which were it followed here would make necessary many changes
in the names of the varieties known to occur in Canada and a re-
arrangement of the geographical limits given them in the first
edition of this catalogue. As most of the published citations refer
to specimens which we have not seen, the old arrangement has been
retained but the names and distribution of the several forms as
- given by Mr. Oberholser are printed below. So many observers
record two or more intermediate forms from the same locality that
it is almost certain that yet further changes will have to be made
in the geographical distribution given by Mr. Oberholser.

Great Horned Owl.

Asto magellanicus virginianus (GMELIN.)

Southern Canada and eastern United States, west to Ontario.

Mr. Oberholser cites no specimens from Ontario or the Eastern
States, and does not mention Quebec, Nova Scotia or New Bruns-
wick. We know that the species breeds in those three provinces
and we infer that either an undescribed form or the Labrador form
is the resident breeding variety.

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 309
Labrador Horned Owl.

Asio magellanicus heterocnemis, Oberholser Proc. U.S.
Nat. Mus., Vol. X XVII, 187.

Labrador, including at least north coast of the territory of Ungava.
Specimens from the following locations have been seen: Okkak;
Makkovik; Hopedale; Turnavik island; and Lance au Loup in
Labrador. Fort Chimo; and Near Forks, Fort Nascopee, Ungava.

Arctic Horned Owl.

Asto magellanicus wapacuthu (GMELIN.)

Northern Canada, from Hudson bay to the valley of the Mackenzie
river; south in winter to the northern United States. Specimens
have been examined from Fort Resolution, Slave river, seventy-five
miles below Fort Smith, in Mackenzie territory. In Saskatchewan
from Moose lake and the Pas. In Ontario from Moose Factory,
James bay, and from Michipicoten island, Lake Superior.

Dusky Horned Owl.

Asto magellanicus saturatus (RIDGWAY.)

Pacific coast region from Washington north to southern Alaska.

Specimens examined from Kamloops; Lund, and Ashcroft, B.C.;
also from Sitka, Alaska.

Alaskan Horned Owl.

Asio magellanicus algistus OBERHOLSER.

Northwest coast region of Alaska. Specimens have been ex-
amined from St. Michael, Kowak river, lower Yukon river, Port
Huron and Aleknagik river, Alaska.

British Columbia Horned Owl.

Asio megallanicus lagophonus OBERHOLSER.

Washington and northern Oregon (excepting the coast region),
with Idaho; north through eastern and central British Columbia to
Cook inlet and the interior of Alaska. Specimens examined from
Vernon, B.C.; and from Nulato, Fort Yukon; Hope, Cook inlet;
Knik, Cook inlet; and Kowak river, Alaska.

310 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
CLX. NYCTEA STEPHENS. 1826.

376. Snowy Owl.
Nyctea nyctea (LINN.) LicuT. 1854.

Very common in Greenland in summer; more numerous in the
northern Inspectorate than in the southern. Found also on the
eastern coast and extends westward to Liddon island and Mel-
ville island, lat. 75°. (Arct. Man.) Seen now and again on Elles-
mere island. (FE. Bay.) A rare winter visitor at Ivigtut, Greenland.
(Hagerup.) Common throughout the country. Breeds at Fort
Chimo, Ungava. (Packard.) A few specimens were seen in the
early spring about Fullerton, Hudson bay. They are reported by
the natives to breed inland. At Cape Dufferin on the east side of
Hudson bay upwards of thirty of these birds were caught by placing
fox traps on the top of short poles, at intervals along the coast
during the southern migration in 1901. (A. P. Low.) Noted by
various arctic expeditions at several points to the north and north-
west of Hudson bay. (Preble.) Tolerably common and probably
resides all the year in Newfoundland. (Reeks.) Some years plenti-
ful and others scarce in Nova Scotia, seen only in winter. (Downs.)
A common and often an abundant winter resident; seen on Sable
island, N.S., in August, 1854. (Gilpin.) A winter visitor at St.
John, N.B.; reported as occasionally spending the summer.(Cham-
berlain.) Winter visitor; rare at Scotch Lake, York county, N.B.
(W. H. Moore.) Taken at Beauport; a winter visitant at Quebec.
(Dionne.) Winter visitor at Montreal; some years it is scarce and
others more plentiful. In the winter of 1891-92 I saw exposed for
sale at one time in Bonsecours market five females and two males.
(Wintle.) A winter visitor in the Ottawa district. (Ottawa Nat-
uralist, Vol. V.) An irregular winter visitor in Ontario, sometimes
appearing in considerable numbers and again being entirely absent.
(McIlwratth.) This owl is found in both the Parry Sound and
Muskoka districts in winter, but is not common, except in years of
unusual migrations. A regular migrant at Toronto, very large
numbers have appeared about the city at irregular intervals; the
flight of 1901-02 extended from December to April. (J. H. Flem-
ing.) The snowy owl is commonly met with in the fall and winter
in eastern Ontario and has been shot at Long point, Wolfe island,
near Kingston. (Rev. C. J. Young.) This species seems to prefer

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 311

the large marshes as a temporary home when it comes to southern
Ontario, doubtless on account of their resemblance to the treeless
regions to which it is accustomed. (W.E.Saunders.) This beautiful
bird may be seen close to my house at Kew Beach, Toronto, almost
every day in the winter, but they are very wary. They perch on
the ice floes along the beach and keep out of gun range. My neigh-
bour, Mr. Harold Douglas, shot one November 28th, 1901. When
wounded they are very ferocious and a dog is afraid to attack them
as they throw themselves on their backs and strike out rapidly with
their sharp, strong claws, and woe to the dog that gets his face struck
by the claws of a wounded white owl. This bird breeds within the
Arctic Circle. (W. Raine.) In his paper on the snowy owl pub-
lished in The Auk, Vol. XIX., p. 271 et seg., Mr. Ruthven Deane
gives an account of the unusual abundance of this bird in Canada
during the 1901-2 migration.

A tolerably common winter resident in Manitoba. It arrives
early in autumn and leaves in April. (E. T. Seton.) Has become
very rare at Aweme, Man., in recent years, probably on account of
its being invariably shot when chance offers. (Criddle.) Abundant
from Norway House to Hudson bay in winter. (Dr. R. Bell.) One
seen April 1st and the last on April 2oth at Indian Head, Sask., in
1892. (Spreadborough.) A regular and in some seasons an ex-
ceptionally abundant winter resident throughout the west but not
known to have been noted during the breeding season. (Atkinson.)
This highly beautiful and powerful bird is common in the more
northern parts of America. It frequents in summer the most arctic
lands and hunts in the day as indeed it has to do. When I have
seen it on the Barren Grounds it was generally squatting on the earth,
and if put up it alighted after a short flight. It preys on lemmings,
hares and birds. It makes its nest on the ground and generally
lays four eggs. (Rechardson.) North to Fort Norman; rare. (Ross.)
This species is not plentiful in the Anderson country and we never
secured an egg. (Macfarlane.) Not unfrequently seen near the
entrance to the Fraser river. (Lord.) Resident in the northern
portions of the province; south during some winters only, to the
mouth of the Fraser and Vancouver island. (Fannin.) An ir-
regular migrant at Chilliwack, B.C.; occasionally seen in winter at
Lake Okanagan, B.C.; several mounted specimens were in the
Cariboo district. (Brooks.) Taken at Skidegate and Masset, Queen

312 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

Charlotte islands. The miners and traders about Cook inlet, Alaska
say that snowy owls have frequently been killed there in winter.
It is a regular winter visitor at the base of the Alaskan peninsula.
(Osgood.) From the Sitkan region north to the farthest point of
Alaska this species keeps mainly to the more barren portions of
the coast and interior, and always is found less numerous where
trees are abundant. It occurs also on the islands in Bering sea
and more sparingly on the Aleutian chain. (Nelson; Turner.) This
bird may be said to be a resident at Point Barrow, although in the
depths of winter it retreats with the ptarmigan back to the ‘‘deer
country,” that is, to the valleys of the large rivers running into the
Arctic ocean east of Point Barrow. (Murdoch.) I found the
snowy owl unexpectedly scarce in the vicinity of Kotzebue
sound and when seen were mostly single individuals. (Grinnell.)
Usually seen on the Pribylof islands, Bering sea in winter but
occasionally in summer. (Wm. Palmer.)

BREEDING Notes.—In Bendire’s ‘‘Life Histories of N. A. Birds’
is a record of a snowy owl nesting in Manitoba and having eggs
advanced in incubation in the middle of February, but the time
of the year—Manitoba midwinter—is sufficient to pronounce this
record as a pure invention of the alleged finder of the nest—one
calling himself Le Grand T. Meyer—this, no doubt, being a fictitious
name. The nest is described as being made of hay, grass and sticks,
warmly lined with feathers and eighteen inches high above the
level prairie. The alleged finder of this nest evidently was never
in Canada or he would know that the ground is usually covered
deep with snow at this time of the year and that it would be an
impossibility for the snowy owl to prevent itself being buried in
the snow drifts; besides if the bird left its eggs for a few minutes
they would get frozen and burst. I have a clutch of seven eggs
and another of four eggs taken by Mr. Young, on Herschell island,
west of Mackenzie bay. This bird nests on the highest parts of
Herschell island, laying its eggs in a hollow lined with grass and
feathers. I have another clutch taken at Baillie island in Franklin
bay, June 20th, 1900 by Capt. Bodfish; the nests were on raised
ground, the bird choosing sites so that it can overlook the sur-
rounding country. (W. Raine.) This species is not plentiful in the
Anderson country, while every effort made to secure even one speci-
men nest with its eggs proved unsuccessful; on one occasion we

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 313

noticed a white owl hunting marmots (Spermophilus empetra) in the
barren grounds; and there can be no doubt that this and other
owls sometimes rob ptarmigan, ducks, etc., of their eggs. (Mac-
farlane.)

CLXI. SURNIA Duvumérui.
377. Hawk Owl.

Surnia ulula (LINN.) Bonar. 1842.

The introduction of this bird into our fauna rests on the capture
of a single specimen near St. Michael, Alaska, in October, 1876,
by Mr. L. M. Turner. (Nelson.) The natives assert that this
species is a resident and breeds in the vicinity of St. Michael, and
also that it is a coast bird, not going far into the interior. (Turner.)

377a. American Hawk Owl.

Surnia ulula caparoch (MULL.) STEIN. 1884.

Recorded from many points in the Hudson bay region. (Preble.)
Rare at Fort Chimo, Ungava; eggs obtained June 8th, 1884, and
downy young nearly ready to leave the nest were taken June
20th. (Packard.) The commonest owl in Newfoundland or the
one most frequently seen. (Reeks.) Now becoming very rare in
Nova Scotia. (Downs.) Rare winter visitor in Nova Scatia.
(Tujts.) A rare bird in New Brunswick, but occasionally taken.
(Chamberlain.) Winter visitor; rare at Scotch Lake, York county,
N.B. (W. H. Moore.) Fort Churchill, Hudson bay. (Clarke.)
Fort Churchill and York Factory, Hudson bay. (Dr. R. Bell.)
Rare at Lake Mistassini, northern Quebec; seen only in winter.
(J. M. Macoun.) Taken at Beauport; not common in Quebec.
(Dionne.) Transient visitor at Montreal. Some years this owl is
common in the woods around Montreal and frequently shot in
autumn or early winter. (Wznile.) A winter visitant at Ottawa,
Ont., but rare. (Ottawa Naturalist, Vol. V.) Has been shot near
Clarendon station, Frontenac county, Ont., but is quite rare. (Rev.
C. J. Young.) In southern Ontario this species can only be regarded
as a rare winter visitor; it seems to be more frequent in Muskoka
and further north. (McIlwraith.) A few were taken some years
ago, about Toronto, but it seldom comes here now; I have had

314 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

specimens from both Parry Sound and Muskoka districts; it is rare
and not by any means a regular winter visitor. (J. H. Fleming.)
I met with two birds of this species at Whitney, Parry Sound rail-
way in December, 1898, and obtained another in the same month at
Scotia Junction. (J. Hughes-Samuel.) No recent record of this
species in the London district. (W. E. Saunders.) One specimen
seen at Missinabi station, Ont., in 1904. (Spreadborough.)

This species is an irregular winter visitant in Manitoba, but
Mr. Hunter states he is positive that it is a permanent resident
and breeds in the wooded country east of the Red river. It is
certainly common and very abundant some winters. (E. T. Seton.)
A regular and numerous fall migrant and winter visitor but not
known to breed in Manitoba. (Atkinson.) Rare at Aweme, Man.
more so than formerly. (Criddle.) This is a common species
throughout the Northwest Territories, and from Hudson bay to the
Pacific. In summer it feeds principally on mice and insects, but in
winter it preys chiefly on ptarmigan. (Richardson.) Common
from Lesser Slave lake to the Peace river in 1903; one seen at Midway
B. C., April 26th, 1905. (Spreadborough.) North to the Arctic
coast on the Mackenzie; common. (Ross.) Rock Creek, Lake
Osoyoos. (Lord.) A resident east of the Coast range; west oc-
casionally to Vancouver island; breeds along the valley of the
Similkameen. (Fannin.) Scarce at Chilliwack; probably breeds
in‘the mountains of British Columbia; rare in the winter at Lake
Okanagan, B.C. (Brooks.) Collected on Vancouver island by
W. F. Findlay and at Vernon, B.C., by W. C. Pound. (Rhoads.)

I first met with the hawk owl near the head of Hunt river in the
foothills of the Jade mountains, about 20 miles north of our winter
camp on the Kowak, Kotzebue sound, Alaska. They arrived about
April roth, 1899, and left the preceding year on September 21st.
(Grinnell.) Not uncommon at many points at the base of the
Alaskan peninsula in 1902. (Osgood.) While at the upper edge
of the timber line on Kenai mountains, Alaska, a pair of these owls
was occasionally seen. Another specimen was seen during the latter
part of September. (Figgins.) A female was taken at Sheep
creek and a male at Moose camp, Kenai peninsula, Alaska in 1903.
(W. P. Anderson.) This is perhaps the most abundant resident
bird of prey throughout the entire wooded part of northern Alaska.

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 315

It is rather closely limited to the region of spruce and pine forests of
the interior, and occurs along the open coasts of the Arctic and
Bering sea merely as a straggler, and is unknown from the various
islands of Bering sea. (Nelson.) This species is a very common
resident in the Yukon district. Along the coast it is quite abundant.
(Turner.)

BREEDING NoTEs.—In the spring of 1899 their arrival was noted
on April roth in the Yukon district of Alaska. At this date they
were already paired, and a female secured contained large ova.
On April 26th I located a pair of hawk owls which by their rest-
lessness indicated a nesting site near by. The nest was finally
found, but there were as yet no eggs. It was in the hollow end of
a leaning dead spruce stub about 10 feet above the ground. The
dry rotten chips in the bottom were modelled into a neatly rounded
depression. The male bird was quite noisy often repeating a far-
reaching rolling trill. Both birds frequently uttered a low whine,
alternately answering one another. On May 8th, while snow-
shoeing across the country toward the base of the Jade mountains,
my attention was attracted by the distant trill of a hawk owl.
After a half hour’s search through a heavy stretch of timber, I
located the bird perched at the top of a tall live spruce, partly hid-
den by the foliage. Then I began an inspection of all dead stubs
and trees in the vicinity. I had given up hope of finding a nest
and had started on, when, by mere chance, I happened to catch
sight of a hole in a dead spruce fully 200 yards away. A close
approach showed a sitting bird which afterwards proved to be the
male. Its tail was protruding at least two inches from the hole,
while the bird’s head was turned so that it was facing out over its
back. When I tapped on the tree the bird left the nest, flew off
about thirty yards, turned and made for my head like a shot. It
planted itself with its full weight on to my skull, drawing blood
from three claw-marks in my scalp. My hat was torn off and thrown
twelve feet. All this the owl did with scarcely a stop in its head-
long swoop. When as far on the other side the courageous bird
made another dash and then another, before I had collected enough
wits to get in a shot. The female which was evidently the bird I
had first discovered on look-out duty then made her appearance,
but was less vociferous. The nest contained three newly hatched
young and six eggs in various advanced stages of incubation. The

316 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

downy young, although their eyes were still tightly closed and they
were very feeble, uttered a continuous wheedling cry, especially if
the tree were tapped or they were in any way jarred. This could be
heard 20 feet away from the base of the tree. The nest cavity was
evidently an enlarged woodpecker’s hole. The wood was very
much decayed and soft, so that it had been an easy matter to en-
large the entrance. The entrance was 14 feet above the snow,
and the nest proper was three inches below that. The cavity was
lined with a mixture of feathers and bits of the rotten wood. The
feathers were all apparently from the breast of the female parent.
The female bird (the male not at all, although he was sitting on the
nest when it was found) had the whole breast and abdomen, from
the upper end of the breast-bone to the vent, entirely bare of fea-
thers, also on the sides up to the lateral feather tracts, and through
these for about one inch on both sides under the wings; also down
the inside of the thighs to the knees. This was the most exten-
sive feather divestment I ever saw in any species. (Grinnell.)

The hawk owl is not uncommon in the regions of Anderson river,
although only four nests were discovered and the eggs taken there-
from. All of these were built in pine trees at a considerable height
from the ground; one was actually placed on the topmost boughs,
and like the others, it was constructed of small sticks and twigs
lined with hay and moss; the male and female of thefatter were shot,
and the nest contained two young birds, one of which was apparently
ten days and the other three weeks old, together with an addled egg;
all of the others, however, but one, had six eggs, and in a single
instance as many as seven were secured; the parents always dis-
approved of our proceedings; very few owls were observed on the
lines of march travelled over during the seasons of 1864 and 1865;
this species winters in arctic America. (Macfarlane.) This bird
breeds sparingly in northern Saskatchewan. Dr. George and Mr.
Wenman inform me they have found it breeding in northern Alberta,
around Red Deer; I have received eggs with the parent from northern
Saskatchewan; the four eggs were taken June 6th, 1899, and the
nest was built in a willow nine feet from the ground; this set was
taken by F. Baines; I have another set of five eggs that was taken at
Hamilton inlet, Labrador, May 24, 1896; this nest was built in a
spruce tree top. (W. Ratne.)

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 317
CLXII. SPEOTYTO G1tocer. 1842.
378. Burrowing Owl.
Speotyto cunicularia hypogewa (BONAP.) Couns: 1872.

First observed at a point on the International Boundary Line, a
little east of Frenchman river, not far from the mouth of Milk river,
where a few individuals inhabited a small settlement of prairie
dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus). This seems to be about the northern
limit of the species, and it is nowhere so abundant in this region
as in many places further south. It was met with a second time
a little west of Frenchman river, and for the third time, in some-
what greater numbers, on a piece of prairie near Sweetgrass hills.
There were no prairie dogs here or at the locality last mentioned,
so far as I know, but the ground was riddled with the burrows of
the tawny marmot (Spermophilus richardsont), which seemed to
suit the owls just as well. (Cowes.) The first Manitoba record of
this species was a pair taken six miles north of Portage la Prairie on
June 2nd, 1897, and brought tome. One of these is still in my
collection. Since that time the birds have seemed to have accommo-
dated themselves to conditions and increased in numbers in several
parts of Manitoba cocupying deserted fox and badger holes, and
they are now regular and increasing summer residents. I did not,
however, note them west between Portage and Edmonton along
the line of the G. T. P. Ry., I presume because our course lay too
far north. They are a very prolific species. One nest dug out for
me in 1904 contained eight young birds and these proved in many
ways the most interesting pets I ever had. (Atkinson.) Rare at
Aweme, Man., breeding in old badger holes. (Criddle.) I found
this bird breeding in Saskatchewan at Rush lake, June rath, 1891.
I have only once taken the trouble to dig down to its eggs. It took
two of us nearly an hour to get at the nest, which consisted of a
hollow lined with cow dung and contained 7 eggs. The burrow
went down three feet and then ran along another four feet to the
nest. (W. Raine.)

On June 23rd, 1896, three pairs were found occupying holes on
the prairie a little north of Moosejaw, Sask. The nests were not
dug,out, but the birds were nesting; in June, 1895, along French-
man river, Sask., this species was occasionally seen. In May,

318 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

1894, Mr. Spreadborough took specimens at Medicine Hat and
Crane lake, Sask., and in May, 1890, secured one at Revelstoke,
B. C.;he also found a number :of pairs breeding at Kamloops,
B.C., in June, 1889. (Macoun.) I have three records of this
species west of the Coast range, B.C. East of this range it is a
tolerably common breeder in the semi-arid interior; taken as far
north as Willow ‘river, Cariboo district, B.C. in 1901. (Brooks.)
East of the Coast range in British Columbia; not common. I
have only found it in the neighbourhood of Kamloops, but have
heard of it at Ashcroft. (Fannin.) <A special trip was made in
the vicinity of Kamloops and Ashcroft for this species, but no
trace remained of the colonies once existing there. The last pair
known to remain in that locality lived in a badger’s burrow on
the bank of Thompson river, near the ferryman’s house. None
have been seen at Kamloops or Ashcroft since 1890. (Rhoads.)
Observed several near the Similkameen river, B.C., in 1905, and
saw one at the head of Chilliwack Jake, B.C., in 1906. (Spread-
borough.)

CLXIN. GLAUCIDIUM Bore. 1826.
379. Pigmy Owl.
Glaucidium gnoma WaGL. 1832.

Common throughout British Columbia. (Fannin.) Interior
British Columbia birds secured at Vernon are true gnoma. Mr.
Pound says they winter there. (Rhoads.) Observed one, Sep-
tember roth, 1902, on the highest peak of John Bull mountain, at
over 7,000 feet altitude, near Salmon river, B.C. (Spreadborough.)

379a. California Pigmy Owl.

Glaucidium gnoma californicum (Scv.) A. O. U. CHECK-
List. 1889.

Southern coast region of British Columbia. (Fannin.) Mr.
Brewster informs me that all the British Columbian specimens
which I have sent him are referable to this subspecies. Common
resident at Chilliwack, Fraser valley; common in winter at Lake
Okanagan, B.C. (Brooks.) A number of specimens taken at
Chilliwack, B.C., in the autumn of 1901; one specimen taken near
Victoria, V.I., April, 1887. (Spreadborough.) Numerous west
of the Coast range, B.C. (Rhoads.)

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 319

ORDER COCCYGES. Cuckoos AND KINGFISHERS.
Famity XXXII. CUCULIDA = Cuckoos.
CLNIV. COCCYZUS Viemtor. 1816.

387. Yellow-billed Cuckoo.

Coccyzus americanus (LINN.) BONAP. 1824.

Very rare in Nova Scotia, one taken near Halifax. (Downs.)
A rare summer resident in New Brunswick. (Chamberlain.) Acci-
dental visitant; rare. A few examples of this species have been
shot on the island of Montreal. I am not aware of any occurring
of late years. (Wintle.) A rare summer resident in Quebec.
(Dionne.)

A summer resident at Ottawa, Ont. A pair nested in Lt. Col.
White’s garden in the city in 1890. (Ottawa Naturalist, Vol. V.)
This species is rather scarce and not generally distributed in Ontario,
and is believed to be more southern in its habit than the black-
billed cuckoo. (MclIlwraith.) Rather common summer resident
at Toronto, Ont., where it breeds; it was regarded as very rare
there until 1889. I have met with it nesting at Rosseau, and I
believe it occurs at Emsdale in the Parry Sound and Muskoka
districts. (J. H. Fleming.) :

BREEDING NOTES.—Occasionally met with along the St. Law-
rence, and as far north as the county of Renfrew, Ont. This bird
is readily distinguished from the black-billed cuckoo by its larger
size and the amount of white it shows in the outer tail feathers as it
flies along. There are other peculiarities which distinguish it from
the next species. I have found it to breed in the county of Leeds
at least a weak or ten days earlier. Its nest also is further from
the ground and very loosely put together. I have found its nest
five times. The last two near Lansdowne, Ont., May 2gth, 1898,
and May 23rd, 1899. Each contained three eggs, incubation ad-
vanced. They are plainly larger and paler than eggs of the black-
billed. A nest I found in May, 1888, near Renfrew, Ont., contained
one egg. This nest was placed in a willow. (Rev. C. J. Young.)
Twenty years ago this species was rather rare, but now it is more
common than the black-billed and the latter is less so than formerly.

320 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

It is rarer in the Bruce peninsula where I have seen it but twice.
It does not appear to lay more than four eggs in the largest set,
while the black-billed sometimes has as many as six. (W. E. Saun-
ders.) A summer resident around Toronto, Ont., but rather scarce.
A pair nest every season a short distance from my house at Kew
Beach. It is a late breeder, seldom having eggs before the middle
of July. On July 20th, 1895, I found a nest containing two eggs at
Kew Beach. The nest was built in a maple tree twelve feet from
the ground. (W. Raine.) Nest taken at Ottawa, Ont., composed
of twigs, leaves, rootlets and catkins, lined with some soft vegetable
material. Eggs in sets of four to six of a pale greenish colour.
(G. R. White.)

387a. California Cuckoo.
Coccyzus americanus occidentalis RipGW. 1887.

While being transferred across the Fraser river at Mount Lehman
we passed near an island where I heard the unmistakable notes of a
cuckoo; I directed the boat to the spot and the bird was seen, but
not taken. (Streator.) In May, 1881, I saw one of these birds at
Burrard inlet, and in June, 1882, the late Mr. J. C. Hughes found a
pair breeding at Kamloops; in June, 1887, I saw a pair at Skinner
swamp near the city of Victoria, and from their actions I concluded
they were breeding in that locality; later in the same year one was
shot on Mount Tolmie. (Fannin.) Tolerably common summer
resident at Chilliwack, and becoming more abundant in the coast
region every year, probably on account of the invasions of the forest
tent caterpillar. (Brooks.)

388. Black-billed Cuckoo.

Coccyzus erythrophthalmus (WILs.) BoNaP. 1824.

Audubon, Vol. IV., p. 301, states that they saw a few individuals
in clumps of low trees a few miles from the shore of the Gulf of St.
Lawrence. (Packard.) One specimen obtained at Tignish, P.E.I.
The only evidence I have of its occurrence on the island. (Dwight.)
One seen on Sable island, N.S., August 5th, 1904 and one September
27th, 1907. (James Boutelier.. Not very common; a summer
resident in Nova Scotia. (Downs; Tufts.) Fairly common at
Wolfville, King’s county, N.S. from May to September. (H. F.

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 321

Tufts.) Never seen around St. John, N.B., but common inland in
summer. (Chamberlain.) A tolerably common summer resident York
county, N.B. (W. H. Moore.) Common summer resident. Breeds
in Mount Royal Park, Montreal, Que. (Winile.) Summer resident
in Quebec; taken at Beauport. (Dzonne.) Common summer resi-
dent around Ottawa, Ont. (Ottawa Naturalist, Vol. V.) This
species is a regular summer resident in Ontario, and though not
abundant is generally distributed. (McIlwratth.) Fairly common
around Toronto, and breeds; generally distributed over the Parry
Sound and Muskoka districts. (J. H. Fleming.) Formerly much
more common than at present; it is not usual to find more than a
single pair of birds in a suitable small piece of woods. Their habit
of having eggs and young in the same nest is well known. (W. E.
Saunders.) On July 6th, 1900, one specimen came into the potato
patch at Cache lake, Algonquin Park, Ont., and fed on the potato
bugs. (Spreadborough.)

This species is a common summer resident throughout the wooded
parts of Manitoba and has been taken by myself at Carberry and
Shoal lake, near Duck mountain. (E. T. Seton.) ‘A regular breeding
species, quite common in Manitoba but not noted by me west of
Fort Ellice. (Atkinson.) Apparently a rare species west of Mani-
toba. A female was first seen at Indian Head, Sask., June 24th,
1892, in a willow thicket; in a few days another female was seen
and shot and an egg was found in her oviduct, which shows that
the species breeds there. On the 19th May, 1894, one was seen at
Medicine Hat, Sask., and another in the same place on June 3rd.
None seen further west. (Spreadborough.) One seen by Mr. Day
on Skull creek, Sask., June 5th, 1905. (A. C. Bent.)

BREEDING NoTes.—Summer resident, common. Breeds in Mount
Royal Park. I have found their nests, containing eggs, from June
4th to July 22nd. Observed here from May 21st to September sth,
Their nests are generally built in thorn bushes, from one to eight
feet above the ground, but small cedar trees are favourite building
sites for them as well. This bird appears to have a remarkable
habit of laying fresh eggs while those already laid are being incub-
ated and hatched. The naked younglings are black in colour, and
repulsive looking, but they harmonize with the nest, which is a
slight structure of dead twigs, with a very shallow cavity, lined

with a few dead leaves, the nest being very small for the size of the
21

322 GEOLOGICAL’ SURVEY OF CANADA.

bird and its eggs. The cuckoo seems to prefer solitude, and keeps
itself out of sight in thickets, where its harsh notes can be heard
sounding like ‘“‘cow-cow” or “cuckucow”’ repeated quickly several
times. (Wantle.)

A very common species in all the counties of eastern Ontario,
especially at the foot of Lake Ontario, where early in June I have
seen six or seven together. In 1897 I heard it at Pictou, N.S., and
it was observed on the Magdalen islands in June, 1900. It usually
builds a nest in a swampy thicket; twice I have found the nest
almost on the ground, once in an elm sapling six feet above, but
this is very unusual. The average time for laying is the end of the
first week in June in eastern Ontario. Usually I have found two.
or three eggs in a nest, but once five, and June 13th, 1900, seven.
This bird appears to arrive later in spring than the yellow-billed
and certainly goes away earlier in the fall. (Rev. C. J. Young.)
A summer resident around Toronto, Ont. I have several times
seen its nest. I have also found it breeding in Manitoba and in
Saskatchewan as far west as the Qu’Appelle valley. (W. Raine.)
This bird nests in'a low bush at Ottawa, Ont. Nest composed of
twigs, strips of bark, dry grass and leaves, lined with grass. Eggs
two to five of a light greenish blue. (G.R. White.) Nests are found
at Ottawa and at Lake Nominingue roo miles north of it. They are
made of branches and lined with dry leaves and catkins. The
inside diameter kas 2.50 inches by not more than one inch in depth,
while the outside diameter has between 3 and io inches, according
to the quantity of branches required for their solidity. They are
built in coniferous trees and in all kinds of shrubs and placed at an
elevation varying between 3 and 10 feet. The birds breed in June
and July. I have found nests containing from two to five eggs,
and others with one young bird, one hatched egg and one fresh egg.
(A. L. Garneau.) Usually lays three eggs but I have found nests
with eight in them and I am inclined to think that occasionally
more than one bird lays in the same nest. Two or three broods are
raised in a season. (Criddle.)

In the transactions of the Canadian Institute, Vol. I. pp. 48-50,
an interesting account by Dr. C. K. Clarke of this cuckoo laying
its eggs in the nests of other birds is published. Three cases are
noted, and there is no doubt in the mind of the writer that the
facts are as recorded by Dr. Clarke. All the cases were noted at

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 323

Elora, Ont. In the first case an egg was laid in the nest of a chipping
sparrow from which in due time a young cuckoo was hatched. In
the second case a cuckoo was seen coming from a yellow warbler’s
nest. Upon examination an egg was found to have been laid, and
later on the young cuckoo was found with the young warblers which,
as the cuckoo grew, were crowded from the nest. In the third case
cited a cuckoo was actually found sitting on a chipping sparrow’s
nest. An egg was laid and hatched; the young sparrows were finally
ejected from the nest by the young cuckoo.

CLXV. CUCULUS Linnaeus. 1758.
388-1. Kamchatkan Cuckoo.

Cuculus canorus telephonus (HEINE). STEJN. 1885.

An adult male of this species was collected on the sand dunes
of Northeast point, St. Paul island, Bering sea, on July 4th, 1890.
It is the only one of its kind known from North America. (Palmer.)

Famity XXXII. ALCEDINIDA. Kincrisuers.
CLXVI. CERYLE Bote. 1828.
390. Belted Kingfisher.
Ceryle alcyon (LINN.) Bonar. 1837.

One of the most widely distributed birds in Canada. Common
from Newfoundland and Labrador west to Vancouver island. North
to Hudson bay in the east, to the mouth of the Mackenzie river and
Kotzebue sound in the west.

BREEDING NoTEs.—Summer resident, common. Breeds in suit-
able places on the island of Montreal. Two eggs taken May 24th,
1882, out of a burrow in a sandbank at Hochelaga. Observed
here from May 8th to September 27th. (Wunitle.) This is a com-
mon bird in eastern Ontario. Its nest is generally found in a sandy
bank near water, but on two occasions I have found its nest in a
sand pit some distance away. The full complement of eggs I have
always found to be seven. These are Jaid between the 2oth and 28th
of May. I met with this bird in the Magdalen islands in 1897, and
found it breeding there. (Rev. C. J. Young.) This species nests

21%

324 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

abundantly on the shores of Lake Ontario, laying never more than
seven eggs at the end of a tunnel in a bank. The tunnel is often
three or four feet in length. (W. Raine.) Nests taken at Ottawa,
Ont., always in a hole in a bank from four to eight feet deep. (G. R.
White.) This bird digs a hole in a sandbank from three to six feet
deep. There the space is made larger and is lined with crabs’
(Carambus) shells. I have a set of seven eggs with embryos, taken
on May 24th, another of five fresh eggs taken June 11th and I
found six young birds in their nest on June 20th. The kingfisher
will make its nest either on the banks of rivers or in the middle of
fields. (A. L. Garneau.)

Common resident throughout Vancouver island. Nests in holes
in banks, usually near water, but I have seen a few nests more than
half a mile from water. (Spreadborough.)

OrpDER PICI. WooppEcKERS, WRYNECKS, &C.

Famity XXXIV. PICIDA8. Wooprecxers.
CLXVI. DRYOBATES Bortz. 1826.
393. Hairy Woodpecker.
Dryobates villosus (LINN.) CABANIS. 1863.

One seen at Hebert river, December 8th, and one at Shulee,
January 2nd, Cumberland county, N.S. Winter of 1897-98. (C. H.
Morrell.) Common resident in Nova Scotia. (H. F. Tufts.)
Common migrant and rather rare winter resident at Toronto, Ont.
My records are all between October 11th and April 4th, and it does
not appear to breed here. This form is the one occuring in southern
Ontario, at least south of Lake Nipissing and I have not found
leucomelas. (J. H. Fleming.) Strangly enough, although the dis-
tribution of the present bird is eastern, and although in northern
Alaska and the interior of British America it is replaced by a large
northern form, yet the typical villosus also occurs in British Columbia
and thence north along the southeastern coast of Alaska. (Nelson.)
Specimens in the Geological Survey Museum collected by Spread-
borough at Bracebridge, Ont., Edmonton, Alta., and Elko, B.C., by
Tufts at Algonquin Park, Ont., and F. A. Saunders at Ottawa, Ont.,

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 325

seem to be true villosus and it is more than probable that many of the
references under leucomelas should go here.

393@. Northern Hairy Woodpecker.

Dryobates villosus leucomelas (Bopp.) RipGw. 1885.

Reported from the Hudson bay region by several observers. It is
likely that this bird ranges throughout the wooded portion of the
region. (Preble.): Tolerably common in Newfoundland as a resident.
(Reeks.) Fairly common along the Humber river, Newfoundland.
(L. H. Porter.) Resident in southern portions of Labrador; pro-
bably does not occur north of the “height of land.” (Packard.)
Observed all along the Moose river to Moose Factory, James bay.
None seen further north in Ungava in 1896. (Spreadborough.)
York Factory, Hudson bay. (Dr. R. Bell.) Taken at Fort Churchill
Hudson bay. (Clarke.)

Common resident in Nova Scotia. (Downs.) Common resident
at Sydney, Cape Breton Island, N.S. (C. R. Harte.) Summer
resident, Prince Edward Island and Cape Breton Island. (Macoun.)
Abundant throughout the year in New Brunswick. (Chamberlain.)
Permanent resident; breeds; rather common, York county, N.B,
(W. H. Moore.) Uncommon in the valley of the Restigouche, N.B.
_ (Brittain & Cox.) One specimen seen on Grindstone island, Mag-
dalen islands. (Bishop.) Taken at Beauport; a common resident
in Quebec. (Dionne.) A transient and scarce visitant in the
vicinity of Montreal. I do not think this species breeds in the
vicinity of Montreal, as I have only seen it in the months of October
and November. (Wuntle.) A common resident around Ottawa.
(Ottawa Naturalist, Vol. V.) A resident, though not an abundant
species throughout Ontario; more abundant at the north. (Mc-
Ilwraith.) Fairly abundant at Whitney on the Parry Sound rail-
. way during December, 1898. (jJ. Hughes-Samuel.) Common and
breeding in the Algonquin park, Ontario, July, 1900. (Spread-
borough.)

A common resident in Manitoba in the poplar forest. (E. T. Seton)
Common at Aweme, Man., more so in winter than in summer.
Found wherever there are trees. The food in winter consists mostly
of wood-borers. (Criddle.) An abundant species in Manitoba and
observed in 1906 as far west as Edmonton, Alta. (Atkinson.)

326 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

This is a rare species on the margin of the prairie as only two were
seen at Indian Head in the spring of 1892, and one at Medicine Hat
in 1894; a tolerably common resident at Edmonton, Alta.; a few
observed along the trail between Lesser Slave lake and Peace River
Landing, Atha.; not uncommon in the foothills from Calgary south
to Crow Nest pass in the Rocky mountains; observed about a dozen
in the month of April, 1903 at Penticton, B.C.; common at Agassiz
and Burrard inlet, B.C., in May, 1889. (Spreadborough.) Common
at Grand Rapids on the Saskatchewan. (Nutting.) This species
exists as far north as lat. 63°. It remains all the year in the North-
west Territories and is the commonest species up to the fifty-sixth
parallel, north of which it yields in frequency to the three-toed
species. (Richardson.) North to Fort Simpson, on the Mackenzie
river; common. (Ross.) Common throughout the interior of
British Columbia; breeds. (Streator.) East of the Coast range,
B.C.; a common resident. (Fannin.) A common species in
winter at Lake Okanagan, B.C.; tolerably common in the Cariboo
district; I have taken this form several times in the lower Fraser
valley. Common at Quesnel, Cariboo district, B.C., in 1901.
(Brooks.) In a series of eight skins from British Columbia, one, a
young female, lacks the white spotting on the wing coverts char-
acteristic of leucomelas. (Rhoads.) This form, if it reaches the
coast of Bering sea at all, reaches it by way of the Northwest Ter-
ritories. The specimen in my collection was taken at Fort Reliance,
on the upper Yukon, about Lat. 66°, and undoubtedly the bird
straggles still further to the north. (Nelson.) An occasional in-
dividual of this species was seen in the timber belt, Kenai moun-
tains, Alaska, but it was not common at any point visited. (Figgins.)
Osgood took a single specimen on Fifty-mile river a few miles above
Miles canyon, Yukon. (Buishop.)

Some of the western references mentioned above doubtless belong
to hyloscopus.

BREEDING Notes.—On June 11th, 1883, while in the spruce
bush I heard a curious chirping sound that scarcely ever seemed
to cease. I traced it to a small poplar tree, in whose trunk was
a hole about 30 feet from the ground. Having procured an axe
I soon had the tree down and found myself in possession of a nest
of young hairy woodpeckers. They were in a hole, evidently the
work of the parent birds, about a foot deep, 3 inches wide inside

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 327

and 2 at the entrance. The four youngsters were nearly grown
and fledged, and consequently were much crowded in this narrow
chamber. Three of them were precisely like the mother-bird in
colour and the fourth differed only in having over each ear a cockade
of rich yellow. (E. T. Seton.) A plentiful species in Ontario
where I have met with it both in summer and winter. At the latter
season it is often seen on wood piles in the vicinity of houses. It
breeds along the St. Lawrence and northward. Unlike the other
woodpeckers it isan early breeder, commencing its nest-hole the end
of April and usually having its complement of eggs laid by May 6th.
Most of the nests I have seen have been in wet places or near water,
and almost all were in white ash trees, from thirty to fifty feet from
the ground. Two nests were in elm trees and one in a telegraph
pole by the roadside not more than ten feet from the ground. In this
nest-hole the young were hatched by the 22nd of May. (Rev. C. J.
Young.) Breeds in fair numbers in summer and was formerly our
most common woodpecker in winter, but is now outnumbered by
the downy. Not yet observed to use dead trees for nesting. This
species drums on resonant limbs in spring, but not so commonly
as the downy woodpecker. It is an exceedingly early breeder,
excavating its dwelling-house in April, and indeed often laying
the eggs in the same month, while large young are always to be
found by May 24th. (W. E. Saunders.) Found breeding at Long
Lake, Manitoba, June 16th, 1894. On May 3ist, 1901, found a
nest containing four eggs at Yorktown, Sask. The eggs were laid
in a hole in a tree about ten feet: from the ground. I found another
nest containing six eggs in a hole in a poplar about 15 feet from the
ground. I am not aware that the nest and eggs of this species
have been previously described so will give the measurement of the
egg. The average size of 18 specimens before me is .98 x .70. (W.
Raine.)

393¢. Harris Woodpecker.

Dryobates villosus harristi (AuD.) Ripcw. 1885.

One shot in lat. 49°, August 24th, 1874. Found only in the Rocky
mountains. (Coues.) Vancouver island, Sumas and Osoyoos; win-
ters on Vancouver island. (Lord.) Abundant everywhere through-
out the coast region; breeds. (Streator.) West of the Coast range,

328 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

especially ‘coastwise, a common resident. (Fannin.) Common
resident at Chilliwack, B.C. (Brooks.) Taken at Agassiz and
Hastings, B.C., in 1889; common at Chilliwack and Huntingdon;
a few seen at McGuire’s on the Chilliwack river, B.C.; saw one at
Douglas, B.C.; a common resident throughout Vancouver island.
(Spreadborough.) A few seen in the scattering timber in the vicinity
of Sitka, Alaska, where they doubtless breed. (Grinnell.) Three of
nine specimens have unspotted wing coverts, the rest are spotted
in varying degrees, but less so than the darkest examples of villosus.
(Rhoads.)

393d. Cabanis Woodpecker.

Dryobates villosus hyloscopus (CAB.) BREWST. 1888.

Under this form we place a few skins examined by Mr. F. Chap-
man and labelled ‘‘approaching hyloscopus.’”’ They come exactly
between the western and eastern forms and include the whole Rocky
mountain region.

This form was common at Canmore and Banff in the Rocky
mountains in the summer of 1891; very common at Revelstoke,
B.C., in burnt woods in April, 1890; not uncommon at Kamloops,
B.C., in June, 1889. Mr. Spreadborough reports seeing a hairy
woodpecker at Trail, Cascade and Waneta, B.C., on the goth parallel
in the summer of 1902. It was doubtless this form. (Macoun.)
Common at Elko, B.C.; rarer at Midway and Sidley and rather
common at Penticton, B.C. (Spreadborough.) Taken at Okanagan,
B.C., by Mr. Brooks. (Kermode.) Breeding at 150-mile House,
Cariboo district, B.C. (Brooks.) Near Little Salmon river, Yukon
river, Yukon. (Bushop.)

BREEDING NoTEs.—A pair had a nest in a larch stub about twenty
feet from the ground at Elko, B.C., May 7th, 1904, and a pair was
seen making a nest in a poplar about ten feet from the ground at
Midway, B.C., April 15th, 1905.

393f. Queen Charlotte Woodpecker.

Dryobates villosus prcoideus (Oscoop). A. O. U. Comm.
1902.

Queen Charlotte islands, British Columbia. (Osgood.)

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS 329:

394. Downy Woodpecker.
Dryobates pubescens medianus (SWAINS.) BREWSTER. 1897.

Very common in Newfoundland and a resident. (Reeks.) Fairly
common along the Humber river, Newfoundland. (L. H. Porter.)
Common and resident in southern portions of Labrador; probably
does not range north of lat. 56°. (Packard.) Only one specimen
observed on Moose river, June 6th, 1896; none in Labrador. Ob-
served in 1904 from Missinabi river to the mouth of Hannah river,
James bay. (Spreadborough.) A specimen collected by Haydon
at Moose Factory is in the U. S. National Museum. (Preble.)
Seen during the winter at Lake Mistassini, northern Quebec. (/.
M. Macoun.)

Rather common resident in Nova Scotia. (Downs.) Common
throughout the year at Wolfville, N.S. (H.F. Tufts.) Common resident
at Sydney, Cape Breton island, N.S. (C. R. Harte.) On trees.
in woods, Brackley Point, Prince Edward Island, 1888; also in
woods, Cape Breton Island, 1898. (Macoun.) A common resi-
dent, Cumberland county, N.S., winter of 1897-98. (C. H. Morrell.)
Abundant throughout the entire year in New Brunswick. (Cham-
berlain.) A tolerably common permanent resident, breeds, York
county, N.B. (W. H. Moore.) Very rare in the Restigouche
valley, N.B. (Brittain & Cox.) One seen on Grindstone island,
Magdalen islands. (Bishop.) One pair was seen nesting at Fox
bay, Anticosti, Que., in July. (Brewster.) Taken at Beauport;
common resident in Quebec. (Dionne.) A common and _ per-
manent resident in the Montreal district; breeds in Mount Royal
park; scarce during the winter months but plentiful in the spring
of the year. (Wuntle.)

An abundant resident in:the Ottawa district, but more common
in spring and summer. (Ottawa Naturalist, Vol. V.) A common
resident in Ontario, but more common in spring and fall migra-
tions. (MclIlwraith.) This species breeds near Toronto but is.
much more common in the Muskoka district. (J. H. Fleming.)
I found this species abundant at Whitney, Parry Sound railway,
during November and December, 1898. (J. Hughes-Samuel.)
Breeding but not common in Algonquin park, Ont., July, 1900.
(Spreadborough.) Common in spring, summer and fall and is our

330 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

most common winter species. I once found a male of this species
diligently digging a hole in a small stump in October, presumably
for winter quarters. (W. E. Saunders.)

A tolerably common resident in the wooded sections of Mani-
toba, but is scarce in the more southern portion. (E. T. Seton.)
Resident at Aweme, Man. In winter it is usually found in spruce
woods. (Criddle.) An abundant resident species in Manitoba
and observed west along the G. T. P. Ry. to Edmonton, Alta.
(Atkinson.) Only a few specimens were seen at Indian Head, Sask.,
in 1892; one specimen was taken at Medicine Hat, Sask., April
12th, 1894. Observed one, April 22nd, 1897, at Edmonton, Alta.;
saw another on the 29th; apparently quite rare; one seen at Crow
Nest pass in July; a pair seen at Peace River Landing, Atha., in
1903, and another pair at Fernie, B.C. in 1904. Specimens were
taken at Banff, Alta., in August, 1891. (Spreadborough.)

BREEDING NotTeEs.—I have occasionally seen this bird in the
winter, but not so often as the hairy. It breeds later; most of
the nests I have seen contained fresh eggs the last week of May,
although once I found young birds at that date. (Rev. C. J. Young.)
On May a2ist, 1900, I found this bird nesting abundantly in the
woods north of Waterloo, Ont. Almost every decayed stub or
broken tree contained a nest of five to six eggs. (W. Raine.) Nests
in trees near Ottawa, Ont. Nest always in a hole in a tree or stump,
composed of chips and dust. Eggs four to five, pure white. (G. R.
White.) All the nests found by me near Aweme, Man., were in
aspen woods and trees. Lays six or seven eggs of a glossy white
colour. (Criddle.) The entrance to the cavity in which the downy
woodpecker places its nest has a diameter of one inch and a quarter.
The cavity itself is six inches deep and the nest is made of chips.
The bird chooses either a stump or a tree and the elevation from
the ground is between one foot and twenty-five feet. I have found
in May and June, four, five, six and once seven eggs in the same
nest. (A. L. Garneau.)

394a. Gairdner Woodpecker.

Dryobates pubescens gairdneru (AupD.) Ripcw. 1885.

General west of Coast range. (Lord.) Rather common through-
out the coast region; breeds. (Streator.) A common resident

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 331

west of the Coast range; winters on Vancouver island. (Fannin.)
Common resident at Chilliwack, B.C. (Brooks.) At Revelstoke
this species was found with the Batchelder woodpecker, but further
down the Columbia river at Robson and Deer Park, the specimens
taken were all of this form. It was next found at Agassiz in the
Fraser River valley, and at Chilliwack and Huntingdon, B.C., in
1901. Saw one pair at Douglas, B.C., in 1906. On Vancouver
island it is resident and very abundant. (Spreadborough.)

394b. Batchelder Woodpecker.

Dryobates pubescens homorous (CaB.) Ripcw. 1896.

Very common throughout the interior of British Columbia along
the C.P.Ry. (Streator.) Common around Lake Okanagan, B.C.,
in winter. Scarce in the Cariboo district, B.C. Not observed in
the winter months, 1901. (Brooks.) We have not found this
species further east than the Columbia river at Robson, B.C., where
a specimen was taken, and another at Revelstoke in April, 1891.
It was common at Kamloops and Spence Bridge, B.C., in June,
1889. (Macoun.) Observed a pair at Fernie, B.C., May, 1904;
six at Penticton, B.C., April, 1903, and a pair at Midway, April 8th,
1905. (Spreadborough.)

394d. Nelson Downy Woodpecker.

Dryobates pubescens nelsont OBERHOLSER. 1895.

We place here without remark all references to the downy wood-
pecker of the northern parts of Canada and Alaska. We have no
specimens.

This species is a constant inhabitant of the Northwest Terri-
tories up to Lat. 58°. It seeks its food principally on the maple,
elm and ash, and north of Lat. 54°, where these trees do not grow,
on the aspen and birch. (Richardson.) North to Fort Laird,
Lat. 61°; not rare. (Ross.) A few specimens were observed on
the Athabaska river, Atha. Rare between Methye lake and Isle
a la Crosse. (J. M. Macoun.) Throughout Alaska where wood-
land or a growth of bushes and small trees occurs the present bird
is certain to be found, and is a resident, winter and summer. (Nel-
son.) This species ranges throughout the wooded districts of
Alaska. Along the Yukon river it is very common. (Turner.)

332 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

An adult male taken at Sheep camp, Kenai peninsula, Alaska.
(Anderson.) This was the most numerous species of the family
observed in the Kenai mountains, its favourite haunt being the
spruce and cottonwood thickets, where it was usually found in
pairs. (Figgins.) Two specimens were collected by Figgins which
Mr. Chapman says are indistinguishable from the average eastern
specimens of D. pubescens medianus.

All our skins of D. pubescens and its sub-species have been
examined by Mr. F. Chapman of New York Museum of Natural
History.

CLXVIII. XENOPICUS Barrp. 1858.
399. White-headed Woodpecker.

Xenopicus albolarvatus (Cass.) MALHERBE. 1862.

A rare and beautiful species; obtained only east of the Coast
range. (Lord.) Coast range; Similkameen valley, collected by
R. V. Griffin. (Fannin.) I have heard of this species but never
came across it at Lake Okanagan, B.C. (Brooks.)

CLXIX. PICOIDES Lacéripe. 180r.
400. Arctic Three-toed Woodpecker.

Picoides arcticus (SWAINS.) GRAY. 1845.

Recorded from the Hudson bay region by several collectors.
(Preble.) Tolerably common in Newfoundland throughout the year.
(Reeks.) Common along the Humber river, Newfoundland. (L. H.
Porter.) Common and resident throughout the wooded portions of
Labrador. (Packard.) Only one specimen seen on Moose river; none
in Labrador in 1896. (Spreadborough.) Not a common resident in
Nova Scotia. Prefers burnt forest. (Downs.) Resident, not
uncommon in heavy timber in Nova Scotia. (H. F. Tufts.) One
observed at Baddeck, Cape Breton island, June, 1890. (F. A.
Allen.) Resides throughout the year but is uncommon in New
Brunswick. (Chamberlain.) Rare in the Restigouche valley, N.B.
(Brittain & Cox.) A common resident in York county, N.B. (W.
H. Moore.) A single specimen was seen near Gaspé, and another
heard at the mouth of the Mingan river, Que. (Brewster.) Taken

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 333

at Beauport; resident in Quebec. (Dionne.) A transient and
scarce visitant; a few specimens taken around Montreal in October
and November; common near Casselman, Ont., about 90 miles
west of Montreal in October. (Wintle.)

Possible resident in the Laurentian hills north of the city of
Ottawa, as it is seen around the city in September and October.
(Ottawa Naturalist, Vol. V.) This is truly a northern bird, seldom
even in winter coming as far south as the southern boundary of
Ontario; it is resident and quite common in Muskoka. (Mcll-
wraith.) This woodpecker sometimes comes as far south as Toronto.
I have several specimens taken here in winter. In the district of
Parry Sound it is a common resident and one of the most interesting
birds there, both from its-nesting habits and from its utter un-
consciousness when approached. (J. H. Fleming.) Common in
Algonquin park in the summer of 1900. A pair nested in a telegraph
pole quite near Cache lake station of the Parry Sound railway.
(Spreadborough.) Feeding on dead maples at Kiladar, Addington
county, December, 1894; very plentiful at Whitney on the Parry
Sound railway during the fall of 1898, and feeding principally on
the yellow birch; I have seen an occasional specimen taken near
Toronto. (J. Hughes-Samuel.) A few only have been taken in
the London district. (W. E. Saunders.)

A common resident in the woods in Manitoba and northward.
(E. T. Seton.) Rather rare at Aweme, Man. and is becoming more
so, owing to the destruction of timber; probably breeds. (Criddle.)
A not uncommon breeding resident in the spruce districts of Mani-
toba but seldom noted away from these woods. (Atkinson.) Not
uncommon in the woods at Banff, Rocky mountains; observed
several in the foothills southwest of Calgary in July, 1897, and in
the Crow Nest pass, Alta.; common and breeding at Revelstoke,
B.C., in 1890; common at Elko, B.C. in coniferous woods, May,
1904; saw several at Midway, B.C. in burnt woods, April, 1905.
(Spreadborough.) This species is rather rare in the Northwest
Territories and was only observed on the eastern slope of the Rocky
mountains, where the common species was also procured. (Richard-
son.) North to Fort Simpson; rare. (Ross.) It is believed that
this species breeds and also winters in the Arctic regions. One nest
was found in May, 1863, that was believed to belong to this species.

334 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

(Macfarlane.) One specimen at Athabasca Landing, Alta., May
25th, 1888. Common on Methye Portage; not rare between Methye
lake and Isle A la Crosse. (J. M. Macoun.) Obtained only east of
the Coast range. (Lord.) Common at Ducks, near Kamloops,
B.C., in August, when they are on their southward migration.
(Streator.) East of the Coast range; resident. (Fannin.) Com-
mon in suitable localities around Lake Okanagan, B.C., in winter;
scarce throughout the winter in the Cariboo district, B.C.; the
greater number seemed to emigrate southwards. This should be
the western form lately described by Mr. Bangs, but specimens :
taken seemed to correspond in measurement with the typical form.
(Brooks.) Very little appears to be known concerning the move-
ments and habitat of this bird, especially in the north. I secured a
single specimen which was brought to me from Fort Reliance on
the upper Yukon. (Nelson.) An adult male was taken on the
Malchatna river, Alaska by McKay in 1883. (Osgood.) A young
bird of this species was taken on the bank of Six-mile river, Yukon.
(Bishop.)

BREEDING Notes.—Frequently seen in the fall in the county
of Renfrew, Ont., more early in the county of Leeds. In the lat-
ter county I have once seen this bird in a thick wood of pine and
hemlock as late as the middle of May, and as the locality was rough
and favourable to its habits, it may possibly have bred there, though
I could not locate a nest. This was near Landon bay, River St.
Lawrence. (Rev. C. J. Young.) This woodpecker has a habit of
sometimes nesting in colonies. I saw the nests of such a colony
near Sand lake in 1896; there were six or seven nests, each cut into
the trunk of a living cedar, just below the first branch, and usually
eight or ten feet from the ground. The cedars were in a dense
forest overlooking a small stream that empties into Sand lake.
Four eggs seem to be the full set. The young are hatched by the
ist of June. (J. H. Fleming.) A common summer resident at Lake
St. Joseph, Muskoka, Ont. From there I received a set of six eggs
taken May 30th, 1899. Nest, a hole in a decayed pine tree fifteen
feet from the ground. (W. Raine.)

4o1. American Three-toed Woodpecker.

Picoides americanus BREHM. 1831.

Common and resident throughout the wooded portion of Labrador.
(Packard.) Scarcely so common as the preceding species in New-

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 335

foundland. (Reeks.) Taken at Fort Churchill, Hudson bay.
(Clarke.)

Through the kindness of Messrs. Edward and Robert Christie
I visited their logging camp on March 16th. The camp is four
miles in the spruce growth, about equal distance from River Hebert
and Two Rivers, N.S. It was a favourite locality for many birds.
While there I heard woodpeckers drumming and soon located three
of this species. After drumming for some time they came down
to the dry tops of spruces of previous cuttings which were every-
where, and worked about over them. They were very fearless
and I stood within two yards of each in turn and watched them
for some time. Two were males with golden crown; the third was
evidently a female. These three were the only ones seen. (C. H.
Morrell.) An occasional winter visitor in New Brunswick near St.
John. (Chamberlain.) Have seen this species in northern New
Brunswick. (W.H. Moore.) Taken at Beauport; a scarce resident
in Quebec. (Dionne.) An old female and a brood of young seen in
the woods at Ellis bay, Anticosti, Que. (Brewster.) A transient
visitant in the Montreal district, but rare. It occurs in October
and November. (Wintle.)

This species is rarer than the preceding but is seen in the vicinity
of Ottawa every autumn and doubtless breeds to the north of the
city. (Ottawa Naturalist, Vol. V.) This also is a northern species
but is seldom taken in southern Ontario in the autumn though
commoner northward. (MclIlwraith.) Rare in the Parry Sound
and Muskoka districts, only appearing in winter. Mr. Handy sent
me a pair taken at Emsdale. One specimen of this species was shot
on Well hill near Toronto, November 16th, 1901. It was seen in
company with another, probably its mate. (J. H. Fleming.) I
am not sure we have more than a single record of this species west of
Toronto. I have a record about 25 years old of one taken in the
township of Caradoc and identified by Mr. J. A. Morden. (W. E-
Saunders.) While at Whitney during November and December,
1898, I looked very carefully for this species but only succeeded in
taking one, which was feeding on a yellow birch in company with a
party of P. arcticus. I obtained a second specimen of this species
from the same place a few weeks later. (J. Hughes-Samuel.)

Very rare in central Manitoba but probably general in the north
and east. (E. T. Seton.) Rare at Aweme, Man. Usually a few

336 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

noted in late autumn. (Criddle.) This bird exists in all the forests
of spruce fir lying between Lake Superior and the Arctic sea. It is
the most common woodpecker north of Great Slave lake. (Richard-
son.) A few specimens between Athabasca Landing, Alta., and
Lesser Slave river. Rare between Methye lake and Isle a la Crosse.
(J. M. Macoun.) A pair was breeding on the Athabasca river
and a pair on Slave river, 1903. (Spreadborough.) North of Fort
Good Hope on the Mackenzie river. (Ross.) Much more common
than the preceding species in Cariboo, B.C., in the winter of 1900;
breeds throughout the region. (Brooks.) Common and breeding
jn burnt woods at Banff, Rocky mountains, alt. 5,500 feet, June,
1891. (Spreadborough.) This is probably P. fasciatus, as we have
specimens of that species from Banff collected by Mr. Dippie in 1895.

4o1a. Alaskan Three-toed Woodpecker.

Picoides americanus fasciatus BAIRD. 1870.

Taken by Mr. G. F. Dippie in the foot-hills south of Calgary, Alta.
As this record extends the range of this bird eastward it is probable
that most, if not all, the Rocky mountain references should go here.

A common resident in the spruce zone on the Coast range; also
taken in Washington as far south as Mount Baker. (Brooks.)
Dunean’s, Vancouver island, by Dr. Hasell; east and west of Coast
range, B.C. (Fannin.) Seen near Cascade, B.C., on the 4oth
parallel and taken on Sophie mountain at an altitude of 4,000 feet,
July 12th, 1902; saw one on a mountain at the head of Chilliwack
lake, B.C., June 26th, 1906. (Spreadborough.) Collected at Haines
Mission and Glacier, Lynn canal. In the Yukon valley at Six-mile
river; three specimens near Miles canyon; two on the Lewes river,
Yukon district, and two at Circle City, Alaska. (Bishop.) In the
country from Fort Simpson (on the Mackenzie river) north and west,
including the lower Mackenzie and Anderson rivers, and all of north-
ern Alaska, occurs this well marked race, which is characterized by
the extent and amount of the white markings upon the dorsal sur-
face, mainly in the form of barring. (Nelson.) Specimens of this
form were obtained from Nulato and Fort Yukon on the Yukon
river. The bird is a resident of the wooded districts and common
in some localities. (Turner.) This, the only species of woodpecker
detected by me in the Kowak region, was resident throughout the

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 337

year. It could scarcely be called common. (Grinnell.) Appar-
ently common at Cook inlet, Alaska, 1900. Quite rare at the base
of the Alaskan peninsula, only two seen in 1902. (Osgood.) One
specimen collected at Homer, Kenai peninsula, Alaska, was the
only one observed. It is undoubtedly rare as the natives had never
seen the species before. (Figgins.) One taken at Haines and one at
Glacier, Alaska; noted or taken at several places in the Yukon
valley. (Bishop.)

BREEDING Notes.—According to Oliver Davis’ ‘‘Nests and Eggs
of N. A. Birds,” nothing has been published regarding the nest and
eggs of this species. It therefore gives me pleasure to make the
following record of a set in my collection of five eggs which were
taken with the parent bird on May 29th, 1897, at Peel river that
runs into the mouth of the Mackenzie river. Nest, a hole in a coni-
ferous tree about ten feet from the ground. The eggs average
‘90 x °65. The Rev. I. O. Stringer secured the parent and found
its crop filled with seeds and worms. (W. Razne.)

401d. Alpine Three-toed Woodpecker.

Picoides americanus dorsalis BAIRD. 1870.

A specimen of what I consider to be this species was procured
at Fort Norman on the Mackenzie river. (Ross.) Mountains
east of Coast range; north to Cassiar. (Fannin.) A specimen of
this form was taken at Huntingdon in the Fraser river valley on
the goth parallel, on October 4th, 1901; one observed at Fernie,
B.C., April 25th, 1904. (Spreadborough.) What was likely this
species was observed on the shore of Shuswap lake, above Kamloops,
B.C., in June, 1889. The bird had a nest in a dead tree, and was a
three-toed woodpecker with a white back. A specimen was not
obtained. (Macoun.) This form is known to range from Fort
Kenai and the southeastern Alaskan coast and Fort Simpson on
the Mackenzie river (lat. 62°) south to Oregon and Arizona. In
well plumaged summer birds a longitudinal white band begins with
the nuchal collar and extends down the back to the rump, with no
trace, or at most a very slight one, of transverse barring. (Nelson.)
This form is abundant in the interior wherever there are wooded
districts. It rarely visits the vicinity of St. Michael. (Turner.)

22

338 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
CLXIX. SPHYRAPICUS Bairp. 1858.
402. Yellow-bellied Sapsuc ker.
Sphyrapicus varius (LINN.) Barrp. 1858.

One found dead near Julianshaab, July, 1845; another sent
from Greenland about 1858. (Arct. Man.) Common along Moose
river to Moose Factory; none seen further north in Labrador in
1896. (Spreadborough.) Probably occurs in Newfoundland.
(Reeks.) Fort Churchill, Hudson bay. (Clarke.) Abundant
summer resident in Nova Scotia. (Downs; Tufts.) A common
summer resident at Sydney, Cape Breton island, N.S.; first seen.
May 7th; eggs far advanced by June 15th. (C. R. Harte.) Seen
at Hunter river, Prince Edward island, July, 1888. Not rare at
Margaree, Cape Breton island, July, 1898. (Macoun.) An occa-
sional summer resident at St. John, N.B.; breeds. (Chamberlain.
Rare in the Restigouche valley, N.B. (Brittain & Cox.) A tolerably
common summer resident; breeds in York county, N.B. (W. H.
Moore.) Taken at Beauport, and a common summer resident in
Quebec. (Dionne.) Summer resident at Montreal ; more plenti-
ful during the spring migrations ; breeds sparsely on the island of
Montreal. (Wuntle.)

Common summer resident at Ottawa, Ont.; breeds. Commoner
in migrations than at other times. (Ottawa Naturalist, Vol. V.)
A common breeding species, perhaps the commonest of the wood-
peckers in the summer in the Muskoka and Parry Sound districts;
abundant migrant at Toronto, Ont.; a rare summer resident, breeds.
(J. H. Fleming.) A summer resident about London, but not
common except in migrations. (W. E. Saunders.) Abundant in
Algonquin park, Ont., breeding in holes in cedar trees about 12 feet.
from the ground. (Macoun.) ,

A common summer resident of the wooded section of Manitoba.
(E. T. Seton.) Regular migrant in Manitoba but not a common
breeder. (Atkinson; Criddle.) During the spring of 1892 only
four specimens of this bird were seen at Indian Head, Sask.; two-
specimens seen at Medicine Hat, Sask., May, 1894; first saw four,
May 3rd at Edmonton, Alta., common the next day; common
summer resident from Edmonton, lat. 53° 30’ to Crow Nest Pass
lat. 50°; common from the mouth of Lesser Slave river to Peace:

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 339

River Landing, Atha. (Spreadborough.) Common from Atha-
basca Landing, where it is very abundant and frequently met with
up the Athabasca river to the mouth of Lesser Slave river, common
on the Clearwater river, lat. 56° 30’, and on Methye Portage, com-
mon between Methye lake and Isle a la Crosse. (J. M. Macoun.)
This is the only woodpecker that visits the Northwest Territories in
flocks. It made its first appearance in 1827, on the plains of the
Saskatchewan on the 14th May in considerable flocks. In the
breeding season it is much more retiring and ranges as far north as
lat. 61°. (Richardson.) North to Fort Simpson on the Mackenzie
river; common. (Ross.)

BREEDING NoTEs.—I notice that this bird is very common in
spring along the St. Lawrence. It breeds plentifully in the coun-
ties of Leeds, Lanark and Renfrew, in all of which I have found
its nests. The locality chosen varies very much; it is partial to
an ash swamp, like the hairy woodpecker, but it is also fond of
‘poplar trees, commencing its nest-hole about the beginning of May.
I have found fresh eggs on May 19th. They vary much in size
and shape and a complete set consists of five or six. I have noticed
a nest several years in succession in a poplar at the foot of Grenadier
island, St. Lawrence river, and have observed that the nest hole is
usually from 25 to 4o feet from the ground, though on one occasion I
found it in a dead stub, standing in water, not more than three feet
above the surface. (Rev. C. J. Young.) I found a nest of young
birds of this species, June 21st, 1887, on St. Bruno mountain, in a
hole drilled in a live oak tree, only about six feet high in the trunk
of the tree above the ground, and another nest of its young, July rst,
1885, at Calumet, Que., 58 miles west of Montreal. This nest was
in a small hole drilled in the trunk of a live elm tree, and about
thirty feet high from the base. (Wintle.)

On June 20th, 1883, at the spruce bush, I found the nest of a
sapsucker. It was in a new hole in a green poplar tree, about 30
feet from the ground. It contained five newly hatched young,
and in the chamber with them were some of the shells, out of which I
reconstructed two eggs. The male, length 84, stomach full of ants,
the female, length 8%, stomach full of ants, her bill also was full of
black ants, intended probably as food for the young ones; excess-
ively fat; no red feathers at all except three or four scattered on the

22%

340 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

front of the crown, which was black. The eggs were each 1} by 3
and pure white. On July 3rd, in spruce bush, found the nest of a
sapsucker. It was about 20 feet from the ground in a poplar, and
facing the southeast. Just over the hole was a large limb, which
would doubtless be of some service as a shelter from the rain. I shot
the female; her crown was black, with but a very few red feathers
in the front, and some of these were tipped with yellow. The
gizzard was full of wood ants, Formica rufa. (E. T. Seton.) Ex-
cavates its nest-hole usually in living trees; one that I took was in an
ironwood and there were nesting-holes of two or three previous
years in the same tree which had died the previous year. (W. E.
Saunders.) I collected a set of five eggs from a hole in a poplar
about twelve feet from the ground, at Long lake, Manitoba, June
16th, 1894. (W.Raine.) Always nests in a hole in a tree at Ottawa.
Nest made of chips and dust. Eggs, four to six, pure white. (G.
R. White.)

402a. Red-naped Sapsucker.
Sphyrapicus varius nuchalis BatrRD. 1858.

One specimen taken at Edmonton, Alta., 1897; in the summer
of 1891 this species was taken at Banff, and in the preceding
year it was found breeding in numbers in the Columbia valley, B.C.
at Revelstoke, Deer Park and Robson. In the spring of 1902 it was
seen at Trail near the 49th parallel. In June 1889 it was quite
common at Kamloops, B.C., and a few were seen as far west as
Spence Bridge; first seen at Fernie, B.C., in 1904, on April 22nd;
common at Elko, May 5th; common and breeding at Penticton,
B.C., April, 1903. (Spreadborough.) A common summer resident
in the Cariboo district, B.C. (Brooks.) Osoyoos and valley of the
Columbia. (Lord.) Found common everywhere in the interior;
breeds. (Streator.) I found this bird very common east of the
Coast range, especially along the Cariboo road. (Fannin.) Gene-
rally distributed and breeding throughout the interior of British
Columbia; did not observe it on the coast. (Rhoads.)

403a. Northern Red-breasted Sapsucker.
Sphyrapicus ruber notkensis (SUCKOW) RICHMOND. 1902.

Vancouver island and Sumas. (Lord.) Ten specimens of this
form were taken on Queen Charlotte islands, where it is common.

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 341

(Osgood.) Found only on the coast; rare. (Streator.) East and
west of Coast range; not common, (Fannin.) Tolerably common
summer resident at Chilliwack. (Brooks.) Not uncommon at
Hastings and Agassiz, B.C., in 1889; rather common from McGuire’s
to the head of Chilliwack lake, B.C., in 1901; common about fourteen
miles south of Hope, B.C., July 5th, 1905, and young were taken on
the Skagit river; shot two at Douglas, B.C., April 24th, 1906, and
others afterwards along the Chilliwack river, young hatched by
June 7th. (Spreadborough.) Hartland took two males at Chilcat
river, Alaska, April 12th. (Nelson.) Took an adult male at Skag-
way, Alaska, May 31st, 1899. (Bzshop.)

404. Williamson Sapsucker.

Sphyrapicus thyroideus (Cass.) BatrD. 1858.

Taken at Similkameen, B.C., by R. V. Griffin, June, 1882. (Fan-
nin.) Common in all the heavy timber from Midway to Osoyoos
lake, B.C., at an altitude of about 4,000 feet. (Spreadborough.)

CLXX. CEOPHLG&SUS Casanis. 1862.
405a. Northern Pileated Woodpecker.

Ceophleus pileatus abieticola BANGS. 1898.

Rather rare in Newfoundland. (Reeks.) Tolerably common
along Moose river to Moose Factory, James bay; none seen in
Ungava farther north in 1896. (Spreadborough.) Recorded from
Albany river, Nelson river and Moose Factory. (Preble.)

An uncommon resident in heavily timbered districts in Nova
Scotia. (Downs.) One was taken at Wolfville, N.S., September,
1897; rarely seen in Nova Scotia. (H. F. Tufts.) Common in the
interior of New Brunswick throughout the year. (Chamberlain.)
A not uncommon permanent resident, and breeds in York county,
N.B. (W. H. Moore.) Said to have been formerly common on
Prince Edward island, but I saw none. Mr. Earle showed me a
stuffed specimen. (Dwight.) Taken at Beauport; a resident in
Quebec. (Déonne.) Accidental visitant at Montreal, but rare.
The nearest place to Montreal where I have seen this large wood-
pecker was at Casselman, Ont., about 90 miles west of the city.
(Wintle.) ,

342 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

This species is not uncommon in the hills north of Ottawa, and
is known to breed. (Ottawa Naturalist, Vol. V.) Said to have been
formerly resident at Toronto, Ont. Muskoka and Parry Sound
districts seem to be the home of this species. The work done by
the pileated woodpecker in cutting into dead trees is wonderful.
A pair will work all winter at one tree cutting it to pieces. I have
several times seen stubs that have been so cut up that they have
broken down. The birds cut deep holes in the sides of the trees to
get entrance into the soft centre when the cuts are continued and
lengthened until little of its inside remains. (J. H. Fleming.)
Found quite numerous at Whitney on the Parry Sound railway late
in the fall of 1898. (J. Hughes-Samuel.) Not common in Algonquin
park in summer; more plentiful in winter. One individual seen on
Missinabi river, Ont., June 19th, 1904. (Spreadborough.) A rare
resident in the neighbourhood of London, Ont. (W. E. Saunders.)

Rare resident in heavy timber, but becomes more abundant to the
northward. According to Hutchins it has been taken in January
at Gloucester House in lat. 50° 31’ N., long. 96° 03’ W., 387 miles
up the Albany river. (E. T. Seton.)° A fairly numerous breeder in
the heavier spruce districts of the northern and eastern parts of
Manitoba and about Lake Winnipegosis and the Saskatchewan
river but not outside this timber. (Atkinson.) This great wood-
pecker is a resident all the year in the interior of the Northwest
Territories, up to lat..62° or 63°, rarely appearing near Hudson bay,
but frequenting the gloomiest recesses of the forests that skirt the
Rocky mountains. (Richardson.) North to Fort Liard, lat. 61°;
rare. (Ross.) Rare on the Clearwater river, Atha., lat. 56° 40’.
(J. M. Macoun.) Common east and west of the Coast range.
(Lord.) Common in the coast region where it breeds; they are not
very common on Vancouver island. (Streator.) Common; but
more abundant on the coast. (Fannin.) Common resident at
Chilliwack, B.C.; tolerably common around Lake Okanagan, B.C.,
in winter; scarce in the Cariboo district, B.C. (Brooks.) One seen
between Lesser Slave lake and Peace River Landing, Atha.; a few
were noted at Banff in 1891; seen at Revelstoke in April, 1890; at
Deer Park, Lower Arrow lake, June 14th, 1890, and at Robson on
the Columbia river, at an altitude of 4,200 feet, June 26th, 1890;
and quite common between Trail and Cascade, on the 49th parallel,
in 1902; saw several at Penticton in 1903, found it common at Elko

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 343

in 1904 and at Midway and Sidley in 1905; observed everywhere in
the Chilliwack valley, B.C., and on the mountains there in 1901;
common on Vancouver island and resident wherever I have been.
(Spreadborough.) Found in comparative abundance everywhere in
British Columbia. (Rhoads.)

BREEDING Notes.—This bird is becoming quite rare. I have
seen it in the counties of Frontenac, Lanark and Renfrew, Ont.;
never during the past fifteen years in the county of Leeds or along
the St. Lawrence. In the heavily timbered and rough sections of
the former counties, as recently as ten years ago it was comparatively
common, now (1901) it is seldom seen. It breeds early, commencing
its nest-hole in April. In 1888 I saw a nest in a large basswood tree
between Perth and Lanark, Ont., about thirty feet from the ground.
I have also seen the nest in a maple near Bob lake, Frontenac county,
this is about its southern breeding limit in Ontario at the present
time. In 1903 I again found a nest in this county in a bass-wood
stub fifty feet from the ground, which on May 15th contained three
fresh eggs. (Rev. C. J. Young.) I have a set of six eggs that were
collected at Lake Joseph, Muskoka, Ont., on June 2nd, 1899.
Eggs laid in a hole in a decayed pine twenty feet from the base.
(W. Raine.)

CLXXI. MELANERPES Swainson. 1831.
406. Red-headed Woodpecker,

Melanerpes erythrocephalus (LINN.) SWAINS. 1831.

Very rare in Nova Scotia. A mere straggler. (Downs.) Occa-
sionally met with in New Brunswick. (Chamberlain.) Occasionally
met with in Quebec. (Dionne.) Summer resident; scarce. Ob-
served on the Island of Montreal May 24th; 1882, and June 24th,
1883. (Wintle.)

A rather scarce summer resident at Ottawa. (Ottawa Naturalist,
Vol. V.) Common summer resident at Toronto, Ont., breeds; one
winter record, January 28th, 1905. One of the species that is in-
creasing with the settlement of the Muskoka and Parry Sound
districts. Mr. Kay speaks of it as rare at Port Sydney in 1890,
but increasing rapidly; in 1893 it was rare at Emsdale, but has
become much commoner. (/. H. Fleming.) Fairly common in all

344 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

the western peninsula of Ontario. Abundant in many parts, but
not so much so near London as formerly, the decrease beginning
about 1878. It spends the winter here in considerable numbers if
food conditions are favourable. (W. E. Saunders.)

A rare summer resident in Manitoba, but commoner eastward.
(E. T. Seton.) Very rare at Aweme, Man., but breeds. (Criddle.)
A species which is rapidly increasing in numbers in the heavier
wooded districts of Manitoba having become quite a regular breed-
ing species about Portage la Prairie along the Assiniboine river
east. (Atkinson.) One seen by Mr. C. S. Day in timber at Skull
creek, Sask., June gth, 1905. (A.C. Bent.) In May, 1895, this
species was seen at Old Wives creek, in eastern Saskatchewan;
also at Wood Mountain Post, and observed breeding at ‘ Stone
Pile’ on the White Mud river, Sask., in June, 1895; a pair was
found breeding on the east end of the Cypress hills in June, 1894;
the same year one was seen at Crane lake and another at Medicine
Hat, Sask.; a pair seen at Pass creek, near Robson, Columbia river,
B.C., June 25th, 1890. (Macoun.)

BREEDING NotTes.—A common summer resident in Ontario.
Very plentiful along the St. Lawrence, on Wolfe island and else-
where, becoming rarer northward in the county of Renfrew. It
occasionally stays all winter. In the mild winter of 1890 I saw
two several times in a sugar bush of large maples in the township
of Escott, Leeds county, Ont.; also at the same sugar bush I
noticed one in December, 1899. It is a late breeder, seldom having
eggs before June, and making its nest-hole high up in the dead limb
of a large tree. I have only once or twice seen the nest within ten
feet of the ground. (Rev. C. J. Young.) Nest taken in woods near
Ottawa. It was a hole in a tree and contained four pure white eggs
laid on a bed of chips and dust. (G. R. White.) At Rice lake,
Ont.; June roth, 1902, I found this bird more plentiful than the
common flicker, nesting in decayed tree stubs. (W. Raine.) Mrt..
G. A. Dunlop found a nest with eggs of this species at Lacutine, and
I came across it breeding in a hole of a dead tree along a fence,
between two woods at Longue Pointe, May 24th, 1889. I shot the
female bird at the time for a specimen. I have not met with this
conspicuously coloured woodpecker in the autumn season, and
therefore I infer it departs south as soon as its young are reared
and able to migrate. (Wunile.) Is perhaps the latest of our wood-

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 345

peckers to breed, seldom laying before June. It lays five to seven
eggs of very variable“size and shape, at varying heights from the
ground, ranging from ten to at least sixty feet. (W. E. Saunders.)
In 1898 red-headed woodpeckers were numerous near Black Rapids,
Ont. Their nests were all very high except two. The first con-
tained younglets on the 4th July, and the other, two eggs with
embryos on the 21st of the same month. On the 4th June, 1906,
while going in that direction I found a nest twenty feet high in a
dead branch of an ash tree. The entrance measured two inches in
diameter, the depth of the cavity, eleven inches. The nest con-
tained six eggs with embryos in them. (A. L. Garneau.)

CLXXII. ASYNDESMUS CouveEs. 1866.

408. Lewis Woodpecker.

Asyndesmus torquatus (WILS.) COUES. 1866.

Shot only in the open'timbered lands in British Columbia east
of the Coast range. (Lord.) Abundant in the interior; breeds.
(Streator.) East and west of the Coast range; rare on Vancouver
island; young taken at Victoria and Comox. (Fannin.) A toler-
ably common summer resident at Chilliwack, B.C. (Brooks.)
While we were encamped on one of the head waters of the South
Saskatchewan at the eastern base of the Rocky mountains a Lewis
woodpecker flew overhead and was distinctly recognized by myself
and Mr. Batty. (Cowes.) One specimen seen at Canmore, east of
Banff, in June, 1901; one seen near Elko, B.C., May 12th, 1904;
one specimen shot at Revelstoke, B.C., May 5th, 1890; only three
specimens seen during the month; rather common at Enderby,
Sicamous, Kamloops and Spence bridge in 1889; abundant at Cas-
cade, on the International Boundary, B.C., in the summer of 1902;
one taken at Huck’s, Chilliwack river, B.C., July, 1901; one seen at.
Douglas, May 6th, 1906, and one at Chilliwack, May 26th. (Spread-
borough.) Only east of Coast range in B.C.; rare in some localities,
in others abundant. (Rhoads.)

BREEDING NoTEs.—Found a nest near Similkameen river, B.C.,
June 15th, 1905. It was in a hole in a live poplar tree about five
feet from the ground and contained two fresh eggs. (Spreadborough.)

346 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

CLXXIII. CENTURUS Swainson. 1837.

409. Red-bellied Woodpecker.

Centurus carolinus (LINN.) BonapP. 1838.

A few pairs breed near London. I have found several nests,
usually in the dead top of a living maple or beech tree, and from
forty to seventy feet above the ground. They nest early in the
year, and I find them excavating usually about April 20 to 30th.
Hardly a year passes that I do not locate one or more breeding pairs-
Until about 1885 they were very abundant in the counties west of
London, Ont., but their numbers have greatly lessened of late. (W.
E. Saunders.) Rare about Toronto; commoner in southwestern On-
tario. (J. H. Fleming.) A female was taken in Toronto, Ont.,
May tioth, 1885. (E. T. Seton.) On July 27th, 1894, I took
an immature specimen of this species at Twin Lakes, border of Lake
township, northeast of Havelock. (J. Hughes-Samuel.) Accidental
visitant in the Montreal district; rare. Mr. Kuetzing says this
species occurs in the Eastern Townships, but I have not observed
it near Montreal and will treat it as a straggler until more is known
of it in this district. (Wuntle.)

CLXXIV. COLAPTES Swainson. 1827.

412a. Northern Flicker.

Colaptes auratus luteus BANGS. 1898.

Herr Méschler has recorded the receipt of a specimen from Green-
land in 1852. (Arct. Man.) An accidental straggler was procured
from the mainland near Akapatok island, Hudson strait, in October,
1882. Reported to be a common summer visitor to Northwest
river, Labrador. (Packard.) Observed all along the Moose river
to Moose Factory, and a few as far north as Fort George in Labrador,
June, 1896, and to Cockpenny point in 1904. (Spreadborough.) A
summer visitor and tolerably common in Newfoundland. (Reeks.)
One seen on the Humber river, Newfoundland, October, 1898.
(L. H. Porter.) Fort Churchill, Hudson bay. (Clarke.) Not com-
mon at Lake Mistassini, northern Quebec, in 1885. (J. M. Macoun.)
We found flickers rather common throughout the region between
Lake Winnipeg and Hudson bay and saw several at Fort Churchill,

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 347

July 25th. (Preble.) Very common from Lake Winnipeg to Fort
Churchill, Hudson bay. (Dr. R. Bell.) Quite common in Nova
Scotia. (Downs.) Abundant summer resident in Nova Scotia, once
observed in February. (H. F. Tufts.) In woods along Rustico
bay, Prince Edward island, July, 1888; common on Cape Breton
island, July, 1898. (Macoun.) One seen on Sable island, N.S.,
September 25th, 1900. (J. Bouteler.) An abundant summer
resident in New Brunswick. (Chamberlain.) Common around
fields, Restigouche valley, N.B. (Brittain & Cox.) Common
summer resident and breeds in York county, N.B. (W. H. Moore.)
Taken at Beauport and a common resident in Quebec. (Dionne.)
A few were seen near Gaspé and one or two at Fox bay, Anticosti-
(Brewster.) Common summer resident at Montreal. Breeds in
Mount Royal park. (Wintle.) Common summer resident at
Ottawa. Breeding in all woods. (Ottawa Naturalist, Vol. V.)
Summer resident and breeding at Toronto, Ont.; abundant and
breeding in the districts of Parry Sound and Muskoka. (J. H.
Fleming.) Common all over western Ontario. A few spend the
winter in favourable seasons. (W. E. Saunders.)

Not common in Algonquin park, Ont.; one pair breeding near
Cache lake. (Spreadborough.) A very abundant summer resident
in the wooded parts of Manitoba. (E. T. Seton.) Abundant sum-
mer resident at Aweme, Man., nesting in decayed trees. (Criddie.)
Abundant breeding species throughout Manitoba and observed
everywhere along the line of the Grand Trunk Pacific railway west
to Edmonton, Alta. (Atkinson.) This is not a rare bird at Indian
Head, Medicine Hat, and Cypress hills; it was found breeding in
1895 in company with the hybrid flicker in holes in Acer Negundo
on May 30th and two fresh eggs taken from the nest; early in June
it was found at Wood mountain, and towards the end of June on
Sucker creek in the Cypress hills, Sask.; common and breeding at
Banff and shot as far west as Revelstoke, B.C., May 14, 1890. First
seen at Edmonton, Alta., on April 30th, 1897; it soon became com-
mon and commenced to breed. Common in the foothills southwest
of Calgary. (Spreadborough.) Common from Athabasca Landing
up the Athabasca to Lesser Slave river and down to Fort McMurray,
lat. 56° 40’. Common up the Clearwater river and on Methye
Portage. (J. M. Macoun.) This beautifully marked bird visits the
Northwest Territories only in summer advancing as far north as

348 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

Great Slave lake, but resorting in the greatest numbers to the plains
of the Saskatchewan. Instead of hiding itself in the depths of the
forest it frequents the open downs, and employs itself in turning over
the ant-hills in search of larve on which it preys. (Richardson.) North
to Peel river, mouth of the Mackenzie;common. (Ross.) This bird is
by no means scarce in the valley of the Anderson but we made no
attempt to collect its eggs as they are not scarce. (Macfarlane.)
This handsome woodpecker breeds from one side of the territory
(Alaska) to the other wherever wooded country occurs, according
to the Esquimos it extends even to Behring strait. (Nelson.)
This species does not occur in the Yukon districts to my knowledge.
A specimen was obtained from Fort Yukon, where it is not abundant.
(Turner.) In the Yukon valley this is by far the most common
woodpecker. We found it quite frequently from Log Cabin to
Circle City. At Caribou Crossing, June 27th, 1899, Osgood secured
a female and found her nest containing eight young and three eggs
in a cavity three feet from the ground in a partly dead poplar. At
Six-mile river another nest was found, and at Lower Lebarge another,
all in the Yukon district. (Bzshop.)

BREEDING Notes.—In this region (Carberry) the flicker seems to
prey principally on ants, taking them sometimes from the rotten
stumps that are honeycombed with their galleries, but more often,
I believe, from the mound-like ant-hills which are to be seen on the
prairie in such numbers. His method of attack seems to be by first
pecking a hole in the centre of the hill, and then as the ants come
swarming out he despatches them till his appetite is satisfied. After-
wards he comes again and again to the hill till it is completely depo-
pulated. (£.T. Seton.) I found a nest of this woodpecker, June 8th,
1882, at Bedford, Que., in the trunk of an old beech tree, containing
two younglings, five eggs incubated and one egg quite fresh; also
another nest in the decayed trunk of a beech tree in the woods below
Hochelaga, June 3rd, 1883, containing four eggs, and in the same tree
two eggs; May 2ist, 1887, another nest, with one egg, in a hole in
the dead limb of a tree on the spur of Mount Royal. The flicker’s
nest can often be discovered by the quantity of chips strewn over
the ground under the tree, from the hole they have been excavating
in it. (Wvntle.) One of these birds has nested in a telegraph post
in front of my house at Kew Beach, Toronto for the past five sum-
mers and has never yet succeeded in hatching its eggs on account

\
CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 349

of its nest being robbed by boys. As many as forty eggs have been
taken from this nest in one season; as fast as the eggs are taken the
bird lays another lot and in spite of this persecution returns every
spring to its old home. Higher up in the same telegraph post a
pair of tree swallows nest annually and succeed in hatching out their
brood as the hole is too small for the boys to get their hands into.
(W. Raine.) Nests taken at Ottawa are in holes in stubs or broken
trees. Eggs five to seven, pure white, laid on a bed of small chips
and dust. (G. R. White.) First seen in 1892 at Indian Head,
Sask., April 19th; after this they became common and were nesting
by May oth, one shot at this date had its stomach full of ants. First
seen in 1894 at Medicine Hat, Sask., on April 12th. After that they
became common and could scarcely be distinguished from the form
I call the hybrid flicker; both forms were breeding. Later this
species was found at Crane lake and very common in the timber at
the east end of the Cypress hills. In May, 1895, it was found breed-
ing with the hybrid form at Old Wives creek and the eggs of each
taken. Both nests were in holes of Acer Negundo. It was also
found at Wood mountain and along Frenchman river in the Cypress
hills. Common and breeding at Banff, Rocky mountains, in 1891.
Met with at Revelstoke in 1890 in company with hybrids and the
red-shafted flicker. (Macoun.) A very common summer visitant.
Found everywhere. It is plentiful in the Magdalen islands where
its former nest-holes are sometimes occupied by the small owls that
breed there. Once in the county of Renfrew I found a nest with
nine eggs, but six or seven is the usual number. (Rev. C. J. Young.)
Abundant from April to Octcber. Usually the flicker’s nest is
situated quite a distance from the ground, as one of the bird’s names
—‘high hole’’—suggests. But last summer a nest was observed so
low that the bottom was on a level with the ground outside the
stump in which the nest was made. The nine eggs which this nest
contained were also remarkable. One egg was no larger than a
sparrow’s and contained no yolk, while the other eight varied greatly
in shape from spherical to extremely elongate. (H.F. Tujts.) The
diameter of the entrance to this nest in trees or stumps is 24 inches,
but sometimes the bird chooses a natural cavity. I found a nest
on the 20th of June, 1897, in a hole on a stump, and another on the
8th of July, 1906, in a hole two feet deep on an old fence post. The
number of eggs laid is from five to eight and sometimes more. A
set of ten eggs I took on the 3rd of June, comprised eight incubated

350 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

eggs and two fresh eggs. Another nest near had been robbed and
broken and a flicker was beginning to excavate a new nest-cavity,
(A. L. Garneau.)

413. Red-shafted Flicker.

Colaptes cafer collaris (VIGORS) NELSON. 1900.

A specimen of this species was killed to the westward of the Rocky
mountains by Mr. Douglas. (Richardson.) The most abundant of
the summer visitors on Vancouver island and in British Columbia.
(Lord.) Five specimens taken atAshcroft are of this form. (Streator.)
East of the Coast range; common. (Fannin.) This species was
common at Banff in the spring of 1891; breeding at Devil lake and
seen eating ants above the timber line on Mount Aylmer, Aug. 6th,
1891; common at Revelstoke on the Columbia, and down that river
to Deer Park and Robson; also common and breeding in Eagle
pass, west of Revelstoke, B.C.; common on the International
Boundary between Trail and Cascade, B.C., in the summer of 1902;
common both at Fernie and Elko, B.C., in 1904, and abundant and
breeding at Penticton, B.C., in April, 1903; not uncommon at
Sicamous, Kamloops and Spence bridge, B.C., in May and June,
1889. (Spreadborough.) In the neighbourhood of 150-mile House,
Cariboo district, both this species and auratus occur and interbreed.
From one nest-hole I took seven nestlings which varied from typical
C. cafer collarts to nearly typical auratus. (Brooks.) During Bischoff’s
visit to Sitka a number of these birds were taken there and the
specimens are now in the National museum. It has not been taken
since. (Nelson.)

413a. Northwestern Flicker.

Colaptes cafer saturatior (R1ipGw.) A. O. U. CHECK-LIST, 1886.

Abundant. on the coast of British Columbia. (Streator.) Abun-
dant west of Coast range; a number winter in the neighbourhood
of Victoria. (Fannin.) Acommon resident at Chilliwack. (Brooks.)
Common at Douglas, Chilliwack and at Huntingdon, B.C.; observed
a few on the mountains at Chilliwack lake, also a few along the
Chilliwack river and in the hills, and at Burrard inlet; a resident
throughout Vancouver island. Nests in holes in dead trees; nesting
commenced April 24th, 1893. (Spreadborough.) Noted occasionally

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 351

about Sitka, Alaska, in the dense forest a mile or more back from
the beach. (Grinnell.) While cafer seems to be exclusively an
eastern species, saturatior cannot be said to confine itself to the
coast; examples from local areas of great rainfall in the interior

being indistinguishable from ordinary Vancouver island specimens.
(Rhoads.)

Hybrid Flicker.

All the Colaptes of the Upper Missouri, Yellowstone and Milk
rivers appear to be of the hybrid race in which there is every degree
of departure from the characters of typical auratus. The. change
begins on the Middle Missouri, as low down, I think as Fort Randall,
and certainly as low as old Fort Pierre. It is a point of interest
that this mongrel style overruns into the Saskatchewan region;
for of two specimens secured at the eastern base of the mountains,
one had the red quills and ash throat of mexicanus, and the cheek-
patch mixed with red, while the other was nearly pure auratus.
(Coues.)

This form was found breeding in the same locality and under
the same conditions with pure auratus, in holes in Acer Negundo on
Walsh ranch, near the mouth of Old Wives creek, May 30th, 1895.
The nest contained four eggs indistinguishable from those of the
eastern species. Others were seen at Medicine Hat, Sask., in 1894
and a number shot. Specimens were taken at Sucker creek, west
end of Cypress hills, July 1st, 1895; later in the season it was seen
at Castellated Rocks in southwestern Saskatchewan, in the Milk
river valley; on July 26th others were seen at Lee creek, near
Cardston, Alta., and still later at Waterton lake, almost where
Dr. Coues saw the species in 1874. Numerous specimens were
taken at Revelstoke, B.C., in the spring of 1890. These varied
from almost pure auratus to pure cafer collarits. Two specimens
were shot having all the characters of collaris, but each had a cres-
centic patch of red on the nape of the neck.

Two of the so-called hybrid flickers have been taken at Toronto,
Ont.; one is in the collection of Mr. Ernest Seton, the other is in the
collection of Mr. Geo. E. Atkinson. (J. H. Fleming.) In the spring
of 1897 I collected several specimens of flicker at Portage la Prairie
that were clearly hybrids showing the markings of C. cafer very con-

352 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

spicuously. (Aikinson.) The flickers proved very interesting at
the places we visited in eastern Alberta and western Saskatchewan.
Both the yellow-shafted and red-shafted were found in typical
plumage as well as in all the stages of hybridisation. Nearly pure-
blooded birds of both species were found mated together and both
were collected from the same brood of young. (A. C. Bent.)

OrDER MACROCHIRES. GoaTsuckERs,
SwIiFTs, &Cc.

Famity XXXV. CAPRIMULGIDA. Goarsucxers.
CLXXV. ANTROSTOMUS Govutp. 1838.
416. Chuck-Will’s-Widow.
Antrostomus carolinensis (GMEL.) GOULD. 1838.

I took a male of this species on May 1gth, 1906 at Point Pelee,
Essex county, Ont. The bird was flushed from the ground and lit
in a red cedar, giving an excellent chance to observe it and I was
fortunately able to take it. The bird was found about half a mile
from the end of the point on the west side. The sexual organs
were well developed. (J. H. Fleming.) A detailed account of the
taking of a single specimen of this species near Pictou, N.S. is re-
corded by Harry Piers in Proc. and Trans. of the N.S. Inst. of Sct.,
Vol. VIIL., p. 405.

417. Whip-poor-Will.
Antrostomus vociferus (WILS.) BONAP.* 1838.

Formerly common but now becoming rare in Nova Scotia.
(Downs.) An occasional summer resident at St. John, N.B,
(Chamberlain.) Not common at Scotch lake, York county, N.B.
(W.H. Moore.) Rare summer visitor in Quebec. (Dionne.) Tran-
sient visitor at Montreal, scarce; this bird is said to be plentiful
at St. Jerome, 33 miles north of Montreal. (Wintle.)

A common summer resident at Ottawa. (Ottawa Naturalist,
Vol. V.) Regular migrant at Toronto, Ont., rather rare summer
resident; fairly common in Muskoka; I have not met with it in
Parry Sound district. (J. H. Fleming.) Common from the Geor-

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 353

gian bay to Lake Erie in most retired localities. (W. E. Saunders.)
North to Norway House, foot of Lake Winnipeg. (Dr. R. Beil.)
A common summer resident in Manitoba, arriving early in May.
(E. T. Seton.) Very common in thick woods at Manitoba House,
Manitoba lake, and westward along Lake Winnipegosis, nesting in
the poplar woods in June, 1881. During the day many specimens
were seen lying at full length, and perfectly flat, lengthwise on the
branches. (Macown.) Has becorfe common at Aweme, Man. in
recent years, nesting in open woods. (Criddle.) An abundant
breeder in all the wooded parts of Manitoba but not noted west
of Fort Ellice. (Atkenson.) Not seen or heard ae on the
prairie. (Spreadborough.)

BREEDING NotTes.—Common in central Ontario in rocky uneven
ground, partially wooded. I noticed it in a plantation of small
oaks near the canal, Wolfe island, opposite Kingston, but it is not
common in level sections of the country. It arrives earlier in the
spring than the nighthawk, and I have heard its ‘‘call’” as early
as the end of April, and as late as September. It is nowhere com-
moner than among the Thousand islands. On some of the larger
of these it breeds, returning to the same vicinity year after year.
On one island, among ferns, and second growth trees I came across
the eggs three times. They are laid in pairs on the bare ground
without a vestige of nest, generally among trees. I have found
them on the 9th and 16th of June, but two years ago I saw two eggs
that were said to have been found on the 8th May. This bird leaves
Ontario nearly a month later than the nighthawk, at least many do.
(Rev. C. J. Young.)

Fifteen years ago this bird could be heard any evening on the
outskirts of Toronto, but of late years it has become scarce. I
found a set of two beautiful eggs of this species at Rosedale, Toronto,
May 24th, 1889. There was no nest and the eggs were laid on dead
leaves on the ground in a wood. On the evening of June 18th,
1894, Mr. Menzies drove me from Woodlands, Manitoba, to Shoal
lake, and we were astonished at the number of whip-poor-wills.
calling in the woods at the sides of the trail. (W. Raine.)

23

354 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

CLXXVI. PHALAINOPTILUS Riveway. 1880.
418. Poor-Will.

Phalenoptilus nuttallu (Aup.) Ripcw. 1880.

Only one pair of these birds was seen in two weeks stay at Kam-
loops, B.C., in June, 1889. One was shot in open day but no nest
was discovered. The country was open, dry, and arid. (Spread-
borough.) From Kamloops south through the Okanagan district
of British Columbia. (Fannin.) A tolerably common summer
resident throughout the southern portions of the semi-arid interior.
(Brooks.)

CLXXVII. CHORDEILES Swainson. 1831.
420. Nighthawk.
Chordeiles vigintanus (GMEL.) SWAINS. 1831.

One specimen found dead on Melville island. (Arct. Man.)
Stearns records this bird from Natashquan; also obtained by
Drexler in August, 1860, at Moose Factory, James bay. (Packard.)
A summer migrant in Newfoundland. (Reeks.) Common in Nova
Scotia. (Downs; Tujts.) Seen at Baddeck and Sydney, Cape
Breton island, August, 1898; one seen in the marsh at Brackley
point, Prince Edward island, 25th June, 1888. (Macoun.) A few
were seen almost every day frequenting the open clearings or sail-
ing high in the air while I was on Prince Edward island. (Dwight.)
An abundant summer resident at St. John, N.B. (Chamberlain.)
A common summer resident; breeds at Scotch Lake, York county,
N.B. (W. H. Moore.) Not common in the Restigouche valley,
N.B.; only seen in burnt districts near settlements. (Brittain &
Cox.) Taken at Beauport; a common summer resident in Quebec.
(Dionne.) Not rare; breeds at Lake Mistassini, northern Quebec.
(J. M. Macoun.) A single specimen observed at Fort Churchill,
Hudson bay. (Clarke.) York Factory, Hudson bay. (Dr. R.
‘Bell.) One heard, June 27th, at Grand Entry island, one of the
Magdalen islands; but none afterwards. (Brewster.) Common
summer resident, breeds in Montreal upon the gravelled roofs of
houses. (Wintle.) An abundant summer resident. Since the
building of houses with gravelled roofs these birds have become

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 355

common in the city. They breed in security on many flat roofs.
(Ottawa Naturalist, Vol. V.) Common summer resident in Muskoka
and Parry Sound districts and at Toronto, Ont. (J. H. Fleming.)
Not so common as formerly in the London, Ont. district. (W. E.
Saunders.) Two observed in Algonquin park, June 18th. No
others seen in three month’s residence; abundant from Missinabi
to Moose Factory in 1904. (Spreadborough.)

This species is quite common in Manitoba and breeds freely.
(E. T. Seton.) Abundant during migration, formerly a common
breeder at Aweme, Man. but it seems to be deserting the country
and making its home in the cities, nesting on the flat roofs of houses.
(Criddle.) An abundant breeding species everywhere in Manitoba
and the west, breeding on the ground in the prairie country and on
flat roofs in cities. (Atkenson.) An adult male was taken by Dr.
Bishop at Maple Creek, Sask., on June 5th, 1906, which he called
this form. (A. C. Bent.) Exceedingly abundant on pleasant
evenings near our camp at Grand Rapids, Saskatchewan river.
(Nutting.) Rather common at Norway House, Lake Winnipeg,
and east to Knee lake, Keewatin. Recorded from Trout lake by
Murray, from York Factory by Bell and Fort Churchill by Clarke,
(Preble.) Few birds are better known in the Northwest Terri-
tories than this, which ranges in summer to the Arctic islands.
It makes its appearance at Great Bear lake generally about the
last of May, and was observed hatching on the Saskatchewan on
the 8th June. (Richardson.) North to Lapierre House on the
Mackenzie river; rather rare. (Ross.) A few straggling birds
have been observed in the far north but I never came across its
nest except on the Clearwater river near Fort McMurray in June,
1873. (Macjarlane.) Seen along the Athabaska river from the
mouth of Lesser Slave river to the Clearwater river, lat. 56° 40’,
also on Methye Portage and from Methye lake to Isle a la Crosse.
(J. M. Macoun.) Common from Lesser Slave lake to the Peace
river in 1903. (Spreadborough.) Vancouver island and throughout
British Columbia. (Lord.) Abundant summer resident in the
interior; breeds. (Streator.) East of Coast range; a summer
resident. (Fannin.) Summer resident at Chilliwack; tolerably
common. All the specimens taken belong to the typical form and
not to henry. (Brooks.) Abundant in all interior localities of

British Columbia. (Rhoads.) From Caribou Crossing, lat. 60°,
23%

356 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

B.C., to Tatchun river, lat. 62° 20’, near Rink rapids, Yukon river.
The specimens were slightly darker than virginianus from the east.
(Bishop.)

BREEDING NotTEs.—A common summer resident, though it does
not appear to be as common as it was fifteen years ago. It lays
its two eggs, without any nest, on rocks, in a disused stone quarry,
or even on land that has recently been burnt over. (Rev. C. J.
Young.) All the nests taken at Ottawa, Ont., were on the ground
or on the gravel on the flat roofs of houses in the city. Eggs, two,
of a pale olive buff, thickly mottled and daubed with varied tints of
darker gray slate or even blackish. (G. R. White.) On August rst,
1883, while in the eastern sand-hills with Miller Christy, we found
the two young of a nighthawk sitting on the bare ground in the
open. They seemed about three days old. On the tips of their
beaks were still the hard white points with which they are furnished
to aid them in chipping the shell. The old shells were lying around
the nest, as is the case with the Poocetes, and but for these I should
have passed by the young ones, as they had squatted close to the
ground and shut their eyes, for the blackness and brilliancy of
these would almost certainly have betrayed them. I gently touched
one of them, whereupon it crouched down more closely to the ground ;
but its companion, rising up, hissed with open beak and snapped
savagely at my fingers. On being further teased they ran off,
exactly in the manner of young ducks, with outstretched wings
and with neck and body at an angle of 45 degrees. After running
a few feet they stopped, squatted as before, and closed their eyes.
This they repeated several times, but at best they only made little
progress, and each time on being overtaken the bold one was always
ready to fight. This proved to be a male; the sex of the other
was not ascertained, but probably it was a female. At this age
the middle claw is not pectinated. (E. T. Seton.) The eggs of
the nighthawk (Chordetles virginianus) were several times found
on the bare ground among the sand-hills, on the north side of the
Souris, near Plum creek, with no approach to a nest for the help-
less young. The parent birds endeavoured to draw us away from
their eggs, fluttered as if wounded a short distance from them, and
uttering cries of distress. (Hind.) In The Ottawa Naturalist,
Vol. XIX., pp. 56, 57 the Rev. G. Eifrig published a very complete
account of the breeding of nighthawks on a flat roof in Ottawa.

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 357
4202. Western Nighthawk.

Chordetles virginianus henryi (Cass.) COUES. 1872.

On June 7th, 1892, two were observed at Indian Head, Sask.,
and by the roth they were common. I have seen them sitting on
poplar trees by the shore of Deep lake, ten miles from Indian Head,
in the day time; very abundant all summer; breed in the vicinity.
First seen in 1894 at Medicine Hat, June 3rd; also at Wood mountain,
June roth, 1895; afterwards it was common and in large numbers
at Frenchman river and Cypress hills, near Cypress lake; it is a com-
mon species in the prairie region and was seen along Milk river, St.
Mary river and Lee creek at Cardston, Alta. This form was abun-
dant on the International Boundary, between Trail and Cascade,
B.C., in the summer of 1902. Rather rare and breeding at Banff,
Rocky mountains; heard occasionally at Deer Park, Lower Arrow
lake, B.C., in June, 1890. Breeding in numbers on the rocks 700
feet above the Columbia at Robson, B.C., and west of Pass creek;
breeding on bare rocks without any sign of a nest. Eggs two.
The bird often flies in the daytime. Common at Sicamous, Kam-
loops and Spence Bridge. Observed at Chilliwack, B.C., and up
the river as far as Thurston’s; a summer resident on Vancouver
island; one seen on June 11th at Victoria, and first seen at Comox,
June 15th; on August ‘18th, 1893, saw a flock of at least 200 at
Sooke ; they appeared to be going southward. (Spreadborough.)
I have found this bird nesting throughout Saskatchewan and Alberta,
laying its two eggs on the ground in the poplar bluffs. (W. Raine.)
A summer resident in British Columbia; breeds on the mainland
and Vancouver island. (Fannin.) All specimens observed in the
mountains are referred here.

Some of the above references should doubtless be transferred to
sennetit.

420c. Sennett Nighthawk.

Chordetles virginianus sennettt (COUES) BISHOP. 1896.

Treeless region of the Great Plains from the Saskatchewan south-
ward to Texas. (Sup. VIII. to the A. O. U. Check-list.)

Our specimens have not been taken on the treeless plains and
though some of the references under C. virgintanus and henryi

358 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

probably refer to this form; our only specimen is one from Indian
Head, Sask.

Most of the specimens taken by us in southwestern Saskatchewan
were this form. None of the western form were taken and pro-
bably the bird taken June 5th and referred to wrginianus was
migrating. (A.C. Bent.)

FamMiIty XXXVI. MICROPODIDA. Swirrs.
CLXXVIII. CYPSELOIDES Srrevser. 1848.
422. Black Swift.

Cypseloides niger borealis (KENNERLY) DREW. 1885.

Sumas, British Columbia. (Lord.) A migrant in British Col-
umbia. (Fannin.) Abundant summer resident. (Brooks.) Ob-
served a number at Chilliwack, B.C., June 2nd, 1902; seen at Agas-
siz, B.C., May 19th, 1889; in great numbers at Douglas, B.C.; not
uncommon in the Skagit valley, B.C., saw four at an altitude of
6,000 feet, July 31st, 1905; first seen at Comox, Vancouver island,
June 15th, 1893, also at Nanaimo; only seen for a few days during
migration. (Spreadborough.)

First seen at Lulu island May 25th, and more seen on the 26th,
migrating leisurely. Frequently seen in great flocks on the Thomp-
son and over the lakes near Ashcroft. On the 7th of June, my
notes report ‘‘2,000 hovering low about a small lake,’ the only
chance I had to secure specimens. They remained there all that
day, but were gone the next day. Occasional flocks appeared at
Clinton, Lac la Hache, Ashcroft and Kamloops until June 12th.
They were again seen at Vernon, June 22nd. At no time did they
appear singly or in detached pairs. (Rhoads.)

CLXXIX. CHASTURA STEPHENS. 1825.
423. Chimney Swift,
Chetura pelagica (LINN.) STEPH. 1825.

One shot in 1863 near Sukkertop, Greenland. (Arct. Man.)
Apparently rare in Newfoundland, at least at Cow Head. (Reeks.)
An abundant summer resident in Nova Scotia. (Downs; Tufts.)

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 359

Baddeck and Margaree, Cape Breton island, July, 1898. Seen near
Brackley point, Prince Edward island; not common, June 23rd,
1888. (Macoun.) One reached Sable island, N.S., during a north-
west gale on September 30th, 1905, and another June 3rd 1906.
(J. Boutelier.) Rather rare and not often seen on Prince Edward
island. It usually nests in hollow trees. Not rare at Baddeck,
Cape Breton island. (Dwight.) A common summer resident in
New Brunswick. (Chamberlain.) A common summer resident
and breeds at Scotch Lake, York county, N.B. (W. H. Moore.)
Common in the Restigouche valley, N.B.; nesting in trees. (Brit-
tain and Cox.) Common summer resident in Quebec. (Dzonne.)
Numerous about Grenville and throughout the valley of the Rouge,
Argenteuil county, Que., 1856. (D’Urban.) Summer resident at
Montreal; abundant; breeds in the city, attaching their nests
against the inside walls of chimneys. (Winile.)

An abundant summer resident, breeding in immense numbers
in the great chimneys of the Parliament buildings. Early in May
they begin to arrive and by the end of the month they congregate
in thousands and late in the evening begin to descend in a constant
spiral stream into a large chimney in the western block. In the first
week of February, 1883, a chimney swift came down a chimney
in the house of Dr. J. F. Whiteaves, Assistant Director of the Geo-
logical Survey. It was caught and examined by him and remained
alive for several days. A similar instance is known to have occurred
in Toronto. (Ottawa Naturalist, Vol. V.) Common summer
resident at Toronto, Ont.; abundant in Muskoka and Parry Sound
districts. (J. H. Fleming.) A common resident throughout
western Ontario. (W. E. Saunders.) Common in Algonquin
park, Ont., some nesting in a chimney at Cache lake and others
in hollow trees; common at Missinabi, Ont., in June, 1904. (Spread-
borough.) Nesting on the inside wall of an outbuilding near the
railway station at Alymer, Ont. (A. G. Kingston.) Vol. V. of
The Ottawa Naturalist, pp. 89-104, contains a very complete des-
cription of the Ottawa colony of chimney swifts by Mr. A. G. King-
ston. The whole article should be read by those interested in this
bird.

A tolerably common summer resident in Manitoba, but dimin-
ishing westward. (E.7.Seton.) A common breeding species throughout
Manitoba and west to Edmonton, Alta., along the line of the G.T.P.

360 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA

Ry. Undoubtedly this bird must in cases resort, as it did previous
to settlement to caves and trees to nest as on several occasions it
was noted about our camp at dusk many miles from settlement.
(Atkinson.) Very rare at Aweme, Man. (Criddle.) Common at
Pembina, lat. 49°, and traced thence westward only to the Mouse
(Souris) river. (Coues.) A few seen at Indian Head, Sask., in
June, 1892. Two individuals seen at Edmonton, Alta., May 17th,
1897. (Spreadborough.)

BREEDING Nores.—Very common in summer, a few birds re-
maining until the end of September. It usually arrives from the
3rd to the 6th May. Its curious nest of sticks, glued together,
is well known. This is often placed in a disused chimney against
the woodwork of an empty house, and such like positions. (Rev.
C. J. Young.) Nest composed of small twigs of nearly uniform
size, which are interwoven into a neat semi-circular basket. Each
twig is firmly fastened to its fellow by saliva secreted by the bird.
Eggs five, pure white. (G. R. White.) The nest of this species is
occasionally found against the inner walls of outhouses and more
rarely in hollow trees in the woods, its former nesting place. (W.
E. Saunders.)

The houses outside of the large,towns at Cape Breton are generally
poorly supplied with chimneys. In fact, brick chimneys are rarely
seen, but small stovepipes are used. Chimney swifts, which are
common, have therefore to adapt themselves, and I was told that
it is usual for them to nest in barns and sheds. At French river
close to the sea, I observed on August 22nd a swift flying in and out
of a window in a small hay barn. Inside on the end wall opposite
the window and close under the apex of the rafters the nest was
fixed and it contained the half-grown young. The nest was a
rather bulky affair, made of spruce twigs, and the glue-like sub-
stance with which the twigs were stuck together was smeared like
varnish on the boards above and below the nest. Below the nest
was a large pile of droppings, as if the place had been used for several
years. This accumulation was added to from time to time by the
young, who carefully disposed themselves so as to avoid soiling
the nest. When the adult bird flew in with food, chirping loudly,
there was a loud reply from the young. The old bird generally
alighted on the wall below the nest, clinging in a vertical position,
and later fluttered up to the edge of the nest where it fed the young.

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 301

The shrill twittering of the young was almost deafening in the
small hay-loft. The next morning early I found both parents at
the nest, one on the wall, the other sitting on the nest, spreading
one wing at times, and brooding the young. (Dr. C. W. Townsend.)

424. Vaux Swift.
Chetura vauxit (Towns.) DEKay. 1844.

Only seen at Sumas, British Columbia. (Lord.) East and west
of the coast range, but not to my knowledge occurring on Van-
couver Island. (Fannin.) Summer resident at Chilliwack; com-
mon. (Brooks.) Seen above the station at Revelstoke, B.C.,
May 12th, 1890; rather common towards the end of May; common
at Deer park, Lower Arrow lake, and at Pass creek, near Robson,
Columbia river; seen at Kamloops and Sicamous and on Mount
Queest, Gold range, B.C., at an altitude of 6,000 feet, always flying
very high; common at Trail, near the international boundary, for
a few days in the spring of 1902; common at Chilliwack and along
that river to Chilliwack lake, B.C., June 1901; seen for the first time
at Comox, Vancouver Island, June 16th, 1893; after this they
became common; I believe they breed in the vicinity ; saw five
at Princeton, B.C., June roth, 1905, and found it to be common on
the Skagit river; first seen at Douglas, B.C., May 12th, 1906; quite
common a few days afterwards. (Spreadborough.) Arrived April
11th at Nisqually and May 13th at Goldstream, Vancouver island,
where it was an abundant migrant, associating at times with C. niger.
Seen at Lac la Hache, B.C., July 1st. (Rhoads.)

FamMILy XXXVII. TROCHILIDA, Humminceirps.
CLXXX. TROCHILUS Linnzvus. 1758.
428. Ruby-throated Hummingbird.
Trochilus colubris. LINN. 1758.

A single individual, a male, was seen within four feet of me July
17th, 1882, on the hill top (825 feet elevation) back of the station
at Davis inlet; Audubon states that few were seen by him in Labra-
dor. (Packard.) An abundant summer visitor in Nova Scotia;
comes when the red maple is in bloom. (Downs; Tufts.) Rather

362 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

common at Baddeck and other parts of Cape Breton island, August,
1898. (Macoun.) Not observed but undoubtedly occurs on Prince
Edward island. Mr. Earle showed mea stuffed specimen. (Dwight.)
An occasional summer resident at St. John, N.B. (Chamberlain.)
Summer resident but not common; breeds at Scotch Lake, York
county, N.B. (W. H. Moore.) Taken at Beauport; a common
summer resident in Quebec. (Dionne.) Seen from May 27th to
August r2th, 1858, in Argenteuil county, Que. (D’Urban.) Sum-
mer resident at Montreal; common. Breeds in the city gardens
and in Mount Royal park, but their nests are not often found on
account of their diminutiveness. On their arrival in Montreal in
spring the flowers of the wild gooseberry and lilac bushes are their
favourite resorts and later on they frequent horse-chestnut blossoms,
wild columbine and cultivated flowers. (Wintle.)

Common summer resident at Ottawa. ‘(Ottawa Naturalist, Vol. V.)
Common summer resident at Toronto, Ont.; plentiful during migra-
tion in Muskoka and Parry Sound districts; at Emsdale, the males
arrive soon after the 15th of May, the females a few days later; I
think some go further north but a great many remain to breed. (J.
H. Fleming.) Not common in Algonquin park, Ont., only three
observed from May 25th to June 17th, 1900. (Spreadborough.)
Common at Kew beach, Toronto. Several pairs visit my garden
every summer and feed on the flowers of the nasturtiums and
scarlet-runners. (W. Raine.) This species is a common summer
resident around Winnipeg and westward in diminishing numbers.
Macoun took it at the head of Lake Winnipegosis, August 16th,
1881. (E. T. Seton.) Tolerably common at Aweme, Man., possibly
breeding. (Criddie.) Quite a common breeder throughout the
settled parts of Manitoba. (Atkinsdn.) We obtained specimens
of this species on the plains of the Saskatchewan, and Mr. Drummond
found one of its nests near the source of the Athabaska river. This
nest was composed principally of the down of the anemone, bound
together with a few stalks of moss and bits of lichen. It ranges
in summer as far north as lat. 57° and may go even further. (Rich-
ardson.)

BREEDING Notes.—Generally distributed in Ontario ; breeds
commonly about the middle of June. One nest I saw was on the
outermost branch of a beech ; the eggs were destroyed by black-

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 363

birds and the nest torn down on July r2th. Another nest was on
a dead limb of a small hemlock. The nest, like the wood-pewee’s,
is built on the upper side of the limb. (Rev. C. J. Young.) A nest
taken at Ottawa was built on ahorizontal branch of a tree. It was
built of gray lichen lined with soft plant down. Eggs two, pure
white, blushed with pink. (G. R. White.)

Of three hummingbird’s nests I have found, one taken near
Ottawa on July 7th, 1890, was seen under exceptionally favourable
circumstances. My brother and I spent quite a long time watching
the tiny builder. The nest had not yet begun to show cupping,
and she was very busy; her absences were short and her visits
frequent; twenty or thirty seconds was often sufficient for her to
get a load, and she took only from ten to thirty seconds, usually
twenty, to finish working it in. The universal testimony seems to
be that, while the female is useful, the male is merely ornamental,
and takes no part whatever in the work; that was certainly the
fact in this instance. (W. E. Saunders in Ottawa Naturalist, Vol.
XVI, p. ror.) I have a hummingbird’s nest made of plant down
entirely ornamented with lichens. A crown of these lichens one-
third of an inch wide covers the brim. The cavity is all white and
its diameter is 0.90 of an inch with a depth of 0.50 of aninch. Out-
side it measures 1.25 inches in diameter and 1.50 inches in height.
I found it near Ottawa on the 29th July, 1906, built on the middle
of a horizontal branch of a beech tree at a height of fifteen feet.
Small pieces of shells were in the nest. (A. L. Garneau.)

429. Black-chinned Hummingbird.
Trochilus alexandrt Bourc. & MULs.

Confined to the mainland; on both slopes of the Coast range.
(Fannin.) Summer resident at Chilliwack; not common. (Brooks.)
This species was found in some abundance at Agassiz, B.C., in May,
1889, and a few at Spence bridge, B.C., on the mountain back from
the bridge. Saw several while at the Similkameen river, B.C., in
June, 1905. (Spreadborough.)

364 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA

CLXXXI. SELASPHORUS Swainson. 1831.
488. Rufous Hummingbird.
Selasphorus rufus (GMEL.) SWaINs. 1831.

This species was. discovered at Nootka sound by Captain Cook,
and I have before me one of the identical specimens. (Richardson.)
Common on Vancouver island and throughout British Columbia.
(Lord.) Moderately common everywhere in British Columbia.
(Streator.) West of the Coast range; an abundant summer resident;
the only one to my knowledge on Vancouver island. (Fannin.)
Common summer resident at Chilliwack. (Brooks.) This was a
common species at Banff, Rocky mountains, Alta., during the season
of 1891, breeding in numbers on the lower branches of the spruce,
especially about Vermilion lakes ; observed several in the Crow
Nest pass in August, 1897; first seen at Revelstoke, B.C., April 30th,
1890, after that date became very common and still very numerous on
May 30th, feeding on raspberry bushes; only occasionally seen at
Deer park and Robson, on the Columbia river, in June, 1890; quite
common on Mount Queest, Gold range, B.C., at an altitude of 6,500
feet, in August, 1889; not uncommon at Waterton lake, Alta., at
the eastern base of the Rocky mountains in July, 1895; very abun-
dant, May 24th, 1904, feeding on the flowers of a large Penstemon at
Elko, B.C.; rather common in 1905 along the Hope trail, and on the
mountains between the Skagit river and Chilliwack lake, B.C.; a
few seen at Chilliwack and McGuire ranch, Chilliwack river, B.C.,
June, 1901; a few seen near the international boundary between
Trail and Cascade; very abundant along Murphy Creek trail, just
north of Rossland, in July, 1902 ; first seen at Victoria, Vancouver
island, April 22nd, 1893, and common by the 25th; at this date
they were feeding in great numbers on the wild gooseberry @Ribes-
divaricatum); a summer resident throughout the island. (Spread-
borough.) Incredibly numerous on the coast during April migra-
tions; nesting at Nisqually while night frosts still lingered and mer-
cury averaged 45° to 50° during the day. Scarcely less common’
in many parts of the interior districts and found on the summits of
the highest mountains, including the Rockies; nests with eggs nearly
hatched found April 18th, 1892. (Rhoads.) On June rsth, 1893,
I found this species to be common along Vermilion lakes at Banff,

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 365

Rocky mountains; three specimens were shot and a nest was found
containing two eggs; the nest was attached to the branch of a
spruce tree seven feet from the ground. (W. Raine.) Mr. T. W.
Hanmore, who has been stationed at Tyonck, Cook inlet, Alaska,
for eleven years, says that he has seen hummingbirds there several
times. (Osgood.) One specimen seen on Eagle island, Lynn canal,
and one at Glacier, above Skagway, and a nest with two eggs taken.
One was seen at the west arm of Lake Bennett, about lat. 60°, B.C.,
on June 24th, 1899. (Bishop.)

This species is a summer resident at Sitka and beyond, thus
occurring far along the coast of the North Pacific. (Nelson.)
Tolerably common in the more open clearings about Sitka, Alaska,
and along the quiet shores of the secluded inlets. A nest with eggs
nearly hatched was found on June roth. It was five feet from the
ground on a horizontal branch of a fir tree. (Grinnell.)

434. Allen Hummingbird,
Selasphorus allent HENSH. 1877.

Eastern Coast range and Rocky mountain districts. (Fannzn.)
One specimen shot about six miles up Eagle pass, west from Revel-
stoke, B.C., May 25th, 1890; next day another specimen was taken
at Revelstoke; not uncommon at Sicamious, B.C., in July, 1889;
two seen at Penticton, B.C., May 1st, 1903. (Spreadborough.)
Breeding near 150-mile House, Cariboo district, B.C., 1901. (Brooks.)

CLXXXII STELLULA Gouvtp. 1861.
436, Calliope Hummingbird.
Stellula calliope GOULD. 1861.

Summit of Rocky mountains, altitude 7,000 feet. (Lord.) East
and west of Coast range. (Fannin.) Common at the Crow Nest
pass, Alta., in August, 1897; breeding in considerable numbers at
Banff, Rocky mountains, in June and July, 1891; while camped at
Deer park, Lower Arrow lake, Columbia river, B.C., in the early
part of June, 1890, I took seven specimens and they were so abun-
dant that many others could have been taken; they were not observ-
ed examining flowers but were seen perching on small trees and

366 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

chasing small flies and returning again to their perch just as small
flycatchers do; farther down the river at Robson this species was
quite rare; in May, 1889, it was not uncommon at Spence bridge,
at an altitude of 3,500 feet, and a number were taken; saw a num-
ber in a marsh in Depot creek, east side of Chilliwack lake, B.C.,
July, 1901; saw the first one in 1904 at Elko, B.C., May 2oth, they
soon became common; one seen at Sidley, B.C., May 25th, 1905;
observed at Trail and Cascade, B.C., near the international bound-
ary, in the summer of 1902. (Spreadborough.) A very few small
‘‘hummers” frequenting the interior and southern Rocky Mountain
districts, B.C., were probably S. calliope. (Rhoads.) Breeding in
the mountains west of Clinton, B.C., in 1901. (Brooks.)

BREEDING NoOTES.—We have in our museum one set of two eggs
taken at Elko station, on the Crow Nest Pass railway, B.C., June,
1900, by Mr. J. Keele. The nest differs from that of the rufous
hummingbird in being smaller and having less lichen on the outside.
It was fastened to the small twigs of a dead branch of a spruce tree.

ORDER PASSERES. PErcuHinG Brrps.
FaMIty XXXVIII. TYRANNIDAS. Tyrant FiycaTcHeErs.
CLXXXITI. MUSCIVORA LacépEpe.

443. Scissor-tailed Flycatcher.

Muscivora forficata. (GMEL.) OBERHOLSER. 1901.

The swallow-tailed flycatcher (Muscivora jforficata) is such a
characteristically southern bird that its accidental occurrence in
Manitoba is worthy of note. Last January I was shown a splendid
specimen taken at Portage la Prairie by Mr. Nash. He found it
lying dead on the prairie on the 20th October, 1884. Its stomach
was empty and the bird very emaciated, although in fine plumage.
On the previous night there was a sharp frost. In addition to this
record, I quote the following rather startling statement from the
report on the Hudson bay, by Professor Bell, of the Canadian Geo-
logical Survey, 1882. ‘‘But the most singular discovery in regard
to geographical distribution is the finding of the scissor-tail, or
swallow-tailed flycatcher (Muscivora forficata) at York Factory,
Hudson bay. The specimen in the Government museum was shot

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 307

at York Factory in the summer of 1880, and I have learned since
that these remarkable birds were occasionally seen at the posts of
the Hudson Bay Company, all the way west to the valley of the
Mackenzie river.” (E. T. Seton.) On July oth, 1899, the writer
was out in the country about 26 miles north of Winnipeg, and being
out for a walk about 5.30 a.m., noticed a bird with an enormous
tail (about twelve inches long) sitting on a bare limb of a poplar
tree about 100 yards from me. On closer inspection I found it to
be opening and closing its tail. I am quite sure it was a scissor-
tailed flycatcher. (L. Osborne Scott in Ottawa Naturalist, Vol. XIII,
Pp. 195.) This species was shot, May 21st, 1906, at Clarendon
station, N.B., by Mr. G. S. Lacey. (W.H. Moore.) The specimen
taken by Mr. C. W. Nash, in Manitoba, and referred to above is now
in the collection of Mr. J. H. Fleming, in Toronto, and Dr. Bell’s
specimen is in the Geological Survey Museum.

CLXXXIV. TYRANNUS. Cuvier. 1799
444. Kingbird.
Tyrannus tyrannus (LINN.) JORDAN. 1884.

Audubon (Vol. I., p. 207) found it breeding in Labrador.
(Packard.) A common summer resident in Newfoundland. (Reeks.)
Common summer resident in Nova Scotia, but rare at Halifax.
(Downs.) A common summer resident at Sydney, Cape Breton
island, N.B. (C.'R. Harte.) Fairly abundant from the middle of
May to the middle of September in Nova Scotia. (H. F. Tufts.) Not
rare at Baddeck and Margaree, Cape Breton island, July, 1898;
breeding and rather common at Brackley point, Prince Edward
island, 1888. (Macoun.) Rather common on Prince Edward
island, 1892. (Dwight.) An abundant summer resident in New
Brunswick. (Chamberlain.) Observed only at Point du Chéne,
in New Brunswick. (Brewster.) Common summer resident at
Scotch Lake, York county, N.B. (W. H. Moore.) Seen only in
the neighbourhood of houses; very rare in the valley of the Resti-
gouche, N.B. (Brittain & Cox.)

Only one specimen seen on the Magdalen islands. (Bishop.)
Taken at Beauport; a. common summer resident in. Quebec.
(Dionne.) Quite common at Bevin lake and Hamilton’s farm,

368 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

River Rouge, Argenteuil county, Que. (D’Urban.) Common sum-
mer resident in the Montreal district. (Wuntle.)

Common summer resident in the Ottawa district; breeds abun-
dantly. (Ottawa Naturalist, Vol. V.) Common summer resident
at Toronto, Ont.; abundant in the settled districts as a summer
resident in the Muskoka and Parry Sound districts. (J. H. Flem-
ing.) Common everywhere along the shores of the lakes in Algon-
quin park, Ont; a pair nested in a canoe birch overhanging the
water near the buildings at Cache lake; other birds were nesting
near them but were not interfered with. On the other hand they
allowed no other intruders around their tree and sat peacefully on
the tree or caught flies when necessary in the immediate vicinity.
One specimen seen at Albany, James bay, August 28th, 1904.
(Spreadborough.)

An extremely numerous summer resident wherever there are
trees throughout Manitoba. (E. T. Seton.) Common at the
Grand rapids of the Saskatchewan and at Chemawawin .(Nutting.)
Common at Aweme, Man., nesting principally in small oaks.
(Criddle.) First observed at Indian Head, Sask., May 27th, 1892;
after which they became common and a steady stream was seen
flying north on June end; very abundant all summer,
breeding in great numbers; in the summers of 18094
and 1895 this species was found in profusion throughout
the whole prairie region, and every piece of brush or
patch of rose bushes from Moose Jaw to the Rocky mountains
had one or more nests; first seen at Edmonton, Alta., on May 17th,
1897, common by the 19th, June roth, found a nest in a willow
about 12 feet from the ground, with three fresh eggs ; nest com-
posed of weeds lined with grass and horse hair; common in the
foothills southwest of Calgary in July ; common from Lesser Slave
lake to Peace river, Atha., in 1903; only two pairs were seen
at Banff, Rocky mountains in the summer of 1891; quite common
at Revelstoke, B.C., and at Deer park, Lower Arrow lake, and at
Robson in June, 1890; common at Trail and Cascade, B.C., in the
summer of 1902; common along the shores of Osoyoos lake and
the Similkameen river, B.C., in 1905; it was found more or less com-
mon all the way from Banff to the coast in 1889; common
at Chilliwack, B.C., in the spring of 1901; more seen in the

‘CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 369

autumn. (Spreadborough.) One specimen seen at Grand rapids
of the Athabaska. A few birds seen at north end of Methye portage,
lat. 56°. A few specimens between Methye lake and Isle a la Crosse.
(J. M. Macoun.) This well known bird is common on the banks of
the Saskatchewan, and ranges in stummer to lat. 57%, or
beyond it. (Richardson.) North to Fort Simpson on the Mac-
kenzie river; rare. (Ross.) Vancouver island and throughout
British Columbia. (Lord.) Abundant in the interior and decreas-
ing in numbers towards the coast. (Séreator.) East and west of
the coast range; more common on the mainland; a summer resident.
(Fannin.) Common summer resident at Chilliwack. (Brooks.)
Abundant in the interior of British Columbia. (Rhoads.)

BREEDING NoTes.—Common everywhere in Ontario. Its nest
is sometimes found as late as the middle of July with fresh eggs.
(Rev. C. J. Young.) I examined a nest of this bird June 3oth,
1880, which was built in a thorn bush in Mount Royal park. It
contained younglings covered with white down. Observed from
May 4th to August 22nd. (Wunile.) Nest found on Duck island
near Ottawa, Ont., 1st July, 1897, in a low bush, was composed of
fibrous roots and dried vegetable substances, lined with fine grass;
eggs four, creamy white, spotted and blotched with reddish and
dark brown spots. (G. R. White.) On July 21st, 1882, down by
the slough in a low bush, found a kingbird’s ‘nest. It was just
completed and contained no eggs yet. The king and his wife made
more fuss over my intrusion than most birds would have done had
the nest been full of young ones. Further on I found another nest
of this species. It was placed on top of a stub, about eight feet
high. The bird flew off. The nest was made of roots and fine
fibres and contained four eggs. One of them measured 1} by 3;
it was creamy white, with a few clear spots of brown and lavender,
inclined to form a wreath about the large end; the others were
similar; all were quite fresh. (E. T. Seton.) The kingbird breeds
in the low scrubby oak trees which cover the sand-hills in western
Manitoba, building, like the shrike, a nest consisting largely of the
stalks of a species of Gnaphalium. After the young are able to fly
they often live around the settler’s houses on the open prairie, but
about the end of August they all leave. (Christy.) Extremely
numerous at Pembina, where many nests were taken after the
middle of June, and traced westward as far as the survey progressed

24

370 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

that year. One of the nests (3062) was placed on a rail fence, in
the crotch formed by the post. In the Missouri region, it was equally
abundant from Fort Buford to near the headwaters of the Milk
river. Many nests containing two to four eggs were taken the
latter part of June and early in July. One of these was particu-
larly interesting, showing that the summer warbler is not the only
species that gets rid of the obnoxious eggs of the cow-bird by build-
ing a second story to the nest, and thus leaving the alien eggs to
addle in the basement below. A nest taken near Frenchman river
containing two eggs seemed to be a curiously built affair, and on
examining it closely I found the wrong egg embedded in its sub-
stance below the others (No. 4185.) The kingbird is not so much
attached to woodland as has been supposed. I saw great numbers
whilst travelling by rail on the prairies of Minnesota and Dakota,
where it seemed to be as much at home as anywhere. All things
considered, it may be rated as one of the most abundant and generally
diffused species of the whole region under consideration. (Coues.)
The nests of this species are usually built in an apple-tree in some
orchard, and are constructed of dried grasses, weed stems, wool and
hair. Wool is the most conspicuous article used in building. One
nest observed was within three feet of the ground, being situated in
a small apple-tree and was plainly exposed, there being nothing
whatever to conceal it. (W. H. Moore.)

Abundant everywhere in Manitoba and the west. I have found
their nests in the heavy woods, the scrub, under bridges and culverts,
under eaves, on fence-post tops and on rail-fence joints. On one
occasion I almost ran my boat over a bird sitting on a nest which
had been built too close to the water line in the overhanging willows,
on the Assiniboine river, and the water having risen until the nest
was almost afloat. On a stretch of prairie country northwest of
Carberry I discovered a female on a nest built in the slenderest wolf
willow, only about two feet from the ground, the leaves dwarfed
and blistered by the heat affording no hide or cover for bird or
nest. In this case, she almost allowed me to place my hand upon
her before she left the nest. (Atkinson.)

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 371
445. Gray Kingbird.
Tyrannus dominicensis (GMEL.) RICHARDSON. 1837.

One specimen taken at Cape Beale (west coast of Vancouver
island), September 29th, 1889, by Miss Cox, and presented to the
museum at Victoria. (Fannin.)

447, Arkansas Kingbird.
Tyrannus verticalis Say. 1823.

Two specimens of this species, an adult and one in first plumage,
were taken by Mr. D. Losh Thorpe, at Souris coalfields, August 20th,
1891, a little west of Manitoba. (EF. T. Seton.) Not quite so
common as the kingbird in the timber on Skull and Maple creeks,
Sask. (A.C. Bent.) Observed at Old Wives creek, Sask., its most
eastern limit as far as my observation goes, on May 26th, 1895; also
at Medicine Hat, Sask., in May, 1894 ; nesting both at Medicine Hat
and Crane lake; quite common at Castellated Rocks, near the West
Butte, on Milk river, in July, 1895, and westward to the: Rocky
mountains; breeding in great numbers in southern Alberta; one pair
seen on the Columbia river, about eight miles below Deer park,
B.C., June 18th, 1890; observed one at Meyer creek, B.C., May 11th,
1905, common along the shores of Osoyoos lake and Similkameen
river later in the month; first seen at Penticton, B.C., April 26th,
1903; not rare at Trail and Cascade, B.C., in the summer of 1902;
taken at Sicamous, Kamloops and Agassiz in 1889; one pair seen
at Chilliwack, B.C., May 27th, 1901. (Spreadborough.) This species
finds its northern limit in British Columbia, a few miles south of
Clinton. It ranges east in the breeding season to the Selkirk moun-
tains. I did not find it on the coast. (Rhoads.) Vancouver island
and throughout British Columbia. (Lord.) Not common on the
coast, but more abundant in the interior. (Streator.) East and
west of Coast range, but chiefly on the mainland; found breeding
at Ashcroft. (Fannin.) Summer resident; tolerably common at
Chilliwack. (Brooks.)

‘BREEDING Notes.—In the Red river region T. carolinensis Alone
represents the genus; but throughout the Upper Missouri and Milk

river country the two are found together, and it is hard to say which
2434

372 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

is the most numerous. They have much the same general habits
and often associate intimately together; indeed, I have known one
tree to contain nests of both species. The cries of verticalis are
louder and harsher, with less of a sibilant quality, than those of the
-kingbird; but there is little else to note as different. The nests of
the verticalis are bulky and conspicuous, all the more easily found
because the bird has a way of leaving the general woods of the river
bottom to go up to the ravines that make down from the hillsides,
and there nest on some isolated tree, miles away, perhaps, from any
landmark. Taking nests of both species at the same time, I found
that those of vertecalis were generally distinguishable by their larger
size and softer make, with less fibrous and more fluffy material; but
the eggs, if mixed together, could not be separated with any cer-
tainty. The sets of eggs taken during the latter part of June con-
sisted of from three to six. Eggs were found as late as the second
week of July. The nests were placed in trees at a height of from five
or six to forty or fifty feet, generally in the crotch of a horizontal
limb, at some distance from the main trunk; but in one case a nest
was placed in the crotch which the first large bough made with the
trunk. In one case a pair of the flycatchers built in the same tree
that contained the nest of Swainson’s buzzard, and both kinds of
birds were incubating at peace with each other, if not with all the
world, when I came along to disturb them. In another one they
nested with a pair of kingbirds. The birds display admirable-
courage in defence of their homes, losing in their anxiety all sense
of danger to themselves. (Coues.)

CLXXXV. MYIARCHUS Casanis. 1844.
452. Crested Flycatcher.
Mytarchus crinitus (LINN.) LIcHT. 1854.

Have observed this species at Scotch Lake, York co., N.B., in
August; they seemed to be migrating in families. (W. H. Moore.)
Taken near Woodstock, N.B., by Mr. Purdie, in 1878. (Chamber-
lain.) Rare summer resident in woods near Quebec. (Dzonne.)
Common summer resident in the district of Montreal. (Wvnile.)
A common summer resident in the Ottawa district. (Ottawa
Naturalist, Vol. V.) Regular migrant and summer resident at
Toronto, Ont. Reported as common at Beaumaris, on May 12th,

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 373

1898, by Mr. Taverner; I believe it will be found distributed over
both Muskoka and Parry Sound districts in summer. (J. H.
Fleming.) A common summer resident at London and in Bruce
co., Ont. (W. E. Saunders.)

A very rare summer resident of thick woods in Manitoba and
northwest to Lake Winnipegosis, where Macoun shot it in 1881;
there are also three specimens in the museum at Winnipeg, taken
by Hine. (E. T. Seton.) A fairly abundant breeding species
along the thickly wooded banks of the Assiniboine river, Man.;
observed as far north in this province as Fort Ellice, not seen west
of Fort Ellice. (Atkinson.) Rare at Aweme, Man.; nests in holes,
usually the deserted nest of a flicker. (Criddle.)

BREEDING Notes.—One of those birds that within the last fifteen
years are certainly becoming commoner in Ontario. They are
numerous in the vicinity of Kingston and on Wolfe island. A curi-
ous breeding habit is the use of snake skins in the nest, which @
always placed in the hole of a tree. I never saw a nest without
pieces of snake skin. They commence to lay about the 1st of June,
and are by no means rare now, 1901. (Rev. C. J. Young.) This
large flycatcher has the peculiar habit of placing around the edge
of its nest the cast-off skin of a snake, which is probably done to
protect its nest from squirrels taking possession of the hollow wherein
the nest is built, as, no doubt, the sight of a snake’s skin coiled up
would scare that little animal away. I have shot specimens of this
species in the months of May and August, and noticed the plumage
very fine in the latter month. Observed from May 8th to August
28th. (Wintle.) Found this species nesting at Rice lake, Ont.,
June 16th, 1902. (W. Raine.) Nests quite frequently at Ottawa,
Ont. Nest is generally built in a hole in a tree about ten feet or more
from the ground, where a large branch has been blown off. The
nest is composed of straw, leaves, rootlets and vegetable matter,
lined with feathers and pieces of snake skin. Eggs, four to five,
light buffy brown, streaked lengthwise by lines and markings of
purplish and dark brown. A nest found on May 2nd had the young
half-grown. (G. R. White.) A nest with four eggs was taken near
Toronto, Ont., by Mr. W. Raine, May 25th, 1895. It was in a hole
in a poplar, fifteen feet from the ground.

374 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
CLXXXVI. SAYORNIS Bonaparte. 1854.
456. Phoebe.
Sayornis phebe (LATH.) STEJN. 1885.

A summer migrant in Newfoundland but not common. (Reeks.)
One pair seen near Dominion mine, Sydney, Cape Breton island,
N.S., August 3oth, 1901. (C. R. Harte.) A common summer
resident in New Brunswick. (Chamberlain.) A rare spring migrant
at Scotch Lake, York county, N.B. (W.H. Moore.) An irregular
summer visitor at Beauport, Que. (Dzonne.) A common summer
resident at Montreal. Breeds in Mount Royal park. Nests with
eggs found from May 17th to June gth. Observed from April 3rd
to October 8th. (Winile.) Common summer resident in the
Ottawa district; usually building its nest close to houses or on the
veranda. (Ottawa Naturalist, Vol. V.) Abundant summer resi-
dgnt in Muskoka and Parry Sound districts. (J. H. Fleming.)
One specimen observed at Dog lake, northern Ontario, May 30th,
1896. (Spreadborough.) Very common everywhere in Ontario
and one of the first arrivals in spring, when the weather is still cold.
(Rev. C. J. Young.) Rare summer resident in Manitoba, one or
two pairs seen each season; usually nests under bridges at Winnipeg;
tolerably common (apparently?) as far west as Qu’Appelle. (See
E. T. Seton, p. 560.) Spreadborough spent a summer at Indian
Head, about ten miles south of Qu’Appelle, and never saw or heard
one, and I am led to believe that the pair noted at Qu’Appelle and
at Oak point, Lake Manitoba, was Contopus virens and not Sayornis
phebe as the observer thought. (Macoun.) Apparently not com-
mon at the Grand rapids of the Saskatchewan; only one specimen
secured. (Nutting.) A pair had a nest beneath the wharf at Nor-
way House, Keewatin, and several more nests were observed on
June 28th, as we were passing through Hell Gate. The nests were
placed on the cliffs overhanging the water. (Preble.)

First saw one April 19th, 1897, at Edmonton, Alta., next on May
7th, nesting under a bridge, nest built of weeds and moss, lined with
grass and horse hair, rather bulky. On June 2nd, found a nest with
five eggs in a coal-shed. (Spreadborough.) First noticed at Atha-
baska Landing 23rd May, 1888. The commonest bird up the Atha-
baska to Lesser Slave river. Eggs had been incubated about a

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. ; 375

week on June ist. Common up the Clearwater river, about lat.
56° 30’, and not rare on Methye portage; common between Methye
lake and Isle a la Crosse. (J. M. Macoun.)

BREEDING Notes.—Nest found 21st June at Lac des Isles, built
on the end of a fallen tree overhanging the water, composed of mud,

grass and moss, lined with fine grass and feathers; eggs, five, white.
(G. R. White.)

457. Say Phoebe,

Sayorms saya (Bonap.) Barrp. 1858.

One specimen was observed at Indian Head, Sask., on May 2oth,
1892, which was the only one seen; not uncommon at Medicine Hat
and Crane lake, Sask., June, 1894; at Crane lake a pair built a nest
on the veranda of. the farm house just as the phcebe does in the
east, and another pair built their nest on a pole passing through the
horse corall; in June, 1895, a pair was observed in the ‘‘Bad Lands”
south of Wood mountain; and westward in the Milk River valley
they were quite numerous, breeding on the ledges in the cliffs; a
pair was seen at Banff, Rocky mountains, Alta., in 1891; a few
individuals seen at Edmonton, Alta., in May, 1897; not rare in the
foot-hills from Calgary to Crow Nest pass; not uncommon at Sica-
mous, Kamloops, and Spence bridge, B.C., 1889; only two specimens
seen on Stubbs island, Barclay sound,Vancouver island, August 25th,
1893. (Spreadborough.) One individual appeared at Carlton House
on the 13th May, when it settled on a low garden fence, flitting from
place to place when disturbed; it was soon obtained and a female
was shot afterwards. (Richardson.) North to Fort Simpson, on
the Mackenzie river; rare. (Ross.) Several specimens of this bird
were brought to me from Fort Reliance, on the Upper Yukon, in
lat. 66°. (Nelson.) This species was noted at Glacier in the White
pass, on the mountain side at Bennett, at Fort Selkirk, at Stewart
river, at Charlie river, Yukon district, and at Circle City, in Alaska,
in 1899. (Bishop.) British Columbia. (Lord.) Common in the
interior; abundant during the migrations. (Streator.) East and
west of coast range; but chiefly on the mainland; summer resident.
(Fannin.) Rare migrant at Chilliwack. (Brooks.) Not common;
same distribution as Tyrannus verticalis. (Rhoads.)

376 : GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

BREEDING NoTEs.—Nests quite commonly in Saskatchewan, build-
ing its nest on rafters in barns and laying four white eggs. (W.
Raine.) May 27th, 1894, at Medicine Hat, found nest in the unfin-
ished Industrial school. The nest was very compact, composed of
fine grass, weeds, wool, cotton and a few feathers. Eggs, five, pink
before being blown, white afterwards. (Spreadborough.) A nest
was taken at Fort Saskatchewan, Alta., by Mr. John Callaghan, May
3rd, 1898. It was made of roots, and moss lined with feathers and
was built in a stable.

CLXXXVII. NUTTALLORNIS Rweway. 1887.
459. Olive-sided Flycatcher.
Nuttallornis borealts (SWAINS.) OBERHOLSER. 1899.

One shot at Nenortatik, Greenland, 29th August, 1840, and sent
to Copenhagen. (Arct. Man.) Audubon, Vol. I., p. 252, records
it from the coast of Labrador. (Packard.) One observed on Moos€
river, near Moose Factory, James bay, June 4th, 1896. (Spread-
borough.) A common summer resident in Nova Scotia. (Downs.)
Rather common at Baddeck and Margaree, Cape Breton island,
N.S.; July, 1898; breeding in woods at Brackley point, Prince
Edward island, July, 1888. (Wacoun.) One specimen was ob-
served at Souris, Prince Edward island. Prof. Earle was familiar
with it. (Dwight.) A common summer resident in New Bruns-
wick. (Chamberlain.) Summer resident at Scotch Lake, York
county, N.B.; but not common; members of the same family keep
together when going south. (W H. Moore.) Common in the
Restigouche valley, N.B. (Brittain @ Cox.) A single specimen
noted at Plaster cove, Cape Breton island, on June 23rd. (Brewster.)
Common summer resident in Quebec. (Dionne.) A scarce summer
resident at Montreal. Breeds in Mount Royal park; arrives about
May 8th and leaves about August 2oth. (Wintle.) .

A summer resident in the Ottawa district, but rare. (Ottawa
Naturalist, Vol. V.) Rare at Toronto; but common in Muskoka and
Parry Sound districts. In the spring of 1894 I found this flycatcher
not uncommon in the country between Kearney and Sand lake ;
they frequented the tops of the very tallest dead trees. (J. H.
Fleming.) Quite an uncommon bird at Toronto. I took one on

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 377

August 17th, 1897, and saw one during the past fall (1900); two
were taken at Port Credit, 27th August, 1894, by Mr. Massey; I
have seen three or four other specimens during the last four or five
years. (J. Hughes-Samucl.) A very rare summer migrant near
London, Ont., but a common breeder in North Bruce. (W. E.
Saunders.) Abundant and breeding everywhere in swamps in Algon-
quin park, Ont., June, 1900. Common along the Missinabi and
Moose rivers in June ,1904. (Spreadborough.) Observed but once,
on July 4th, 1900, in a swamp bordering Trout river, between
Oxford House and Knee lake, Keewatin. (Preble.)

A common summer resident of woodlands throughout northern
Manitoba. On July 26th, 1883, in the tamarack swamp beyond the
spruce bush I noticed a very noisy flycatcher; its note was loud, and
its habits were much like those of the great crested flycatcher.
After some trouble, for it was very shy, and kept chiefly among the
topmost branches of certain dead trees, I succeeded in getting it.
It proved to be a male olive-sided flycatcher; length seven inches;
stomach full of flies. (E£. T. Seton.) One specimen seen at Indian
Head, Sask., 1892; from mouth of Lesser Slave river to the Peace
river, Alta., in 1903; common at Banff, Rocky mountains, Alta., in
1891, where it was breeding in numbers; in the spring of 1890 it was
common at Revelstoke and west to Eagle pass where they were
breeding; this species was also common at Deer Park, Lower Arrow
lake; and Robson, Columbia river, where they had young; common
on the International Boundary between Trail and Cascade, but
rarer west to Princeton, B.C. ; at Sicamous and Spence Bridge high
up on the mountains in 1889; not common in the Chilliwack valley
in 1901 and 1906 but seen in several places; a summer resident
throughout Vancouver island ; quite common in burnt forest. (Spread-
borough.) Only one specimen of this species was procured. It was shot
on the banks of the Saskatchewan as it was flying near the ground.
(Richardson.) North to Fort Resolution on Great Slave lake; rare.
(Ross.) One specimen shot at Athabaska river, a short distance above
Grand Rapids, June, 1888. (J. M. Macoun.) A single specimen of this
bird was brought to me from the lower Yukon in lat. 63°, and is the
only instance of its capture on record in Alaska. (Nelson.) A
specimen from Fort Kenai, Cook inlet, is in the National Museum at
Washington. It isan adult male taken by Bischoff, May 26th, 1869.

378 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

(Osgood.) At Six-mile river I took a female of this species and
heard it at Bennett and shot one, but not found at Caribou Crossing,
B.C., about lat. 60°. (Bishop.) British Columbia. (Lord.) A not
uncommon and generally distributed summer resident. (Streator.)
East and west of Coast range; a common summer resident. (Fan-
nin.) Summer resident at Chilliwack; not common. (Brooks.)
Breeding at high altitudes in the Rocky mountain and east Coast
range districts of B.C. (Rhoads.)

BREEDING NoTEs.—Rare in the counties of Leeds, Renfrew, etc.
In the county of Leeds I twice identified this bird. As this was in
the summer, it may occasionally breed, as it is reported to do on
Mount Royal near Montreal. (Rev. C. J. Young.) On June 20th,
1893, at Long lake, Manitoba, I found a nest and two eggs of this
bird. The nest was like a large wood pewee’s and saddled on to
the limb of a tree eight feet from the ground. (W. Raine.)

CLXXXVIII MYIOCHANES Casanis anp HEINE. 1859.
461. Wood Pewee.
Mytochanes virens (LINN.) RipGw. 1907.

Audubon, Vol. I., p. 233, records it (probably erroneously) from
Labrador. (Packard.) Iam inclined to believe that this is the bird
that Mr. Reeks names Sayornis phebe and also the same that Mr.
Turner referred to, and that Mr. Packard is in error in referring it
to Contopus richardsonit. (Macoun.)

Common summer resident in Nova Scotia. (Downs; Tufts.) Shot
in Brackley Point woods, Prince Edward island, August 22nd, 1888.
(Macoun.) Not common, though now and then met with in certain
localities on Prince Edward island. (Dwight.) Common summer
resident in New Brunswick. (Chamberlain.) Tolerably common
summer resident at Scotch Lake, York county, N.B. Nests built
on horizontal limbs from 10 to 50 feet from the ground. (W. H.
Moore.) Heard in the valley of the Restigouche, N.B. (Brittain &
Cox.) Summer resident in Quebec. (Dionne.) Common summer
resident around Montreal; breeds in Mount Royal park. (Wintle.)

Common summer resident in the Ottawa district. (Ottawa Natur-
alist, Vol. V.) A summer resident at Toronto, Ont.; a common

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 379

breeding species in Muskoka and Parry Sound districts. (J. H.
Fleming.) Rather rare in Algonquin park, Ont. ; only a few speci-
mens seen in two months in 1900. (Spreadborough.) The most
common flycatcher in the country regions of southwestern Ontario
with the exception of the kingbird. (W.E. Saunders.) A tolerably
common summer resident of woods in the vicinity of Winnipeg, but
more abundant to the north. (£. T. Seton.) Only noticed at Pem-
bina (lat. 49°), which is probably at or near its northwestern limit.
(Coues.) This is the pewee of the deeper woods and is a regular
breeding species on the banks of the Assiniboine river as far west as
Fort Ellice, Man. (Atkinson.)

BREEDING NoTEes.—Quite common in beech and maple groves in
the county of Leeds, Ont., and around Kingston. I have frequently
seen the nest, sometimes as late as July 15th, usually on the upper
side of a bough of a beech tree, but occasionally ona maple. I never
saw more than three eggs in a nest, several times only two. (Rev.
C. J. Young.) Mr. A. C. McKeand found'a nest of this flycatcher
containing three eggs, June 26th, 1885, in Mount Royal park; the
nest was attached to the fork of a small horizontal branch of a tree
growing on the top of the mountain. The nest of this bird is a
difficult one to discover as it is generally built upon a thick horizontal
branch. (Wuntle.) This species breeds at Kew beach, Toronto. It
seldom lays more than three eggs in a beautifully built nest, exter-
nally covered with pieces of lichen after the manner of the ruby-
throated hummingbird. (W. Raine.) This nest is placed on a
branch where it looks like a knot, or at the end of it on the twigs.
It is made of threads of bark, fine grass, pine or hair, held together
by spiders’ webs, the exterior and brim being covered with lichens,
Outside diameter 3 inches; inside diameter 2-2} inches by 3-2 of an
inch in depth. I have found them in maples, oaks, elms and coni-
ferous trees at an elevation varying from 5 to 50 feet. They con-
tained two or three eggs. On the 3rd of July, 1897, I found a nest
with young birds, and on the 21st two new eggs were in this nest.
I took three eggs from it on the 26th. (A. L. Garneau.)

462. Western Wood Pewee.

Mytochanes richardson (SWAINS.) RIDGW. 1907.

Audubon, Vol. I., p. 220, states that he found it breeding in
Labrador. (Packard.) A tolerably common summer resident in

380 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

woods and bluffs. This species commonly frequents the open woods
and willow thickets while virens seems to keep to the heavier, thicker
timber. (E.T. Seton.) This species was found in the neighborhood
of Cumberland House, on the Saskatchewan, frequenting moist,
shady woods by the banks of the rivers and lakes. It probably
extends its summer range to the shores of Great Slave lake. (Richard-
son.) Fairly common in Manitoba breeding in willow thickets.
(Creddle.) More common than the preceding species in western
Manitoba and seen as far west as Battle river, Alta. (Atkinson.)
Dr. Bishop took an adult male in the Cypress hills, Sask., July 27th,
1906. (A.C. Bent.) First observed in 1892 at Indian Head, Sask.,
on May 26th; a few were seen after this but they never became
common; common from Lesser Slave lake to the Peace river, Alta. ;
quite common at Banff, Rocky mountains, in the summer of 1891;
quite common and breeding in low woods at Revelstoke, B.C.; Deer
park, Lower Arrow lake and Pass creek, Columbia river, B.C.;
nests usually placed on the limb of a spruce tree in the fork of the
branch; tolerably common throughout British Columbia from Revel-
stoke westward on the line of the Canadian Pacific Railway to
Sicamous, Spence Bridge and Agassiz; common everywhere near the
International Boundary between Trail and Cascade, B.C., in 1902, at
Elko in 1904 and Midway in 1905; seen at Chilliwack, B.C., and at
several places on the Chilliwack river, B.C.; first seen near Victoria,
Vancouver island, May 19th, 1893; a common summer resident; saw
them later in the season at Comox. (Spreadborough.) One female
secured July rst, 1898, at Point Barrow, Alaska. (Witmer Stone.)
North to Fort Simpson, on the Mackenzie river; rare. (Ross.)
British Columbia. (Lord.) Not common on the coast but abundant
in the interior; breeds. (Streator.) A common summer resident
east and west of the Coast range. (Fannin.) Common summer
resident at Chilliwack. (Brooks.) Not abundant but represented in
all localities visited in British Columbia. (Rhoads.) Specimens
were taken at Haines Mission and Skagway, Lynn canal ; in the

Yukon valley, from Windy island, Lake Tagish to Little Salmon.
It was more common at Miles cafion than elsewhere on the Yukon,

and here I found an unfinished nest which resembled that of richard-
sont, in the fork of a dead poplar about 10 feet from the ground.
It was also seen 12 miles above Circle City, Alaska. (Bishop.)
This form has been named ‘Alaska Wood Pewee.”

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 381

CLXXXIX. EMPIDONAX Casanis. 1855.

463. Yellow-bellied Flycatcher.

Empidonax flaviventris Batrp. 1858.

Two received from Godthaab in Greenland in 1853. (Arct. Man.)
Apparently a common summer migrant in Newfoundland. (Reeks.)
‘Iwo specimens were seen on the Humber river, Newfoundland, on
August 15th, 1899. (L. H. Porter.) Several seen on Sable island,
N.S., June 8th, 1904, and one seen, June 20th, 1907. (/. Boutelier.)
A common summer resident in Nova Scotia. (Downs.) Fairly
common in dense woods at Wolfville, N.S., during the summer.
(H. F. Tufts.) Found only at Tignish, Prince Edward island; in small
numbers. Observed in small numbers at Baddeck, Cape Breton
island. (Dwight.) A common summer resident in New Brunswick.
(Chamberlain.) Rather common at Ellis bay, Anticosti, about the
edges of the woods. (Brewster.) I noticed this bird on the Mag-
dalen islands in 1897, and on the 13th June of that year one came
on board the steamer I was on, when off the Gaspé coast. I have not
seen it in Ontario. (Rev. C. J. Young.) Common at Lake Mistas-
sini, Qué, and breeds. (/. M. Macoun.) Taken at Beauport ; a common
summer resident in Quebec. (Dionne.) A rather scarce summer
resident in the Montreal district. I have not found a nest of this
species here yet but have shot several specimens of the bird. (Winile.)

A rare summer resident in the Ottawa district; a nest of this species
was taken at Chelsea, Que., in June, 1897. (Ottawa Naturaltst,
Vol. V.) Regular migrant at Toronto, usually not very common;
a common and widely distributed species, breeding in Muskoka and
Parry Sound districts. (J. H. Fleming.) I usually see one or more
of this species at Toronto during the spring and fall migrations.
while here they are very shy. On following one I usually find the
bird making a series of quiet disappearances. (J. Hughes-Samuel.)
Not observed to breed near London, Ont., but Dr. P. J. Scott found
a nest near Southampton. I found this species, evidently breeding,
in the Bruce peninsula where it was rare. (W.E. Saunders.) Sum-
mer resident in woodlandsin Manitoba. Duck mountain, June 11th,
1884, shot a flycatcher that was continually uttering a note like
“che-blick’’; it was all over of a greenish colour, but yellow on the

382 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

belly; it answers fairly well to the description of flaviveniris, but it
is very like an Acadian shot yesterday; evidently the species is
breeding here. (E. T. Seton.) Only one specimen at the Grand
rapids of the Saskatchewan. (Nuiting.) A regular migrant in
Manitoba and noted during the summer at the northern ends of
lakes Manitoba and Winnipegosis and about Cedar lake and the
mouth of the Saskatchewan river where it evidently breeds in the
spruce and moss-covered districts. (Atkznson.)

BREEDING NoTEes.—On May 23rd, 1893, at Oak lake, Manitoba,
found a nest of this species with four eggs. It was built on a mossy
log three feet from the ground in a swampy thicket. (W. Raine.)

464. Western Flycatcher.

‘Empidonax difficilis difficilis BatrD. 1858.

Taken at Banff, Rocky mountains, June, 1903. (W. E. Saun-
ders.) One seen at Penticton, B.C., April 27th, 1903, and several
at Douglas, B.C., May, 1906; abundant at Agassiz, B.C., in May,
1889; a nest was taken that was placed on a rocky ledge in a cool
retired place not far from a farmhouse; it was also common at Port
Heney and Hastings, Burrard inlet ; taken at Chilliwack and McGuire
ranch, B.C., June, 1901; first seen at Victoria, Vancouver island,
‘April 26th, 1893; soon after they became common; they were also
abundant at Nanaimo, Comox, Sooke and Stubbs island, Barclay
sound. (Spreadborough.) Rather common but shy and difficult to
secure; two males were taken at Cumshewa inlet, Queen Charlotte
islands. (Osgood.) A single specimen taken by Dr. Bean on June
5th, 1880, at Sitka is the only record of its capture in Alaska, but as
others were seen it is doubtless a summer resident. (Nelson.)
Common throughout the deep forests which border the streams
near Sitka, Alaska. A female was taken, June 30th, which con-
tained an egg ready to be laid. (Grinnell.) Common in the coast
region and more so in the interior; breeds. (Streator.) A common
summer resident east and west of Coast range. (Fannin.) Com-
mon summer resident at Chilliwack. (Brooks.) Mr. Streator says
that this species while ‘‘common in the coast region is more so in
the interior.”” Not only is this disproved by the specimens taken
by him but by my own skins, all of which came from west of the
Coast range. (Rhoads.) Common at the Grand rapids of the Sas-

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 393

katchewan in the dead timber of the muskeg. Three specimens.

secured, (Nutting.) Nutting’s specimens were probably E. flavi-
ventris.

465. Green-crested Flycatcher,
Empidonax virescens (VIEILL.) BREWSTER. 1895.

The published records all refer to the alder flycatcher but I took
what I believe was this species once at Toronto, Ont.; the specimen
was lost, however, by the taxidermist who skinned it. (J. H.
Fleming.) ,

466. Traill Flycatcher.

\

Empidonax traillit trail (AuD.) BANGS. 1903.

I found this species common at Pembina, like minimus, during
the first week in June, but did not observe it later than the oth
of that month. (Cowes.) Summer resident in woodlands, breeding
freely in the northern part of the province of Manitoba. (E£. T. Seton.)
Rare at Aweme, Man. (Criddle.) It is found in low damp ground
in willow and alder swamps, and was noted regularly in such
places between Portage la Prairie, Man., and Battle river, Alta.
along the line of the G.T.P. Ry. in 1906. (Atkinson.) Very common
at Chemawawin, Sask., especially in the trees bordering a slough,
where they seemed to have excellent hunting. They perched on
the lowest branches and bushes, and evidently lived on the insects.
flying over the water. None were secured at Grand Rapids, where
it is replaced by minimus. (Nutting.) A few were seen at Indian
Head, Sask., on June 6th, 1892; after this they became common
and nested in the woods at Deep lake; not uncommon at Old Wives.
creek, Sask. in May, 1895, a pair was shot on the 25th of May;
quite common at Banff, Rocky mountains and breeding freely in
1891; common at Revelstoke and Deer Park, B.C., in June, 1890;
taken at Kamloops, B.C. in June, 1889, and at Sicamous, Enderby
and Spence Bridge; and also at Chilliwack and MtGuire ranch,.
B.C., June, 1901; in 1902 they were seen at Trail, B.C.; common
at Elko, B.C., May, 1904; one pair seen at Osoyoos lake, B.C., 1905;
common on Vancouver island in 1893, when specimens were taken.
(Spreadborough.) North to Fort Resolution on Great Slave lake;.

384 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

but rare. (Ross.) Little is known respecting the habits of this
bird. It was first seen by us at Carlton House, on the Saskatche-
wan, on the roth May, flitting about for a few days among the low
bushes on the banks of the river, after which it retired to the moist,
shady woods lying to the north. (Richardson.) North to Fort
Simpson on the Mackenzie river; rare. (Ross.) A summer resident
at Chilliwack. Breeding birds taken at Quesnel, B.C., in 1901 were
closer to alnorum than to typical traillii; the later is the species
breeding in the southern portion of the district. (Brooks.) Much
more common in the interior than on the coast of British Columbia;
breeds. We place ali Mr. Rhoads’ specimens collected at Ashcroft,
Lac la Hache, Vernon and Lulu island, though named by him E.
pusillus, under this species. . (Streator.)

A single male of this wide-spread little species was brought to me
from Nulato in the spring of 1878, and a second specimen was secured
at St. Michael the same season. (Nelson.)

Most of the prairie references above should doubtless go to alnorum.
466a. Alder Flycatcher.
Empidonax traillid alnorum BREWST. 1895.

Not a very common summer migrant in Newfoundland; fre-
quents woods in the neighbourhood of houses. (Reeks.) A rather
common summer resident in Nova Scotia. (Downs; Tufts.) Com-
mon in margins of woods at Baddeck and Margaree, Cape Breton
island, July, 1898; one taken at Mount Stewart, Prince Edward
island, July 11th, 1888. (Macoun.) A few seen at Tignish, Prince
Edward island, in their favourite haunts, the alders. (Dwight.)
An uncommon summer resident in New Brunswick. (Chamber-
fam.) A tolerably common summer resident at Scotch Lake, York
county, N.B. (W H. Moore.) Taken at Beauport; a summer
resident in Quebec. (Dionne.) A scarce summer resident in the
Montreal district; breeds in Mount Royal park, where I have found
their nests with eggs from June 19th to July 30th, for several years
past. (Wvinile.) A common summer resident in the Ottawa district.
(Ottawa Naturalist, Vol. V.) Rather rare near London, but more
common to the north and east. (W. E. Saunders.) Not common
in Algonquin park, Ont.; only a few seen on the Madawaska river

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 385

below Cache lake. Common from Missinabi, Ont. to Point Comfort
on the east coast of James bay in all the willow thickets in 1904.
(Spreadborough.) Rare spring migrant; one seen in September,
1906. JI took a male at Emsdale in Muskoka, on May 2gth, 1899;
Mr. Kay has taken the nest of this species at Port Sydney, in the
same district. (J. H. Fleming.)

Flycatchers referred to alnorum, were several times observed by
us at Norway House, Keewatin, but we were unable to secure
one. (Preble.) Bishop took an adult female in the Cypress Hills,
Sask., July 27th, 1906. (A.C. Bent.) One specimen taken and
others seen at Lesser Slave river, Athabaska, May 23rd, 1888. (/.
_M. Macoun.) First seen May 26th, 1897, at Edmonton, Alta. ;
common by June 2nd. It is always found in the clumps of willow
and alder and never in heavy timber. Common from Lesser Slave
lake to the Peace river, Alta. in 1903. (Spreadborough.) We first
found this species at Fort Selkirk, where the Pelly and Lewes
unite to form the Yukon, in lat. 62° 50’, and hardly lost it again
until we reached Circle City; later I heard one 15 miles below
Fort Yukon, Alaska, August 21st, 1899. (Bushop.)

Many of the references under ¢raziliz should go here.

BREEDING Notres.—The variety recently called the ‘‘alder fly
‘catcher’ is the species usually met with along the St. Lawrence
and northward. I would observe that this name is very appro-
priate. I have commonly met with the bird in moist, low situa-
tions, where alder, willow and Spzr@a abound. The nest I have
seen several times; three near Renfrew, Ont., that I found were
two or three feet above the ground; one in a wild currant bush,
another in the thick bushy part of a willow, and the third in Spirea.
Also near Lansdowne, Ont., I found the nest in Spzrea in an identical
locality, the middle of June. The eggs are three or four, and are
distinctly spotted with brick red. The bird, when near its nest, is
wary and hard to observe. (Rev. C. J. Young.) Breeds in Mount
Royal park, where I have found their nests with eggs from June 19th
to July 30th for several years past. This flycatcher is a very shy
bird to approach when on its nest during the term of laying the eggs,
but will sit close when hatching them. I have always found their
nests built in a thin thorn bush or light undergrowth wood, from a

25

386 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

few inches to about two feet above the ground, and generally within
sight from a footpath on the mountain. Observed here from May
24th to July 30th. I think this species migrates south in the month
of August as I never met withit in the autumn. (Wznile.)

To build its nest, this bird first covers the stems of shrubs, rasp-
berry bushes, and especially alders with long plant-down. Then
grass, fibres of bark or reeds are tied inside of the stems with the
plant-down, instead of being twisted around them. Then the nest
is lined with thin grass and sometimes with hairs or hair-like roots.
External diameter 3 or 3.50 inches and height variable from 2 to
3.50 inches. Inside diameter 2 inches by 1.25 or 1.50 inches in
depth. The elevation of the nest from the ground is from one to
six feet. Between Ottawa and Lake Nominingue three or four eggs
are laid in June and July. (A. L. Garneau.)

467. Least Flycatcher.

Empidonax minimus BAIRD. 1858.

Audubon, Vol. I., p. 237, found it nesting in Labrador ; obtained
by Drexel at Moose Factory, James bay, August, 1860. (Packard.)
A rare summer migrant in Newfoundland. (Reeks.) Common
along Moose river to James bay at Moose Factory, June, 1896.
(Spreadborough.) A common summer migrant in Nova Scotia.
(Downs.) A common summer resident; equally common in remote
woods or in orchards and gardens. (H. F. Tufts.) Not uncom-
mon at Baddeck, Cape Breton island. (F.H. Allen.) Union Road,
Prince Edward island, July 21st, 1888. (Macoun.) A cheerful
series of ‘‘che-bies”’ greeted me one morning at Souris, P.E.I.; no
others were seen. (Dwight.) A rare summer resident near St.
John, N.B. (Chamberlain.) Common summer resident at Scotch
Lake, York co., N.B. (W. H. Moore.) Common in the Resti-
gouche valley, N.B. (Brittain & Cox.) Taken at Godbout river;
a rather rare summer migrant at Quebec. (Dionne.) <A scarce
summer resident in the Montreal district; breeds on the island of
Montreal. (Wunitle.) A common summer resident in the Ottawa
district. (Ottawa Naturalist, Vol. V.) Common migrant at Toronto,
Ont. The most abundant of the small flycatchers in the Muskoka
and Parry Sound districts. (J. H. Fleming.) More common in the

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 387

city of London, Ont. itself than in the country a few miles out.
One hears it in nearly every shaded street. (W. E. Saunders.) Very
abundant everywhere in Algonquin park, Ont., July, 1900. (Spread-
borough.) A nest containing well incubated eggs was collected
near the south end of Oxford lake, Keewatin, on the morning of
June 30th ; the female bird was taken with the eggs. (Preble.)

Very abundant at Pembina and west to Turtle mountain, in lat.
49°, beyond which it was not seen. (Cowes.) A very abundant
summer resident of open groves extending its range throughout the
wooded part of the province of Manitoba. (E. T. Seton.) Common
at the Grand rapids of the Saskatchewan. (Nutting.) Next to
the kingbirdsthe commonest flycatcher all over Manitoba and west
to Edmonton. (Atkinson.) Abundant about Aweme, Man. (Criddle.)
The commonest flycatcher in the timber at Skull and Maple creeks,
Sask. (A.C. Bent.) First seen at Indian Head, Sask., May 27th,
1892, later they became fairly common and bred in numbers in the
vicinity of Deep lake; collected at Medicine Hat and Crane lake,
Sask., in June, 1894; abundant on Old Wives creek, Sask., at its
mouth, May 24th, 1895; this species was seen all the way up Old
Wives creek and at Wood Mountain Post; a small flycatcher was
seen at Farwell creek, Cypress hills, Sask., which may have been
this species; taken at Canmore, Alta., within the Rocky mountains,
but replaced at Banff by Wright’s flycatcher. First seen at Edmon-
ton, Alta., May 12th, 1897, common next day; abundant from Lesser
Slave lake to Peace River, Alta., in 1903; in the foothills southwest
of Calgary, common in July. (Spreadborough.) North to Fort
Simpson on the Mackenzie; common. (Ross.)

BREEDING Notes.—A bird almost resembling the last, but a
trifle smaller. It breeds commonly in the counties of Leeds and
Renfrew, selecting a very different locality from trazili for its nest.
It is a familiar bird, frequenting orchards and the vicinity of houses,
as well as the second growth woods. The nests I have seen re-
semble a redstart’s and were built in the crotch of a maple and of
apple trees. They contained four yellowish white eggs,"which were
laid about the end of May, about two weeks earlier than the last.
It is also very common in the neighbourhood of Sharbot lake, where,
in 1903, I noticed five nests close to one another. (Rev.'C. J. Young.)
I found it common on my arrival, the 1st of June, and during that

25%

388 GEULOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

month secured a large series of specimens, including many nests
and eggs, the latter not until the middle of the month. The usual
site of the nest is the upright crotch formed by three or more diverg-
ing twigs of some sapling or stout bush, usually ten or twelve feet
from the ground. One nest that I took I could reach standing on
the ground, but another was in a slender elm tree some 40 feet high,
on a swaying bough, but in a crotch of upright twigs, as usual. The
female during incubation is as close a sitter as some of the ground
sparrows. In one instance, I came within an arm’s length before
the bird flew, and then she merely fluttered out of reach and stood
uttering a disconsolate note. The nest is usually let deeply down
into the crotch and bears the impress of the twigs. It is composed
of intertwined strips of fine fibrous inner bark and decomposed
weedy substances, matted with a great quantity of soft plant-down,
and finished with a lining of a few horse hairs or fine grasses, making
a firm, warm fabri¢, with a smooth, even brim about 24 inches
across outside and less than 2 inches deep; general shape tends some-
what to be conical, but much depends upon the site of the nest. The
walls are thin, sometimes barely coherent along the track of the
supporting twigs. The cavity is large for the size of the nest, scarcely
or not contracted at the top; and about as wide as deep. In six
instances, I found not more than four eggs, which seems to be the
full complement. These are pure white in colour, of ordinary shape
(but variable in this respect), and measure about two-thirds of an
inch in length by one-half in breadth. Extremes of length noted
were 0.59 and 0.68; the diameter is less variable. -(Coues.) Nests
every year at Kew Beach, Toronto; also breeds commonly in Mani-
toba and Saskatchewan. (W. Raine.) Breeds in the vicinity of
Ottawa. - Builds a small, neat, compact, deep-cupped nest in up-
right crotch of tree; nest is composed of fine fibrous inner bark, and
the decomposing outer substance of various weeds, lined with a
soft plant down, horse hair and fine grass tops. Eggs, three or four;
pure white. (G. R. White.) One nest was found in the month of
June in the upright fork of a small elm tree, four feet from the ground.
It measured 2.50 inches in diameter and 2.50 in height; the cavity
had a diameter of two inches and a depth of 1.75 inches. (A. L.
Garneau.) June 2nd, 1897, found two nests at Edmonton, Alta.,
one in the fork of a small poplar about two feet from the ground.
Nest very compact, just like a yellow warbler’s nest, four eggs nearly

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 389

fresh. The other was in a larger poplar about 25 feet from the
ground; nest same as the first; eggs nearly fresh; next day found two
more nests, one in a willow about seven feet from the ground. The
other was in a balsam poplar about two feet from the ground. Nest
very compact, composed chiefly of willow down lined with a little
dried grass. I have found nests all the way from four to thirty feet
from the ground. (Spreadborough.)

468. Hammond Flycatcher.

Empidonax hammondi (XANTUS) BarrD. 1858.

Reference is made to some eggs of this flycatcher, obtained from
‘‘Anderson River,’ in Vol. II. of the Proc. of the U.S. Nat. Mus.
by the late Dr. Brewer, of Boston, which, I conclude, were sent to
the Smithsonian by me. (Macfarlane.) Rather common; speéci-
mens from Ashcroft, Ducks, Mount Lehman, and New Westminster,
B.C. (Streator.) Chiefly on the mainland, east and west of Coast
range; common at New Westminster, B.C. (Fannin.) This species
which appears to be the western representative of minimus was only
found in the Rocky mountains where a single specimen was secured
in August, 1874. (Coues.) Taken on Lee creek, near Cardston,
southern Alberta, and at Waterton lake, where Dr. Coues obtained
his specimen; common at Trail, B.C., near the International Boundary
in the summer of 1902; June rst found a nest in a hemlock tree,
out on a slender branch about 16 feet from the ground; June 12th,
found another nest in a small cedar tree about eight feet from the
ground; common west of Midway, B.C., May 25th, 1905; not uncom-
mon on Chilliwack river, B.C., in June, 1901; saw one specimen,
which I took to be this species, on Mount Benson, near Nanaimo,
Vancouver island, July 1oth, 1893. (Spreadborough.) Of uniform
distribution on mainland and islands, B.C., breeding wherever
found. (Rhoads.) I have the nest with three eggs and the parent
bird that were collected for me by Mr. Wenman at the base of
Moberly peak, Rocky mountains. The nest was built six feet
from the ground on a branch of a tree, and the eggs are creamy
white; they were collected May 31st, 1902. (W Raine.) We saw
several of this species at Skagway and collected three. I took one
at Glacier, June 8th, and another on a hill above Caribou Crossing,
B.C.; after this, we did not meet with this bird until about

390 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

fifteen miles above Selwyn river, where Osgood shot a young one,
July 29th. From that point to Charlie creek, it was almost equally
common with alnorum, frequenting the same localities, but after
passing Charlie creek, we saw no more of it. (Bzshop.)

469. Wright Flycatcher.

Empidonax wrighttt BAIRD. 1858.

Only two taken; a rare migrant at Chilliwack, B.C. (Brooks.)
Instead of trail, which I expected to find in the Rocky moun-
tains, this species was taken in that locality. Three specimens
taken during the latter part of August, 1874, on the International
Boundary in lat. 49°. The bird doubtless breeds in this region,
which is the northernmost point by far at which it has been ob-
served. (Coues.) Dr. Bishop found it common with half-fledged
young in the Cypress hills, Sask., from June 25th to June 30th, 1905,
(A. C. Bent.)

This species was mixed with minimus at Canmore, within the
Rocky mountains, but although a number of specimens were taken
at Banff, twenty miles further west, minimus was not taken in
the summer of 1891. The species is apparently common jn the
mountains, as it was very abundant at Revelstoke, B.C., on the
Columbia river, and breeding there and at Deer Park and Robson,
on Arrow lake, and below it; it was not uncommon at Sicamous,
B.C., in July, 1889; and specimens were taken at Hastings, Burrard
inlet, in April, 1889; specimens taken at Spence Bridge, B.C., in
May and June, 1889. (Macoun.)

Famity XXXIX. ALAUDIDZ, Larxs.
CXC. ALAUDA. Linnaus. 1758.
473. Skylark.
Alauda arvensis LINN. 1758.
Accidental in Greenland and Bermuda. (A. 0. U. Check-List.)
CXCI. OTOCORIS. Bonaparte. 1838.

There is still much uncertainty about the horned larks, and as
specimens are not available for comparison many of the old citations

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 391

as given in the first edition of this Catalogue must stand, though in
some cases plainly incorrect. In the present edition leucolema of
the first edition has been changed to arcticola and arnicola to leuco-
lema. Hoyti and enthymia have been added, though the last has
not been generally accepted by ornithologists. Preceding the dis-
tribution of each subspecies that of Mr. Oberholser is given.

474. Horned Lark.

Otocorts alpestris (LINN.) Bonar. 1838.

In summer, northeastern British Columbia, west of Hudson bay,
from Newfoundland, Labrador and the head of James bay, north-
ward; accidental in Greenland, in winter west to Manitoba. (Ober-
holser.)

One shot at Godthaab in October, 1835, but known before to
occur on the other side of Davis strait at Cape Wilson, roth July
1822. (Arct. Man.) Common summer resident in Labrador.
Breeds at the mouth of the Koaksoak river and at Rigolet. (Packard.)

Abundant everywhere on the bleakest and most exposed hillsides
’ of northwestern Labrador. So far as I could determine all the
horned larks observed were of this race. (Bigelow.) Common
and breeding on the rocky islands of James bay from Moose
Factory to Richmond gulf: not observed in the interior between
Richmond gulf and Ungava bay in 1896. (Spreadborough.)
Greenland, Newfoundland, Labrador and Hudson bay, south-
ward in winter into the United States. Our bird breeds
far north of the United States, about the shores of Hudson bay,
Labrador and Newfoundland. Breeding birds have been examined
from Fort Chimo and Davis inlet, Labrador; Penquin island, Cape
St. Mary, and Canada bay, Newfoundland; Moose Fort, James bay;
non-breeding from Toronto.and Rat Portage, Lake of the Woods,
Ont.; also from Manitoba. (Dwight.) Common during the spring
and autumn migrations, in Nova Scotia. (Downs; Tufts.) In
numbers on Sable island, N.S., January 14-21, 1904 ; three
individuals seen January 6, 1905, and one September 30, Igor.
(J. Boutelier.) A winter resident at St. John, New Brunswick.
(Chamberlain.)

392 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

Taken at Beauport; a migrant in Quebec. (Dionne.) A transient
visitant at Montreal; scarce. I shot five specimens of this species
out of about a dozen found feeding on the river ice-roads in front of
the city, April 8, 1887, but since that time have not met with them,
in the spring of the year; in the autumn only from October 20-26th.
(Wintle.) The horned larks of the Ottawa district were for the first
time satisfactorily determined and distinguished in the spring of 1890.
This species arrived April 19th and remained together in flocks till
May 25th, when it departed; it was again present in the fall from
September 26th to October 28th. (Ottawa Naturalist, Vol. V.)
Formerly common at Toronto; Mr. Lamb of Toronto has a speci-
men taken at Gravenhurst in Muskoka district. (J. H. Fleming.)
The typical horned lark is commonly met with along the St. Lawrence
below Kingston in the winter and spring, and I think in the month
of September. (Rev.C. J. Young.) Exceeding rare; two specimens
taken by Mr. J. Keays in December, 1899, are intermediate between
this species and the var. leucolema. (W. E. Saunders.) Some
winters large flocks of shore larks visit Kew beach, Toronto, and a
few pairs occasionally remain and nest here early in April, but of
course this is exceptional as the summer home of this bird is further
north around the gulf of St. Lawrence and Labrador. Toronto,
March 4, 1900, as I sat writing at my desk flocks of shore larks kept _
passing in front of the window, and some settling on the road in
front of my house. I put a cartridge in my gun and walking to —
the front door shot three birds with one discharge. Few can boast
of shooting horned larks from the doorway of their homes. ApriJ
8, 1900, Mr. Winton Thompson, of Kew beach, took me to a nest
of the horned lark he had found; it contained three eggs and the
bird had begun to sit although the ground had patches of snow
around the nest, and the nights were cold. In order to satisfy my-
self this was the nest of the true alpestris I got up early next morning
and shot the parent, which proved to be alpestris and not praticola;
the eggs, like the bird, are one-third larger than those of praticola,
Port Hope, Ontario, March, 29, 1900, Mt Meeking. found a nest con-
taining four eggs of this specie, and on April 13th he found another
set of three, and on April 28, 1900, he found another set of four eggs
at the same place. These sets collected at Port Hope are now in
my collection, and the eggs from all the nests average larger than
those of the prairie horned lark collected by me on Toronto island

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 393

‘and in Manitoba. (W. Raine.) Common from Cape Henrietta
Maria, Hudson bay, to Missinabi, Ont., in late August and September.
A few breed at Cape Henrietta Maria. (Spreadborough.) Specimens
of the true alpestris were taken by myself at Rat Portage, and at
Carberry, in the fall. (E. T. Seton.) We have one specimen of
the species taken at Ottawa, May 15, 1890, by Mr. W. E. Saunders.
Mr. Saunders is of the opinion that Mr. Raine is wrong in thinking
that alpestris bred at Toronto.

474a. Pallid Horned Lark.
Otocoris alpestris arcticola, OBERHOLSER. 1902.

In summer, Alaska (chiefly the interior) with the valley of the
Yukon river. Breeding birds have been examined from Fort
Yukon and St. Michael, Alaska; and from Fort Reliance, Yukon
river, Yukon district. Non-breeding specimens have been examined
from Chilliwack, Sumas Prairie, Osoyoos, Okanagan, and Revel-
stoke, B.C.; also from St. Louis, Sask. (Oberholser.)

Alaska and western British America, southward in winter into
the United States. A few breeding birds from the Saskatchewan
and Great Slave lake region, though tinged with yellow on the
chin, are, on account of size and colours somewhat paler than
alpestris referable to leucolema; so too, are large dark birds with
white eyebrows and pale yellow chins found in winter in the upper
Mississippi valley, coming as they doubtless do from an intermediate
region between Hudson bay and Alaska. Breeding birds of these
two races are few and limited mainly to those taken on Government
expeditions; consequently I do not draw the lines on the map as
closely together as with some of the other races better defined.
Two young, in first plumage, taken on the Arctic coast, east of the
Anderson river, may be referred to this race. While they are not
as black and white as might be expected in Alaskan birds, they
lack the general yellowishness of young alpestris from Newfound-
land. In winter leucolema is found as far south as the middle of
the western United States, mostly east of the Sierra Nevada moun-
tains. Northwest coast specimens indicate that a small-sized
leucolema may breed in the mountains not far north of the United
States boundary, though such birds may generally be referred to
merrilt, A male in autumn plumage, taken August 26th at Chief

394 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

Mt. lake, on our northern boundary, long. 114°, W. suggests the

possibility of this form breeding also on the mountains at that point,
or not far to the north. It is not reported from Pt. Barrow, is rare

at St. Michael, Alaska, and is probably an interior race. Breeding
birds have been examined from Fort Yukon and St. Michael, Alaska;
Arctic coast east of Fort Anderson, also Horton river and Franklin
bay; from Fort Reliance, Fort Resolution and Big island, Great
Slave lake; also from Saskatchewan region. Non-breeding from
Chilliwack, B.C. (Dwight.) This very handsome lark arrives in the
Northwest Territories along with the Lapland bunting, with
which it associates. It retires to the marshy and eastern wooded
districts to breed, extending its range to the shores of the
Arctic sea. (Richardson.) East of and including the Coast
range; I have taken it on the summit. (Fannin.) Common
spring and autumn migrant at Chilliwack, B.C. (Brooks.) This
species arrives before the first of April at Indian Head, Sask., but
in what numbers it is hard to determine as the form that remains
to breed may be praticola or arentcola or even hoyti. The specimen
in our collection was shot on April 12, 1892, and on the same day I
took a specimen of arenicola; on April 19, 1890, another specimen
was taken at Revelstoke, B.C., where they appeared to be common;
in April, 1891, specimens were taken at Banff, Rocky mountains;
no specimens that proved to be this form were taken in the autumn ;
four specimens taken at Huntingdon on the boundary between
Washington and British Columbia, in September, 1901, proved to
to be this form. It is more than probable that Dr. Dwight is correct
when he says that this may breed on the mountains north of the
United States boundary. (Spreadborough.) Kenai mountains, Alaska,
found breeding on the high barren mountains. (Figgins.) A small
flock of ten or fifteen was seen flying about the summit of the
‘* Portage mountain ’’ between the head of Chulitna river and
Swan lake, Alaska. (Osgood.) Throughout Alaska this species appears
to be very rare. Two specimens were taken in the vicinity of St.
Michael during my residence there, and three were secured on the
upper Yukon. All these were young males. It is much more common
on the upper Yukon in spring and summer than along the shores of
Behring sea, where it can only be counted a very rare straggler.
(Nelson.) A single specimen of this bird was brought to me by a
native who said he had just killed it at Egg island, a few miles from
the village of St. Michael. (Turner.)

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 3905

A careful reading of Mr. E. T. Seton’s article on the horned
lark in his ‘‘Birds of Manitoba’ shows that the winter
birds seen in flocks are undoubtedly this form. It is very
probable that praticola is a later arrival. Nash says ‘‘ that
at Portage la Prairie praticola is a spring and fall visitant;
stays nearly all winter; disappears and reappears at intervals;
arrives about March 2zoth, reappears in August, and departs in
October.”’ Now to me this is exactly what a bird breeding on the
‘‘barren grounds” would do, so I conclude that this form is the one
mentioned by Nash and included in praticola by E. T. Seton. Two
darker coloured specimens taken at Indian Head, Sask., in Septem-
ber, 1891, and named hoyt: by Bishop are placed here. This is very
likely the form that Dr. Bell found breeding at York Factory and
Fort Churchill on Hudson bay. (Macoun.)

Many of the above references go to hoyti or enthymia.

BREEDING NotTes.—On May 29, 1893, at Rush lake, Sask.,
I found three nests containing eggs of this species. The nests
were built in hollows in the ground, the brim of the nest flush with
the surrounding soil. Each nest contained four eggs similar to
those of the prairie horned lark. I secured two birds which are
easily distinguished from the prairie horned lark by their paler
form. (W. Raine.) Nine nests of this lark were received at Fort
Anderson, a few of them from the Esquimaux and the others were
collected by us in the ‘‘barrens’’ and on the coast of Franklin bay.
The nest was usually composed of fine hay neatly disposed and
lined with deer hair. Several of the parent birds were secured by
snares placed thereon. (Macfarlane.)

474, Oberholser Horned Lark.

Otocoris alpestris enthymia OBERHOLSER.

In summer, Saskatchewan, with possibly southwestern Manitoba.
Breeding birds have been examined from Indian Head and St.
‘Louis, Saskatchewan. (Oberholser.) Very common on the prairies,
particularly on the barren hills north of Maple creek and on the alka-
line plains. No nests were found but fully fledged young, in juvenal

396 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

plumage, were taken as early as June 13, 1906. The birds of this
region are intermediate between this form and Otocoris alpestris
enthymia Oberholser. We collected quite a series of horned larks
most of which, particularly those collected on the prairies in the
eastern portion of the region we visited, were nearer enthymia,
while those collected on the alkaline, sage-brush plains of western
Saskatchewan and in Alberta were more typical of leucolema. This
new form described by Mr. Oberholser in 1902 and first noted by
Dr. Bishop in North Dakota in 1895, seems to be well marked and
worthy of recognition, as the bird of the northern prairie region.
But as it has not yet been formally accepted I must list our birds
as bteucolema. (A.C. Bent.)

Should this form be recognized as a good one many of the refer-
ences given elsewhere in this Catalogue must be transferred here.

474. Prairie Horned Lark.
Otocoris alpestris praticola HENSH. 1884.

In summer, southern Canada from Manitoba to the north shore of
the gulf of St. Lawrence. Breeding birds have been examined from
Chateau bay, Labrador; Gatineau Point, Quebec; Ottawa, Kingston,
Toronto, Lorne Park, Peel county, Bracebridge, Windsor, Kenora
and Rat Portage, Ontario; Carberry, Boggy creek and Big Plain,
Manitoba. (Oberholser.)

This bird is a miniature leucolema, somewhat darker and with a
pale yellow chin which is seldom bright, and is often white. Autumn
birds seem to show more linear spots on the breast than do the other
forms, but this is not a constant feature. It seems to have gradually
extended its range eastward as the woods have disappeared, and we
can see why it should be nearer to leucolema than to alpestris. How-
ever, as we go westward, we find a direct gradation into arenicola
and this race passes directly into leucolema. Now leucolema passes
into alpestris, and somewhere in the Saskatchewan or Winnipeg
regions we shall find, I venture to say, breeding birds that might
be referred to any one of these four forms. Breeding birds have
been examined from Toronto, Peel county and Rat Portage, Ontario;
Carberry, Manitoba. (Dwight.) ;

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 397

A specimen of this form was shot at Chateau bay, southern
Labrador, on July 14, 1891, which was possibly a straggler, but
may indicate that this form is a regular summer visitant to all
eastern Quebec and the Straits of Belle Isle. (Norton. A com-
mon summer resident in the Montreal district. They have been
found breeding here before the winter’s snow has melted off the
ground; they arrive in February and leave in November. (Wunile.)
Occasional at Quebec. (Dionne.) A common summer resident
in the Ottawa district; it arrives before the end of February and
remains all summer to breed, and leaves about the beginning of
November. (Ottawa Naturalist, Vol. V.) An abundant, breeding,
summer resident in the Muskoka and Parry Sound districts. The
date of its first appearance at Port Sydney, as given by Mr. Kay,
was 1887. (J. H. Fleming.) Summer resident at Scotch Lake,
York county, N.B. (W.H. Moore.) Reaching us during the early
days of February, these birds soon became very abundant. On
February 20, 1900, they were especially so along the lake shore,
and wherever a patch of weeds was in evidence above the snow
dozens of the birds were hurrying to and fro clearing up all the
seeds and enlivening the scene with merry little snatches of song.
(J. Hughes-Samuel.)

This is a common summer resident in Manitoba, breeding freely
on the open prairie. (E. T. Seton.) There are probably three or
four forms of horned larks in Manitoba The form I have been in
the habit of calling praticola arrives at Aweme about February 24th
and departs about November 13th, a few being seen at intervals
through the winter. Two specimens of praticola were determined
for me by the United States Biological Survey; these were shot early
in March. Another form arrives with the Lapland longspur. This
I have been in the habit of calling the desert horned lark. (Criddle.)

BREEDING NotTEs.—This sub-species arrives in February and
March, and continues all summer. Early in February this year
(1901) I saw’a number of horned larks on the ice between Kingston
and Wolfe island; they are often in company with snow buntings;
the first prairie horned larks I saw on February 17th, (3), and one
on February 28th near the head of Wolfe island. They are tamer
and more familiar birds than the northern variety, and are now
breeding commonly in Ontario. In the townships of Lansdowne

398 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

and Escott, and around Kingston, they nest every year. I have
found the nest with eggs, in which incubation has begun, as early
as March 29th, and just hatching on April 23rd, 1895. The usual
-time for laying is the first week in April, before the snow has all
melted in the spring. I have a record clipped from a newspaper,
of a nest on Wolfe island with four eggs, on March 8th, and fre-
quently the young birds are hatched by the middle of April. Three
eggs is the commonest number, but I have found four three times,
and five once, April 13th, 1899. A comparatively few years ago
this bird was unknown as breeding in eastern Ontario. (Rev. C. J.
Young.) On May 12, 1882, at camp, eight miles south of Brandon,
midway between our tent and the fire ten feet away, I started a
small bird from its nest. It ran away very reluctantly, and con-
tinued wistfully close at hand, running about among the tufts of
grass in the glare of the fire, returning each time as soon as it dared.
At gray dawn I found her on the nest again; she slowly walked
away when I approached to rekindle the fire, but returned almost
immediately with her mate; and now, for the first time, I saw them
plainly. They were a pair of shore larks. Encouraged ,no doubt,
by the presence of her mate, she once more crept to her nest and
took up her position on the eggs, although I was but five feet
off. Frying our bacon over a brisk fire, I was very careful to avoid
hurting the birds or their home; and breakfast being over, travellers,
tent, fire and horses all went off and left them to discharge their
duties in peace. The nest contained three brown eggs; it was
sunken in the ground, and was made of grass and fibre, and lined
with two or three large feathers. (E. T. Seton.) Common resident
from January to October; usually rare in November and December ;
an exceedingly early breeder, eggs having been taken in March,
and on April 25, 1900, a brood of young left the nest able to fly.
Raises two or probably three broods in a season. I have once
found the young actually hatched in March. (W. E. Saunders.)
The nest is found in the fields and is placed in a hole dug in the ground
by the bird. It is made of dry grass, the brim level with the ground,
and lined with plant down. Sometimes it is hidden under coarse
grasses. External diameter, 3 or 4 inches; height, 2.50 and 3
inches. Internal diameter, 2.50 inches by a depth of 1.50 and 2
inches. I have found around Ottawa hatched eggs on the 6th April,
and fresh eggs on the 7th, and only younglets at the end of that

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 399

month. (A. L. Garneau.) This bird nests on Toronto island and
on Toronto sand-bar at Ashbridge bay, seldom having eggs, before
the middle of May, as the instances when shore larks nests have
been found here at the end of March and first week of April, while
snow was on the ground, have proved to be the eggs of alpestris and
not praticola. This variety of horned lark breeds commonly in
Manitoba. In northwestern Saskatchewan and Alberta it is replaced
by the pallid horned lark. (W. Raine.) At Ottawa this bird builds
in a shallow hole in the ground. The nest is composed of grass and
lined with fine grass, horse hair and feathers. Eggs four or five.
Greyish white, marked with spots of brownish purple. (G. R-
White.)

Further accounts of the breeding habits of this bird will be found
in The Ottawa Naturalist, Vol. XIV, p. 23, XVI, p. 226 and XX,

Pp. 40.
474c. Desert Horned Lark.

Otocorts alpestris leucolema (COUES.)

In summer from latitude 49° north on the eastern side of the
Rocky mountains into Alberta. Non-breeding birds have been
examined from Calgary, Alberta, and from Medicine Hat, Sas-
katchewan. (Oberholser.)

In the writer’s trip across the prairie this form was found every-
where on the prairie south of lat. 50° from the 1ooth meridian to
the 114th at the base of the Rocky mountains. Our northern
specimens are three from Indian Head, Sask., taken between April
7th and 12th, 1892; four others from Medicine Hat, taken between
April 6th and May 2nd, 1894. On the prairie south of the line of
the Canadian Pacific Railway this species with McCown’s bunting
and the chestnut-collared bunting were extremely common and
constantly flocked together. ((M@acoun.)

BREEDING NoTEes.—The horned lark is one of the species which,
in this latitude, usually rears at least two broods each season—a
fact which in part accounts for the preponderance of individuals
over those of the species with which they are associated. I have
already adverted to the extremely early nesting-time which has
been ascertained and have only to add that the period of repro-

400 GEOLOGICAIT. SURVEY OF CANADA.

duction is protracted through July. I have observed young birds
on the wing in June, and found fresh eggs in the nest during the
latter half of Julv. In fact, all through the summer months the
troops of larks everywhere to be seen consist of old birds mixed
with the young in all stages of growth. The great flocks, however,
are not usually made up until the end of the summer, when all
the young are full grown, and the parents having concluded the
business of rearing their young, have changed their plumage. The
young of the first brood soon lose the peculiar speckled plumage
with which they are at first covered; the later ones change about
the time the feathers of the old birds are being renewed. The
agreeable warbling song is scarcely to be heard after June. The
nest of the horned lark may be stumbled upon anywhere on the
open prairie. It is a slight affair—merely a shallow depression
in the ground, lined with a few dried grass stems. The eggs are
four or five in number, measuring nearly an inch in length by about
three-fifths in breadth; they are very variable in contour. The
colour is well adapted to concealment in the gray-brown nest,
being nearly the colour of the withered materials upon which they
rest, thickly and uniformly dotted with light brown. The eggs
and young birds, like those of other small species nesting on the
Sround in this region, often become the prey of the foxes, badgers
and weasels, if not also of the gophers. (Coues.) Numbers of
nests were obtained and examined in a wagon trip of 500 miles in
1895 and all were of the same character. The nest was always a
small hole in the ground lined with dried grass and contained from
two to four eggs. The latter seemed to be the usttal number.
(A\Tacoun.)

4749. Streaked Horned Lark.

Otocoris alpestris strigata HENSH. 1884.

British Columbia(?) (Dwight.) West of Coast range; at Port
Simpson, by W. B. Anderson; also at Burrard inlet. (Fannin.)
Spring and autumn migrant through the valley of the lower Fraser;
breeds on mountain tops above timber line. (Brooks.) Not credited
to British Columbia by Oberholser.

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 401
474i. Dusky Horned Lark.
Otocorts alpestris merrill DwicHtT. 1890.

In summer to southern British Columbia. Specimens examined
from Chilliwack, Kamloops, Osoyoos, Ashcroft and Sumas lake.
(Oberholser.)

Specimens of this form i in breeding plumage have been examined
from Ashcroft and ‘Kamloops, B.C.; non-breeding- from Chilli-
wack. (Dwight.) Observed only in the interior at favourable local-
ities. A few pairs were found on a mountain near Ashcroft, B.C.,
in July and were doubtless breeding. (Streator.) This form was
found breeding at Spence Bridge and ten miles south of Kamloops,
B.C., by some alkali ponds in June, 1889; one specimen, a young
male, was taken June 24th at Kamloops, B.C. (Spreadborough. )
Taken at Chilliwack, B.C. (Brooks.)

474k. Hoyt Horned Lark.

Otocoris alpestris hoyti BisHOP. 1896.

In summer, British America from the west shore of Hudson bay
to the valley of the Mackenzie river north to the Arctic coast and
south to Lake Athabaska. Breeding birds of this form have been
examined from Fort Resolution and Big island, Great Slave lake;
Arctic coast east of Fort Anderson and Franklin bay; Depot island;
Fort Chipweyan, Lake Athabaska ; Grand rapids of the Saskatch-
ewan; and Fort Churchill, Hudson bay and Cape Eskimo 50 miles
north of Churchill. Non-breeding birds, Calgary, Alberta; and
from Indian Head, Sask. (Oberholser.) Common everywhere on
the Barrens north to Aylmer lake, 1907. (E. T. Seton.)

Some references given under other forms should doubtless go here.
Famity XL. CORVIDAS, Crows, JAys, MacpIEs.
CXCII. PICA. Brisson. 1760.
475. American Magpie.

Pica pica hudsonia (SaB.) JORDAN. 1884.

An accidental visitant at Montreal. A magpie was shot at

Chambly, twenty miles southeast of Montreal, about the year 1883.
26

402 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

(Wintle.) I have known several to be taken at Kingston, Ont.;
occurs regularly and is probably a resident along the east coast af
Lake Superior; one was seen at Port Sydney, Muskoka district, by
Mr. Kay, in the summer of 1898. (J. H. Fleming.) On March
12th, 1898, Charles M. Clarke of Kingston, Ont., observed a mag-
pie near Odessa, and since that date two specimens have been
shot and sent to the taxidermist. (C. H. Clarke, M.D., in The Auk,
Vol. XV., 274.) No magpies were seen in the Red river region,
where, if occurring at all, I doubt their presence as far east as the
river itself. During the second season, however, they were very
frequently noticed at various points on the upper Missouri and
Milk rivers, and thence to the Rocky mountains. On the ist of
July newly fledged birds were taken near the mouth of Milk river,
and at the Sweetgrass-hills, during the first week in August, imper-
fectly plumaged individuals, a little over a foot long, were noticed.
(Coues.)

This species was formerly quite common in most parts of Manito-
ba and eastern Saskatchewan, but of late years have only been noted
as stragglers. (E. T. Seton.) Very rare at Aweme, Man. Used
to breed about 20 miles from here but has not been seen for some
years. (Criddle.) Our oniy evidence of the occurrence of this
bird in Saskatchewan is contained in the following quotation from
Dr. Bishop: ‘‘I found the deserted nest of a magpie about 8 feet
up in a clump of willows in the Big Stick timber on July roth.
Dwight climbed up high enough to see that it was domed.” (A.
C. Bent.) This bird is plentiful on the interior prairies of British
America but only a few stray individuals pass eastward of Lake
Winnipeg. It does not entirely quit the Saskatchewan plains even
in winter, but is much more frequent in summer. (Richardson.)
Rare; only two noted and one male shot in five years, near forks of
the Saskatchewan. (Coubeaux.) On May 6th, 1892, one was
seen at Indian Head, Sask., and another killed by an Indian;
in April, 1894, specimens were seen at Medicine Hat, Sask. ;
in May, 1895, a few were seen at the forks of Old Wives creek
and nests were found in the trees up both the west and south
forks ; one was seen at the crossing of Frenchman river on June
22nd; also at East End Post and Farwell creek, where it breeds; it
was also common on Lee creek, near Cardston, and at Waterton
lake, Rocky mountains, Alta.; common about the falls in Crow

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS 403

Nest pass, and south of Calgary, Alta,; occasionally seen in winter
at Banff, Rocky mountains; seen in numbers at Revelstoke, B.C.,
in March, and ten miles south of Kamloops in June, 1889, but not
seen in April or May; a few specimens were seen on the mountains
at Spence Bridge, B.C., and at Agassiz in 1889; observed at McGuire’s
ranch, August 2oth, near Chilliwack, B.C., and common at Hunt-
ingdon and Chilliwack, in the fall of 1901; observed a pair at Elko,
B.C., May, 1904; in 1905 a few were breeding near Midway, B.C.,
and at Lake Osoyoos young were able to fly by June 1st.; common
along the Similkameen river and at Penticton, B.C. (Spreadbo-
rough.) On west side of mountains north of Lewes and Pelly
rivers. Not seen in the Mackenzie river valley. (Ross.) Found
common everywhere; breeds about Ashcroft, B.C. (Streator.)
An abundant resident; breeds east of Coast range; west only
during winter; a rare straggler on Vancouver island. (Fannin.)
Common in lower valley of the Fraser; arrives in August and leaves
in April. A tolerably common winter resident in Cariboo, B.C.;
an abundant winter resident at Lake Okanagan, B.C. (Brooks.)
Well scattered over the interior but nowhere so common as
in the Okanagan valley near Vernon, B.C. (Rhoads.) At
Kaluk, on Kadiak island six specimens were taken between
October and December, 1897. They were very common and
fed on dead fish. (Grinnell.) This bird was in all localities visited
in Alaska and it is resident wherever found. (Figgins.) Seen at
many places on the base of the Alaska peninsula. (Osgood; Ander-
son.) The miners at Sunrise City, Cook inlet, Alaska, told
us that magpies had been seen in the vicinity frequently,
but we did not observe them there or at any other point
on the inlent. Specimens were taken in Graham harbour by
Townsend in 1892. (Osgood & Heller.) This species is an
abundant resident along that portion of the coast-line extending
from the Shumigan islands east and south. It is abundant on
Kadiak island and in the vicinity of Sitka. North of the Alaskan
mountains it is comparatively rare and has been taken at Fort
Reliance on the upper Yukon almost on the Arctic circle. (Nelson.)
Several traders from the upper Yukon district reported this species
to be not rare in the neighbourhood of Fort Yukon and rather more
common farther up the river. (Turner.)

20%

404 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

BREEDING Notes.—Two nests of this species were found in green
ash-leaved maple a little below the forks of Old Wives creek, Sask.,
June rst, 1895. Neither contained eggs. Nest quite large, nearly
two feet high. Base of nest built of coarse sticks, then lined on the
inside with about an inch of clay, this cup being at least eight inches
across. This is afterwards lined to a depth of two to four inches
with fine rootlets and small twigs of willow. The whole covered
with a canopy of coarse sticks, leaving a hole large enough for the
bird to enter and leave without injuring the tail. (Macoun.)
Breeding in willow thickets at Penticton, B.C. (Spreadborough.)

CXCIHI. CYANOCITTA. Srrickranp. 1845.
477. Blue Jay.

Cyanocitta cristata (LINN.) STRICKL. 1845.

A summer migrant in Newfoundland, but not common. (Reeks.)
Common resident in Nova Scotia. (Dowmns.) Frequently seen
towards spring in Cumberland co., N.S. (C. H. Morrell.) Common
resident at Sydney, Cape Breton island. (C. R. Harte.) Common
resident in Nova Scotia. They are great destroyers of eggs and
young birds. (H. F. Tufts.) Rather common at Baddeck and
Margaree, Cape Breton island, N.S., July, 1898; one pair seen at
Brackley point, Prince Edward island, June 23th, 1888. (Macoun.)
A small flock was seen at Plaster cove near Port Hawkesbury, Cape
Breton island, but none elsewhere. (Brewster.) Not abundant on
Prince Edward island, and only occasionally met with. (Dwight.)

An abundant resident in New Brunswick. (Chamberlain.) Com-
mon in the Restigouche valley, N.B. (Brittain & Cox.) Taken at
Beauport; common in Quebec. (Dionne.) Abundant everywhere,
but extremely numerous at Hamilton’s farm in August, 1858, Ar-
genteuil co., Que. (D’Urban.) Transient visitant at Montreal,
but common. I have observed this jay here in March, May, June,
September, October, November and December, and it is likely that
a few winter in the district. (Wintle.) Permanent resident at
Scotch Lake, York co., N.B. They are very destructive to eggs
and young birds, but very shy about their own nests, and during
their nesting season, May 20th—July 20th, they are very quiet.
(W. H. Moore.)

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS 405

A common and permanent resident in the Ottawa district; more
common in summer. (Ottawa Naturalist, Vol. V.) Common in
winter along the St. Lawrence, a few breeding. I have seen the
nest in the counties of Leeds and Renfrew. Thé eggs are laid about
the middle of May. I observed this bird breeding on the Magdalen
islands. (Rev. C. J. Young.) Resident at Toronto, Ont., some-
times abundant; one of the most abundant resident birds in the
Parry Sound and Muskoka districts. (J. H. Fleming.) Common
at Missinabi, Ont., June, 1904. (Spreadborough.)

Not seen west of Pembina where it was abundant. (Cowes.)
This is a tolerably common summer resident in all the wooded parts
of Manitoba, many retire to the thick woods in winter. (E. T-
Seton.) Several individuals were seen in the groves of Quercus
macrocarpa, at West Selkirk, Manitoba. (Preble.) This very
handsome jay visits the Northwest Territories in summer up to
lat, 56°, but seldom approaches Hudson bay. (iichardson.)
Taken at Fort Churchill, Hudson bay. (Dr. R. Bell.) I saw in
the post residence near Chemawawin, Grand rapids of Saskatche-
wan, a mounted specimen of this species, which had been killed
by an Indian and mounted by Mrs. King, the wife of the postmaster.
(Nutting.) Abundant resident in Manitoba and in 1906 was noted
everywhere along the G.T.P. Ry. west to Edmonton, Alta. (At
kinson.) Not an uncommon resident but more frequently seen in
winter along the wooded banks of the Saskatchewan and in the
well wooded parts of the prairie. (Coubeanx.) Not rare around
Athabaska Landing, May 22nd, 1888, and up the Athabaska to
Lesser Slave river; one specimen was taken three miles up the
Clearwater river from Fort McMurray in lat, 56° 30’; said to be
quite common around Isle a la Crosse lake and to winter there.
(J. M. Macoun.) One observed, June 8th, 1897, at Edmonton,
Alta., eating a young bird; the only one seen; a pair observed at
the mouth of Lesser Slave river, Alta., in 1903. (Spreadboroygh.)

BREEDING Notes.—Found nesting in a hemlock tree near Beech-
wood, Ottawa. The nest was composed of sticks lined with weeds,
grass and down. Eggs four, clay colour with brown spots. (G. R.
White.) Common resident at Aweme, Man., nesting in bushes and
trees from 6 to 20 feet from the ground. (Criddle.)

406 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

478. Steller Jay.
Cyanocittta stelleri (GMEL.) STRICKL. 1845.

This species was common in the vicinity of Hastings and Agassiz,
B.C., west of Coast range in May, 1889; abundant around Chilli-
wack and Huntingdon, B.C., in the summer of 1901; common along
the Hope trail and Skagit river, B.C., in 1905;. a very common
resident throughout Vancouver island, nesting late in April. (Spread-
borough.) An abundant resident east and west of the Coast range;
breeds both on the island, and on mainland of British Columbia.
(Fannin.) Quite common resident in the lower Fraser valley, B.C.
(Brooks.) Found only on the coast and west of the Coast range.
(Rhoads.) Common along the edge of the timber near the shore
wherever I landed around Sitka, Alaska. (Grinnell.) Several
specimens were taken by C. H. Townsend at Graham harbour, Cook
inlet, Alaska. We did not see it farther up the inlet in Turnagain
Arm. (Osgood & Heller.) Osgood found the remains of a Steller
jay in the woods at Haine Mission, Lynn canal. (Bishop.) The
specimens collected by Figgins at Homer and Sheep creek, Alaska,
and by Anderson at Seldovia, described by Chapman as a new sub-
species, C. steller: borealvs, are referred to C. stellert by the A. O. U.
Committee.

478¢. Black-headed Jay.
Cyanocitta stellert annectens (BAIRD) RipGw. 1880.

A specimen of this form was shot in the Rocky mountains by
Mr. Drummond about lat. 56°. (Richardson.) This species. was
met with only high up on the mountains near Ducks, B.C. (Streaior.)
East of Coast range and in Rocky mountain districts. (Fannin.)
This species was taken in the Selkirk mountains at Glacier in Au-
gust, 1885; they were then numerous. Very early in-April, 1890,
when: the snow was on the ground they were in large flocks; afterwards
they scattered and retired to the mountains at Revelstoke, B.C., to
breed; one family of them was seen at Robson on the Columbia
river, June 19th, 1890. Of the specimens taken, some approach the
long-crested jay, having the white spot over the eye quite large and
a blue and white frontal patch. Observed at Trail and Waneta, B.C.,
on the International Boundary in the summer of 1902, not com-

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 407

mon; common around lumber camps at Fernie, B.C., in 1904; one
seen at Midway, B.C., April, 1905, but common later and breeding
at Sidley, west of Midway; only a’ few observed at Penticton, B.C.,
in April, 1903. (Spreadborough.) Only once taken at Chilliwack,
B.C.; a common winter resident in Cariboo, B.C.; common winter
resident at Lake Okanagan. (Brooks.) East of Coast range and in
Rocky mountain districts of British Columbia. (Fannin.) While
many of the interior specimens are intermediate, all are more refer-
able to annectens than to stellert. (Rhoads.)

478d. Queen Charlotte Jay.

Cyanocitta stellert carlotte OsGoop. Igol.
Queen Charlotte islands, British Columbia.

Type from Cumshewa inlet, Moresby island, Queen Charlotte
islands, B.C., taken June 17th, 1900, by W. H. Osgood and E.
Heller.

Not uncommon at Skidegate, Queen Charlotte islands, August,
1895. (Kermode.) One specimen taken at Howkan, Prince of
Wales island, Alaska. (Ridgway.)

CXCIV. PERISOREUS Bonaparre. 1831.
484, Canada Jay.
Perisoreus canadensis (LINN.) Bonap. 1838.

Common all the way from Missinabi, on the Canadian Pacific
railway, down the Moose river, and through Ungava to Ungava bay
in 1896, and in 1904 north to Cape Henrietta Maria on the west
coast of Hudson bay. (Spreadborough.) An abundant resident
in Nova Scotia. (Downs.) A common winter resident in Cumber-
land county, N.S.; very fearless, coming about the buildings for
scraps; I saw birds with grass in their bills late in March; they
evidently nest in April. (C. H. Morrell.) A few observed at Bad-
deck, Cape Breton island. (F. H. Allen.) A common resident at
Sydney, Cape Breton island, but could find no one who had ever
seen a nest. (C. R. Harte.) Not uncommon in back districts in
Nova Scotia. (H. F. Tufts.)

408 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

Abundant resident in New Brunswick. (Chamberlain.) Not
uncommon in the Restigouche valley, N.B. (Brittain & Cox.)
Abundant on Anticosti where itis a resident. (Brewster.) Remains
all the year at Lake Mistassini in northern Quebec. (J. M. Macoun.)
Taken at Beauport; a common resident in Quebec. (Dionne.)
Seen only in the woods in summer; approaches the settlements in
Grenville, Que., in October. (D’Urban.) Transient visitant ;
scarce in the Montreal district; this jay visits us from the north
in the autumn, but I have met with them in the spring of the year.
(Wintle.) Permanent resident at Scotch Lake, York county, N.B.;
but becoming scarce. Have never found a nest of this species,
but have seen them carrying nest material in the latter part of
March. They took wool and straw from robin’s and cedar bird’s
nests. (W. H. Moore.)

This species rarely visits the immediate neighbourhood of Ottawa,
though common in the hills to the north of it. (Ottawa Naturalist,
Vol. V.) Noted at several places near Ottawa, Ont., in 1903-4.
First seen September 28; by October 13 they were quite near
Ottawa, and on October 15 I saw three on the driveway in the heart
of the city. (Rev. G. Exjrig.) Common along the Ottawa in county
of Renfrew near the lumber camps. It breeds very early in spring.
I have seen one as far south as the county of Leeds, near Westport,
Ont. During the winter of 1905 it was quite common in the vicinity
of Madoc, Ont., one pair remaining so late as April 22, which led me
to believe that they did not go far north to breed. (Rev. C. J.
Young.) A specimen of this species was taken at Aylmer, Ont.,
November 9, 1901. (J. H. Ames.) In the winter of 1839-40 a
considerable migration of this species occured at Toronto, Ont.
There are no further records till October, 1904, when another migra-
tion visited southern Ontario and a number of birds were taken at
Toronto and other points on Lake Ontario. Common in the Parry
Sound district; reported only as a winter resident in Muskoka by Mr.
Kay.. (J. H. Fleming.) Found very abundant at Whitney, Ont.,
near Algonquin park, in the fall and winter of 1898. (J. Hughes-
Samuel.) Reported from North Bruce, but not reported from the
London district. (W. E. Saunders.)

Fort Churchill, Hudson bay. (Clarke.) This species was reported
at Norway House, Keewatin, and was seen nearly every day from
there to York Factory; specimens were taken on the Echimamish,

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 409

at Oxford House and at York Factory; several were seen at Fort
Churchill. (Preble.)

A common resident in wooded sections, especially among ever-
greens, in Manitoba; it becomes more abundant in the northern
parts of the province. Abundant everywhere to the edge of the
woods in 1907, but not seen on the Barrens. (EF. T. Seton.) Abun
dant at the Grand rapids of the Saskatchewan. (Nutting.) This
bird comes to the Saskatchewan as soon as the winter is here and
is then seen in numbers everywhere. (Coubeaux.) Abundant all
over the interior north of the Saskatchewan. (J. M. Macoun.)
Tolerably common in spruce woods in Manitoba. (Criddle.)
Abundant resident in the wooded districts in Manitoba. (Atkinson.)
On May 11, 1892, two individuals were seen at Indian Head, Sask.;
after this no others were seen. Observed three April 26, 1897, at
Edmonton, Alta.; tolerably common there. A farmer near Red
Deer, Alta., found a nest with eggs in a hollow tree the first week
in March; another farmer while cutting wood near Edmonton
found a nest with eggs in a spruce trce the first week in March;
Abundant from mouth of the Lesser Slave river to Peace river,
Alta., in 1903. (Spreadborough.) This species inhabits the wooded
districts from lat. 56° to eastern Canada. (Richardson.) North
on the Mackenzie to Lapierre House; abundant. (Ross.) Tolerably.
numerous in the wooded country, even to its northern and eastern
limits, but none were observed by us on the ‘‘barrens’’ proper,
west or east of Horton river, nor on the Arctic coast. (Macjar-
lane.) From the head waters of the Yukon to the mouth of the
Tanana river occur birds which are almost typical representatives
of the jay found in British America. (Nelson.)

BREEDING Notes.—A few pairs nest in Saskatchewan and
Alberta. I have a beautiful nest and four eggs that were collected
by Dr. George near Innisfail, Alberta, March 5, 1899. The nest
was built in a willow seven feet from the ground and is a bulky,
compact nest with thick felt-like walls of wool, moss, feathers
and hair. Dr. George remarked that at the time the eggs were
collected the thermometer registered several degrees below zero.
On March 10, 1900, Mr. John Wright found a nest and, four
eggs at Horn hill, Alberta. This nest was built in a willow and
is a deep cup-shaped nest, very warm and well lined, and has to be

410 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA,

as the young nestlings are often exposed to 15° below zero. On
March 18, 1900, Dr. George found a nest containing one egg:
This nest was also found in a willow. It will be seen, therefore, that
this bird is the earliest breeder of all Canadian birds, having eggs
in Alberta in the middle of March, at a time when the thermometer
registered below zero. I have yet another set of eggs and nest
that were collected by Mr. Hugh Richardson in Saskatchewan,
April 2, 1896. (W. Raine.)

484a. Rocky Mountain Jay.
Perisoreus canadensis capitalis BAIRD. 1873.

Only seen in the Rocky mountains at lat. 49°, where, however,
it was common and doubtless bred. The specimens secured in this
locality show the restricted dark areas of the head, upon which
the variety capitalis is based. [(Couwes.) Observed on Sheep
mountain, Waterton lake, Rocky mountains, in July, 1895; quite
common and breeding at Banff, Rocky mountains, in the summer
of 1891; common high up in the Rocky mountains from Moose
mountain, south of the Bow river pass to Crow Nest pass in July;
1897 ; seen at Pass creek, near Robson, B.C., and was common
in the Gold range, B.C., in 1889 ; on June 6, 1890, a young one
was shot at Deer park, Lower Arrow lake, B.C. ; one pair seen,
on the mountains between the North Thompson river and the
Bonaparte at an altitude of 4,500 feet ; observed near Cascade,
B.C., and on Sophie mountain, altitude 4,000 feet, on the Inter-
national Boundary, in the summer of 1902; observed several at
Elko, B.C., May, 1904. (Spreadborough.) An abundant winter
resident in Cariboo, B.C.; I tried hard to find nests but failed;
I believe the eggs are laid about March-25th; common in winter
at high elevations at Lake Okanagan, B.C. (Brooks.) I noted
these jays at Lac La Hache, Bonaparte, Vernon, Nelson and Field
in British Columbia. (Rhodes.)

484b. Alaskan J ay.

Perisoreus canadensis fumifrons Rwwcw. 1880.

The only specimen brought home of this short-billed jay was
killed on the roof of the dwelling house at Fort Franklin. (Richard-
son.) This form is the only Perisoreus found throughout the Sitkan

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 4II

and Kadiak region, and thence north along the region bordering
the Behring sea coast and up the wooded interior. Specimens
have been taken at so many points on Behring sea that it appears
wherever alder bushes occur to afford shelter. (Nelson.) This
bird rarely occurs at St. Michael, two specimens only being procured
during three and one-half years’ residence. Most of my specimens
were obtained at Fort Yukon, Anvik and Nulato on the Yukon river.
(Turner.) The Alaskan jay was observed in the vicinity of spruce
timber everywhere in the valley of the Kowak, Kotzebue sound,
Alaska, from the delta eastward. It was resident throughout the
year, and was the most noticeable and familiar bird about camp,
especially in winter. (Grinnell.) Occasionally seen in Cook inlet,
Alaska. One morning a small flock visited our camp in the moun-
tains near Hope. A few were also seen at Tyonek. (Osgood &
Heller.) We first met this bird at Log Cabin, noted it also at Bennett
and Caribou Crossing, B.C., and found it common from Lake Marsh
to Circle City, Alaska, generally in families. Between White river
and Circle City it was less common than further up the Yukon.
I saw one 15 miles above Fort Yukon, heard several at Hendrick
station, August 25th, and saw one at St. Michael, September 18th.
(Bishop.) Fairly common in the timber belt, Kenai peninsula,
Alaska. (Figgins.) Sheep creek and Moose camp, Alaska. (Ander-
son.) Noted at many places in the Alaska peninsula. (Osgood.)

BREEDING Notes.—Toward spring the jays became remarkably
reclusive, and their visits around camp were less and less frequent:
I suspected that by the middle of March they would nest, and I
consequently spent much time in fruitless search. On the 20th of
March, while out snowshoeing across the valley, I happened to see a
pair of jays flying towards a tract of spruces, and as had become
almost habitual with me under such incentive, I followed them up.
I did not see the birds for some time, until finally I saw a jay with a
large bunch of white down in its bill, flying back along the timber.
The other bird was accompanying it, following a little behind. I
lost sight of them among the distant trees, but by following the
general course of their flight and peering into all the thicker spruces
I chanced to discover the nest. It was ten feet above the snow in a
dense young spruce growing among a clump of taller ones on a knoll.
It was as yet a flimsy affair, consisting of dry spruce twigs, with bits
of down and feathers, showing through from beneath. Although I

412 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

did not disturb the nest in the least, a visit two weeks later found it
covered with snow and apparently deserted. On April roth, among
ten jays, secured about twenty miles down the Kowak from our
winter camp, was one female, which contained in the oviduct, a
full-sized though unshelled, egg. Not until May 13th, however, did
I finally find an occupied jay’s nest, and its discovery then was by
mere accident. It was twelve feet up in a small spruce amongst
a clump of larger ones on a low ridge. There were no ‘‘tell-tale
sticks and twigs on the snow beneath,” as Nelson notes, and in
fact nothing to indicate its location. The nest rested on several
horizontal or slightly drooping branches against the south side of
the main trunk. The foliage around it was moderately dense, so
that it could be seen from the ground, though only as an indistinct
dark spot. The bird was sitting on her nest when I discovered it.
Her head and tail appeared conspicuously over the edge of the
nest, and she remained on until I had climbed up within an arm’s
length of her. She then left the nest and silently flew to a near-by
tree where she was joined by her mate. They both remained in
the vicinity, but ostensibly paid little attention to me. They
followed each other about playfully, uttering low conversational
notes. The male would try to approach the female, vibrating his
wings and striking various coquettish attitudes, but the latter would
quickly turn upon him, as if to repel his advances at such a serious
time. Then both birds would pause for a moment within six inches
of each other, with their beaks wide open, and mayhap a snap or
two. The nest proper was built on a loose foundation of slender
spruce twigs. The walls and bottom consisted of a closely felted
mass of black hair-like lichen, many short bits of spruce twigs,
feathers of ptarmigan,’and hawk owls, strips of a fibrous bark and a
few grasses. The interior is lined with the softest and finest grained
material. The whole fabric is of such a quality as to accomplish
the greatest conservation of warmth, which certainly must be
necessary where incubation is carried on in below zero weather.
(Joseph Grinnell.)

484e. Labrador Jay.

Pertsoreus canadensis nigricapillus RipGw. 1882.

Peninsula of Labrador, north to Davis strait; island of New-
foundland. (Ridgway.) Locally common in northeastern Labrador

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 413

especially as far north as Port Manvers. (Bigelow.) Coastwise
and interior, especially abundant; resident and breeds at Fort
Chimo, Labrador. (Packard.) Common on Newfoundland and
remains throughout the year. (Reeks.) Abundant and very tame,
Humber river, Newfoundland, 1899. (Louis H. Porter.)

BREEDING Notes.—I have a nest and four eggs of this bird that
were taken at Hamilton inlet, Labrador, March 20th, 1894. The
nest was built in a larch tree and is a beautiful structure of inter-
laced twigs, the nest proper being a compact woven felt-like struc-
ture of fur, hair and feathers. (W. Raine.) A nest taken by
Mr. A. P. Low at Rigolet, Hamilton inlet, Labrador, 25th March,
1894, is quite a bulky affair. The outside is chiefly made up of
dead twigs chiefly of tamarac (larch) with a few of white spruce.
The inside is of down, feathers, hair, fur and strips of the inner
bark of willow felted together. ,

485. Oregon Jay. 7
Pertsoreus obscurus (RIDGW.) SHARPE. 1877.

An abundant resident throughout the province. (Fannin.)
Common resident on mountains above Chilliwack, B.C. (Brooks.)
In May, 1887, this species was found breeding on the summit of
Mount Erskine, Salt Spring island, Gulf of Georgia, B.C. (Macoun.)
An abundant resident throughout British Columbia. (Fannin.)
Common along the Hope trail and Skagit river, B.C.; also on the
mountains between the Skagit river and Chilliwack lake. (Spread-

borough.) This species is not numerous on Vancouver island and
may be said to be rare in summer on the coast. (Rhoads.)

485a. Gray Ganada Jay.
Perisoreus obscurus griseus RipGw. 1899.

British Columbia, Washington and Oregon. (Ridgway.) This
species was common on the mountain sides at Chilliwack lake. B.C.,
in July, 1901. Only one specimen taken. (Spreadborough.)

414 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
CxCcv. CORVUS Linnzus. 1758.

486a. Northern Raven.
Corvus corax principalis RipGw. 1887.

One specimen taken at Peary’s headquarters, West Greenland;
a fine specimen taken at McCormick bay, West Greenland, by the
Relief Expedition. (Witmer Stone.) Frequently seen in Ellesmere
Land. (E. Bay.) Breeds more in south than in north Greenland,
and also observed on the east coast; several pairs have been seen
on Melville island; a specimen from Beechey island is in the Barrow
collection. (Arct. Man.) A common resident in southern Green-
land. (Hagerup.) Locally common in northeastern Labrador‘
especially so at Port Manvers. (Bigelow.) Abundant
throughout the whole of Labrador; breeds at Fort Chimo; nearly
fledged young seen in nest, May 18th. (Packard.) Not common
in the interior of Ungava, but found in pairs throughout the
country. (Spreadborough.) One specimen shot and others seen at
Port Burwell, Hudson strait; breeds from Norway House to Fort
Churchill, (Dr. R. Bell.) A few remain all the year at Cape
Prince of Wales, Hudson strait, but the greater number go south
in September. (Payne.) Found sparingly everywhere in the
north. A pair remained throughout the winter in the neighbour-
hood of Fullerton, Hudson bay. (A. P. Low.) Common throughout .
the vear in Newfoundland. (Reeks.) Common along the Humber
river, Newfoundland, 1899. (Louis H. Porter.)

A common resident in Nova Scotia. (Downs.) Abundant
throughout the year in Nova Scotia. They often kill very young
lambs. (H. F. Tufts.) Fairly common along the N.E. coast of
Cape Breton island. (Townsend.) Not common in winter in Cum-
berland co., N.S.; a pair seen at Shulee and another pair at Part-
ridge island, near Parrsboro. (C.H. Morrell.) A common resident
breeding on cliffs along the shore near Sydney, Cape Breton island,
incubation begun April 22nd, 1901. (C. R. Harte.) Occasionally
seen at Magaree, Cape Breton island, N.S., in July, 1898. (Macoun.)
Breeds on the Magdalen islands. (Bishop.) A rather rare
resident in New Brunswick. (Chamberlain.) Rather generally
distributed in the Gulf of St. Lawrence but nowhere abundant.
(Brewster.) One specimen shot at Lake Mistassini, in northern

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 415

Quebec, May 30th, 1885. (J. M. Macoun.) Taken at Beauport,
a rare permanent resident in Quebec. (Dionne.) A rare winter
resident at Montreal; occasionally visits the city river ice-dump.
(Wintle.) Rare visitant to the north of Ottawa; occasionally seen
near the city. (Ottawa Naturalist, Vol. V.) A common bird on
the Magdalen islands, breeding in the rocks and occasionally in the
larger spruce trees. Rare in the cultivated parts of Ontario. I
have seen a pair flying at a great height near Combermere, Renfrew
co., in the month of January. (Rev. C. J. Young.) At one time
abundant along the north shore of Lake Ontario, but they disap-
peared at a very early date; a common resident in Parry Sound
district; rarer in Muskoka. (J. H. Fleming.) I met with one or
more of these birds daily during a three week’s trip to Whitney,
near Algonquin park, Ont., in the fall of 1898. (J. Hughes-Samuel.)
It is probable that none of these now occur in southwestern Ontario
except as stragglers. (W. E. Saunders.) From Missinabi, Ont., to
Cape Henrietta Maria, James bay, in 1904. (Spreadborough.)
We saw several between Robinson portage and Pine lake, Keewatin,
June 28th, and while descending Hill river, July 8th, noticed a pair
flying about the face of a high clay bank. Except for one specimen
seen at Fort Churchill, July 30th, we did not again note the species.
(Preble.)

Rare at Aweme, Man., only observed late in autumn or in the
winter. (Criddle.) An irregular late fall visitor to the Manitoba
lakes. A few noted about Portage la Prairie in early winter. (At-
kinson.) Occasionally observed on the International Boundary,
lat. 49°, but no specimens were taken. (Coues.) A tolerably com-
mon winter visitant ; probably nesting in the northern lands. (E. T.
Seton.) The call of this species was heard and we were told by
Mr. McLean that a species of raven was not uncommon at the Grand
rapids of the Saskatchewan. (Nutting.) A permanent resident on
the Saskatchewan, but very scarce, and only seen in winter in the
great woods or about them. (Coubeaux.) Rare at Aweme, Man.,
only observed late in autumn or in the winter. (Cridd/e.) An
irregular late fall visitor to the Manitoba lakes. A few noted about
Portage la Prairie in early winter. (Atkinson.) Very abundant
between Athabaska Landing and Lesser Slave river; an occasional
specimen was seen on the Clearwater river, and they were not
rare on Methyve Portage; common between Methye lake and

416 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

Isle a la Crosse; flocking with crows on Buffalo lake. (J. M.
Macoun.) This well-known bird abounds in the Northwest
Territories and visits the remotest islands of the Arctic sea.
(Richardson.) North on the Mackenzie river to Arctic coast;
abundant. (Ross.) Abundant everywhere about Great Slave
lake. Once saw 28 together on the Barrens. (E. T.Seton.) This
species is abundant at Fort Anderson and on the lower Lockhart
and Anderson rivers ; and although not seen by us there it may
possibly breed on the shores of the Arctic sea. (Macjarlane.)
One specimen was seen at Indian Head, Sask., in May, 1892; others
were seen at Medicine Hat in the spring of 1894; observed from the
mouth of Lesser Slave river to Island lake, Alta., in 1903; appar-
ently very rare in the Rocky mountains; only one seen at Banff in
the summer of 1891; only a pair seen at Revelstoke, on the Colum-
bia river, in May, 1890; a few were seen at Deer Park, Lower Arrow
lake, and others at Robson on the Columbia river, in June of that
year; observed at Trail, Sheep creek and Coryell, near the Inter-
national Boundary, B.C., in the summer of 1902; a pair was breed-
ing on a high cliff about two miles from Elko, B.C., May, 1904; one
seen west of Midway, B.C., May 16th, 1905; saw three at Penticton,
B.C., April, 1903; occasionally seen near Chilliwack in the summer
of 1901; very abundant on many parts of Vancouver island, but
chiefly at Comox and Nanaimo in June and July; they must breed
in the neighbourhood; a few also were seen at Barclay sound, on
the west coast of the island. (Spreadborough.)

A resident throughout the province, chiefly northward and
coastwise; rarer than formerly. (Fannin.) Resident. (?) Not
common at Chilliwack. The ravens found on the summit of
the Coast range, descending to the valley in winter, are much larger
than the commoner sinuatus, and have a different voice. I have
no doubt they belong to the larger sub-species. I shot a female
during the winter that was much larger than a male of the other
form; a common winter resident in the Cariboo district, B.C.;
tolerably common in winter at Lake Okanagan, B.C. (Brooks.)

Everywhere throughout the entire territory of Alaska including
the shores of the Arctic ocean and Behring sea and the various
islands of -the latter, this bird is a well known resident.
(Nelson.) This species is a resident throughout the whole of

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 417

Alaska. Near St. Michael it is a resident in summer. (Turner.)
More or less common all along the base of the Alaska peninsula.
(Osgood.) One specimen taken at Seldovia, Alaska, July 4th, 1903.
(Anderson.) An adult specimen was taken at Belkoosky bay,
Alaska, July 22nd, 1897. Two specimens were taken*at Kadiak
island, December, 1897. Ravens were abundant in the Coast
range; rare in the Bonaparte valley, at Lake la Hache, and
at Vernon, B.C.; but at Nelson, B.C., they became abundant again.
(Rhoads.) I saw a pair of ravens at Cape Blossom, Kotzebue sound,
Alaska, August 1st, 1898, and several were seen along the lower
course of the Kowak later in the month. An abundant and well
known scavenger. It congregates about the streets of Sitka and
along the beaches with as much familiarity as the black vulture
does in the south. I did not learn of its breeding anywhere about
Sitka. (Grinnell.) Very abundant on Queen Charlotte islands,
B.C. Only moderately common in Cook inlet, Alaska. (Osgood.)
Of all the birds we met with the raven occurred most regularly. It
was noted from Wrangell, up the Lynn canal, over the White pass,
and down the whole length of the Yukon. (Bzshop.)

BREEDING Notes.—I have a set of six eggs that were taken at
Peel river, Mackenzie delta, on April 27th, 1900. The nest was a
large structure of sticks and weeds lined with animal fur, and built
on top ofa spruce tree. (W. Raine.)

488. American Crow.
Corvus brachyrhynchus C.L. BREHM. 1822.

Rare in Labrador; only found in southern portions; Stearns
reports it from Eskimo river; Verrill records it as common on Anti-
costi; not known to breed in Labrador. (Packard.) A common
migrant in Newfoundland. (Reeks.) Several seen on Sable island,
N.S., in 1904, 1905, 1906 and 1907. (J. Boutelier.) A common
resident in Nova Scotia. (Downs; H. F. Tujts.) Common all
winter in Cumberland co., N.S. (C. H. Morrell.) Common around
the shores of Cape Breton island, 1898; also on the shores of Prince
Edward island, 1888. (Macoun.) A common resident at Sydney,
Cape Breton island. Eggs taken April 15th, 1901. (C. R. Harte.)
Nowhere have I ever seén crows more abundant and so tame as on

27

418 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

Prince Edward island. (Dwight.) An abundant summer resident
in New Brunswick. (Chamberlain.) Local in the Restigouche
valley, N.B. (Brittain & Cox.) A rare permanent resident but
a common summer one at Scotch Lake, York co., N.B. (W. H.
Moore.) Abundant and breeding on all the Magdalen Islands.
(Bishep.) Very common along the shores of the islands in the
Gulf of St. Lawrence, migrating on the approach of winter.
(Brewster.) A common summer resident in Quebec. (Dionne.)
Plentiful in Argenteuil co., Que,. up to roth December, a few seen
in January, and abundant by the last of February. (D’Urban.)
An abundant permanent resident at Montreal, not so often seen
during the winter months but sometimes appearing in large flocks
at Céte St. Paul alongside the railway tracks. (Wuntle.)

Very abundant in the Ottawa district in summer but scarce in
winter. (Ottawa Naturalist, Vol. V.) This bird has become very
common in eastern Ontario in recent years. On Wolfe island it
has become a pest, destroying many eggs of the smaller birds, and
taking young chickens and other birds. I saw a field last October
(1900) literally covered with crows; they were as numerous as
blackbirds. A few remain along the St. Lawrence all winter, and
I have seen them in the coldest weather. (Rev. C. J. Young.)
Abundant about the settlements in the Parry Sound and Muskoka
districts. (J. H. Fleming.) Rather scarce in Algonquin park,
only a few pairs breeding; common at Missinabi in 1904. (Spread-
borough.) During the cold weather of F ebruary, 1895, at Toronto.
these ‘birds seemed to suffer severely from the elements combined
with the scarcity of food; many becoming so exhausted as to only
be able to fly short distances. (J. Hughes-Samuel.) A few were
seen about Lake Winnipeg and Norway House, Keewatin, and a
small number noted nearly every day between Norway House and
York Factory. They were common at Vork Factory, and a few
were seen at Fort Churchill, and one 50 miles south of Cape Eskimo.
(Preble.) A common species on Hudson bay. (Dr. R. Bell.)

According to my observation, crows are not very common in the
region under consideration (lat. 49°), though I saw a good many
along the Mouse (Souris) river. The species occurs, however,
along the whole Missouri river. A nest containing five eggs, with
the female parent, was secured on Quaking Ash river, June 26th,

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 419

1874. (Coues.) A common summer resident throughout Mani-
toba. (E. T. Seton.) This crow is seen in the interior of the North-
west Territories in summer only and does not go beyond lat. 55°
nor approach within five or six hundred miles of Hudson bay-
(Richardson.) North on the Mackenzie river to lat. 61°; abundant.
(Ross.) On the roth May, 1865, an Eskimo snared the parent
bird on a nest which was built on the top of a tall spruce on the
lower Anderson river; another was taken near Fort Anderson on
5th May, 1866. (Macfarlane.) This species arrived at Indian
Head, Sask., before April 1st, 1892, as they were numerous at that
date; they were building nests by the 27th and on May 6th I found
a nest with five eggs, which was in a willow tree; the nest was made
of sticks and lined with dried grass; this species was found in pairs
nearly all over Saskatchewan in 1895, wherever there was wood,
but none was seen in Alberta until we reached Waterton lake at
the base of the Rocky mountains; common at Crane lake, Medicine
Hat, Cypress hills, Moose Jaw, and around Old Wives lake and
creek, also at Wood mountain; none seen north of Lesser Slave
lake in 1903; May 8th, 1894, examined a number of nests at Medi-
cine Hat, Sask., but only found one egg; a few were breeding at
Crane lake, June 12th; found a nest with four young ones; at the
east end of Cypress hills a few pairs were breeding the last week in
June. (Spreadborough.) Everywhere abundant from Manitoba
west to Edmonton, Alta. (Atkinson.) Abundant and surprisingly
tame at the Grand rapids of the Saskatchewan; young crows make
themselves at home on the houses and in the door-yards at Grand
Rapids. (Nutting.) This bird is our first harbinger of spring. As
soon as the snow begins to melt and show the ground, they arrive,
by twos, by threes, by fours, and then in greater numbers, filling
the air with their cries, They mate very early and begin to build
their nests long before the leaves begin to appear. (Coubeaux.)
Very numerous at Buffalo lake, near Methye portage, lat. 56°, and
at Isle a la Crosse, feeding on dead fish; a few specimens between
Red Deer river and Athabaska landing, about a dozen in all. (J.
M. Macoun.)

BREEDING Notes.—The bulk of the crows, which are migrants,
begin to arrive here about the rst of March and commence build-
ing nests in April. One nest examined on April 30th, 1882, con-
tained six eggs incubated, and another one, May 24th, 1882, con-

27%

420 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

tained younglings, and a nest, May 11th, 1889, had four eggs in-
cubated. They breed in Mount Royal park and all over the island
of Montreal. The bulk of the crows in this district migrate south
before the month of December. (Wintle.) On June 6th, 1884,
at Binscarth on the upper Assiniboine, I found a crow’s nest in a
bluff of poplar trees. It was in a crotch of a large poplar, about
8 feet from the ground, and was one of the most beautiful speci-
mens of bird architecture I ever examined, excluding, of course,
all pensile nests. It was a large structure of sticks, twigs and
bark strips, with a very deep cavity lined with fine fibres and beauti-
fully finished off with a coating of cow’s hair. It contained four
eggs. (E. T. Seton.) This species frequently nests in firs and
spruces near Ottawa. Its nests are built of sticks and twigs, lined
with moss, strips of bark and fine grass. Eggs, four to six; green,
spotted with blackish-brown. (G. R. White). Nests taken on
June 2nd, 1895, a mile up the west fork of Old Wives creek, con-
tained four fresh eggs. The base of the nest was of coarse sticks
and the inside was lined with the inner bark of ash-leaved maple,
in which tree it was built. Other nests were taken in thickets of
willow and other brush in many parts of the prairie. (Macoun.)
March 2nd, 1902, a crow was seen to be carrying nesting material
at Fredericton; even at that time migration had hardly begun,
this being a bird that had remained in that vicinity all winter. I
have found a full set of crow’s eggs April 21st. At one time a nest
was found and both birds were sitting on the eggs. The cavity of the
nest was much larger than ordinarily. Thinking when seeing both
birds fly from the nest they might be two females laying in one nest,
I climbed and found that the nest contained five nearly incubated
eggs. A nest was found here containing ten eggs. (W.H. Moore.)

488). California Crow.
Corvus brachyrhynchus hesperis RipGwAY. 1887.

Western North America from the Rocky mountains to the Pacific
coast, except coast district from Strait of Fuca and Puget sound
northward; north in the interior to Fort St. James, B.C. (Rdgway.)
Two or three pairs were noted, mostly near Crane lake, Sask. Bishop
says, ‘“‘an adult male taken at Walsh, July 12th is smaller, with
smaller bill than southern California examples of hesperis. (A.C.

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 421

Bent.) Some of the references under C. brachyrhynchus probably
should go here.

Rather rare along the Columbia flats at Revelstoke, B.C.; heard
at Pass creek, Columbia river, B.C.; common at Agassiz and Kam-
loops, B.C., in 1889; common at Osoyoos lake and Similkameen
river in 1905; saw three on the shore of a small lake at Elko, B.C. in
1904; abundant and breeding at Penticton, April, 1903. (Spread-
borough.) Found breeding at Ashcroft, B.C. (Streator.) Common
summer resident, east of coast range. (Fannin.)

BREEDING NotTEes.—Found a nest May 5th, 1905, at Midway,
B.C., in a poplar tree about 8 feet from the ground. It was made of
sticks and lined with grass and fine bark from poplar trees. Saw
several nests in clumps of willow along Meyers creek on the same
day. (Spreadborough.)

489. Northwest Crow.
Corvus caurinus BAIRD. 1858.

Chiefly west of Coast range; very abundant on the coast; resident.
(Fannin.) Common resident at Chilliwack, B-C. (Brooks.) Very
abundant from Chilliwack to Huntingdon, B.C., in 1901; a most
abundant species on Vancouver island, living the whole year along
the coasts of the island and breeding in small spruce and Douglas fir
trees; in May, 1887, a colony bred in small spruce on Comox spit.
There may be two forms of this western species, but I have never
been able to satisfactorily separate them. (Spreadborough.) On the
west coast crows are abundant. In the interior of British Columbia
they are found in diminished numbers. Their habits and voices
are essentially the same. (Rhoads.) I have two sets of four eggs
each that were taken on Vancouver island, May 12th, 1889, by Mr.
Fannin. (W. Raine.) Not common on Queen Charlotte islands.
A flock of about thirty was seen several times near the head of
Cumshewa inlet. (Osgood.) Bischoff obtained numerous speci-
mens of this little-known bird at Sitka. Dr. Bean also found it
abundant at Sitka. (Nelson.) Common on all the small islands in
the bay at Sitka, Alaska, especially on St. Lazaria island, where the
young and eggs of the sea birds constituted its staple articles of
food. (Grinnell.) Abundant at Seldovia, Alaska. (Anderson.)

422 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
CXCVI. NUCIFRAGA Brisson. 1760.

491. Clarke Nutcracker.

Nucifraga columbiana (Wi1s.) Aub. 1834.

British Columbia. (Lord.) Abundant summer resident through-
out the coniferous forests of the interior. (Streator.) A common
resident east of the Coast range; west, but very rarely, to Vancouver.
island; abundant in the pine belts along the Similkameen and along
ithe Cariboo road above Clinton. (Fannin.) Resident in the
‘mountains; rarely descending to the valleys. (Brooks.) This
‘species was rather common at Banff, Rocky mountains, in 1891,
and breeding in the mountains; common in the Crow Nest pass in
August, 1897; in the summer of 1885, when the Canadian Pacific
railway was being built through the Rocky and Selkirk mountains,
this bird was very common around the camps and apparently living
on their refuse. (Macoun.) Early in the spring of 1890 this species
was quite common at Revelstoke, B.C., but soon retired to the
mountains; they were common at Deer Park, Lower Arrow lake,
Columbia river, B.C., on June 4th, 1890, when fully fledged young
were shot; at Robson, B.C., they were abundant on the mountain
sides later in the month; observed on all the mountains between
Trail and Cascade, B.C., near the International Boundary, in the
summer of 1902; rare at Elko in the spring of 1904; in 1905 and
1906 it was common along the International Boundary from Midway

west to Chilliwack lake; in May and June,18809, this species was far from
uncommon at Spence Bridge and up the Nicola valley where they

seemed to be breeding; observed a few in the mountains at Chilli-
wack lake, B.C., in July, 1901. (Spreadborough.) Common during
the winter of 1897-98 at Lake Okanagan, B.C., but entirely absent
the next winter; many remained to breed in 1898, and they also
bred in 1897; they lay in February. I shot an adult female at
Comox, Vancouver island, February 18th, 1904. This is a very
rare straggler on Vancouver island. (Brooks.) This species extends
from the summit of the Coast range to the summit of the Rocky
mountains, in British Columbia, in summer. Rare at Clinton and
Lac la Hache, but wintering wherever found. The Indians de-
clare they breed in February and again in July. (Rhoads.)

The first specimen of Clarke’s crow taken in Alaska was one cap-
tured by Bischoff at Sitka; only two other Alaskan records are

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 423

known, one of a specimen taken at Nushagak, Bristol bay by J. W.
Johnson and the other of a single specimen collected by Lieut. G.
M. Stoney in the valley of the Kowak river. (Grinnell.)

CXCVII. CYANOCEPHALUS Bonaparte. 1842.

492. Pinon Jay.
Cyanocephalus cyanocephalus (WIED.) STEJN. 1884.

Rocky mountains, west to the Cascade range; and from British
America south to California. (A. O. U. Check-list.) We have no
records of this bird. It will likely be found in the country about
Lake Okanagan, B.C.

CXCVIII. STURNUS Linnaeus. 1758.
493. Starling.
Sturnus vulgaris LINN. 1758.

A single specimen sent by Holbcell to Copenhagen. (Arct. Man.)
Famity XLII. ICTERIDA. Buacxpirps, ORIOLES, &c.
CXCIX. DOLICHON YX. Swatnson. 1827.

494. Bobolink.
Dolichonyx oryzivorus (LINN.) SWAINS. 1827.

Summer resident on Cape Breton island; but rare. (Dwight.)
Common in summer; breeds in all the marshes in Nova Scotia.
(Downs.) One seen at North Sydney, Cape Breton island, May
24th, 1901; common on the meadows at Amherst, N.S. (C. R.
Harte.) Abundant in summer along the Cornwallis valley, N.S.,
and locally elsewhere. (H. F. Tujts.) A common summer resi-
dent in New Brunswick. (Chamberlain.) An abundant summer
resident in suitable places at Scotch Lake, York co., N.B. (W. H.
Moore.) A common summer resident in Quebec. (Dionne.) An
abundant summer resident around Montreal. (Wintle.)

A common stimmer resident at Ottawa; breeds on the Experi-
mental Farm. (Otidwa Naturalist, Vol. V.) Summer resident at

424 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA

Toronto, Ont. One of the species that is finding its way northward;
it is only a new arrival in the Muskoka and Parry Sound districts.
I saw a female at Emsdale in May, 1899; she was seen later in the
summer with a male and a brood of young. Mr. Taverner saw the
first one at Beaumaris in August, 1897, and reported them as in-
creasing in 1898. (J. H. Fleming.) In spite of the slaughter of
these birds in the rice fields it is yet common in the London district;
it is more rare in the Bruce peninsula, and a few were noted on
Manitoulin island in 1880. (W. E. Saunders.)

Generally distributed and breeding abundantly in all the mea-
dows about Manitoba and observed in considerable numbers as far
west as Touchwood hills, Sask. (Atkinson.) Formerly breeding
in great abundance at Aweme, Man., but now only noted as a mi-
grant though it breeds in a bog south of Sewell and also in marshy
places near Rounthwait. (Criddle.) Saw one bird at Crane lake,
Sask. (A.C. Bent.)

At Pembina in June, bobolinks were breeding in large numbers
on the open prairie adjoining the Red river. The ground near the
river has a meadowy character, which seems exactly to suit them,
and they were evidently perfectly at home. On lat. 49° I traced
the species westward to the Rocky mountains, where it was not
uncommon in August about Chief Mountain lake. (Coues.) A very
common species throughout the prairie portions of Manitoba.
(E. T. Seton.) Quite common at Indian Head in eastern Saskat-
chewan in the fall of 1891, as well as in May of the next year; west
of that it must be rare as only a few specimens were noted at the
east end of the Cypress hills in June, 1894; none were seen in 1895
until Lees creek was reached in southern Alberta. -(Spreadborough.)
Uncommon and seen just now only about Duck lake and Carlton
between the forks of the Saskatchewan. (Coubeaux.) This bird
reaches its northern limit about lat. 54° and does not seem to go
very far north of the Saskatchewan. (Richardson.)

BREEDING NotEes.—Nest near stone quarry at Ottawa, Ont., built
on the ground, composed of grass and lined with fine grass. Eggs
four, bluish white spotted with dark chocolate. (G. R. White.)
Very common about Kingston, Ont. Breeds abundantly on Wolfe,
Simcoe and Amherst islands, as well as on the main shore. Isa late
breeder; I have found eggs as late as July 1st, but these, of course,

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 425

would be a second laying. After the middle of August none are
seen. (Rev. C. J. Young.) Breeds commonly in Manitoba where I
have found several nests containing five eggs each. (W. Raine.)

CC. MOLOTHRUS Swarnson. 1831.
495. Cowbird. ,
Molothrus ater (Bopp.) Gray. 1870.
Apparently not noticed in Nova Scotia.

A rare summer resident in New Brunswick. (Chamberlain.)
Taken at Beauport; not a common summer resident in Quebec.
(Dionne.) A common summer resident around Montreal; breeds in
many small bird’s nests; I have observed a nest of the yellow
warbler rebuilt on top of the first nest which contained the eggs of
acowbird. (Wunile.) A common summer resident at Ottawa, Ont.,
laying in many small bird’s nests. (Ottawa Naturalist, Vol. V.)
Very abundant in Ontario, arriving in April and staying until
October. It congregates in small flocks through the summer. I
have seen its eggs in May, June and July; in the latter month usually
in the nest of the song sparrow, or wood pewee. I have seen this
bird in the winter in company with English sparrows. In December,
1889, I saw two at Lansdowne, Ont.; one of these remained with a
flock of sparrows all the winter. This was the same winter I ob- °
served red-headed wood-peckers, the weather being unusually mild,
and there being only two weeks of sleighing along the St. Lawrence
all that winter. (Rev. C. J. Young.) Abundant summer resident
at Toronto, Ont. I first saw this bird at Emsdale, Muskoka district,
May 26th, 1899; about a dozen of both sexes; Mr. Kay gives 1889
as the year of their first appearance at Gravenhurst ; Mr. Taverner
reported them as common at Beaumaris on April 22nd, 1898.
(J. H. Fleming.) Common all over western Ontario. (W. F.
Saunders.) One seen at Missinabi, Ont., June, 1904. (Spread-
boruugh.) I have nowhere found the cowbird more abundant than
it is in summer throughout the region surveyed by the commission,
Even were the birds not seen ample evidence of their presence in
numbers would be found in the alien eggs with which a majority of
the smaller birds of the country were pestered. Scarcely any
species, from the least flycatcher and the clay-coloured bunting up

426 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

to the towhee and kingbird, escapes the infliction. (Cowes.) An

abundant summer resident throughout the whole prairie region;
seen at Slave River delta in 1907. (E: T. Seton.) Extremely

common throughout the whole of Saskatchewan and dropping their
eggs in all kinds of small birds’ nests in the summer of 1894. In
1895, the prairie was traversed in a westerly direction for 500 miles;
in all this distance it was a common object around our camps; very
abundant on all the prairies in the Peace River district in 1903;
this species is rare in the mountains, only two males were taken at
Canmore, Rocky mountains, in 1891; but it was common at Ed-
monton, Alberta, and southward in the foothills to the Crow Nest
pass; two specimens reached Revelstoke in company with a vellow-
headed blackbird on May 25th, 1890, and later in June a number of
males were seen along the beach at Deer Park, Arrow lake, Columbia
river, B.C.; observed one specimen at Huck’s ranch, Chilliwack
river, B.C., August 18th, 1901. (Spreadborough.) Abundant sum-
mer resident and breeds throughout the region between the forks of
the Saskatchewan in company with the blackbird. (Coubeaux.)
Two pairs seen at Fort McMurray, at the forks of the Clearwater
and Athabaska rivers in lat. 56° 30’. (J. M. Macoun.) This bird
arrives in the northwest with the blackbirds and ranges to lat. 60°.
(Richardson.) From‘Vancouver island to Okanagan, B.C. (Fannin.)
Tolerably common east of, and a straggler west of, the Coast range.
(Brooks.)

Their nesting habits are such that almost every small bird becomes
a foster parent for them except the tyrant flycatcher, which far
from being the aggressive bird he is supposed to be is only a success-
ful defender.

CCI. XANTHOCEPHALUS Bonaparte. 1850.
497. Yellow-headed Blackbird.

Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus (BONAP.) JORDAN. 1884.

One specimen obtained at Nevertalik, Greenland, September 2nd,
1820. (Arct. Man.) Taken at Godbout,’ Quebec, in September,
1878. (Dionne.) Accidental at Toronto, Ont.; one record, a male
taken about 1885; this bird is now in my collection. (J. H. Flem-
ing.) A note by Mr. Seton on the occurrence of this bird at Toronto
was published in The Auk, Vol. II., p. 334.

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 427

In the breeding season the yellow-headed blackbird gathers in
colonies in some marshy spot. At Pembina it was breeding in the
prairie sloughs with the black terns and red-wings. (Coues.) A
common summer resident of the deeper sloughs of the prairie region;
more plentiful to the southward in Manitoba. (E. T. Seton.) This
bird is very numerous in the Northwest Territories and ranges as
far north as lat. 58°, but was not seen east of Lake Winnipeg. (Rich-
ardson.) I once observed this bird at Fort Simpson, on the Mac-
kenzie river, lat. 62°. (Ross.) Abundant at Chemawawin, near
the Grand rapids of the Saskatchewan, breeding in a slough. (Nut-
ting.) Scarce between the forks of the Saskatchewan, though fre-
quently seen in company with the red-wings; breeding in the region.
(Coubeaux.) Rather rare at Aweme, Man. (Criddie.) Abundant
by marshes in Manitoba and in similar places in 1906 as far west as
Edmonton along the G.T.P. Ry. (Atkinson.) This is a common
species at Indian Head and Crane lake and in many other parts of
eastern Saskatchewan; rather common at Edmonton in northern
Alberta, where it bred in small communities in 1897. It was com-
mon in 1895 between Moose Jaw and Old Wives lakes. This species
requires even a wetter country than the red-wing for nesting in, as
its nests are always in reeds or tall grass. It was common in June,
1895, at 12-Mile lake, near Wood mountain, building numerous
nests in the dry reeds (Typha latifolia) and rushes (Scirpus lucustris).
There were no eggs, yet on the same date in 1894, at Crane lake,
there were young in many nests and it was difficult to get unhatched
eggs. The cause of the absence of eggs was evidently the lateness
of the season, as on June 7th we had an all-day snow-storm. <A few
were seen at Wood Mountain Post; the last specimens were noted
about 50 miles west of that point. Later, three specimens were
noted at Spur creek, north of. Milk river and a few in its valley at
Kennedy crossing; only one specimen seen and shot on May 25th,
1890, at Revelstoke, B.C.; one seen in the rushes at a lake near
Sidley, B.C., May rath, 1905. (Spreadborough.) A rare summer
resident on the mainland east of the Coast range. I have taken it
above Clinton on the Cariboo road, B.C. (Fannin.) A young male
was shot at Vernon, B.C. Mr. D. McKinley reports them as occa-
sionally visiting the cattle corrals at Lac la Hache. (Rhoads.) I have
two records of this species for Chilliwack, B.C.; noticed only one at
150-Mile House, Cariboo district, B.C., 1901, as a straggler. (Brooks.)

428 _ GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

BREEDING NoTeEs.—In one of the sloughs, where I spent most
of the day wading about, sometimes up to my waist, and in some
spots considerably deeper, a large number of nests were found,
mostly containing nestlings, but with a few eggs. This was the last
week of June. The nests were built much like those of the long-
billed marsh wren, as far as the situation goes, being fixed to a
tuft of reeds or bunch of tall rank marsh-grass, some stems of which
pass through the substance. They were placed at varying elevations
but always far enough above the water to be out of danger of in-
undation. The nest is a light, dry, rustling structure, swaying
with the motion of the reed to which it is affixed, built of the same
materials as those which support it, which are woven and plaited
together; no mud is used, nor is there any special lining; the brim
is thick and somewhat folded over, like the seam of a garment;
but I never saw a nest, among the many examined, which was
arched over, as stated by some authors. The diameter outside
is five or six inches, and the depth nearly as much. From three
to six eggs or young birds were found in different nests; the former
meastire about an inch and an eighth in length by three-fourths
of an inch in breadth. The ground-colour is grayish-green; this
is thickly spotted with different shades of reddish-brown, some-
times so profusely that the ground colour is obscured, especially
at the larger end. (Cowes.) At Crane lake, Sask., there was a
large colony of these birds which were nesting in a marsh where
the water was almost three feet deep. I found that this depth of
water round the edge of a reedy pond kept out foxes and coyotes,
and here ducks of various kinds, black terns and coots nested in
great numbers. All the nests taken by me were slight structures
and always fastened to leaves or stems of cat-tail, (Typha latifolia).
Eggs or young in nest were from three to five, never six. (Macoun.)

CCII. AGELAIUS. Viemzor. 1816.
498. Redwinged Blackbird.
Agelaius pheniceus pheniceus. (LINN.) RIDGW. 1901.

A very rare summer resident in Nova Scotia. (Downs.) Small
numbers occasionally seen it. November and December in Nova
Scotia. (H. F. Tufts.) One pair at Cove Head mill, Prince Edward
island, 5th July, 1888. (Macoun.) One taken on Sable island, N.S.,

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 429

April 20th, 1904. (J. Boutelier.) A common summer resident in
New Brunswick. (Chamberlain.) A rare summer resident at Scotch
Lake, York county, but abundant at Grand lake and at Bindon,
Carleton county, N.B. (W. H. Moore.) Taken at Charlesbourg;
rare summer resident in Quebec. (Dionne.) An abundant resident
in the district of Montreal; observed from April 12th to November
ist. (Wdntle.) Common in Argenteuil county, Que.; very common
in the marshes along the Ottawa river, Ont. (D’Urban.) A com-
mon resident in the district around Ottawa. (Ottawa Naturalist,
Vol. V.) Very common everywhere I have been in Ontario. (Jeev.
C. J. Young.) Abundant summer resident at Toronto, Ont.; com-
mon in marshy districts along large rivers in the districts of Parry
Sound and Muskoka. (J. H. Fleming.) A few pairs were nesting
in the marshes along the Madawaska river below Cache lake, also a
few at Source lake, Algonquin park, June, 1900. (Spreadborough.)

BREEDING NoTEs.—Builds in bushes and low trees around Ottawa,
Ont. Its nest is composed of coarse fibrous material, strips of
rushes and marsh grass; lined with fine grass. Eggs four to six,
Pale blue dotted, blotched and scrawled with blackish-brown.
(G. R. White.)

498. Thick—billed Redwing.
Agelaius phoeniceus fortis. RIDGW. 1901.

Breeding range Mackenzie river, Athabaska and other interior
districts of British America. During migrations, the great plains
from eastern base of Rocky mountains to Manitoba. (Ridgway.)
This species was only noticed at Pembina and was not nearly so
common as Brewer blackbird nor the yellow-headed one. The
country was not suited for them. (Cowes.) An abundant summer
resident in Manitoba, frequenting the borders of willow-edged
swamps. Slave River delta. (E. T. Seton.) Common near
Aweme, Man., nesting in marshes near water. (Criddle.) Abund-
ant everywhere from Portage la Prairie, Man., west to Edmonton
along the G.T.P. Ry. (Atkinson.) Very common around sloughs
and along creeks in Saskatchewan nesting in the flags and long
grasses. (A. C. Bent.) This is an abundant species in the bushy
part of the prairie region; it is always found where there is a marsh
bordered by willows in which it prefers to breed. It was common

430 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

at Indian Head, Sask., in 1892; at Medicine Hat, Crane lake and
Cypress hills in 1894; in 1895 it was abundant at Moose Jaw and
Old Wives creek in eastern Saskatchewan; southward they were
breeding at the forks of that creek; also in a marsh at 30-Mile lake
and at 12-Mile lake; after this they became scarcer and only a few
were seen at Wood mountain at the police post and at Medicine
Lodge 16 miles south. After this none were seen for 50 miles to the
west as the country was without water. A few were seen along
Frenchman river and at East End Post and in the marshes of the
creeks flowing south out of the Cypress hills; a few were observed in
the Milk river valley, above Kennedy crossing. It is common in
northern Alberta and was quite common at Edmonton in 1897.
(Spreadborough.) Common in the Red river valley and abundant
about the marshes below Robinson portage, where two specimens.
were collected June 27th, 1901. A number was seen near Oxford
House, Keewatin, July 4th, in the marsh between Oxford and Back
lakes. (Preble.) Common at the Grand rapids of the Saskatchewan.
(Nutting.) Common summer resident between the forks of the
Saskatchewan, frequenting the willows and poplar-edged sloughs
and marshes where it breeds in numbers. (Coubeaux.) Common
at Methye Portage, lat. 56° 30’ in the spring; very common at the
discharge of Methye lake in July, 1888; not seen elsewhere. (J. M.
Macoun.) This species reaches the Saskatchewan about the begin-
ning of May and does not pass beyond lat. 57°. It associates itself
with the other blackbirds and does great injury to sprouting grain.
(Richardson.) North to Fort Simpson, on the Mackenzie river,
common. (Ross.)

If Mr. Oberholser is right in segregating A. pheniceus arctolegus
from fortis, practically all the above references would go to arctolegus,
but for the present the redwings of the Canadian prairies and the far
north are all referred to fortis.

BREEDING NoTES.—June 11th, 1882: Went in the morning with
two brothers to the lake in the sand-hills east of De Winton; saw
there large numbers of marsh terns and various kinds of black-
birds. I was unable, from the depth of the water, to reach the
place where the terns seemed to be nesting, but found the nest of
the red winged blackbird in a few twigs that projected about a
foot above the water, here three feet deep, and some ten feet from

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 431

the shore. I saw the female leave the nest, so that the identifica-
tion is good. The male did not put in an appearance at all. The
nest is very deep, neat and strong; it is suspended from about a
dozen upright twigs and is built much like that of a Baltimore
oriole, but entirely of grass. The eggs, four in number, were all
fresh; one was 1 by 3%, pale blue, and scrawled over with most
curious hieroglyphics in brown-black ink; the others were similar,
(E. T. Seton.) Breeding abundantly in all pools throughout eastern
Saskatchewan, but becoming scarcer to the west. They always
bred in communities. At Brandon, Man., nests were found in
willows (Salix longifolia) and at Crane lake the same species was
nesting in Scirpus lacustris or bullrushes. In 1895 the same species
was breeding in a thick growth of snowberry (Symphoricarpus
occidentalis) on dry ground, at the forks of Old Wives creek, Sask.
Nest of leaves and stems of grasses, lined with the dried stems of
Eleocharis palustris. At 12-Mile lake, near Wood mountain, Sask.,
they were nesting in ‘‘ cat-tails,’”’ and at Sucker creek, south of the
Cypress hills in an old growth of Carex aristata. (Macoun.) On
June 18th, 1892, at Indian Head, Sask., I waded out into a large
slough that had a lot of rushes (Scirpus lacustris) growing in it
near the middle. Ina few minutes I saw ten nests. Three of them
had young, half-grown, and others young just hatched. Two nests
with four eggs each I took. This was at 9 a.m., and at 8 p.m. I
prepared to blow the eggs. On opening the box I found one bird
hatcimd out and one just coming from the shell. Both chicks were
lively and seemed quite strong. (Spreadborough.)

498). Northwestern Redwing.
Agelaius pheniceus caurinus RIDGWAY. 1901.

This species was first taken in the marshes near Agassiz, B.C.,
May toth, 1889, a few pairs were breeding at that time; abundant
in the marshes at Chilliwack, B.C., in the summer of 1901. (Spread-
borough). Taken at Chilliwack, B.C., in 1891, and identified by
Mr. W. Brewster; a few of these birds remain throughout the winter
at Lake Okanagan, B.C. (Brooks.) Chiefly west of the Coast
range; breeds on Vancouver island; common. (Fannin.) One
female shot in the marsh at Comox, April 30th, 1887. Rather

ommon around Copeland lake, Salt Spring island, Gulf of Georgia,

432 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

May gth, 1887, also in a marsh near Cedar hill, Vancouver island.
(Macoun.)

498e. San Diego Redwing.
Agelaius phaniceus neutralis RIDGWAY. 1901.

Breeding range north to eastern British Columbia. (Ridgway.)
East of Coast range, B.C. (Fannin.) Taken at Vernon, B.C.
(Rhoads.) This form was not uncommon at Penticton, south of
Lake Okanagan, B.C., in April, 1903, and at the mouth of the
Spullamacheen river, Shuswap lake, in August, 1889; saw four at
Midway, B.C., April 11th, 1905, and a number were breeding a little
further west at McMinn lake and Meyer creek; others were breeding
in a marsh near the Similkameen river; observed two in the valley
of the Kootenay river at Elko, B.C. (Spreadborough.)

CCIII STURNELLA. VIEILLoT. 1816.
501. Meadow Lark.
Sturnella magna (LINN.) SWAINS. 1827.

Very rare in Nova Scotia; a mere straggler. (Downs.) A rare
summer resident in New Brunswick. (Chamberlain.) One indi-
vidual seen at Scotch Lake, Vork co., N.B., in 1879; none since.
(W. H. Moore.) Summer resident but scarce in the district of
Montreal. (Wzntle.) A moderately common summer resident at
Ottawa, Ont., breeding on the Experimental Farm. (Ottawa
Naturalist, Vol. V.) Very common in the old settlements of Onta-
tio; I used to see a few in the county of Renfrew; observed three on
Wolfe island, April 4th, 1901. (Rev. C. J. Young.) Common
summer resident at Toronto, Ont.; Mr. Kay puts the first appear-
ance of this species in Muskoka about 1863, and regards it as becom-
ing common at Port Sydney; it occurs at Beaumaris. (J. H. Flem-
ang.) Common in the London district; a very few winter with us
in most years; not common in north Bruce and on Manitoulin island.
(W. E. Saunders.)

BREEDING Notes.—Not very common at Ottawa. Nest on the
ground, built of dried grass; lined with finer grass. Eggs four to six.
White, speckled with reddish and purplish. (G. R. White.) Nest

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 433

of fine grass, placed in a hole in the ground in a meadow where the
grass was several inches high. (Meeking.)

5016. Western Meadow Lark.

Sturnella magna neglecta (AuUD.) ALLEN. 1872.

One specimen of this species was taken by Mr. G. R. White within
the city of Ottawa. The bird was singing on top of an elm tree when
shot.

All the meadow larks observed on the International Boundary,
lat. 49°, were this form. They are a common bird of the whole
country, though less numerous as we approach the Rocky moun-
tains. (Coues.) An abundant summer resident of the prairie part
of Manitoba, breeding freely at all points. (E. T. Seton.) A num-
ber was seen along the Red river between Winnipeg and West Sel-
kirk, June 14th, t901. Specimens procured at Winnipeg have been
examined and prove referable to this form. (Preble.) Abundant
at Aweme, Man. (Criddle.) Abundant all over Manitoba and
west to Edmonton along the line of the G.T.P. Ry. (Aztkinson.)
The prairie lark is a common summer resident between the forks of
the Saskatchewan; breeding throughout the country. (Coubeaux.)
This beautiful bird arrives on the Saskatchewan about the begin-
ning of May, but was not seen any further north. (Rechardson.)

This is a characteristic bird of Saskatchewan and Alberta. It is
common everywhere where there is brush or trees. Although it
always builds on the prairies, yet it mounts a tree or bush to sing,
and evidently nests in the vicinity; in traverses of over 1,000 miles
by wagon it was constantly found where there was brush. It was
quite common on Lees creek and Milk river in southern AJberta.
Only one seen at Edmonton, Alta., in 1897, but they were common
in the foothills south to Crow Nest pass. Apparently rare in the
Rocky mountains, but it is common as far as Morley, in the Bow
River pass. None observed at Banff in 1891, and only one speci-
men seen at Revelstoke, B.C., in 1890; not uncommon at Kamloops
and southward as well as along the Thompson river to Spence Bridge,
B.C.; abundant at Agassiz, Chilliwack and Huntingdon, B.C., sum-
mer of 1901; in 1902 was common at Trail and Cascade, on the

International Boundary; common in all the open country from Elko
28

434 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

west to Midway, B.C.; a common summer resident on Varicouver
island; a number winter near Victoria; tolerably common at Comox,
V.I1., while I was there in June, 1893. (Spreadborough.) Abundant
in the lower Fraser valley; a number remain about the stacks and
barnyards at Lake Okanagan, B.C., all winter. (Brooks.) Abun-
dant both east and west of Coast range, B.C.; winters on Vancouver
island. (Fannin.) Very rare at Lac la HAche, in all other open
situations abundant from Vancouver island to the Rocky Mountain
foothills. (Rhoads.) Abundant in some localities in British Colum-
bia. (Lord.) Common on the coast of British Columbia where
there are meadows; very abundant in the interior. I was told that
this species only appeared within the last few years. (Streator)

BREEDING NoTEs.—I have often found the nests of this species in
Manitoba and Saskatchewan. It lays five or six eggs which average
smaller than those of the eastern meadow lark. (W.Raine.) May
18, 1905, found a nest in a clump of bunch-grass, made of grass.
lined with finer grass. (Spreadborough.)

CCIV. ICTERUS Brisson. 1760.
Icterus,spurius (LINN.) BoNap. 1823.

506. Orchard Oriole.

Three examples of this species were taken in New Brunswick
by Mr. Boardman. (Chamberlain.) Prior to 19th May, 1898, when
I met with a young male, I had only heard of two or three of this
species having been observed as far east as Toronto. On 19th
May, 1900, I met with a pair and took a male of second year; and
for the following week or two saw one or more almost daily. On
July 5th I located a pair nesting and am pleased to say that they
were not molested. I think this is the first recorded instance of
nesting in this locality; but I believe an occasional nest is found
near Oakville. I trust to be able to record the arrival of these birds.
in increasing numbers each succeeding year. (J. Hughes-Samuel.)
Possibly a very rare summer resident at Toronto, Ont.; there are
about a dozen records distributed over a long period of years. (J. H.
Fleming.) Quite common inthe three western counties of Ontario.
and fairly so along the north shore of Lake Ontario up to within 50:
or 75 miles of the Niagara river, but only occasionally observed

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 435

near London, and not reported from farther north. Breeds over
its whole range. The few nests that have been found have been
made chiefly of green grass which makes their discovery very diffi-
cult. (W. E. Saunders.) One specimen was taken early in June
at Pembina, the only locality where observed. (Coues.)

507. Baltimore Oriole.

Icterus galbula (LINN.) COUES. 1880.

Two taken at Seal island, Varmouth co., N.S. (H. F. Tufts.)
A pair seen on the Charlottetown road, near Brackley Point,
Prince Edward island, 1oth July, 1888. (Macoun.) Very rare at
St. John, N.B., but said to be common in other localities. (Cham-
berlain.) Rare summer resident at Scotch Lake, York co., N.B.
They are becoming commoner every year. Nest in tall elms near
Fredericton. (W.H. Moore.) Common around Fredericton, N.B.,
in the spring of 1898. (D. Lee Babbit.) A rare summer resident
in Quebec. (Dionne.) Heard singing at Chain lake, Montcalm,
Argenteuil co., Que. (D’Urban.) Common summer resident in
the district of Montreal; breeds in the city; observed from May 7th
to August 21st. (Wintle.) ‘York Factory, Hudson bay. (Dr. R.
Bell.) A common summer resident about Ottawa; breeds in large
numbers in elm trees in the city and its suburbs. (Oftawa Natura-
list, Vol. V.) One of the commonest birds around Kingston, Ont.
and apparently increasing. Has reached the county of Renfrew,
where I have seen it. (Rev. C. J. Young.) Common summer resi-
dent at Toronto, Ont.; Mr. Kay gives 1887 as the year of its first
appearance at Port Sydney, Muskoka district; Mr. Taverner refers
to it as becoming increasingly common at Beaumaris. (j. H.
Fleming.) A common summer resident throughout southern On-
tario; but quite rare in North Bruce, where I only observed three
specimens in four weeks. (W. E. Saunders.)

Abundant at Pembina, the only locality where it was found on
the International Boundary, lat. 49°; several nests with eggs in
them were taken during the latter part of the month of June. (Coues.}
A common summer resident of open woodlands in the south and
west of Manitoba. (E. T. Seton.) One seen flying across Red river
about midway between Winnipeg and West Selkirk, June 14th,
1go1. (Preble.) Common in open woods at Aweme, Man. (Crid-

28%

436 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

dle.) Quite numerous from Manitoba to Edmonton along the line
of the G.T.P. Ry. except in the saline districts around the Eagle
hills. (Atkinson.) Rare in the timbered districts about Maple
creek, Sask. (A.C. Bent.) In the spring of 1892 many specimens
were seen at Indian Head, Sask., and nearly all remained to breed ;
others at Medicine Hat, Sask., in May, 1894; and others were taken
on Old Wives creek, Sask., in May, 1895. None were observed
south or west of the above point. Arrived at Edmonton, Alta., on
May 2oth, 1897; later, many were seen flying north but a few re-
mained to breed. They nested in tall poplars over 30 feet from the
ground, yet nests were found in bushes six feet from the ground.
(Spreadborough.) This handsome bird is a regular and not uncom-
mon visitor between the forks of the Saskatchewan; frequently seen
and heard in the thickets where it hangsits pretty nest. (Coubeaux.)
This bird ranges through the central part of the Northwest Territo-
ries up to lat. 55°, beyond which it does not seem to go. (Rechardson.)

BREEDING NoTes.—I found a nest of this bird June 7th, 1890,
at Dorval, built in the top of a thin bush, within reach of hand
from the ground, and containing five fresh eggs, but as a rule their
nests are built here hanging to branches of large trees, twenty or
thirty feet above the ground. I saw this species feeding on the
ground, an unusual position to find the oriole in, as they generally
confine themselves to the trees and bushes when feeding. (Wintile.)
Breeds throughout Manitoba and in Saskatchewan as far west as
Crescent lake. (W. Raine.) Builds near the end of a long branch,
elm tree preferred at Ottawa. Nest composed of the flax of silk
weed, willow down, wool string, lined with lint, wiry grass and
horse hair; eggs five, white with a faint tinge of blue, spotted,
scrawled and streaked with lilac and brown, mostly towards the
larger end. (G. R. White.) On June 25th, 1882, on the north
bank of the eastern slough, I found a Baltimore oriole’s nest in
an oak tree, about 10 feet high. This nest was about four inches
deep. It was formed of the outer bark of the Asclepias, and so
thoroughly interwoven and ‘‘darned”’ that the fabric was like a
thick warm felt. It was remarkably strong, too, and with a view
to testing it in this particular I brought it home with the branch
that bore it, and, having hung to it a pail by a band across the upper
surface, proceeded to add weight. Fifteen pounds were gradually
added without it showing any signs of breaking, but at the seven-

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 437

teenth the weight slipped to one side, and being thrown upon but
one of the fastenings, broke it. I then procured another nest, an
old one of the same material, and tried it successively with 15, 20,
25, 27 pounds, and still it held together; 29 and 30 were reached
without breakage, but at 31 it began to give, and after a few seconds
the weight tore through the fabric, without, however, injuring the
fastenings at the top. On October rg9th found an old nest of an
oriole down by the slough. It was woven of strips of Asclepias
bark and suspended from four or five twigs. J made a careful test
of its strength and found that it bore 15 pounds weight without the
least sign of breaking, but an additional two pounds, thrown care-
lessly on, tore it from its fastenings. (EF. T. Seton.)

508. Bullock Oriole.
Icterus bullockt (Swatns.) Bonar. 1838.

The only oriole taken was reported by Dr. Bishop as follows: ‘‘I
shot a male along the timber near Maple creek, on July 2. This bird
is typical (bullock?) except that it has the malar region, auriculars
and sides of head black and many feathers of sides of neck tipped
with black. Probably a hybrid with galbula.”’ This may have been
one of the birds that I saw and took to be galbula. Prof. Macoun says:
‘‘Breeding in considerable numbers in trees in the valley of the Sas-
katchewan at Police point, Medicine Hat, Sask., May, 1894; not
noticed further east.”’ Probably galbula reaches its western limit
and bullockt its eastern limit somewhere in this vicinity. (4. C.
Bent.)

Breeding in considerable numbers in trees in the valley of the
Saskatchewan at Police point, Medicine Hat, Sask., May, 1894; not
noticed further east ; common in the trees at Osoyoos lake, B.C., and
breeding, June, 1905, a large colony was found breeding in the valley
of the Thompson at Kamloops, B.C., in June, 1889; rather rare at
Spence Bridge, B.C., in 1889; one specimen seen at Chilliwack, B.C.,
May 23rd, rgo1, and several, May 27th, 1906. (Spreadborough.)

Abundant in some parts of British Columbia. (Lord.) I met with
this bird only at Ashcroft, where one specimen was taken and a few
more seen. (Streator.) East of Coast range only; a rare summer
’ resident; breeds at Cache creek. (Fannin.) Rare at Ashcroft and

438 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

disappearing midway between Ashcroft and Clinton, on the Bona-
parte river; more numerous at Kamloops, and abundant around
Swan lake, at Vernon, B.C. (Rhoads.) Abundant east of Coast
range; a few pairs breed west of it at Chilliwack, B.C. (Brooks.)

CCV. EUPHAGUS. Cassin. 1867.
509. Rusty Blackbird.
Euphagus carolinus (MULL.) 1867.

Common in Labrador; breeds at Fort Chimo, where young just
from the nest were obtained July roth, 1884. (Packard.) One
pair observed on Moose river, June 2nd, 1896; doubtless breeding;
tolerably common in marshes from Richmond gulf- to Ungava;
seen in flocks in the interior, July 24th. (Spreadborough.) A
regular and common summer migrant in Newfoundland. (Reeks.)
Fairly common along the Humber river, Newfoundland, 1899-
(Louis H. Porter.) Common summer resident in Nova Scotia’
(Downs.) Fairly common from the last of March till September
in Kings co., N.S. (H. F. Tufts.) Bayley says it breeds freely in
the alders near Sydney, Cape Breton island. First seen May 7th-
common by June 8th, and remained all summer. (C. R. Harte.)
Occasionally seen at Baddeck and Margaree, Cape Breton island,
N.S. (Macoun.) Four or five seen on Sable island, N.S., Sept.
24th, 1907; came to Sable island in numbers during a northwest
gale, Sept. 30th, 1905. (J. Boutelier.) A flock of twenty or more,
largely young birds, near East point, Prince Edward island, was
seen July 7th; these were the only ones observed although I had
heard of their occurrence before. (Dwight.)

An irregular summer visitor in New Brunswick. (Chamberlain.)
A common spring and autumn migrant at Scotch Lake, York co.,
' N.B. Have heard recently that this species breeds at Benton,
Carleton co. (W. H. Moore.) Taken at Beauport; a migrant in
spring and autumn in Quebec. (Dionne.) Breeds abundantly in
swamps at East point, Magdalen islands. (Bishop.) Saw a family
of this species at Inlet, Que., July 12th, 1905. (Rev. G. Eifrig.)
Common and breeding at Lake Mistassini, northern Quebec. (jJ.M.
Macoun.) A commen transient visitant in the Montreal district;

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 439

arrives in small flocks in’ spring and passes further north to breed,
returning in autumn in larger flocks. (Wintle.)

A common spring and autumn migrant; it may breed sparingly in
the northern part of the Ottawa district. (Ottawa Naturalist, Vol-
V.) I found this bird breeding commonly in the Magdalen islands;
in the month of June the young were hatched and I secured two
sets of eggs from there. In the summer of 1898 I saw one bird near
Lansdowne, Ont., but in the month of October large flocks arrive
from the north. (Rev. C. J. Young.) Abundant migrant at To-
ronto, Ont. Assembling in large flocks in Muskoka and Parry
Sound districts; J am not aware that they breed in these districts,
(J. H. Fleming.) Common along the Missinabi river; seen in ones
and twos along the river the second week in September beginning
to gather in flocks the last of the month. (Spreadborough.)

Several seen and a female taken near the head of Echimamish,
Keewatin, where they were undoubtedly breeding. Large flocks
seen at Fort Churchill. Later, in the season of 1901, they were
found abundant on the return south from York Factory. (Preble.)
York Factory, Hudson bay. (Dr. R. Bell.) Fort Churchill, Hud-
son bay. (Wright.) The rusty grackle enters Dakota from the
north in September, and then mixes indiscriminately with Brewer’s
blackbird; but the two will not be found together during the breed-
ing season. (Coues.) An enormously abundant migrant in Mani-
toba in the spring and autumn migrations; a few may breed. Noted
at several points along Great Slave lake in 1907. (E. T. Seton.)
Abundant at Aweme, Man., breeding. (Criddie.) Only observed
in Manitoba as a migrant though it may breed in the northern parts,
excessively abundant in migration. Not noticed west of the pro-
vince. (Atkimson.) Common at Indian Head in the spring of
1892; none were observed on the prairie in 1894 and 1895; in the
spring of 1897 they were abundant at Edmonton, Alta., and a nest
was taken in a thicket overhanging a pool of water; a few breeding
all along the trail from Lesser Slave lake to Peace River Landing,
Alta., in 1903. (Spreadborough.) Common at Chemawawin, near
the Grand rapids of the Saskatchewan. (Nutting.) Arrives in the
spring in flocks between the forks of the Saskatchewan. (Cou-
beaux.) Abundant everywhere between Calgary and Athabaska
Landing in northern Alberta; rare at Fort McMurray in lat. 56° 30’;

440 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

not rare at Methye portage; abundant bétween Methye lake and
Isle a la Crosse in 1888. (J. M. Macoun.) This sombre-coloured
bird is the most northern of the American Sturnide, its summer
range reaching to the 68th parallel, or as far north as the woods
extend. It reaches the Saskatchewan about the end of April, and
is at Great Bear lake, lat. 65°, by the 3rd of May, generally in pairs,
(Richardson.) North on the Mackenzie river to Fort Good Hope;
common. (Ross.) This bird is fairly abundant in the neighbour-
hood of Fort Anderson, and they were frequently observed as far
as the eastern limits of the forest, as well as near the ‘‘crossing”’
of the Horton river in about lat. 69°. The twenty-five nests dis-
covered were built in trees from five to eight feet from the ground.
(Macfarlane.) One specimen shot at Metlakatla, B. C., by Rev-
J. H. Keen, Nov. 21st, 1901. (Kermode.) This species is a regular
summer resident in northern Alaska wherever trees and bushes are
found, reaching the vicinity of the sea coast; in northern Alaska it
reaches lat. 70°. (Nelson.) One specimen taken on Sheep creek,
near Homer, Alaska, was the only specimen observed. (Figgins.)
This was a fairly common bird along the Kowak, Kotzebue sound,
from the delta eastward. They were seen in small flocks until
September 8th, and the following spring returned in flocks, May
2end, after which they separated into smaller groups. (Grinnell.)
Taken at several localities near Bristol bay, Alaska. (Osgood.)
This bird is one of the earliest land birds to arrive at St. Michael.
It is not common there and does not breed in the vicinity to my
knowledge. (Turner.) Saw two specimens at Log Cabin, in the
White pass, on June 15th, 1899. Osgood took a specimen near
Fort Yukon, Alaska, and a small flock was seen near St. Michael.
(Bishop.) Two males were shot at Tyonek, Cook inlet, Alaska, in
September, 1899. (Osgood.) .

BREEDING Notses.—Met with at London as a rare migrant in
spring and more common in the fall, but in North Bruce it breeds
sparingly on the inland lakes where I found a nest on June gth,
1887. The nest was placed in a maple shrub, two feet over the
water and was made of tamarac and other twigs lined with green
grass, with mud between it and the exterior twigs. It contained
three eggs whose spots are more rufous and ground colour more
greenish than those of Brewer’s blackbird. (W. E. Saunders.)

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 441

Gradually pushing east it has always been rare at Toronto, but
Mr. J. Hughes-Samuel found a pair nesting at Toronto island in
the spring of 1900. (J. H. Fleming.) A few pairs nest in Saskat-
chewan, but most of the birds go further north to nest. It is often
confounded with Brewer’s blackbird as the nests and eggs resemble
each other. (W. Raine.) Arrived at Edmonton, Alta., May 2oth,
on June roth found a nest with four young and one egg. The nest
was placed upon a spruce tree which had fallen a number of year®
before and was bleached white by the weather and was hanging
horizontally over a small pond that was in the heavy timber near
the river. The tree was about a foot from the water, where the
nest was. I also found an old nest upon a heap of old spruce brush
in the same pond. The nest was made of dry grass. There were
no weeds or grass in the pond. June 13th, I saw young able to fly,
these were in a dried-up slough in the heavy timber. (Spread-
borough.) On the Magdalen islands this bird builds a nest very
similar to that of the robin, all low down in the spruce near the end
of thick boughs. (H. K. Job.) I found a nest in bushes over-
hanging a small lake near Innisfail, Alta., in June, 1903 The one
egg was taken and the female shot. I have never found this species
nesting anywhere except in shrubs over water and I have never
found Brewer’s blackbird nesting in such a situation. (W. E.
Saunders.)

510. Brewer Blackbird.
_Euphagus cyanocephalus (Wacr.) CassIN. 1867.

I have a specimen of this species said to have been taken at
Toronto, Ont. (J. H. Fleming.) This is the characteristic black-
bird of the whole region along the International Boundary from
Pembina to the Rocky mountains. (Coues.) An abundant sum-
mer resident in most districts; this species gathers in large flocks
and commits great depredations in wheat and oat fields in the
autumn. (E. T. Seton.) Common in the Red river valley be-
tween Winnipeg and West Selkirk, June r4th, 1901. (Preble.)
Altogether the most abundant and regularly distributed blackbird in
the west in the more open and scrub country. Noted everywhere
in Manitoba and west to Edmonton, Alta. (Atkinson.) Apparently
rather common at the Grand rapids of the Saskatchewan.

442 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

(Nutting.) This species, the rusty grackle and the bronze
grackle arrive together, in flocks, in spring and afterwards
separate and breed in colonies. (Coubeaux.) Very abundant in
the timber along creeks in Saskatchewan. (A. C. Bent.) Very
abundant at Indian Head, Medicine Hat and Crane lake, wherever
there was brush. This is the characteristic blackbird of Saskat-
chewan and Alberta, at least as far north as Edmonton, and
abounds everywhere from the International Boundary northward
to the Saskatchewan; common on the Grande Prairie, Peace
River district, Aug. 15th, 1903; a few were seen in the spring of
1891 at Banff, Rocky mountains, but they do not breed there ;
seen at Revelstoke on the Columbia river, B.C., April 4th, 1890,
and later,on May 3rd, a few more were seen; they do not breed
there; saw two at Bayne lake, near Fernie, B.C., May 2nd, 1904;
common at Midway, B.C., April 6th, 1905, and found a number of
nests at Sidley, May 14th ; they were built in bushes in a swamp
and made of fine grass and horse hair; they were also found on the
ground at the base of a clump of dwarf birches; in flocks 10 miles
south of Kamloops, B.C.; also common at Agassiz in May, 1889;
common at Chilliwack, B.C., in the spring; only observed three at
Huntingdon in the fall of 1901; only one specimen seen on Van-
couver island, April 16th, 1893, none seen afterwards that year;
three seen at Clayoquot, Vancouver island, Oct. 17th, 1907. (Spread-
borough.) A few individuals of this species remain at Lake
Okanagan, B.C., all winter. (Brooks.) Both east and west of
the Coast range; common in spring and fall at the mouth of the
Fraser, B.C.; breeds in the neighbourhood of Clinton. (Fannin.)
Breeding in suitable localities, both east and west of the Coast
range to Vernon, B.C., in the south and Lac la Hache in the north.
(Rhoads.) North to Fort Simpson on the Mackenzie river. Not
rare. (Ross.) Common in some parts of British Columbia. (Lord.)
Generally distributed in British Columbia, but not common.
(Streator.)

BREEDING Notes.—On June 8th, 1882, C. T. found a grackle’s
nest on the newly harrowed ground in a field not more than 20
yards from a clump of willows. The eggs, five in number, were
in a slight hollow in the ground, without a single straw or any
pretense of lining. My brother sprang the bird and then called

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 443

me. I did not see the bird rise, but a pair of grackles were flying
about and noisily resented our interference, and as no other birds
were near, I feel safe in the identification. The dozen of nests of
this species which I have examined were all either on the ground
or in low forks or saddled on logs, close to some pond, and were
more or less composed of mud when elevated. I found half a
dozen nests around a single small lake on the Duck mountain.
The eggs are in colour between those of the rusty and purple grac-
kles. (E. T. Seton.) This species builds a large nest of the stalks
of dried plants, lined on the inside with horse-hair. In size it
averages over six inches across, with a cup over three inches and a
depth of at least 14 inches. Eggs usually five, variously speckled
and spotted. Nests always placed in close thickets and mostly in
small communities. Nests were taken at Medicine Hat and Old
Wives creek, Sask. in thickets of Prunus, Crategus, Symphori
carpus, and willows of various kinds. (Macoun.)

CCVI. QUISCALUS. Viettor. 1816.
511. Bronzed Grackle.
Quiscalus quiscula eneus (RiIDGW.) STEIN. 1885.

A summer migrant in Newfoundland, but rare. (Reeks.) Rare
in Nova Scotia; only three specimens seen. (Dowms.) Rare in
King’s co., N.S.; one observed May 3rd, 1895. Uncommon and
local summer resident in Nova Scotia. (H. F. Tufts.) Migrants
arrived at Shulee, Cumberland co., N.S., March 12th. (C. H.
Morrell.) Two seen at Sable island, N.S., April 29th, 1907. (J:
Boutelier.) One pair seen at Tracadie, Prince Edward island, 11th
July, 1888. (Macoun.) A pair of these birds in Mr. Earle’s pos-
session were the only ones he had ever seen on Prince Edward
island. (Dwight.) An abundant summer resident in New Brun-
swick. (Chamberlain.) Very rare in the Restigouche valley.
(Brittain & Cox.) A common summer resident at Scotch Lake,
York co., N.B. (W. H. Moore.) Taken at Beauport; a common
summer resident in Quebec. (Dionne.) An abundant summer
resident in the Montreal district; breeds in the city; observed here
from April 1st to October 11th. (Wunitle.) Fort Churchill, Hudson
bay. (Wright.) York Factory, Hudson bay. (Dr. R. Bell.)

444 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA,

Several seen near Sea falls and on the lower Echimamish, June 24th,
1901 ; common down to Oxford House, but none seen below. (Preble.)

A common summer resident in the Ottawa district. (Ottawa
Naturalist, Vol. V.) A common summer resident, but the flocks
that collect in the fall are not so large as formerly, I notice. I saw
none on the Magdalen islands; arrived on Wolfe island, April 2nd,
1gor. (Rev. C. J. Young.) Abundant summer resident at To-
ronto, Ont.; a common breeding species in the Muskoka and Parry
Sound districts; at Kearney they nest in old woodpecker’s holes.
(J. H. Fleming.) Abundant everywhere along the shores of the
lakes in Algonquin park; young ones able to fly by June 18th, 1900.
Common at Missinabi, Ont., June ist, 1904, breeding. (Spread-
borough.)

Abundant at Pembina where it was breeding in June in the
hollows of trees. Occurred sparingly along the Mouse (Souris)
river in the fall, and during 1874 was traced westward to the Rocky
mountains. (Coues.) An abundant summer resident in Manitoba
wherever there is wood and water; it apparently extends as a strag-
gler northward to Hudson bay. (E. T. Seton.) Common at
Aweme, Man., nesting in willow thickets near the edge of
marshes. (Criddle.) A common summer resident in the wooded
parts of Saskatchewan ; at Indian Head, where nests were taken
June 20th, 1892, one nest was on the side of a large poplar tree,
in a bunch of small twigs that grew out from the side of it about 10
feet from the ground; also at Medicine Hat, and nesting in Cypress
hills in 1894; in May, 1895, nests were taken in holes in Acer Negundo
near the mouth of Old Wives creek, eastern Saskatchewan; first seen
at Edmonton, Alta., April 24th, 1897, quite common by May 3ist;
found a nest in a balsam stub; nest composed of weeds lined with
grass; incubation had been going on for about a week; next found
a nest with young lately hatched. One pair seen at Lesser Slave
lake and one bird at Dunvegan, Alta. (Spreadborough.) An abundant
species in Manitoba and noted everywhere in 1906 along the G.T.P.
Ry. west to Edmonton, Alta. (Atkinson.) Uncommon in the
timber on Maple and Skull creeks, Sask. (A. C. Bent.) Very
abundant at the Grand rapids of the Saskatchewan. (Nutting.)
Breeding abundantly between the forks of the Saskatchewan.
(Coubeaux.) Breeding abundantly from Winnipeg, Manitoba, to

°

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 445

the foothills of the Rocky mountains in Alberta. (W. Raine.)
These birds arrive on the Saskatchewan about the beginning of
May and,soon after pair and commence to breed. They build their
nests like rooks, several in the same tree and occasionally in the
loose sticks of an osprey’s nest. (Richardson.) North to Fort
Simpson on the Mackenzie river; rare. _ Ross.)

BREEDING Notes.—In the neighbourhood of Ottawa, Ont., this
species nests in a tree or bush. Its nest is built of mud; lined with
grass and rootlets, horse hair and leaves. Eggs five to six, bluish
or greenish with purple veining and clouding with dark brown and
blackish. (G. R. White.) This species nests in barns on islands
and intervales along the St. John river, N.B.; sometimes there
being three and four nests in one barn. They are usually built on
beams or in the angle of a post and brace of the framework. The
eggs number from three to five and are hatched by May 24th. (W.
H. Moore.) Numbers were building in holes of dead ash-leaved maple
at Old Wives creek, Sask., in May, 1895. One nest was taken on
May 30th in a clump of tall choke-cherries. It was about six feet
from the ground and was about eight inches across and built of the
stems of various weeds. The inside was plastered with earth and
afterwards lined with grass stems and a little horse hair. It was
shaped like the nest of Brewer’s blackbird, but smaller. (Macoun.)
Most of the nests are built in cedar and other coniferous trees; some
are fixed to the reeds in the marshes, while others are placed in
barns with nests of robins, of phcebes and of barn swallows. They
are composed of coarse grass and mud, and lined with finer grass.
Their dimensions are 6 inches in diameter by 4 or 5 inches in height,
and their cavity has 4 inches in diameter by 3 indepth. The birds
lay five eggs at the beginning of May. (A. L. Garneau.)

Famity XL. FRINGILLIDA. Fincues, Sparrows, &c.
CCVII. HESPERIPHONA Bonaparte. 1850.

514. Evening Grosbeak.
Hesperiphona vespertina (W. COOPER) BONAPARTE. 1850.

On November 24th, 1903, four specimens of the evening grosbeak
were brought to me, three males and a female, that had been killed
in the woods near Quebec. Later, about the end of January, 1904,

°

446 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

five others, of which one was a female, were shot in the same neigh.
bourhood. To my knowledge, these are, with the exception of one
killed in 1890, the only specimens ever met with here. (Dzonne.)
A rare winter visitant at Montreal. I believe the first record of
the occurrence of this species here was during the winter months
of the year 1890, when several were observed January 28th, in
McGill College grounds by ‘Dr. Harrington of this city. (Wintle.)
In the spring of 1899 one fine male was shot in Rockcliffe park by
Mr. Muirhead who was a guest at Government House. (Macoun.)
A rare winter visitor. Seen in considerable numbers at Guelph,
Ont., during February, 1902, a flock of seventy-five being seen
on the 6th of that month by Prof. M. W. Doherty. (A. B. Klugh.)
First reported in Ontario by Dr. T. J. Cottle, who saw a flock among
evergreens at his residence near Woodstock, Ont., in May, 1866;
noted near London, Ont., in 1871; saw two on March, 17th 1883,
in West Flamboro, Ont. (McIlwraith.) A flight in the winter of
1854-55 in southern Ontario is the earliest recorded. Other flights
are recorded, but the great flight was in the winter of 1889-90;
the first birds were recorded at Toronto, January 18th, and the
last May 26th. It was estimated that not less than 1,000 were
slaughtered. Sometimes appears in large flocks in winter; it comes
into the Parry Sound district much more regularly than is sup-
posed. A flock remained at Emsdale till the end of the first week
in May, 1897, feeding on the seeds of the sumac. (J. H. Fleming.)
Since the winter of 1889-90, I have seen only two or three specimens
of this bird around Toronto; the last, a female, being taken near
the city in April, 1897. (J. Hughes-Samuel.)

This species is an abundant winter visitor at Portage la Prairie and
Winnipeg, and in other parts of Manitoba. It generally appears
about the middle of October. From that date it continually in-
creases in numbers until December, when it reaches its maximum.
Whilst here it frequents the northwest maple or box elder, feeding
on its seeds, and seldom visits the ground, except in spring, when
it will sometimes crowd thickly on a bare spot, apparently seeking
small gravel for digestive purposes. As far as known its nest has
never been found. (£. T. Seton.) Uncommon at Aweme, Man.,
though common in some of the cities. Feeds largely on the seeds
of the Manitoba maple in winter; has not been noted in the summer.
(Criddle.) A regular and abundant winter visitor throughout Man-

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 447

itoba. I am of the opinion that it breeds occasionally in that pro-
vince, as I have collected specimens in early August. (Atkinson.)
At the beginning of the winter of 1900 I noted this bird for the first
time at Prince Albert, Sask., though it had been seen there before.
I saw it all through the winter in flocks of 8 to 20. (Coubeaux.) This
gay and very remarkable bird is a common inhabitant of the maple
groves (Negundo aceroides) on the Saskatchewan plains. As it
atrives late we left Carlton House before they arrived, but Mr.
Prudens kindly sent specimens to us. It frequents the borders of
Lake Superior also, and the eastern declivity of the Rocky moun-
tains, in lat. 56°, but its habits are unknown. (Richardson.) Not
uncommon at Edmonton, Alta., between April 16th and May
14th, 1897, when they disappeared. Two specimens were seen on
the trail between Lesser Slave lake and Peace River Landing, Alta.
in June, and a pair with young birds just able to fly at Dunvegan,
lat. 56°, July 26th, 1903. (Spreadborough.)

Mr. J. H. Fleming, in The Auk, Vol. XXIV., p. 78, and the Rev.
C. J. Young, in The Ottawa Naturalist, Vol. XVIII., p. 24, give fuller

data than is printed here of the occurrence of this bird in eastern
Canada.

514a. Western Evening Grosbeak.
Hesperiphona vespertina montana RipGWay. 1874.

British Columbia. (Mearns.) Met with in the interior only;
in August they were passing southwards in flocks of considerable
size. (Streator.) East of Coast range, B.C., straggling west (in
winter) to lower Fraser and Vancouver island. I found it at the
summit of the Coast range in June, 1891. (Fannin.) One shot out
of a flock of twelve, March 31st, 1894, at Seymour creek, Burrard
inlet, B.C. (£.F.G. White.) Tolerably common resident at Chilli-
wack, B.C.; common winter resident at Okanagan, B.C. (Brooks.)
Valley of the Columbia. (Lord.) Seen as a spring migrant at
Banff, Rocky mountains, in April, 1891, (perhaps the eastern form) ;
quite common along both Arrow lakes, Columbia river, B.C., in
June, 1890; rather common in small flocks at the mouth of Pass
creek, near Robson, B.C.; they were apparently getting ready for
a second brood, June 21st; eating poplar buds; May rsth, 1901,
observed a flock of about fifteen at Chilliwack, B.C.; a small flock

448 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

was seen at Penticton ,B.C., April 14th, 1903; observed seven on
the bank of the Elk river, B.C., May 7th, 1904; took three on the

Hope trail about 14 miles south of Hope, B.C., July 5th; one seen
on the second summit west of the Skagit at an altitude of 6,000
feet, July 22nd; one seen near Victoria, Vancouver island, May 24th,
1893, the only one seen that summer. (Spreadborough.) In April,
1887, a small flock was seen at Comox, Vancouver island. (Macoun.)

CCVIIL. PINICOLA. VieErtior. 1807.

515. Pine Grosbeak
Pinicola enucleator leucura (MULLER) RICHMOND. 1902.

An abundant summer resident at Fort Chimo, Labrador; breeds
there; nest and eggs obtained. Plentiful in southern districts
among timbered tracts. Resident south of the ‘‘height of land.”
(Packard.) One seen at Richmond gulf, July 1st, 1896; not again
observed in Ungava. (Spreadborough.) Three specimens taken
at Cullingham cove, Hamilton inlet, Labrador, 1891. (Norton.)
Common throughout the year in Newfoundland. (Reeks.) Com-
mon in winter in Nova Scotia. (Downs.) Abundant during Dec-
ember and first two weeks in January in Cumberland county, N-S.,
after which none were seen, with the exception of one pair seen
at Shulee, April 3rd, 1899. (Morrell.) Common in the spruce
woods north of Atillik, northeast coast of Labrador, beyond which
spruces dwindled into low bushes. (Bigelow.) Two adults and
two young were watched within a few yards of Neil harbour, Cape
Breton island, N.S. (Townsend.) A flock of several was seen at
Sydney, Cape Breton island, N.S., May 24th, 1902. Known locally
as ‘‘Ortolan.” (C. R. Harte.) Frequently abundant during early
winter in Nova Scotia; sometimes observed in summer. (H. F.
Tufts.) Common in New Brunswick in winter. (Chamberlain.)
Rare summer resident near Scotch Lake, York county, N.B.; breeds
to the north of the province. (W. H. Moore.) Found nesting in

the valley of Restigouche, N.B. (Brittain & Cox.)
Common in the winter at Lake Mistassini, Que. (J. M. Macoun.)

Common summer resident in eastern Quebec. (Dionne.) A com-
mon winter visitant at Montreal; they often visit the city in such
places where mountain ash trees with berries are to be found;
observed from October 30th to April 26th. (Wintle.) Irregulaily

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 449

abundant at Ottawa, Ont. It appeared in immense numbers in
the winter of 1882-3, and again in 1888-9, as did many others of our
winter birds. (Ottawa Naturalist, Vol. V.) More or less common
in Ottawa every winter. (Macoun.) In March, 1895, I saw several
of these birds at Lansdowne, Ont., feeding on the seeds of the black
ash. In the month of June, 1897, I found them common on the
Magdalen islands, Que., where a few breed in the thick woods of
spruce. Numerous flocks visited eastern Ontario during the winter
of 1907. They were common in the vicinity of Madoc and fed on
the seeds of frozen apples and crabs that still hung on a few trees.
(Rev. C. J. Young.)

Irregular winter migrant, sometimes abundant at Toronto, Ont.
In the districts of Parry Sound and Muskoka, in September; 1898,
I saw small flocks feeding on the tops of the highest pines. (J. H.
Fleming.) A winter visitor at Guelph; fairly common some years,
in others entirely absent. (A. B. Klugh.) A winter resident at
Penetanguishene, Ont. Very plentiful during the winter of 1900
and 1901, when the nuts were a very heavy crop, at which time
they could be seen in the beech woods picking at the hulls of the
remaining nuts. (A. F. Young.)

A somewhat common winter visitor in Manitoba; possibly nest-
ing in the northern spruce woods. First seen in 1907 on Et-then
island, Great Slave lake, September 21st; afterwards seen daily as
we journeyed southward. (E. T. Seton.) A male was seen perched
on a tree overhanging Hill river, near the mouth of Fox river, July
8th, 1900; the species was reported to us by the residents at Fort
Churchill. (Edward A. Preble.) A regular and abundant winter
visitor generally throughout Manitoba, but not known to breed.
(Atkinson.) Tolerably common winter resident at Aweme, Man.
(Criddle.) On April 15th, 1892, shot a male at Indian Head, Sask.; his
stomach was full of poplar and willow buds and a few seeds of the wild
buckwheat; none wasseen afterwards. (Spreadborough.) This species
leads a quiet and retired life in the glomiest recesses of the conifer-
ous forests; it is seldom seen. It was not observed north of the
sixtieth parallel by any member of the expedition. It builds its
nest on the lower branches of a tree and feeds chiefly upon the seeds
of the spruce. (Richardson.) North, on the Mackenzie river, to
Fort Good Hope; not rare. (Ross.) In the spring of 1861 an

29 /

450 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

Indian discovered a nest of this species about sixty miles south of
Fort Anderson, we never discovered another. (Macfarlane.) Toler-
ably common in small flocks and more frequently seen along the
banks of both branches of the Saskatchewan. This bird is one of
our constant winter visitors, arriving about the end of October and
leaving about the end of March. (Coubeaux.)

515a. Rocky Mountain Pine Grosbeak.

Pinicola enucleator montana RipGw. 1898.

This species was taken at Banff, Rocky mountains, in 1891;
both old and young birds seen at Canmore near Banff in June, 1885;
saw two on a mountain on the north side of the Miette river near
Jasper House, Alta., August 29th, 1898; common around Revelstoke,
B.C., up to April 28th, 1890; their chief food was buds of balsam
poplar; seen as late as May 23rd in the Eagle pass, B.C.; not rare
on Mount Queest, Gold range, Shuswap lake, B.C., alt. 6,000 feet,
August, 1889; and one seen near the summit of a mountain at Rob-
son, Columbia river, B.C., June 24th, 1890; saw two on the first summit
west of the Skagit in 1905; observed a small flock at an altitude
of about 5,000 feet, east of the Columbia river on the International
Boundary, B.C., September 1oth, 1902. (Spreadborough.)

BREEDING NoTes.—I have a nest and four eggs that were taken
at Banff, in the Rocky mountains, June 3rd, 1896. The nest is
composed of twigs, roots and grass; lined with fine roots and hair.
It was built on the branch of a spruce tree about 15 feet from the
ground. (W. Ratne.)

515e. Alaskan Pine Grosbeak.
Pinicola enucleator alascensis RipGw. 1898.

Northwestern North America, including wooded portions of
Alaska except Kadiak and the southern coast district, south in
winter to Montana and eastern British Columbia. (Ridgway.) A
winter visitant to the valley of the Chilliwack river, B.C.; common
winter resident in Cariboo district; breeds in the timber zone and
winters at Okanagan on the mountains. (Brooks.) East and west
of Coast range, except Vancouver island, also taken at Fort Simp-
son, B.C., by W. B. Anderson. (Fannin.) Rare at Metlakatla,
B.C. (Rev. J. H. Keen.)

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 451

Along the entire west and northwest coast of America from
Vancouver island north to within the Arctic circle, this bird occurs
in greater or less abundance. The only breaks in this range are
the treeless areas which occur along the the coast of Behring sea,
Throughout the interior of the above region it is an abundant

“species. (Nelson.) This species is a resident of the interior and
wooded districts of the entire territory of Alaska. (Turner.)
Sheep creek and Homer, Kenai peninsula, Alaska; at these places
nine specimens were taken in July and September, 1901. The
patches of cottonwood were the favourite haunts of this bird. They
were never found in spruce timber except while perched upon the
topmost branch of a dead tree, where they remained but for a few
minutes. During heavy rain storms they repair to the lower under-
brush and even the low grass. (Figgins.)

BREEDING Notes.—The Alaskan pine grosbeak proved to be a
common resident throughout the year in wooded tracts from the
delta through the Kowak valley. My first acquaintance with this
species was made on the 25th August, 1898, when two adults and
two full-grown young were observed. They were silent save for
a low, mellow call-note, and were feeding on the green alder seed-
pods. I secured the two adults, which were in moulting plumage.
In September and October pine grosbeaks were quite numerous,
being often met with in companies of six to a dozen, immatures
and adults together. They were usually among the scattering
birch and spruce which line the low ridges. There, until the snow
covered the ground, they fed on blueberries, rose-apples and
cranberries. During the winter their food was much the same as
that of the redpolls—seeds and buds of birch, alder and willow, and
sometimes tender spruce needles. In the severest winter weather
they were not often in the spruce, but had then retired into the
willow beds. The usual note is a clear whistle of three syllables.
The native name Ki-u-tak represents it. Then there was a low,
mellow, one-syllabled note uttered among members of a flock
when alarmed. Twice I noted solitary males, when flying across
the woods, singing a loud, rollicking warble, much like a purple
finch. One morning, the 18th February, found me across the
river skirting the willows in search of ptarmigan. Although it
was 50 degrees below zero, a pine grosbeak, from the depths of a
nearby thicket, suddenly burst forth in a rich melodious strain,

20%

452 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

something like our southern black-headed grosbeak. He con-
tinued, though in a more subdued fashion, for several minutes.
Such surroundings and conditions for a bird-song like this! Again
one day in March, during a heavy snow-storm, a bright red male
sang similarly at intervals for nearly an hour, from an alder thicket
near the cabin, and as summer approached their song was heard
more and more frequently. Not until May 25th did I discover a
nest. This was barely commenced, but on June 3rd, when I
visited the locality again, the nest was completed and contained
four fresh eggs. The female was incubating, and remained on the
nest until nearly touched. The nest was eight feet above the
ground on the lower horizontal branches of a small spruce grow-
ing on the side of a wooded ridge. The nest was a shallow affair,
very much like a tanager’s. It consisted of a loosely-laid plat-
form of slender spruce twigs, on which rested a symmetrically-
moulded saucer of fine, dry, round-stemmed grasses. Its depth
was about one inch and internal diameter 3.25. The eggs are pale
Nile blue with a possible greenish tinge, dotted and spotted with
pale lavender, drab and sepia. The markings are very unevenly
distributed, the small ends of the eggs being nearly immaculate,
while there is a conspicuous wreath about the large ends. The
markings are not abruptly defined, but the margins of the spots
are distinct, fading out into the surrounding ground colour. One
of the eggs is more thickly and evenly sprinkled with various
tints of bistre. The eggs are rather ovate in shape, but the small
ends are blunt. On June 11th, in the Kowak delta, I found a
similarly constructed nest containing four small young; this was
six feet up in a dwarf spruce, and on the 12th, I found another
nest in all particulars like the other two, and containing four eggs
almost ready to hatch. My series of 44 skins of P. e. alascensis
confirms the distinctness of that race; the Kowak river birds pre-
sent an extreme of ashness. (Grinnell.)

515d. Kadiak Pine Grosbeak,

«

Pimcola enucleator flammula (HOMEYER) RipGW. 1808.

Island of Kadiak, Alaska, and Alaskan coast southward at least
to Sitka [probably coast of British Columbia at least in winter.]
(Ridgway.)

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 453
CCIX. PYRRHULA. Brisson. 1760.
516. Cassin Bulifinch.
Pyrrhula cassint (BAIRD) TRISTRAM. 1871.

The presence of this bird in the North American fauna rests
solely upon the capture of a specimen at Nulato on the middle
Yukon, January roth, 1867, by Mr. Dall. (Nelson.)

On July 19th, 1879, in the northern waters of Cumberland gulf,
Mr. Ludwig Kumlien saw a bird which he could not secure and
which in his opinion was either this species or Pyrrhula europea,
possibly the latter. We have been unable to obtain any further
records.

CCX. CARPODACUS. Kaup. 1829.

517. Purple Finch.
Carpodacus purpureus (GMEL.) GRAY. 1844.

Kumlien obtained a specimen on shipboard off Resolution island;
Drexler obtained it at Moose Factory, May 26th, 1860; occurs
plentifully in southern portions of Labrador. (Packard.) Com-
mon Moose river to James bay at Moose Factory; none seen further
north in 1896. (Spreadborough.) Common in Nova Scotia; a few
stop all winter. (Downs.) A pair seen at Shulee, Cumberland
county, N.S., January 2nd, 1899. (Morrell.) Bayley says this
species is common at Sydney, Cape Breton island, and breeds.
(C. R. Harte.) Common throughout the year in Nova Scotia.
(H. F. Tufts.) Common at Margaree and Baddeck, Cape Breton
island, N.S., July, 1898; breeding in the woods at Brackley point,
Prince Edward island, June, 1888. (Macoun.) Sparingly distri-
buted; a restless and roving species, and seen singly or in pairs on
Prince Edward island. (Dwight.) A common resident in New
Brunswick. (Chamberlain.) Tolerably Gommon summer resident,
but very irregular in its time of arrival in spring at Scotch Lake,
York county, N.B.; nests in conifers from a few feet up in low
bushes in pastures to high up in forest trees. (W. H. Moore.)
Rather rare in the Gulf of St. Lawrence; a male seen and others
heard on the Magdalen islands. (Bishop.) Common in the Resti-
gouche valley, N.B. (Brittain & Cox.) An abundant species of

454 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

general distribution about the shores of the Gulf of St. Lawrence
and its islands. (Brewster.) Rather common summer resident in
eastern Quebec. (Dionne.) A common summer resident but some
remain all winter. Breeds on the island of Montreal. I found a
nest containing four eggs, June 20th, 1891, in Mount Royal park,
built in a small spruce tree; have noticed them from February 5th
to October 25th; often feeding in winter on mountain ash berries.
(Wintle.)

A common summer resident at Ottawa, Ont.; abundant in migra-
tion. There are a few winter records of this species one of which
is December 29th, 1885. (Ottawa Naturalist, Vol. V.) Resident at
Toronto; sometimes abundant in winter. A common summer
resident in the districts of Parry Sound and Muskoka. (j. H.

Fleming.) Abundant at Cache lake, Algonquin park, Ont.; breed-
ing in low wet woods. (Spreadborough.) Often seen in numbers

but certainly a much less frequent summer resident than formerly.
In 1886 many stayed all summer in London, Ont., where they had
been scarce during several previous years. In 1899 its scarcity
was remarkable. It is seen the whole year round but most notice-
ably common in spring. (W. E. Saunders.) A common migrant
in spring and fall at Guelph, Ont.; arrives about April 15th and
leaves about October 4th; afew breed. (A.B.Klugh.) This species
was several times heard early on the morning of June 16th, 1900,
at Bull Head point, Lake Winnipeg, where the steamer stopped
for wood. (Edward A. Preble.)

This species was found in small numbers on Turtle mountain,
Manitoba, during the latter part of July. It doubtless breeds in
the locality; not seen further west. (Couwes.) Summer resident
in Manitoba; arrives about April 20th, and departs about October
15th; shot a male in full song, May 14th, 1883; it had been feeding
on poplar catkins. (E. T. Seton.) Tolerably common at Aweme,
Man., during migration. Not seen during the breeding season.
(Criddle.) A regular migrant in Manitoba, breeding occasionally.
Noted breeding at Birtle, Man., Saskatoon, Sask., and Battle
river, Alta. (Atkinson.) First seen at Indian Head, Sask.,
April 21st, 1892, quite common by May 12th; a few breed
there as I saw them late in June; this species arrived at Edmon-
ton, Alta., on May 3rd, 1897, and soon commenced to nest in the

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 455

tall trees; observed one at Lake St. Anne, sixty miles from Edmon-
ton, Alta., June 8th, 1898; a few were observed from the mouth of
Lesser Slave river to Peace River Landing, Alta., in lat. 56° 15’,
June, 1903; taken at Canmore, Alta., but not rare at Banff on the
Bow river within the Rocky mountains, May 27th, 1891, where
they were breeding; one seen in the Crow Nest pass in August,
1897. (Spreadborough.) This bird was seen by us only on the
banks of the Saskatchewan where it feeds on willow buds. It isa
summer visitor, arriving in the month of May. (Richardson.) The
single male, secured at the Grand rapids of the Saskatchewan, agrees
perfectly with this species. (Nuitting.) Not rare at Athabaska
Landing and up the Athabaska to Lesser Slave river; a few birds
at Fort McMurray, but none seen up the Clearwater river, lat. 56°;
not rare but local between Methye portage and Isle 4 la Crosse,
Sask. (J. M. Macoun.) I saw this beautiful finch for the first
time at Prince Albert, Sask., last April (1900) and beginning of
May in company with juncos and tree sparrows. (Coubeaux.)

BREEDING NoTes.—Nest, built on a horizontal bough, composed
of vegetable matter, fibre and rootlets, lined with hair. Eggs,
four, pale dull greenish, almost white, sparsely sprinkled with
blackish and lilac. (G. R. White.) On June 8th, 1893, at Banff,
Alta., I found a nest and eggs of this species built in a willow bush
five feet from the ground. (W. Raine.) A bird that is hardly as
plentiful, apparently, in Ontario, as in former years. I have found
the nest three times in Ontario, twice in a small spruce tree and once
inacedar. I also saw a nest at Lansdowne, Ont., in a small maple.
This is a late breeder, all the eggs I have seen were laid in June.
(Rev. C. J. Young.) Breeds in May and June around Ottawa, Ont.,
also at Lake Nominingue, 100 miles north of it. The nest is built
in coniferous trees from five to fifteen feet from the ground and is
composed of twigs, rootlets, vegetable down and wool with a lining
of hairs. Eggs, four to five in the set. (Garneau.)

517a. California Purple Finch.

Carpodacus purpureus californicus BAIRD. 1874.

Abundant summer resident on both sides of the Coast range.
(Lord.) Common in the coast region; few specimens were taken
in purple plumage. (Streator.) An abundant summer resident

456 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

chiefly west of the coast range; breeds both on Vancouver and
the mainland. (Fannin.) Common summer resident at Chilliwack,
B.C. (Brooks.) Very common at Hastings, Port Heney and Agas-
siz, B.C., in April, 1889; very abundant at Chilliwack and Hunting-
don, B.C., feeding on the seeds of the crab-apple, in the autumn
of 1901; tolerably common near Victoria and quite common at
Comox, Vancouver island, in June, 1893. (Spreadborough.) Found
breeding on the coast of British Columbia. (Rhoads.)

518. Cassin Purple Finch.
Carpodacus cassint BAIRD. 1854.

Western States, from the eastern base of the Rocky mountains
to the Pacific coast, and north to British Columbia. (Rdgway.)
A few examples, probably of this species, were found breeding in
the interior of British Columbia. (Rhoads.) Both sides of Coast
range, B.C. (Fannin.) Summer resident at Soda creek, and pro-
bably also at Quesnel, B.C., 1901. (Brooks.) Taken at Spence
Bridge and Kamloops in June, 1889; one specimen seen at Trail,
B.C., near the International Boundary, in May, 1902; common
everywhere in coniferous woods at Fernie and Elko, B.C., in May,
1904; quite common at Penticton, B.C., in April, 1903, feeding in
the tops of bull pine (Pinus ponderosa), on their seeds; saw one there
June, 1905. (Spreadborough.)

CCXI. PASSER Brisson.

520. House Sparrow.
Passer domesticus (LINNE=US) Kocu. 1816.

This species has become naturalized in all Canadian cities, towns
and small villages and in many farm-yards, where it lives in winter
in affluence on the oats found in the droppings of horses. It is
quite abundant in the autumn, but whether it finds a scarcity of
food or abundance it is always in evidence in spring, and where it
once gets a foothold it retains it and spreads further. It is abun-
dant everywhere in the eastern provinces, in the settled parts of
Quebec and Ontario, and, although spoken against everywhere, it
destroys an enormous quantity of noxious weeds in waste grounds
and vacant places in cities and their suburbs, by eating their seeds,

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 457

in September, October and November, until the snow comes, when
it takes to the streets. In 1894, a few pairs were seen near the
railway station at Winnipeg, Man., since then they have spread
rapidly westward. (Macoun.) One taken on Sable island, N.S.,
April, 22, 1904; two remained through the winter of 1903-4 and
left April 1, 1904; several seen October 14, 1906, and one October
6, 1907. (J. Boutelier.) This bird is gradually extending its range
westward and northwestward. I found it nesting at Yorkton,
Sask., in June, 1901, and Mr. Hugh Richardson, during the sum-
mer of 1901, sent me two sets (of what he called rare eggs) of a bird
that had never been seen before in the Qu’Appelle valley, Sask., a
bird unknown to him, and they turned out to be only eggs of the
English sparrow. I have no record of this bird from Alberta, but
-it is only a matter of time when it will extend its range right to
the Rocky mountain foothills. (W. Raine.) Observed at Mis-
sinabi and at the mouth of Hannah river, James bay, where they
seemed as much at home around our tents as they would be in the
heart of a large town. I also saw one about seventy miles north
of Albany, on the west coast of James bay. (Spreadborough.)

CCXII. LOXIA Linnezus. 1758.
521. American Crossbill.
Loxita curvirostra minor (BREHM) RiIpcw. 1885.

One specimen taken in Hudson strait. It flew on board ship and
was presented by Dr. Matthews. (Dr. R. Bell.) Common through-
out the year on Newfoundland. (Reeks.) Common; arrives after
the breeding season in Nova Scotia. (Downs.) Some years very
abundant in Nova Scotia during the whole twelve months, but
mostly irregular. Numbers nested about Wolfville during winter
of 1906. (H. F. Tujts.) Three seen on Sable island, N.S., July 2nd,
1902; one seen June 20, 1904; one June 25, 1905, and about a dozen
July 21, 1907. (J. Boutelier.) I did not see this species in
Cumberland county, N.S., until March, when it became common;
at that time the males were in full song, and the birds were paired,
male and female always being seen together. I judged both this
and the next species would breed in April. (Morrell.) Common
in woods at Baddeck and Margaree, Cape Breton island, July, 1898;
in spruce trees at Brackley point, Prince Edward island, Aguust, 12

458 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

1888. (Macoun.) Abundant in flocks, mixed with the following
species, feeding chiefly on larch trees on Prince Edward island.
(Dwight.) A rather common resident in New Brunswick. (Cham-
berlain.) Not uncommon in the Restigouche valley, N.B. (Brittain
& Cox.) Rare on the Magdalen islands; a male seen on Grindstone
island. (Bishop.) Taken at Charlesbourg; common summer resi-
dent in eastern Quebec. (Dionne.) A transient visitant but com-
mon; they are very erratic in their movements and may appear at
Montreal at any time during the year, but I have never heard of
them breeding in this district; I saw a small flock of this species
May 14th, 1883, at Céte St. Antoine, feeding on the cones of a larch
tree. (Wintle.) A common summer visitor at Scotch Lake, York
county, N.B. (W.H. Moore.) A common winter resident at Ottawa,
Ont. The summer records are as follows: May 10, 1882; August 4,
1887; June 19, 1889, and July 3, 1890. (Ottawa Naturalist, Vol. V.)
In the winter of 1897 this bird was very common in Ontario; and
in 1898 I saw a pair at Lansdowne in the month of April. They
frequented some hemlock trees in the village, but I could never
make out that they were breeding. Since that year I have scarcely
seen one. (Rev. C. J. Young.) Resident in the districts of Parry
Sound and Muskoka. They gather in immense flocks and come
into the settlement or about the lumber shanties. Irregular winter
visitor at Toronto, Ont. (J.H. Fleming.) There were enormous
numbers of this bird in the vicinity of Whitney near Algonquin
park, Ont., in November and December, 1898; and in the following
April there was an extraordinary migration to the neighbourhood
of Toronto, many remaining till the third week in May. It is pos-
sible that the Whitney hordes may have wandered south which
would account for a visit in such numbers to this locality on the
return trip. (J. Hughes-Samuel.) Saw a small flock both old and
young at Cache lake, Algonquin park, July 2, 1900. (Spreadborough.)
A winter visitor at Guelph, Ont. (A. B. Klugh.) Transient visitant
at Penetanguishene, Ont. Have noticed some immense flocks at
rare intervals. (A. F. Young.) A small flock seen at our camp on
Echiamamish river, Keewatin, June 25, 1900. (Edward A. Preble.)

A winter visitant in Manitoba; possibly also breeding. In Mani-
toba I failed to detect its presence excepting during winter and
spring. It is common wherever there is plenty of spruce and tamarac,
for the seeds of those are its favourite food. Saw one at Great Slave

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 459

River delta, September 28, 1907. (E. T. Seton.) Rare at Aweme,
Man.; seen in spruce woods in winter. (Criddle.) An erratic visitor
throughout Manitoba in winter, appearing suddenly at any season
and then being absent for many seasons. Observed along the G.T.P,
railway in 1906 at Hamiota and Birtle, Man.; at White Shore lake,
Tramping lake and Manito lake, Sask., and at Battle river and
Edmonton, Alta.» (Atkinson.) I saw a flock of six crossbills flying
over me in the Cypress hills, Sask., which I suppose were this species.
(A.C. Bent.) One pair on Methye portage; very common on Methye
river and not rare to Isle 4 la Crosse, Sask. (J. M.Macoun.) Several
birds resembling the published description of this species were seen
at Fort Anderson, but none taken. (Macjarlane.) Three individuals
were observed at Indian Head, Sask., on June 27th, 1892; three days
later a large flock was seen; this species was found in flocks in the
Cypress hills, Sask., from the middle of June to the end of the month,
both in 1894 and 1895; it is extremely probable that this species
nests in the Cypress hills, as they seemed perfectly at home there
feeding on the spruce trees; observed a pair on August 7th, 1897,
in Crow Nest pass, Rocky mountains; seen in large flocks at Banff,
Rocky mountains, in June, 1891, very likely breed there; taken
on the mountains at Deer park, Arrow lake, B.C., June 6th, 1890;
not uncommon on the mountains on both sides of Pass creek near
Robson, B.C., June 24th, 1890; common at Midway, B.C., May, 1905;
taken on the mountains at Spence Bridge, B.C., May 28th, 1889, and
in flocks at Agassiz; common at Chilliwack, B.C., in the spring of
1901, and at several places along the Chilliwack river in 1906;
abundant at Penticton, feeding on seeds of bull pine, April, 1903;
a common summer resident an Vancouver island; flocks seen almost
every day near Victoria in the spring of 1893; also at Salt Spring
island and Comox, the same year. (Spreadborough.) An abundant
stimmer resident on both sides of the Coast range. (Lord.) From
July 16th to September, pairs were seen about Ducks, B.C., flying
from tree to tree looking for food. Later, a few flocks were seen
on the coast flying south. (Séreator.) An abundant resident through-
out the province. (Fannin.) Tolerably common; an irregular visi-
tant to the lower Fraser valley; resident in the mountains; common
in Cariboo district in the winter of 1899 and summer of 1900; abun-
dant at Okanagan, B.C., in the winter of 1897-98. (Brooks.) Co-
extensive with coniferous forests at all elevations, east and west

460 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

of Coast range, B.C. (Rhoads.) Along the southeastern coast of
the territory in the vicinity of Sitka and the adjoining regions,
this is a rather common bird but in only one instance has it been
taken north of the Alaskan mountains. (Nelson.) Flocks of these
birds frequented the tops of the tallest firs at Sitka, Alaska, where
on account of their quietness they may easily escape notice. (Grin-
nell.) Osgood took a red crossbill and saw another at Unalaska,
October 5th, 1899. We did not see any on the Yukon. (Bishop.)

BREEDING NoTEs.—I have a set of four eggs collected by L. Dicks,
at Cartwright, Labrador, April 20th, 1895. The nest was built in
the top of a cedar, [?] and was composed externally of twigs and
roots, and the interior lined with animal fur and feathers. The
eggs are greenish-white, spotted chiefly at the larger end with dark
brown and grey and average in size .75 x .58. (W. Raine.) Mr.
H. F. Tufts found many nests of the American crossbill near Wolf-
ville, N.S., in the winter and spring of 1906, and published in The
Auk, Vol. XXIIL., page 339, a detailed account of the circumstances
under which they were found. The first nests were discovered Janu-
ary 31st. Two contained young just hatched, the others eggs
advanced in incubation. Many nests were found during the follow-
ing months, the birds continuing breeding until June. The nests
were found in spruces, firs and hemlocks at elevations ranging from
10 to 80 feet.

522. White-winged Crossbill.
Loxta leucoptera GMEL. 1788.

A rare straggler in Greenland; a few taken in south Greenland.
(Arct. Man.) Abundant at Fort Chimo, Labrador, some wiuters;
rare during other winters; none observed during summer; breeds
in central portion of Labrador and resident there. (Packard.)
Common throughout the year in Newfoundland. (Reeks.) Irregu-
larly abundant after the breeding season in Nova Scotia. (Downs.)
Occasionally seen in flocks at Baddeck and Margaree, Cape Breton
island, N.S., July, 1898; a very large flock in spruce woods at Brack-
ley point, Prince Edward island, June, 1888. (Macoun.) Seen in
flocks on Sable island, N.S., October 22, 1907. (J. Boutelier.)
Rather common on Prince Edward island. (Dwight.) Very erratic.
Remained at Sydney, Cape Breton island, all winter, 1898-99, and

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 461

bred freely the following February and March. Ivan Bayley found
many nests. The birds left very suddenly in April, leaving several
broods of young. (C. R. Harte.) Usually occur with the American
crossbill in Nova Scotia, though in smaller numbers. (H. F. Tufts.)

Common winter resident at St. John, N.B.; a few breed every
spring. (Chamberlain.) On July 24th I observed a flock of eight
or ten individuals at Ellis bay, Anticosti. (Brewster.) Seen during
the winter at Lake Mistassini, Quebec. (J. M. Macoun.) Common
on Grindstone and Entry islands, and probably on other islands
of the Magdalen islands. (Bishop.) Common winter visitor at
Scotch Lake, York county, N.B., in 1899, previously rare. (W. H.
Moore.) A common summer resident in eastern Quebec. (Dionne.)
A common but transient visitor at Montreal. I saw a flock of this
species feeding on the cones of cedar trees at Hochelaga, Que., on
December 8th, 1888. (Wdnile.)

A large flock of this species was seen near Beechwood cemetery,
Ottawa, Ont,. in June, 1882. (Ottawa Naturalist, Vol. V.) I saw
this bird commonly in the Magdalen islands in the month of June,
1897, and have no doubt but that it breeds there in the spruce woods
though I could not with certainty locate a nest. In that same year,
in the month of April, I saw three of these birds on an island in the
St. Lawrence, near Lansdowne, Ont., feeding on some hemlock trees
and frequently alighting on the ground in search of hemlock seeds.
(Rev. C. J. Young.) Irregular winter resident at Toronto, Ont.;
never very common. Not as abundant as the preceding, but found
in Parry Sound and Muskoka districts. (J. H. Fleming.) A few
seen almost every season, but never really abundant, at Toronto;
I found them particularly abundant at Whitney, near Algonquin
park, Ont., in the fall of 1898, and fairly so at Kaladar, Addington
county, December, 1894. (J. Hughes-Samuel.) An infrequent
winter visitor at Guelph, Ont. (A. B. Klugh.) A male and female
taken at Fort Churchill, Hudson bay. (Clarke.)

A winter visitant; possibly resident and breeding. On December
6th, 1882, at the spruce bush, 35° below zero, shot three individuals
out of a small flock that was feeding on the cones of a tall spruce.
These were all males. (EZ. T. Seton.) Common at Aweme, Man.,
in autumn and winter in open woods. (Criddie.) A rare and irre-
gular visitor in Manitoba, keeping more to the evergreen woods.

462 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

Only two records for Portage la Prairie. (Atkinson.) Common on
Methye river in flocks; a few between that river and Isle a la Crosse,
Sask. (J. M. Macoun.) Saw several on Macleod river, west of
Edmonton, Alta., June 19, 1898. Quite common in the woods at
‘Banff, Rocky mountains, and evidently breeding in the summer of
1891; two seen in the Crow Nest pass in 1897. (Spreadborough.)
This crossbill inhabits the dense spruce forests of the Northwest
Territories, feeding principally on the seeds of the cones. It ranges
through the whole breadth of the continent and probably up to
lat, 68°, where the woods terminate, though it was not observed by
us north of lat. 63°. (Richardson.) North to Fort Good Hope on
the Mackenzie river. (Ross.) A pair of this species was obtained
during our residence at Fort Anderson but no nests were seen,
(Macfarlane.) Rocky mountain district; Beaver pass, B.C., by
Mr. Geo. Hyde. (Fannin.) Three specimens taken at Chilliwack,
B.C.; quite abundant in the Cariboo district in the winter of 1898-99
and common in the summer of 1900. ‘(Brooks.) Common on Queen
Charlotte islands, B.C., but no specimens were taken; common at
Cook inlet, Alaska, but always in pairs. (Osgood.) Although the
last species is thus far known only as an excessively rare visitant
in the northern portion of Alaska, the present bird is found in the
greatest abundance wherever trees occur to afford shelter. (Nelson.)
This species is abundant in the interior of the Yukon district and
other wooded parts. It only occasionally visits St. Michael and
then never in large flocks. (Turner.) This species was a common
resident throughout the year in certain parts of the Kowak valley,
Kotzebue sound. They were always to be found along the bases
of the mountains, especially in the tracts of small spruces bearing
great clusters of cones. (Grinnell.) Crossbills in flocks of from
half a dozen to one hundred individuals were often seen from Lake
Lebarge to Charlie village, July 16th to August 11th, 1899, on the
Yukon river, Yukon district. (Bishop.) One adult male was taken
at Sheep creek, Alaska, August 7, 1903 and a female, September
g. (Anderson.)

BREEDING Notes.—On April 26th I found a regular paradise for
crossbills. It was a stretch of the requisite dwarf spruce lying along
the Jade mountains near the head of Hunt river. Here I met
with several flocks of white-winged crossbills which, from their
unusually lively behaviour, indicated the mating season to be at

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 463

hand. Two or three pairs were apparently already mated, for they
were detached from the main flock, each by itself. The males
were singing very loudly a twitter somewhat resembling that of
the American goldfinch, but coarser. The females were shy, flying
covertly from tree to tree and darting through the foliage to avoid
the officious advances of the males, who were following them. The
latter flew in broad circles above the females, with slowly beating
wings, singing continuously, and finally settling on quivering, out-
stretched wings in a tree top. I visited this locality again on the
28th May, and was fortunate enough to find three nests of the
white-winged crossbill. On this date the large flocks had scattered
out, and the birds were mostly seen singly or in pairs. Two or
three companies of a dozen or so were noted, these probably being
non-breeders or yearlings. The first nest was found by spotting
a pair of birds and closely watching their movements. They were
feeding when first noted, but in a few minutes I suddenly lost sight
of the female, although the male remained in the vicinity, frequently
uttering the metallic call-note previously described. After waiting
some time, I proceeded to the tree where the female was last seen.
On vigorously shaking the tree several times she flew out of a dense
clump of branches and perched a few yards off, chirping solicitously.
Both birds soon left the vicinity and did not return while I remained.
The nest was situated close to the trunk, ten feet above the ground,
in a mass of foliage so thick as to entirely hide it from view. It con-
tained two eggs about one-third incubated. These are ovate and
measure .86x .61, .84x.60. The ground colour is an extremely
pale tint of blue. One egg has scattering ill-defined spots and
blotches of pale chocolate. The other egg has numerous very pale
lavender markings, and, mostly at the larger end, a number of
spots and four large blotches of dark seal-brown. The second nest
was found through locating a male bird by its call-note, and then
tapping every tree in the vicinity with a stick. The female was thus
flushed from her nest, which was twelve feet up near the top of a
dwarf spruce. It was embedded in a mass of foliage against the
stem of the tree, mutch as in the case of the first nest. It contained
two pipped eggs and one newly hatched young. The parents evinced
more solicitude in this case, chirping and flying from tree to tree.
The third nest was found similarly, though the female left the nest
unobserved and IJ had to wait until she returned to be able to locate

464 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

the nest. This was fifteen feet from the ground, hidden in the dense
spruce top, as before. There was but one fresh egg. This measures
.77X .58. It is almost white (before blown, pinkish) with scattering,
abruptly-defined spots and lines of bay and fawn colour, most
numerous at the larger end. The three nests are just alike in every
way. They consist externally of short dry spruce twigs; and inter-
nally of a black. wool-like lichen, closely felted, and with a scanty
admixture of feathers and bits of grasses. The nests are nearly
black, and thus present an odd appearance as compared with those
of the usual consistency of other birds. The nest measurements
are: internal diameter 2.20, depth 1.20; external diameter 4.00,
depth 2.50. (Grinnell.) I have a set of four eggs taken at Sand-
wich bay, Labrador, April 9th, 1894, by L. Dicks. The nest is made
of fine roots and twigs, lined with moss and animals’ fur, and the
four eggs are pale bluish-white, spotted at the larger ends with
brown of various shades, black and lilac grey. The eggs of the two
species of crossbill are seldom obtained, for like the Canada jay
they have eggs while the snow is on the ground very early in the
spring and at a time when it is difficult to get into the woods on
account of the snow. (W. Raine.) Mr. H. F. Tufts published in
The Auk, Vol. XXIII., p. 339, an account of the finding of several
nests of this species. Nests with young were found January 31,
1906, and they were still nesting in May. He records the finding
of a nest with young on August 4, All the nests were found in
spruce, some as high as 70 feet up, others in small trees and placed
near the ground.

CCXIN. LEUCOSTICTE Swarnson. 1831.
523. Aleutian Leucosticte.
Leucosticte griseonucha (BRANDT) BONAP. 1850.

East and west of the Coast range; tolerably common. (Fannin.)
On the Aleutian islands, from one extremity to the other, is found
this large and beautiful finch, extending its habitat thence north
to include the Pribilof islands and the small island of St. Matthew
still further to the north. East of the Aleutian chain it reaches
Kadiak island. On all these islands, except one or two exceptions,
it is a permanent resident. (Nelson.) This species is common on
all the Aleutian islands, including the Pribilof islands, and has also

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 465

been observed on Kadiak island. (Turner.) We saw a number of
this species on St. George island, Behring sea, October 3rd, 1899.
At Unalaska, I saw a flock of about twenty and another of two
young birds on the 5th. (Bishop.) I have a nest of four eggs that
were collected at St. George island, Behring sea, June 8th, 1897;
by Mr. J. M. Macoun. The nest is composed of fine roots and grass
lined with fine grass. The eggs are usually white, but are sometimes
finely spotted with pale rusty brown, and average .98x.70. (W.
Rawne.)

523. Kadiak Leucosticte.
Leucosticte kadiaka McGREGOR. 1901.

Karluk, Kadiak island, Alaska. Known only from Kadiak island.
(The Condor, Vol. III., 8.)

524. Gray-crowned Leucosticte.
Leucosticte tephrocotis Swans. 1831.

One specimen, taken near Birtle, Manitoba, in January, 1891, by
Mr. George Copeland; also two specimens in museum at Winnipeg,
taken by Mr. Hine. (£. 7. Seton.) Of this new and striking species
only one specimen was obtained, which was killed on the Saskat-
chewan in May, 1827. (Richardson.) Rocky mountain district; in
‘winter occasionally west of the Coast range. (Fannin.) Summits
of the Rocky mountains; very rare. Breeds at an altitude of 7,000
feet. (Lord.) This species was first seen on the summit of Aval-
anche mountain, Selkirk mountains, B.C., August 4th, 1885; there
was a pair of old birds and four young ones, they were quite tame;
later in the season specimens were taken at Hector, Rocky
mountains. Found on the summits of all the mountains around
Banff in the summer of 1891 and on the high mountains to the south-
east in 1897; they certainly breed on all mountains above 7,500
feet; observed, above the timber line on all the mountains ascended
around the sources of the Athabaska river in 1898; observed four
on a mountain about 15 miles south of Hope, B.C., alt., 6,000 feet ;
common on the mountains between the Skagit river and Chilliwack
lake in July, 1905, at an altitude of 5,000 feet and upwards. (Spread-
borough.) Ihave taken the typical species as far west as Chilliwack,
B.C.; a large flock seen once or twice on mountains to the west of

30

466 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

Lake Okanagan; the typical species breeds on the high mountains
near Barkerville, Cariboo district, B.C. (Brooks.) A flock of three
birds was seen near Field, Rocky mountains, B.C. (Rhoads.)

BREEDING Notes.—As the nest and eggs of this bird have never
been recorded, I am pleased to describe them for the first time. I
have a nest of four eggs with the parent ‘bird that were taken at .
Banff, Rocky mountains, Alta., on June goth, 1892, by Mr. Wm.
Fear. The nest is made of roots and fine bark lined with fine grass
and was built in a crevice of a rock, and the eggs are pure white,
averaging .gox .65. (W. Raine.) ;

524a. Hepburn Leucosticte.

Leucosticte tephrocotis littoralis (BAIRD) CouES. 1872.

The types of this form came from Sitka, and since then specimens
have been obtained from Sitka, Kadiak, British Columbia, Wyoming
and Rocky mountain region as far south as Colorado. (Nelson.)
Abundant summer resident on both sides of the Coast range. (Lord.)
We found this bird only at the summit of the White pass, head of
Lynn canal. (Bishop.) From the coast to the Rocky mountains;
at Ashcroft, Clinton and Burrard inlet. Taken at Port Simpson by
Mr. W. B. Anderson. (Fannin.) Rare winter visitant at Chilli-
wack; breeds above the timber line in the Coast range; some of the
specimens seen at Lake Okanagan may have been this species;
typical specimens taken in the winter in the Cariboo district, B.C.
(Brooks.) Found tolerably common on the summit of Mount Arrow-
smith, Vancouver island, July 19th, 1887. (Macoun.) One speci-
men seen on top of a mountain at the foot of Chilliwack lake, B.C.,
July 20th, 1901. (Spreadborough.)

European Linnet.
Linota cannabina L.

Two specimens were seen in a flock of English sparrows at Toronto,
Ont. in January, 1890, by Mr. Wm. Loan who took one alive. This
bird was identified by. Mr. Ernest Seton who says : ‘‘ The question
how the birds came here is not easily answered for this could not
have been a cage bird escaped as its breast still bore the rosy tinge
that so soon is lost in captivity.” (J. H. Fleming.)

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 467

CCXIV. ACANTHIS BEcustTeEIn. 1803.

527. Greenland Redpoll.

Acanthis hornemannit (HOLB.) STEJN. 1884.

Said to be constantly resident in Greenland and a regular breeder
but no further south than lat. 70° north. (Arct. Man.) Very
abundant in winter in northern Labrador. Not occurring in summer
from May 15th to September rst of each year. (Packard.) Fort
Churchill, Hudson bay. (Clarke.)

About the year 1863, a friend who used to join me in some of my
local collecting trips, was in the town of Galt, Ont., and seeing a
small flock of large light-coloured redpolls, secured two of the lot and
sent them to me in the flesh. (McIlwratth.)

527a. Hoary Redpoll.
Acanthis hornemannit exilipes (COUES) STEJN. 1884.

Aburfdant and resident in Labrador; breeds plentifully at Fort
Chimo, where nests and eggs were obtained by Nelson. .(Packard.)

A small flock observed by me at Lansdowne, Ont., in March, 1897,
feeding on the ground on hemlock seeds. (Rev. C.’J. Young.)
Specimens of this bird, taken by Mr. W. L. Scott in the spring of
1883, were identified by Dr. Coues. It is also included in the list of
atrivals for 1887 on March 19th. (Ottawa Naturalist, Vol. V.)
Irregular winter resident at Toronto, Ont.; during the winter of
1896 a flock of redpolls was observed at East Toronto; I secured
nine specimens from what I was given to understand was the same
flock. Mr. Ridgway identified them all as Acanthis exilipes. The
specimens were taken in February and March, 1897. I have ex-
amined a specimen taken by Mr. Kay at Port Sydney, Muskoka
district. (J. H. Fleming.) One specimen killed out of a large flock
of redpolls at Hamilton beach, Ont., by Mr. K. C. MclIlwraith on
6th April, 1885. (Mcllwraith.) In the early spring of 1881 these
birds appeared near London, Ont., in considerable number but have
not been seen since that time. (W. E. Saunders.) Three specimens
from York Factory and one from Fort Churchill, Hudson bay
collected in July, 1900, are referable to this form. (E. A. Preble.)

30%

468 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

Sometimes rather common in autumn and winter at Aweme, Man.
(Criddle.) Found regularly among the large flocks of mixed redpolls
every winter in Manitoba generally. (Atkinson.)

A migrant and winter visitant in Manitoba. Specimens were taken
at Carberry in the early winter from a flock of A. limaria. (E. T.
Seton.) Quite numerous in flocks of the common redpoll at Indian
Head, Sask., which were common from April 1st to 20th, 1892,
(Spreadborough.) Carlton House, on the South Saskatchewan,
November to March. (Blakiston vide Ridgway.) North to Lapierre
House on the Mackenzie river; common. (Ross.) I carefully
examined all flocks of redpolls in the winter of 1897-98 in the Cari-
boo district, B.C., and only secured one specimen that showed any
approach to exilipes. (Brooks.) This is the prevailing species of
the genus throughout northern Alaska, where it occurs in great
numbers. It is indistinguishable from the common redpoll except
for the differences in colouration and is constantly associated with
them. (Nelson.) This species is a common bird throughout the
entire territory of Alaska. (Turner.) This species is not common
at Point Barrow, and only of irregular occurrence. We only obtained
one nest and saw very few birds. (Murdoch.) The hoary redpoll
was a common resident throughout the region around Kotzebue
sound. Out.of 112 skins taken, 104 were of this species. (Grinnell.)
Sixteen specimens taken at Point Barrow, Alaska, exhibit very
little variation. (Witmer Stone.) I secured two young from a flock
about fifteen miles above Circle City, Alaska, August 13th, 1899;
and Osgood one, on the roth, from a flock at Circle City; rather
common in small flocks at St. Michael in September. (Bzshop.)

BREEDING Notes.—The hoary redpoll was a common resident
throughout the region under consideration. At Cape Blossom
during July, 1898, they were mainly in pairs, though small com-
panies of from four to eight were occasionally seen. They frequented
the dwarf willow and alder patches, especially among the hills back
from the coast. Two nests were found on the 2oth of July. They
were each built in the crotches of low bushes about two feet from
the ground, and were only one hundred feet apart on a slope sparsely
covered with small bushes. The nests were composed of dried
mildewed grasses externally, with a thick lining of cottony down
from the seed-cases of a kind of grass, and a few feathers. One of

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 469

the nests contained four eggs and the other five. Both sets were
far advanced in incubation and the latter set contained one infertile
egg. The female birds were sitting closely when the nests were
discovered, and in both cases I nearly touched them before they
slipped from the nests. They darted quickly out of sight, making
no ,solicitous demonstrations whatever. Another nest was found
near Cape Blossom on July 1st, 1899. This was in every way similar
to the other two, and contained four slightly incubated eggs. As
the month of May advanced the flocks of redpolls began to break
up though the pairs were prone to stay within call of each other,
a sociable trait. The first nest was found on June 4th and contained
five badly incubated eggs. This indicates that nesting begins soon
after the middle of May. Another nest, containing five slightly
incubated eggs, was taken on the 5th; the nest was saddled in the
forks of a leafless willow above water at the margin of an ice-covered
lake. This nest may be described as typical of the ones found in
the Kowak valley. It is a very compact and well proportioned
structure of fine dry rootlets, grasses and slender plant-stems lined
with soft white willow down and a few ptarmigan feathers. The
diameter of the nest cavity is 1.70, and the depth 1.25 ; external
diameter, 4.00; depth, 2.10. A nest of five fresh eggs, taken on
June 6th, was nine feet above the ground in the top of a small spruce
at the edge of a dense strip of timber. The eggs of the hoary redpoll
are pale Nile blue, with spots, lines, dots and scrawls of vinaceous,
lavender, chocolate and so dark a brown as to appear black in some
cases. These markings tend to form wreaths about the larger ends
of many eggs. The eggs vary in shape from ovate to short-ovate.
(Grinnell.) I have six nests with sets of eggs of this species. They
were collected at Peel river, Mackenzie delta, by the Rev. I. O-
Stringer, who has just returned from that far away northern region
after spending eight years among the Eskimos. The nests are
beautiful structures of fine twigs and roots felted together: with
vegetable down, and snugly lined with down and feathers. One
nest, taken July 19th, 1898, was built in a willow only two feet from
the ground, and contained four eggs. Another nest was built in
a small shrub less than ene foot from the ground, and contained
five eggs, averaging in size .68x.52. The Eskimo name for this
bird is ‘‘Pedgwak.” (W. Raine.)

470 GEOLOGICAI. SURVEY OF CANADA.

528. Redpoll.
Acanthis linaria (LINN.) Bonar. & SCHLEG. 1850.

Abundant and resident in Labrador. Breeds plentifully at Fort
Chimo, where nests and eggs were obtained by Nelson. (Packard.)
One seen on James bay, June 15th; a few observed at Great Whale
river. Common from Richmond gulf, across the interior to Ungava
bay; seen in large flocks at Fort Chimo in September, 1896. (Spread-
borough.) Very common everywhere along the northeastern coast
of Labrador; apparently all the redpolls belonged to this race.
(Bigelow.) Very common resident in Newfoundland, does not
migrate. (Reeks.) Rather common in winter in Nova Scotia.
(Downs.) Said to be common in winter at Sydney, Cape Breton
island; saw a flock, December roth, 1901. (C. R. Harte.) Common
some winters in Nova Scotia, in others they are absent. (H. F.
Tujts.) Two specimens seen on Sable island, N.S., May 3rd, 1902.
A flock seen, March 4th, 1904. (J. Boutelier.) In the spruce
trees by the beach, Brackley point, Prince Edward island, June 27th,
1888. (Macoun.) A winter visitant in New Brunswick; some
winters quite common. (Chamberlain.) A winter visitor at Scotch
Lake, York county, N.B.; sometimes common, sometimes rare.
(W.H. Moore.) Seen during the winter at Lake Mistassini, northern
Quebec. (J. M. Macoun.) Taken at Beauport; winter resident
in eastern Quebec. (Dionne.) An abundant winter visitant at
Montreal; observed there in flocks from October 25th to April 29th;
the latter date is late in the spring of the year to find the species
at Montreal, although in 1883, I saw large numbers in the month
of May feeding on the ground in the woods in Hochelaga. (Winile.)
An abundant winter visitor at Ottawa. Summer records are June
6, 1882; June 3, 1888; and May 22, 1890. (Ottawa Naturalist,
Vol. V.) Common in eastern Ontario during winter and early
spring. This year, 1907, I observed them as late as April 14th.
Several males in a flock had noticeable rose-tinted breasts. A few
nest in scrubby spruce trees in the Magdalen islands in the month
of May. (Rev. C. J. Young.) An irregular winter visitor at Guelph,
Ont. (A. B. Klugh.) Irregular winter visitant at Toronto, Ont.;
sometimes seen from November until March. An abundant winter
visitor in the Parry Sound and Muskoka districts, often remaining
to the beginning of May. (J. H. Fleming.) A winter visitor, usually

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 471

rare but sometimes quite common as in the winter of 1906-07. (W.
E. Saunders.) Abundant winter visitant at Penetanguishene early
in October. (A. F. Young.) Eight specimens, including one in
juvenal plumage, were collected at York Factory, Hudson bay,
July 12th to 16th, 1900, where the birds were abundant, and a very
bright male was taken at Fort Churchill, July 23rd. (E. A. Preble.)
A few seen about the ship in the spring at Fullerton, Hudson bay
in 1903 ; common on the east side of Hudson bay to the northern
tree limit. (A. P. Low.) :

An abundant fall and winter visitor in Manitoba; feeding on
the seeds of various plants. (E. T. Seton.) Abundant winter resi-
dent at Aweme, Man. (Criddle.) Very abundant winter resident
throughout Manitoba, but not known to breed. (Atkinson.) A few
specimens were seen on the Clearwater river below Methye portage;
common on the portage. (J. M4. Macoun.) A common and regular
winter visitor near Prince Albert, Sask., arriving in small flocks
nearly at the same time as the pine grosbeak and remaining some-
times late in the spring. (Coubeaux.) This neat and hardy bird
is one of the permanent residents in the Northwest Territories
where it may be seen in the coldest weather on the banks of lakes
and rivers, hopping among reeds and carices or clinging to their
stalks. (Richardson.) North to Fort Good Hope on the Mackenzie
river; abundant. (Ross.) Common on Pike portage, 10 miles east of
Fort Reliance, July 30,1907, and thence northward to the edge of the
woods. Evidently on its breeding grounds. (E. T. Seton.) This
species was just as abundant as the Greenland redpoll in the wooded
country, and we procured as many nests as of it. (Macfarlane.)
This species was seen in large flocks at Indian Head, Sask., during
the first three weeks of April, 1892, after which they all disappeared.
April 7th, 1894, saw a flock of sixteen at Medicine Hat, Sask.; two
specimens were seen at Edmonton, Alta. on April 19th, 1897 ;
common in flocks around Revelstoke, B.C., up to the last of April,
1890; seen at the lower end of Lower Arrow lake, Columbia river,
June 18th, 1890. (Spreadborough.) An abundant summer resident
in British Columbia. (Lord.) Common throughout the province.
(Fannin.) Irregular winter visitant at Chilliwack; common winter
resident at Lake Okanagan, B.C., also common in the Cariboo dis-
trict in winter. (Brooks.) This species is found in Alaska in smaller
numbers than the preceding. On the southeastern coast of the ter-

472 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

ritory, including Kadiak and the Sitkan region, the present bird
is found to the exclusion of the other. (Nelson.) This species is
a common resident of all parts of Alaska, excepting the Aleutian
islands. In the latter district it is a summer visitor only; though
breeding there I have never observed it west of Unalaska island.
(Turner.) Large flocks were seen frequently both at Hope and
Tyonek, Cook inlet, Alaska, in August, 1900. (Osgood.) Of the
112 skins taken at Kotzebue sound, only seven were referable to
this species. Although few were taken they evidently breed in
the country as specimens were taken from March to October. (Grin-
nell.) Noted at Seldovia and Sheep creek, Kenai peninsula, Alaska.
(Anderson.) We saw several, usually in pairs and very shy, at
Bennett, B.C., June 17th, 1899, and near Charlie village a fine male.
(Bishop.)

BREEDING NotTes.—During the last week of May and early in
June, 1899, Mr. A. P. Low found this bird breeding abundantly at
the mouth of the Great Whale river, Hudson bay, and I secured
close upon 150 eggs of this species that were then collected. The
nests were built low down in stunted willows, not more than two
or three feet from the ground and contained five or six eggs each.
I have also several sets that were taken at Cartwright, Labrador,
by the late Lambert Dicks during June, 1895. On June 2oth,
1890, Mr. Stringer found several nests at the delta of the Mackenzie
river, 100 miles from its mouth. Here the nests were built in willows
two or three feet from the ground and contained four and five eggs
each. I have three nests collected by Mr. Stringer, and they are
beautifully and compactly built, externally of fine roots and grass,
inside felted with down and feathers. (W. Raine.) A small nest
was found in a spruce tree about six feet from the ground on the
Magdalen islands, June 29th, 1905. It was placed near the trunk
of the tree and was a dainty affair, neat and rather compact, com-
posed of coarse grass and a goodly quantity of rein deer moss lined
with feather. The nest was about 34 inches in diameter. (/.
P. Callender.)

528a. Hobcell Redpoll.

Acanthis linaria holbellii (BREHM) Dugols. 1871.

This species was caught in a thick fog in Grinnell bay, September
3rd, 1877. (Kumlien.) Rather common in winter at Fort Chimo,

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 473

Labrador; none to be seen from May 15th to September rst of
each year. (Packard.) This species is not uncommon in eastern
Quebec, mixed up in the flocks of A. linarta. (Dionne.) One speci-
men taken at Moose Factory, James bay, is in the National Museum
at Washington. (E. A. Preble.)

A specimen taken by Mr. Kay at Port Sydney, Muskoka district,
on April 14th, 1890, was identified at Washington as this subspecies.
(J. H. Fleming.) Three specimens, one male, taken March 3rd,
and a male and female taken March 15th, 1888, at Lorne park, near
Toronto, Ont., were determined to be this form by Mr. Ridgway.
(E. T. Seton in Trans. Can. Inst., III., 1892, p. 64.) This species
is quite regularly taken among the visiting redpolls in Manitoba.
(Atkinson.) One specimen of this race was taken on the Kowak
river, April roth, 1899. (Grinnell.) Breeding on Herschell island
and other Arctic islands. (Rzdgway.)

528). Greater Redpoll.
Acanthis linaria rostrata (COUES) STEIN. 1884.

Said to breed generally throughout Greenland, suitable localities
being of course understood, but is migratory there. (Arct. Man.) A
specimen of what seems to be this species was taken by Mr. A. P.
Low off the Labrador coast. (Rev. G. Etfrig.) Occasionally met
with in New Brunswick. (Chamberlain.) Among a number of
redpolls from Parry Sound district examined by Mr. Ridgway were’
specimens intermediate between this species and A. linaria. Ihave,
however, seen typical specimens from Muskoka; occurs in Toronto
regularly in flocks of A. linaria. (J. H. Fleming.) Among a num-
ber of redpolls sent to Washington for determination by Mr. Ridg-
way is a young male taken at Toronto by Mr. Cross on February
1oth, 1890, and an adult female taken at Lorne park, November
gth, 1899, which were pronounced the greater redpoll. ( E. T. Seton
in Trans. Can. Inst., III., 1892, p. 64.) Very rare at Aweme, Man.
(Criddle.) A few specimens have been taken at Portage la Prairie
from among large mixed flocks of redpolls. (Atkinson.)

BREEDING Notes.—A few pairs breed in northern Labrador,
though its summer home is in Greenland. I have three sets of eggs
of this bird that were collected by Mr. Ford at Ungava bay, northern

474 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

Labrador, June 15th, 1894. The nests were built in willows two or
three feet from the ground and contained five eggs each, which are
easily distinguished from the common redpoll by their larger size.
This bird is more abundant in south Greenland. (W. Raine.)

Goldfinch,

Carduelis elegans STEPHENS, 1826.

A male European goldfinch was collected May 21st, 1887, by
Daniel S. Cox, about a mile north of Toronto city limits—one out
of four—while resting on the top of a beech tree. The remaining
three flew off in a northerly direction. The birds were evidently
in a natural condition and migrants from the south, doubtless from
the New York colony. (William Brodie in The Auk, Vol. V., p. 211.)

CCXV. ASTRAGALINUS Capanis. 1851.
529. American Goldfinch,
Astragalinus tristis (LINN.) CaB, 1851.

Kumlien caught an adult male on shipboard off Cape Mugford,
Labrador (?), August 22nd, 1877; occurs in southern portions of
Labrador. Nelson writes that a bird called a ‘‘goldfinch’’ was
described accurately and asserted to occur occasionally at Fort
Chimo, but he did not succeed in finding it. (Packard.) A com-
mon summer migrant in Newfoundland. (Reeks.) Heard but not
seen along the Humber river, Newfoundland, 1899. (Lows H.
Porter.) Common; afew remain all winter in Nova Scotia. (Downs.)
A few seen at Baddeck and Margaree, Cape Breton island, July,
1898; one pair seen on Winsloe road, Prince Edward island, July
21st, 1888. (Macoun.) A few seen almost daily when on Prince
Edward island. (Dwight.) Mr. Bayley says it is common at Sydney,
Cape Breton island, breeding late in June; first seen, May 24th, 1891.
(C. R. Harte.) Fairly common throughout the year in Nova Scotia.
(H. F. Tufts.) An abundant summer resident in New Brunswick.
(Chamberlain.) Irregular in arriving in spring at Scotch Lake, York
county, N.B.; coming from February 16th to May 28th; departing
from October to December. Its nests are placed in deciduous
bushes and trees, the eggs number from 3-5. I have seen a nest so
compactly built that during a heavy shower in July it nearly filled

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 475

with water and the birds deserted it. (W.H. Moore.) Restigouche
valley, N.B.; always near settlements. (Brittain G& Cox.) Com-
mon at Gaspé, Que., but nowhere else on the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
(Brewster.) Taken at Beauport; a summer resident in eastern
Quebec. (Dionne.) An abundant summer resident at Montreal;
breeds in Mount Royal park; nests found containing fresh eggs
from July 22nd to August 8th; observed at Montreal from April
7th to November 18th; have been seen as late as December 11th,
1890. (Wunile.)

Abundant summer resident at Ottawa, Ont. It occasionally
winters here in large flocks as it did in 1888-9. (Ottawa Naturalist,
Vol. V.) A very common summer resident in Ontario. I have
seen flocks of this bird in January at Calabogie lake, Renfrew county,
and occasionally at Lansdowne on the St. Lawrence. It is a very
late breeder, seldom nesting until the middle of June; I have seen
fresh eggs in August. (Rev. C. J. Young.) Resident at Toronto,
Ont.; abundant in summer and sometimes in winter. An abun-
dant summer resident in both the Parry Sound and Muskoka districts.
(J. H. Fleming.) Common around the buildings at Cache lake,
Algonquin park, Ont., June, 1900. (Spreadborough.) Common
everywhere, and is to be found every winter in varying numbers
in the cedar swamps about London, Ont.; a common summer
resident. In the spring, erratic flocks are seen now here now there;
but they begin to seek their summer quarters, to sing and to be
regularly observed about April 28th, on an average of fourteen
years. (W. E. Saunders.) A common resident; most abundant
in summer around Guelph, Ont. (A. B. Klugh.) An abundant
summer resident at Penetanguishene, Ont.; breeds. (A. F. Young.)

This familiar bird was noted only at Pembina on the borders of
Manitoba. (Coues.) A common summer resident in Manitoba.
I have not noted this bird in Manitoba before the end of May. In
this country it finds neither thistles nor orchards, so it feeds largely
on the seed of Rudbeckia hirta and Gaiullardva aristata, and nests
in the low poplars and oaks on the edges of the heavier timber.
(E. T. Seton.) Common at Aweme, Man., nesting late in July.
(Criddle.) An abundant summer resident in Manitoba and noted
breeding at almost every point along the G. T. P. railway west
to Edmonton in 1906. (Atkinson.) Quite common in the

476 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

vicinity of Brandon, Man., 1896. (Macoun.) One individual
was seen at Crane lake, Sask., June 11th, 1894, and on the 25th
of the same month two pairs were seen on the east end of the
Cypress hills, Sask. ; seen June 27th 1895 in Farwell Creek
valley, in the Cypress hills, and on the 30th along Sucker creek,
Sask. ; common in the valley of Milk river, especially at Cas-
tellated rocks, also on St. Mary river and Lee creek, Alta.,
and near Chief mountain at the base of the Rocky mountains.
(Spreadborough.) A pair taken at Maple creek, Sask., June 3rd,
1906. (A. C. Bent.) This very gay goldfinch is one of the
tardiest summer visitors in the Northwest Territories, and it :
retires southwards in September after a stay of a little over three
months. (Richardson.) A tolerably common summer resident
near Prince Albert, Sask., breeding throughout the region. (Cou-
beaux.) Some of the above references probably should go to pallidus
as our specimens from the prairie are nearly all that form.

BREEDING Notes.—A common breeding summer resident at
Ottawa, Ont. Its nest is often built in a white cedar, and is com-
posed of downy and other soft vegetable matter; a very neat and
compact affair, lined with horse hair, fine grass and down. Eggs
four, of a faint bluish-white colour. (G. R. White.) This species
nests at Ottawa and near Lake Nominingue, 100 miles north of it.
The nest is composed of vegetable fibres, fine grass and strips of
bark, lined mostly with thistle-down and sometimes with hairs.
Nests in July and August and lays five or six eggs. (Garneau.)
Not very common at Toronto, Ont., and is a late breeder, seldom
having eggs before July 12th. (W. Raine.)

529a. Pale Goldfinch.

Astragalinus tristis pallidus MEARNS. 1890.

Rocky mountain plateau district of the United States north to
eastern British Columbia, western Manitoba, etc. (Ridgway.) First
seen at Indian Head, Sask., June ist, 1894, but common by the 12th;
eight were seen at 12-Mile lake, Sask., and two collected; one
specimen taken at Cascade, B.C.; saw two at Penticton, B.C., April
21st, 1904. (Spreadborough.) Goldfinches were fairly common in the
timber, especially along Maple creek, Sask. and with the exception
of the pair referred to above were nearer pallidus than tristis.
(A. C. Bent.)

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 477
529). Willow Goldfinch.
Astragalinus tristis salicamans (GRINNELL) RIDGW. 1899.

Of irregular occurrence during early winter at Okanagan, B.C.
(Brooks.) Chiefly confined to the mainland on both slopes of the
Coast range and in the Rocky mountain district. (Fannin.) Abun-
dant on both slopes of the Coast range. (Lord.) The above cita-
tions may in part at least refer to pallidus.

CCXVI. SPINUS Kocu. 1816.

533. Pine Siskin.
Spinus pinus (WILS.) STEJN. 1884.

Recorded as common in Labrador by Audubon. (Packard.)
Rather rare along the northeastern coast of Labrador in company
with redpolls. (Witmer Stone.) A summer migrant in Newfound-
land. (Reeks.) Large flocks seen commonly along the Humber
river, Newfoundland. 1899. (Louis H. Porter.) Rather common
in Nova Scotia; a summer resident. (Downs.) Three seen on
Sable island, N.S., June 3rd, one on July 24th, and a number on
‘October 4th, 1902; one seen, June 7th, 1904; one, June 16th, 1905,
and one, July 2nd, 1907. (J. Bouteler.) A few observed at
Baddeck, Cape Breton island. (F. H. Allen.) Small flocks were
seen at Shulee, Cumberland county, N.S., and at Hebert river
in December; none were seen at Parrsboro. When I returned to
Hebert river in March I found it by far the most abundant bird.
(Morrell.) Large flocks seen at North Sydney, Cape Breton island,
in November, 1901, and on June 8th, 1902; probably breeds. (C. R.
Harte.) Breeds near Wolfville, Kings county, N.S. regularly, in
May and June, and usually is common till September; at other
times of the year it is very irregular; resident throughout Nova
Scotia, and found breeding from April until August. (H. F. Tufts.)
It surprised me to meet this species but once on Prince Edward
island,—a male at Souris. (Dwight.) A common species in New
Brunswick; breeds very early. (Chamberlain.) A very irregular
winter visitor; I think that some years it breeds at Scotch Lake,
York county, N.B. (W. H. Moore.) Quite common in the Resti-
gouche valley, N.B., in summer. (Brittain & Cox.) One of the most

478 GEVULOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

abundant birds on the Magdalen islands until July, 1887., (Bzshop.)
Abundant at Gaspé and apparently nesting in the spruces and
balsams in the village street, July 14th; later, July 24th, it was
found in flocks at Ellis bay, Anticosti. (Brewster.) Taken at Beau-
port; a common summer resident in eastern Quebec. (Dionne.) A
common winter visitant at Montreal; I observed a large flock of
these birds, October 18th, 1885, on Isle Jesus, feeding on willows.
(Wintle.)

A common winter resident at Ottawa, Ont., though somewhat
irregular in its visits like most of our winter birds. Summer records
are as follows: May 10, 1882; May 15, and August 15, 1884; May
2, 1888, and May 16, 1890. (Ottawa Naturalist, Vol. V.) Irregular
winter resident at Toronto, Ont., sometimes abundant. I have
often met with immense flocks in the Parry Sound and Muskoka
districts. They keep together till May when they either disperse
or disappear. In the winter the flocks are joined by redpolls and
goldfinches. (J. H. Fleming.) A winter visitor and sometimes
resident at Guelph, Ont. (A. B. Klugh.) Winter resident at Pene-
tanguishene, Ont. (A. F. Young.) An irregular migrant in Mani-
toba; often seen in flocks of hundreds. (E. T. Seton.) Two speci-
mens seen at Grand rapids on the Saskatchewan. (Nutting.) Tol-
erably common at Aweme, Man., in summer, but has not been seen
in winter. (Criddle.) Noted about Portage la Prairie, Man, every
month in the year, and in such numbers as to indicate a very erratic
breeding season ; seen in 1906 at Birtle, Man., and Cherryfield,
Saskatoon and Tramping lake, Sask. (Atkinson.) Seen very abun-
dantly at Brandon, Man., and Indian Head, Sask., August, 1906.
(W. E. Saunders.) Common on Methye portage, Sask. (J. M.
Macoun.) On June 2nd, 1892, this species was common on the shore
of Deep lake near Indian Head, Sask., where they were feeding on
some small insects near the water, two were shot and their stomachs
were full of the insects; a few observed at Medicine Hat, Sask., in
April, 1894; in the foothills of the Rocky mountains, north to Ed-
monton, Alta., 1897, and thence to Peace River Landing, Alta., in
1903; common in flocks in June, 1891, at Banff, Rocky mountains;
observed at Trail, Sophie mountain and Old Glory mountain near
the International Boundary, 1902, and at Penticton, B.C., 1903;
a few seen at Fernie, B.C., April, 1904; common at Midway and
Sidley, B.C., in 1905, and in the same year common on the mountains

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 479

between the Skagit river and Chilliwack lake up to 5,000 feet altitude;
both old and young seen in July; flocks observed at Agassiz, B.C.,
May 14th, 1889; seen flying in large flocks at Huntingdon and Chilli-
wack, B.C., feeding on the seeds of the western birch; two seen May
gth, 1893, at Victoria, Vancouver island; common in flocks at Gold-
stream, Qualicum and Comox in June. (Spreadborough.) An abun-
dant summer resident on both slopes of the Coast range. (Lord.)
Extremely abundant; arriving and departing in enormous flocks.
(Streator.) Throughout the province; an abundant resident; ap-
pearing in great flocks during fall and winter at Victoria. (Fannin.)
Common resident at Chilliwack, B.C.; an abundant winter resident at
Lake Okanagan, B.C. (Brooks.) A very abundant resident in all
localities, B.C. (Rhoads.)

Heard occasionally on Queen Charlotte islands, B.C.; three
specimens were secured from a large flock at Tyonek, Cook inlet,
Alaska, in September; no others were seen. (Osgood.) This bird
was noted on the Yukon river at Windy island, Lake Tagish (about
lat. 60°, B.C.), Lower Lebarge, Selwyn river, Sixty-mile creek,
Dawson, and Forty-mile-creek, Yukon District; also at Circle City,
Tatondu river and Charlie creek in Alaska. (Bishop.) Two ex-
amples in yellowish juvenal plumage were taken at Homer, Alaska,
on September 8th, 1901. Very common during early summer on
Kenai peninsula, Alaska, where many large flocks were seen migrat-
ing to the northward during July. A few more seen during August
and September, and I am inclined to believe that it breeds very
rarely there. (Figgins.)

BREEDING NotTes.—On the 16th of March, while at Christie’s
camp, I saw a bird gathering material, and by watching her soon
located the nest. The female alone carried material, the male
accompanying her to and from the nest, singing constantly. A
very short stop was made at the nest. Evidently some material
was accumulated before it was arranged. A day or two after
finding the nest I went to Shulee early in the morning, going to
Two rivers, and thence through the woods to the camp. At this
date the ground was mostly covered with snow in the woods,
though it was rapidly melting. I found the nest completed. The
bird refused to leave the nest until I was nearly within reach; she
remained near, several times returning to the eggs for a moment.
The nest was placed well out towards the end of a limb of a spruce
tree 27 feet above the ground. It was saddled on the limb and

480 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

radiating twigs but not attached to them, considering the size
of the bird it is quite large, rather flat and bears no resemblance to
nests of Spinus tristis, measuring as follows: height, 1.63. inches;
depth, .75 inches; outside top diameter, 4 inches; inside top diam-
eter, 2inches. It is constructed mainly of dark pendulous tree-moss,
with some fulvous bark from weed-stalks, plant-down, Usnea and
other mosses. About the bottom of the nest is woven a few spruce
twigs. The lining is entirely the pendulous moss. It contained
four eggs but slightly incubated. These have a pale blue ground
colour, slightly darker than eggs of Spinus tristis, somewhat sparingly
marked about the larger end with pale purplish and a few dots of
brownish black. (Morrell.) Common in winter in Ontario. This
bird, of all wild birds, breeds the most readily in confinement. I
have seen eggs that were laid by birds belonging to Dr. C. K. Clarke,
of Rockwood, Ont., which had only been captured the previous
winter, so had not been in a cage for more than afew months. (Rev.
C. J. Young.) I have several nests with sets of eggs that were taken
at Hamilton inlet, Labrador, during the summers of 1895 to 1898.
One nest before me is a pretty specimen of bird architecture, and
made externally of fine twigs and roots held together by moss with
the inside lined with feathers. It was found June 17th, 1898, in a
spruce tree 10 feet from the ground and contained five greenish white
eggs spotted with brown. (W. Raine.) I have taken seven nests
around Ottawa, Ont., in cedar trees (Thuya occidentalis) at heights
of six, eight, ten and twelve feet. The nest is built of small twigs
and a little vegetable down, lined with hair-like roots or hairs. Size
of nest 3.50x 2,and2x1. It nestsin April and May, and lays three
or four pale blue eggs, dotted at the larger end with brown. (Gar-
neau.) I did not see this species either season but Bishop collected
one young bird at Maple creek, Sask., July 2nd and two young birds
from a small flock in the Cypress hills, July 26th. (A. C. Bent.)
All through May, 1905, siskins were common and breeding through-
out Wellington county, Ont. Some ten nests were found, all in
white spruces, black spruces or balsams. (A. B. Klugh.)

CCXVII. PASSERINA Viertior. 1816.
534. Snowflake.
Passerina nivalis (LINN.) VIEILL. ‘1820.

Breeds generally throughout Greenland and said to be the com-
monest land bird on the east coast; breeds also on Melville pen-

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 481

insula, and is verv numerous on the Parry islands; seen by Kane
at Renssalaer harbour in June, 1854. ,(Arct. Man.) Abundant
at Fort Chimo, Labrador. Breeds on the islands in Ungava bay
and occasionally on the mainland. Resident in the southern por-
tion of Labrador. (Packard.) Not observed in crossing Labrador
from Richmond gulf to Ungava bay; observed on Hudson strait
going south, September 2oth, 1896. (Spreadborough.) Very com-
mon everywhere in,the north; comes from the south at the first
sign of spring. (4. P. Low.) Several nests taken in August, 1902,
in Tuctoo valley near the Peary headquarters, West Greenland-
All the nests except one contained five eggs, the exception seven.
A number of specimens taken at Disco, Greenland, in July, 1892,
by the Relief expedition. The snow bunting appeared at Port
Manvers, northeastern Labrador about the roth of August, after
which they became abundant. (Witmer Stone.) Common from
April rst to October 21st at Prince of Wales sound, Hudson strait ;
breeding in large numbers. (Payne.) Fort Churchill, Hudson bay.
(Wright.) Taken at York Factory, Hudson bay. (Dr. R. Bell.)
Very common in its summer migrations in Newfoundland. (Reeks.)
Not so common in winter as formerly in Nova Scotia. (Downs.)
Winter visitor in Nova Scotia. (H. F. Tujts.) First seen at Parrs-
boro, Cumberland county, N.S., January 19th, 1897; not very
common, but from three to twelve birds in a flock. (Morrell.) Three
seen on Sabie island, N.S., April 21st; one in July and a number
in October, 1902 ; seen fin numbers, October 27th, 1907. , (J.
Boutelier.) :

An abundant winter resident in New Brunswick. (Chamberlain.)
A common winter visitor at Scotch Lake, York county, N.B. (W.
H. Moore.) Leave Lake Mistissini, Que. for the north about May
roth. (J. M. Macoun.) A common winter resident in eastern
Quebec. (Dionne.) Abundant winter visitant at Montreal, arrives
about the middle of October in large flocks. I have observed them
at Montreal from October 19th to April 26th. (Wdantle.) A com-
mon winter visitor at Ottawa, Ont. (Ottawa Naturalist, Vol. V.)
Commonly seen in large flocks during winter. I saw immense
numbers at the head of Wolfe island, near Kingston, Ont., in October,
1900, just before cold weather set in. Flocks remained until March,
1901. This bird, though nesting commonly in high latitudes some-

31 7

482 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

times rears its young on lofty mountains. A friend of mine found
the nest on the Grampian mountains in Invernessshire, Scotland.
(Rev. C. J. Young.) Winter migrant at Toronto, Ont., usually
abundant. Abundant in the winter in the Parry sound and Muskoka
districts; the last leave for the north soon after the 1st of May, and
some are back by the rst of October. (J. H. Fleming.) A winter
visitor at Guelph, Ont. (A. B. Klugh.) An abundant winter
resident at Penetanguishene, Ont. (A. F. Young.) In lat. 45°,
Ontario, these birds occasionally remain until May ist and then
have practically assumed their full plumage. (W. E. Saunders.)

Very abundant in early spring; fall and winter resident in Mani-
toba. First seen in Great Slave lake region on the large central
island of Clinton-Golden lake, Aug. 11, 1907; old ones with young
of the year. After that, while we were going northward others
were seen, evidently on their breeding grounds but it was not a
common species. (E. T. Seton.) Abundant in winter at Aweme,
Man. (Criddle.) An abundant winter resident in Manitoba, re-
mains in the fields until the middle of May. (Atkinson.) Very
abundant in the spring and fall migrations at Indian Head, Sask:;
a few at Egg lake, near Peace river lat. 56°, August 30th, and at
Lesser Slave lake, September 5th, 1903; on McLeod river northwest
of Edmonton, Alta., saw three on October 2nd, 1898, and hundreds
of them on the shore of Lake Ste. Anne, October 12th; very common
at Banff in winter and doubtless eastward to Manitoba; seen at
Revelstoke, B.C., April 9th, 1890, disappeared on the 11th. (Spread-
borough.) This neat and elegant bird breeds in the northernmost
of the American islands, and on all the shores of the continent,
from Chesterfield inlet to Behring strait. The most southerly
breeding place recorded is Southampton island in lat. 62°, where
Captain Lyons found a nest placed in the bosom of the corpse of an,
Eskimo child. (Richardson.) North to. Fort Good Hope on the
Mackenzie; abundant. (Ross.) On the 8th July, 1864, a nest of
this species was discovered in a small hole in a sand bank at least
two feet from the entrance along the shores of Franklin bay. The
parent was snared on the nest. (Macfarlane.) The snowflake is
very abundant every winter, near Prince Albert, Sask. It arrives
as soon as the cold and the snow appear, usually about the middle
of October, and remains as long as the weather is cold and bad.
(Coubeaux.) Observed at Sumas, British Columbia. (Lord.)

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 433,

Abundant resident; more common east of Coast Range. (Fannin.)
Rare migrant at Chilliwack; common in the winter at Okanagan
lake and in the Cariboo district, B.C. (Brooks.)

This species is a summer resident in all northern Alaska and
extends its summer wanderings to the northern islands off the
coast of the Arctic sea. (Nelson.) This bird may be seen at St.
Michael, or its vicinity, at any season of the year, except the coldest
weather in midwinter. (Turner.) This species and the Lapland
longspur are the commonest passerine birds, and in fact the only
ones which could be said to be common at Point Barrow. (Mur-
doch:) Choris peninsula and Cape Lowenstern, Alaska. A rather
rare species around Kotzebue sound, but two pairs were seen that
had young. (Grinnell). A series of 43 specimens, all from Point
Barrow, Alaska, corresponds excellently with a series of Greenland
birds obtained by the Peary expedition. (Wztmer Stone.) One
specimen was shot at White pass summit on June 12th. At St.
Michael I saw two in September, and numbers on St. George island,
Behring sea. (Bzishop.) An adult male taken by Anderson at
Herendeen bay, Alaska peninsula, is clearly to be referred to nivalis
rather than to townsends. (Chapman.)

BREEDING Notes.—I have a set of four eggs that were taken by
F. F. Payne at Cape Prince of Wales, Hudson strait, June 20th,
1886. On June 25th, 1901, a snow bunting built its nest in a hole
under the eave of Mr. Stringer’s house on Herschell island in the
Arctic Ocean, west of the mouth of Mackenzie bay; on June 18th
he found another nest and eggs on the ground in a hollow at the
side of a hummock. (W. Raine.) Nests everywhere in the north;
nests usually made of grass and feathers, usually hidden beneath a
large boulder. (A. P. Low.)

534a. Pribilof Snowflake.

Passerina mvalis townsendi (Ripcw.) Ripew. 1898.

This species was described from specimens taken by myself at
St. Michael, and by Mr. McKay at Nushagak, Bristol bay. At
both localities the bird appeared only as a migrant. (Nelson.)
Aleutian islands, including Pribilof islands, and Shumagin islands.

(Ridgway.)
31%

484 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA

535. McKay Snowflake.
Passerina hyperborea (RipGw.) Ripcw. 1898.

Western Alaska, breeding on Hall island, (and probably St.
Matthew island) Behring sea. (A. O. U. Check-List.) Two speci-
mens of this rare bird were recently sent to me from Bethel, 90
miles up the Kuskokwin river, in the western part of Alaska. This
is probably the farthest inland at which the bird has yet been found.
(Witmer Stone in The Auk, Vol. XV., 269, 1898.) Hall island,
Behring sea, Aug. 4th, 1891. They were in large numbers on the
beach and appeared to be breeding in the cliffs. (J. M. Macoun.)

CCXVIII. CALCARIUS BEcusTEIN. 1803.
536. Lapland Longspur.
Calcarius lapponicus (LINN.) STEJN. 1882.

Breeds generally throughout Greenland as well as on the Melville
peninsula and other lands to the westward of Davis strait. (Arct.
an.) Abundant at Fort Chimo, Labrador. Breeds near the
mouth of the Koaksoak river and on the larger islands. (Packard.)
Found everywhere along with the snowflake north of Hudson bay.
First noted at Fullerton in the spring of 1904 during the last week
in May. (A. P. Low.) One observed on a small island in James
bay, June 15th, 1896; not seen again until September; then I saw
them in large numbers on the barren ground below Fort Chimo.
Observed a pair at East point, James bay, July 9th, 1903, appa-
rently breeding. Common in the latter part of August from Cape
Henrietta Maria to Albany. (Spreadborough.) Taken at Disco,
Greenland, where they were breeding 1891. Common in north-
eastern Labrador after August 3rd. Breed about Nachvak and
northwest to Hudson strait. South of Nachvak they occur only as
migrants. (Witmer Stone.) Rather common 10 miles north of
Fort Churchill, on the shores of Button bay, where an immature
bird was taken July 31st, 1900. Abundant on the ‘‘barren grounds”
south of Cape Eskimo, August 4th. (Edward A. Preble.) Fort
Churchill, Hudson bay. (Clarke.) Only one specimen taken at Prince
of Wales sound, Hudson strait, on May 14th, 1885; none others
were seen. (Payne.) Not uncommon in Newioundland. (Reeks.)

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 485

Some specimens shot at Cole Harbor, Nova Scotia. (Downs.) Oy etrs
in winter at Grand Manan, New Brunswick. (Chamberlain.) Taken
at Beauport; a winter resident in eastern Quebec. (Dionne.) A
rare winter visitant at Montreal. This species is occasionally
found mixing with the snowflake. (Wainile.)

This species was first recorded at Ottawa, Ont., in the spring of
1890, when in company with horned larks and snowflakes. It
remained in the flocks till May 25th. It was present again in the
fall from October 3rd to November 18th. (Ottawa Naturalist, Vol.
V.) Irregular winter resident at Toronto, Ont. The only record
I am aware of is that of a flock reported by Mr. Wm. Melville at
Gravenhurst, Ont., on April 27th, 1890. (J. H. Fleming.) In April,
1897, I met with a small flock of these birds at Toronto, and took
two or three males in grand plumage; in winter they more
commonly appear in company with the snowflakes. (J. Hughes-
Samuel.) Sometimes quite common in the spring migrations along
Lake St. Clair, but very rare near London; only three or four speci-
mens all told have been observed. (W. E. Saunders.)

One specimen shot on Mouse river (Souris), Dak., October rst,
1873. The first of the southern migration. (Cowes.) Very abun-
dant spring and fall migrant wherever there is prairie or cleared
country. They come in countless numbers about the middle of
May and remain to the end of the month. After this time they
go northwest to breed and return again about the last week in
September. They remain about two weeks in the stubble fields
and then pass ‘southward. (E. T. Seton.) Abundant migrant
at Aweme, Man. (Criddle.) Very abundant at Indian Head,
Sask., in the spring and fall migrations; last of them seen at
the end of May, 1892; on April 25th, 1894, a small flock was
seen at Crane lake, Sask.; abundant as a migrant at Edmonton,
Alta., from April 28th to May sth, 1897. (Spreadborough.) In
the year 1827 it appeared on the plains of the Saskatchewan at
Carlton House about the middle of May and remained for about
ten days. They came to Cumberland House about the same time
and remained in the furrows of a newly ploughed field. In the
preceding year they were seen, though in smaller flocks, at Fort
Franklin, lat. 654°, in the beginning of May; the crops of those
killed were filled with the seeds of Arctostaphylos alpina. (Richard-

486 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

son.) Altogether about eighty nests of this species were collected in
the ‘‘barren grounds” and on the shores of Franklin bay. (Macfar-
lane.). Beginning exactly at the edge of the woods and continuing
as far as we went in “the barrens” in 1907 were countless Lapland
longspurs. I think I did not see a dry ten-acres-in the treeless
region that was without at least two pairs of longspurs. (E. T.
Seton.) North to Fort Simpson on the Mackenzie river. (Ross.)
Numerous every spring and fall in company with the horned lark
at Prince Albert, Sask. (Coubeaux.)

BREEDING NotTes.—I have a dozen nests with sets of eggs that
were collected at Herschell island by Mr. Stringer and Mr. Young.
The nests are made of dried grass, well lined with feathers and are
always built on the ground, in the shelter of a tuft of grass or sod,
and contain five or six eggs each. The eggs are laid in the middle
of June and the female is a close sitter, most of the nests being
found by flushing the bird off the nest. (W. Raine.)

536a, Alaskan Longspur.
Calcarius lapponicus alascensis Ripcw. 1898.

The whole of Alaska, including Pribilof and Aleutian islands,
Unalaska and the Shumagins, east to Fort Simpson. (Ridgway.)
Throughout the province; nowhere common. Burrard inlet, Vic-
toria and Port Simpson. (Fannin.) Common in the fall; rare in
the spring at Chilliwack, B.C. (Brooks.) Not common at Clayoquot
sound, Vancouver island, in September and October, 1907. (Spread-
borough.) Like the snowflake this species has a circumpolar distri-
bution and is recorded from nearly every point visited by explorers
along the shores of the Arctic sea-coast. (Nelson.) This species
arrives at St. Michael from the 5th to the 15th May. A few arrive
at first, and before a month elapses it is the most abundant land
bird seen in the locality. (Turner.) Quite common at Point Bar-
row, but breeding inland on drier places than the snowflake which
prefers the sea shore and the lagoons. (Murdoch.) I saw a small
flock at the Aphoon mouth of the Yukon on the 27th August, 1899;
later they were seen at St. Michael and on Unalaska island. (Bishop.)
An abundant bird on the Pribilof islands in summer. (Elliot;
Palmer; J. M. Macoun.)

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 487

BREEDING Notes.—My acquaintance with the birds at this
point was limited to the few hours ashore during this evening and
the next. But the Alaskan longspur was, with the single exception
of the snowy owl, the only land bird observed. The low-lying,
moss-covered tundras with not even a dwarfed bush or any exten-
sive patch of grass to offer attraction to any other land bird, seemed”
to constitute a congenial abode for this species, and the longspurs
were fairly common. They seemed to show preference for the
driest tracts lying just back of the beach and on the higher ground
separating the numerous lagoons and lakes. In my tramp across
these tundras I would frequently meet with a male longspur stand-
ing motionless on some conspicuous hummock. If I approached
too close he would attempt to get out of my way by stealthily running
to one side, but if pressed he would take flight and mount upwards
circling high overhead and uttering his pleasing song. I some-
times heard them singing from their perches on the ground, but
they were most generally heard while circling with apparent aim-
lessness far above, the yellow reflection of the midnight sun bring-
ing out their forms against the indigo sky. To my ear the song
of the Alaskan longspur resembles closely that of the western
meadowlark, except that it is much weaker and more prolonged.
A nest was found at this point containing two newly-hatched young
and three eggs. It was sunk into a hummock of spahgnum and
completely concealed from above by a tussock of grass, part of
which was artfully arched over it. The nest proper consisted of
a remarkably scant lining of long, fine grasses. At Cape Lowenstern,
on July 1st, I noted a few longspurs, and at Cape Blossom, over
the rolling hills just back of the coast, this bird was common. Its
song was heard for a few days after our arrival, June 9th, but ceased
altogether after the 16th. The first juveniles, full-grown, were
seen on July 30th. In 1899, apparently a much earlier season,
many nearly-fledged young were noted on July 1st. From August
1st to 12th, 1898, juveniles were plentiful in the vicinity of the
mission. They were in small companies or scattered singly in the
edge of the tall grass bordering the beaches. The tendency at this
season seemed for them to be gathering into flocks, and on the 11th,
the last day of our stay on the sound, I saw a flock of about 25. I
last saw the Alaskan longspur in 1898, on the. 16th of August; it
was on our way up the Kowak, and at a point about 100 miles from

488 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

the mouth. A small company flew across the river in front of our
steamer ina southerly direction. In the spring of ’99, on the Kowak,
the first longspurs were noted on the 2oth of May. In this region
they inhabit the bare level stretches of tundra, extending at intervals
from the river back to the foot-hills. On June 1st, I secured a nest
and five fresh eggs. The nest was embedded in the moss under an
overhanging clump of dead grass, and consisted of fine dry grasses,
with a lining of dark feathers of ptarmigan and short-eared owls.
The diameter of the nest cavity 2.50, with a depth of 1.00. The
eggs are nearly oblong-ovate in shape and measure .87 x .60, .86 x .61,
.84 x. 60, .86x. 60, 85.x. 61. Their ground-colour, as disclosed for
a limited space at the small ends of two eggs, is very pale blue.
Otherwise the eggs are so completely covered with pigment as to
be almost uniform isabella colour. Overlying this are scattered
scrawls and dots of bistre. I found another nest on Chamisso.
island on the 9th July. This was similarly located and contained
four eggs in which incubation was nearly completed. (Grinnell.)
Mr. William Palmer in The Birds of the Pribilof Islands gives a
detailed account of the breeding habits of the Alaskan longspur
there.

537. Smith Longspur.
Calcarius pictus (SWAINS.) STEJN. 1882.

Rather common in the meadows at Fort Churchill, Hudson bay,
July 23rd to 30th, 1900. They were quite tame, but hard to see
on the mossy hillocks. (Preble.) Observed only on one occasion
near the Souris river, when it was in company with chestnut-collared
and Lapland longspurs, having like the last species just arrived from
the north. (Cowes.) An abundant spring but rare fall migrant in
Manitoba; on May 17th, 1884, they were at Carberry, Man., in
enormous numbers, and I had no difficulty in getting all the speci-
mens I desired. (E£. T. Seton.) Rare at Aweme, Man. (Criddle.)
A large flock was seen at Indian Head, Sask., on May 12th, 1892,
common by the 15th but gone in a few days; a few were seen at
Egg lake, Peace river, lat. 56° on August 30th, and others at Lesser
Slave lake, September 5th, 1903. (Spreadborough.) This species
was observed associating with Lapland buntings on the banks of
the Saskatchewan, but no information regarding its breeding habits

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 489

was teceived. Only one specimen was obtained. (Richardson.)
North to Fort Simpson on the Mackenzie river; rather rare. (Ross.)
Very abundant in the country to the eastward of Fort Anderson in
the “barren grounds,” and on the lower Anderson river. (Mac-
farlane.) This species has been taken at Fort Yukon by Strachan
Jones but there’is no other record of its having been taken in Alaska.
(Nelson.) One male secured at Point Barrow, Alaska, June 11th,
1898. (Witmer Stone.)

BREEDING Notes.—This bird breeds abundantly on the slopes
of the Cariboo hills, 80 miles south of the Arctic coast west of the
Mackenzie river delta. Here Mr. Stringer found several nests in
June, 1897. They were built on the ground in grassy hummocks
and contained from 4 to 6 eggs in each, which somewhat resemble
eggs of the Lapland longspur, except that they have a paler ground-
colour. Ten nests before me are all made of dry grass and well
lined with feathers. (W. Raine.)

538. Chestnut-collared Longspur.
Calcarius ornatus (TOWNS.) STEJN. 1882.

These birds were not noticed in the immediate vicinity of Red
river, but I had no sooner passed the Pembina mountains than I
found them in profusion; from:’thence they extend in more or less
abundance to the Rocky mountains. (Coues.) A common summer
resident in Manitoba, local in distribution, many pairs affecting a
limited area of dry prairie, while for miles no more of this species
are to be seen. One seen on the shore of Aylmer lake, Great Slave
Lake district, August 13th, 1907. (E. T. Seton.) Common at
Aweme, Man., nesting in colonies on the open prairies. (Criddle.)
Abundant all over Manitoba as a migrant. Breeds sparingly in
some districts; much more-numerous westward. Observed breeding
in 1906 from Forest, Man. to Edmonton, Alta. (Atkinson.) First
seen at Indian Head, Sask., May 12th, 1892, by the 18th they were
common; they breed there in great numbers; very common at Crane
lake; seen in large flocks flying in company with McCown’s bunt-
ing at Medicine Hat, May 2nd, 1894; breeding in large numbers
at Crane lake in June; found three nests with young and one with
four fresh eggs June 12th, 1894; the nest was a rather deep hole in the

490 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

ground, lined with a little dried grass; nest on the open prairie in
short grass; rare at the Cypress hills, only one specimen seen in a
week. (Spreadborough.) Quite common at Brandon, Man., and
Moose Jaw, Sask., in 1896. This is a common bird everywhere on
the prairie from Indian Head, Sask., westward to Frenchman river;
this species, the horned lark and McCowan’s bunting make up nearly
the whole avi-fauna of the absolute prairie. It is exclusively a
prairie bird and is more or less common in all country traversed
in 1895 to Milk river. No nests were taken before June 18th, though
in the preceding year young were hatched before that date. (Ma-
coun.) I have found this bird breeding abundantly throughout the
prairie parts of Manitoba and Saskatchewan. It was especially
numerous on the prairie north of Moose Jaw, Sask., where during
the first week of June, 1891, I found many nests on the ground at
the side of sods and containing five or six eggs each. (W. Raine.)

BREEDING Notes.—My first specimens were secured July 14th,
1873, at which dates the early broods were already on wing. Uniting
of several families had scarcely begun, however, nor were small
flocks made up, apparently, till the. first broods had, as a general
thing, been left to themselves, the parents busying themselves with
a second set of eggs. Then straggling troops, consisting chiefly of
birds of the year, were almost continually seen, mixing freely with
Baird’s buntings and the skylarks; in fact, most of the congregations
of prairie birds that were successively disturbed by our advancing
wagon-trains consisted of all three of these, with a considerable
sprinkling of Savanna sparrows, shore-larks and bay-winged buntings.
The first eggs I secured were July 18th, nearly a week after I had
found young on wing; these were fresh; other nests examined at the
same time contained newly hatched young. Again, I have found
fresh eggs so late as the first week in August. During the second
season, the first eggs were taken July 6th, and at that time there
were already plenty of young birds flying. The laying-season must
consequently reach over a period of.at least two months. I was
not on the ground early enough to determine the commencement
exactly, but supposing a two weeks’ incubation, and about the same
length of time occupied in rearing the young in the nest, the first
batch of eggs must be laid early in June to give the sets of young
which fly by the first of July. There is obviously time for the first
pair to get a second, if not a third, brood off their hands by the

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 491

end of August; I should say that certainly two, and probably
three, broods are reared, as a rule. The result of all this is that
from the end of June until the end of August young birds in every
state of plumage, and the parents in various degrees of wear and
tear, are all found together. The nest, of course, is placed on the
ground, usually beneath some little tuft of grass or weeds, which
effectually conceals it. Like that of other ground-building sparrows,
it is sunk flush with the surface of the ground, thin at the bottom,
but with thicker and tolerably firm brim; it consists simply of a few
grasses and weed-stems for the most part circularly disposed. In
size, the cup is about 34 inches across the brim and nearly 2 in depth.
During the first season, I only found four eggs or young in a nest;
but I afterward took one containing six eggs. These measure about
4 long by 2 broad, of an ordinary shape. They are difficult to des-
cribe as to colour, for the marking is intricate as well as very variable
here as elsewhere in the genus. I have called them ‘‘grayish-white’’,
more or less clouded and mottled with pale purplish gray which
confers the prevailing tone; this is overlaid with numerous surface
markings of points, scratches and small spots of dark brown, wholly
indeterminate in distribution and number, but always conspicuous,
being sharply displayed upon the subdued ground colour. On those
occasions when I approached a nest containing eggs, the female
usually walked off quietly, after a little flutter, to some distance, and
then took wing; at other times, however, when there were young in
the nest, both parents hovered close overhead, with continuous
cries. (Coues.)

CCXIX. RHYNCHOPHANES Bairp. 1858.
539. McCown Longspur.
Rhynchophanes mccownit (LAwR.) Ripcw. 1877.

A specimen of this bird was taken just west of Manitoba by Mr.
Thorpe near Dalesboro. (£. T. Seton.) This species was never
seen in the Red river region and I do not think it occurs on that
watershed which is so thickly populated in summer with C. ornatus.
It seems to be one of the many birds that mark the natural division
between that region and the Missouri basin. The first specimen
taken was near Fort Buford. As we progressed towards the Milk
tiver the bird became more and more abundant and it occurred

492 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

throughout the country thence to the Rocky mountains. McCown’s
longsp&r was very abundant in the country about Frenchman river
where both species were breeding but further west C. ornatus,
diminished in numbers while McCown’s longspur increased and
extended to the foothills of the Rocky mountains. (Couwes.) Very
common on the prairies in 1906, particularly on the barren hills
north of Maple creek, Sask. (A. C. Bent.) First seen at Indian
Head, Sask., May 23rd, 1892; by the first June they were abundant
on burnt prairie and Jand that had been broken and let run to weeds;
numbers remained to breed; two individuals were seen at Medicine
Hat, Sask., April 21st, 1894, after which time they became common
both there and at Crane lake 100 miles further east. By May 2nd
they were in thousands at Medicine Hat and numbers of males were
in full song ; common at Crane lake in June; amongst other nests
one was found containing five eggs, one of which belonged to a cow-
bird. The nest was a rather deep hole in the prairie, lined with a
little dried grass; in 1895 they were common at Moose Jaw, at Old
Wives creek, Wood mountain, Frenchman river up to the Cypress
hills, Sask., but not in the hills, and westerly from there to Milk
river, where they decreased in numbers and only a few extended to
the foothills near Waterton lake; observed a number at Calgary,
Alta., June rgth, 1897; one seen on the shore of an island in Lesser
Slave lake, Alta., May 31st, 1903. This species and C. ornatus were
always found together and are true prairie species. (Spreadborough.)
I secured an adult male on June 3rd, 1887, and on the same day
three years later, shot two females at the same place; these are al] I
have seen at Chilliwack, B.C. (Brooks.)

BREEDING NotEes.—During June, 1891 and 1893, I found this
species abundant on the hilly prairie north of Rush lake, Sask.
Here it builds its nest on the ground at the side of a sod and lays
four or five eggs. The female is a close sitter, not leaving the nest
until the intruder has stepped close up to it. The eggs are like
those of Smith’s longspur in colour and markings, but average
smaller in size. (W. Raine.) This is a very common species in
many parts of the prairie region. Many nests were seen in 1894
and 1895 and all were in a hole in the ground with slight elevation |
on one side. Nest of dried grass and indistinguishable from that
of the chestnut-collared bunting. (Macoun.)

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 493

CCXX. POOCASTES Barrp. 1858.
540. Vesper Sparrow.
Poocetes gramineus (GMEL.) BaIRD. 1858.

A common resident in fields in Nova Scotia. (Downs.) Com-
mon in Nova Scotia from the middle of April to October. (H. F.
Tufts.) Not uncommon at Baddeck and Margaree, Cape Breton
island, N.S., July, 1898; a few specimens seen at Rustico, Prince
Edward island, 2nd July, 1888. (Macoun.) One seen on Sable
island, N.S., May 16th, 1906; several seen April 11th, 1907 and one
June 21st. (J. Bouteler.) An abundant bird on Prince Edward
island, frequenting the open fields in the more settled districts.
(Dwight.) One specimen shot at Hampton, N.B., June, 1881.
(Chamberlain.) An abundant summer resident at Scotch Lake, York
county, N.B. (IV. H. Moore.) Not common in eastern Quebec.
(Dionne.) A common summer resident in the Montreal district;
breeds on the island of Montreal. Nests with eggs found from May
14th to 28th; observed from April 7th to October 8th. (Waunile.)
An abundant summer resident, breeding in large numbers. (Ottawa
Naturalist, Vol. V.) Very common in meadows and pastures; have
found the nest on two occasions the last of April. (Rev. C. J.
Young.) Abundant summer resident at Toronto, Ont.; one of the
commonest summer residents in the Parry Sound and Muskoka
districts. (J. H. Fleming.) A very common summer resident
in all western Ontario. (W. E. Saunders.) An abundant summer
resident at Guelph, Ont.; arrives about April rst and leaves about
October 15th. (A. B. Klugh.) Very abundant in summer; breed-
ing at Penetanguishene, Ont. (A. F. Young.) One pair found
breeding at Cache lake, Algonquin park, Ont., 1900. (Spread-
borough.) Common at Grand rapids of the Saskatchewan river;
specimens taken, all males. (Nwtting.) Numerous in all: open
situations between the Coast range and the Rockies as far north
as Lac la Hache, B.C. (Rhoads.) Mr. Streator and the writer
place the Ashcroft, B.C. birds under confincs.

The vesper sparrows of Cariboo district, B.C. seem closer to
the typical species than to either of the subspecies affints or confinis.
They were common at 150-Mile House, and were also breeding
at timber line at Barkerville. (Brooks.)

494 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

BREEDING Nores.—Nest bulky, near stone quarry, built on
the ground composed of grass and weed stalks, lined with horse
hair and fine grass; eggs 4, grayish white, marked all over with
spots and splashes of dull reddish brown. (G.R.Whtte.) Arrives in
New Brunswick from winter quarters during April. Have found
nests with full sets of eggs early in May; and once a nest with three
eggs was found with partly incubated eggs in September. (W. H.
Moore.) This species breeds around Ottawa in May and June.
Nest sunken in the ground, the brim being on a level with the soil;
nest composed of grass rootlets with sometimes a few bits of green
moss or a few hairs; four or five eggs are the usual number. (Gar-
neau.) Found a vesper sparrow’s nest containing three eggs, May
2nd, 1906, near Westmount, Que. The nest was built of grasses and
stems with a heavy lining of horse-hair and was placed in a clump’of
dead grass in a field which was for the most part damp and marshy.
(W. J. Brown.)

540a. Western Vesper Sparrow.
Poocetes gramineus confinis BAIRD. 1858.

This species breeds from Pembina on the east to the base of the
Rocky mountains on the west along the goth parallel. (Coues.)
A very abundant summer resident on the prairies of Manitoba.
(E. FT. Seton.) Abundant at Aweme, Man. (Criddle.) Abundant
breeder all over Manitoba and west to Edmonton, Alta. (Atkinson.)
This species arrives on the Saskatchewan plains early in May, and
frequents the withered grass which makes an excellent cover. It
was not seen by us beyond lat. 57°. (Richardson.) On 26th June,
1864, we found a nest of this species containing six eggs in a sparsely
wooded tract of country to the east of Fort Anderson. (Macfarlane.)
Quite a common summer resident throughout the country around
Prince Albert, Sask., and to be seen running ahead on every trail;
breeding in great numbers in the region. (Coubeaux.) In 1895
this species was common from Winnipeg to the Rocky mountains on
or near the 49th parallel. It always nested on the ground, but
seemed to prefer being where there is more or less brush; it was
first found nesting on June 2nd. First seen at Indian Head, Sask.,
on May gth, 1892, common by the 13th; found two nests on the
ground, June 7th, with four eggs in each; first seen at Medicine

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 495

Hat, Sask., April 30th, 1894, two individuals, both males; next
day five were seen and by May 4th they were common and the
same at Crane lake on the 7th; common on the east end of the
Cypress hills in the latter end of June; in 1891 it was found to be
common and breeding around Banff, Rocky mountains, in the direc-
tion of Devil lake; at Edmonton, Alta., after May rst, 1897, they
very soon became common and began to pair; they were common
in the foothills from Calgary to Crow Nest pass; common on all
the small prairies throughout the Peace river country between lat.
55°-57°; common along the trail on all the dry grass land from
Edmonton to Jasper House in 1898; this species was common at
Kamloops, Spence Bridge, Enderby and inthe Nicola valley, B.C., in
June, 1889, and on the plateau between the North Thompson and
Bonaparte rivers; a few observed at Chilliwack, B.C., in the spring,
and one at the mouth of Tami Hy creek, September 8th, 1901; in
April and May, 1903, they were quite common at Penticton in
southern British Columbia; first seen at Fernie, B.C., April 29th,
Common by May 4th, found a nest half built in a clump of grass on
May 2oth; first seen at Midway, B.C. April 16th, 1905, common by
May ist. (Spreadborough.) Very common in the interior; breeds.
(Streator.) An abundant summer resident east of Coast range, also
on Vancouver island. (Fannin.) Migrant; not common at Chilli-
wack. Specimens are very pale and may belong to affinis. (Brooks.)

BREEDING NoTES.—Several nests were found at Pembina, con-
taining eggs, about the middle of June. One of them also held two
Molothrus eggs. The nests were built in open ground, quite deeply
sunken so as to be flush with the surface, and more substantial than
those of many ground-builders, the walls being an inch or more
thick at the brim. The cavity is small and deep in comparison with
the whole nest. The usual materials are grasses and weed-stalks,
the coarser material outside, the finer fibres within and at the
bottom. The eggs, of which I have not found more than four,
measure about 0.80 by 0.55; they are grayish-white, heavily marked
all over with spots, dashes and blotches of reddish-brown, and a
sprinkling of fine dots of the same or darker brown. The female is
a close sitter, not leaving the nest until nearly trodden upon, and
then fluttering off as if crippled, to distract attention from the nest
to herself. (Cowes.) This is a very common prairie species, breed-
ing in all parts of southern Saskatchewan and Alberta. A nest

496 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

taken on 31st May, 1895, contained three fresh eggs. The nest was,
on the sloping side of a coulée, placed on the ground under a tuft
of grass. It was built chiefly of fine material, the base being leaves
of grass, the coarser at the bottom. A few hairs were worked in at
the last. Another nest identical in every way was taken 19th-June,
in a clump of Potentilla gracilis at the edge of a ravine. (Macoun.)

5406. Oregon Vesper Sparrow.
Poocetes gramineus affints MILLER. 1888.

Western Washington and British Columbia, including Vancouver
island. (Ridgway.) West side of Coast range, B.C., and Vancouver
island. (Fannin.) A few observed at Chilliwack, B.C., in the
spring of 1901; and one individual at the mouth.of Tami Hy creek,
September 9th of the same year. (Spreadborough.)

CCXXI. PASSERCULUS Bonaparte. 1838.
541. Ipswich Sparrow.
Passerculus princeps MAYNARD. 1872.

Taken at Lawrencetown near Halifax, N.S., March, 1878. (Mat-
thew Jones.) One taken at Point Lepreaux, N.B., April, 1876.
(Chamberlam.) On April 7th, 1895, when 260 miles from Halifax,
on board the §.S. Labrador bound for Liverpool, two of these spar-
rows came on board and remained for some hours; apparently they
were on their way to Newfoundland. (J. H. Fleming.) In the
summer of 1899 the writer spent six weeks on Sable island and had
ample opportunity to study the habits of this bird. It was the only
resident land-bird on the island and all nests found whether new or
old belonged to it. Most of those found were scooped out of the
sand and built more or less with grass. Many birds winter on the
island, and as far as known it is its only breeding grounds. Dr.
Jonathan Dwight, jr., of New York, has written a full account of its
habits and nesting on the island. In 1902 Mr. W. E. Saunders, of
London, Ont., who spent some time on the island, published a very
full account of its life history in the Oftawa Naturalist, Vol. XVI.
and in The Auk, Vol. XIX., pp. 267-271, he described the nests and
breeding habits of this interesting bird.

°

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 497
542. Sandwich Sparrow.
Passerculus sandwichensis (GMEL.) BAIRD. 1858.

Common about the prairies and open timbered lands. (Lord.)
Common on the coast in the fall. (Streaior.) An abundant summer
resident west of Coast range; breeds on Vancouver island. (Fannin.)
Tolerably common migrant at Chilliwack. (Brooks.) A few speci-
mens taken at Chilliwack, B.C., in the spring of 1901; taken at
Hastings, April, 1889; first seen near Victoria, Vancouver island,
about April 20th, 1893, by May 4th they were common. (Spread-
borough.) One seen on April 23rd, 1887, at Victoria; abundant the
next day; common along the sea coast at Salt Spring island, Nanaimo
and Comox. (Macoun.)

A few were seen on Unalaska island, October 5th, 1899, and two
young secured. (Bishop.) This species occurs during the summer
along the entire Aleutian chain and on the island of Kadiak, in
addition to the southeastern shore of the territory. Dall cites it
from Unalaska where he found it numerous, as he did also to the
eastward, but he did not find it to the west of that island. (Nedson.)
‘This species is one of the earliest arrivals at Unalaska, usually about
the 1oth of May. They breed in June in the grass. (Turner.) On
June 3rd, 1890, in a grassy patch near Lukannin beach, on St. Paul
island, I several times flushed a sparrow which I identified as this
species. (Palmer.) Five specimens were taken on Amagnak island,
near Dutch harbour, Unalaska, in September, 1897. (Grinnell.)
Anderson took ten specimens at Muller bay, Alaska peninsula, in
1903. (Chapman.)

BREEDING NoTes.—On June t1oth, 1893, at Vancouver, B.C.,
found a nest and five eggs of this bird. The nest was built on the
ground, made of dried grass and lined with hair. The eggs are
-greenish-white, heavily blotched and spotted with light brown and
lilac; size .74 by .54 inches. (W. Razne.)

542a. Savanna Sparrow.
Passerculus sandwichensts savanna (WILs.) Ripcw. 1880.

Common throughout eastern Labrador; breeds at the mouth of
the Koaksoak river and at Davis inlet. (Packard.) Tolerably com-
32

498 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

mon on the islands and shores of James bay, from Moose Factory
to Richmond gulf; none seen in crossing Ungava until we neared
Fort Chimo. In 1904, abundant along the west coast of James bay.
(Spreadborough.) Two adult specimens from Chateau bay, July 14th,
1891. (Norton.) Abundant throughout the summer in Newfound-
land. (Reeks.) Uncommon; passes through Nova Scotia in spring.
(Downs.) Very common from April to October in Nova Scotia.
(H. F. Tufts.) Rather rare at Baddeck and Margaree, Cape Breton
island, July, 1898 ; common on the shore at Brackley beach, Prince
Edward island, June 29th, 1888. (Macoun.) This is probably the
most abundant bird on Prince Edward island, and is found every-

where except in woods. On sand beaches, marshes or dry fields its
weak song was constantly heard and in certain pastures it seemed

as if every third fence-post was occupied by a singer. (Dwight.)

An abundant summer resident in New Brunswick. (Chamber-
lain.) A common summer resident at Scotch Lake, York co., N.B.
(W. H. Moore.) Very abundant on the Magdalen islands; breed-.
ing in every open field. (Bishop.) An abundant species on all the
grassy islands and shores of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. (Brewster.)
A common summer resident in eastern Quebec. (Dionne.) An
abundant summer resident at Montreal; breeds on the island of
Montreal. Nests with eggs found May 24th. Observed here from
April 7th to October 1st. (Wenile.)

A common summer resident at Ottawa; breeds by St. Louis dam.
(Ottawa Naturalist, Vol. V.) I found this bird to be the commonest
bird on the Magdalen islands in 1897; it nests in May and June
and usually lays five eggs, but sometimes only four. It is also very
common on Simcoe island, in Lake Ontario, but not so common on
the main shore. (Rev. C. J. Young.) Common summer resident
at Toronto, Ont. Reported by Mr. Taverner as common at Beau-
maris, Muskoka district, on April 22, 1898; I have not met with it
in Parry sound district. (J. H. Fleming.) An abundant species
around Toronto in all suitable localities. (J. Hughes-Samuel.)
Observed .a pair at Cache lake, Algonquin park, Ont., June 18th,
1900. (Spreadborough.) A common summer resident at Guelph,
Ont. An inhabitant of pastures. (A. B. Klugh.)

BREEDING Notes.—Nest on ground, built of grass and lined with
horse-hair ; eggs four, a light gray, thickly mottled with reddish

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS, 499

brown. (G. R. White.) The nesting season at Scotch Lake, York
co., N.B., is from May to July. Three to five eggs are laid in a
loosely constructed nest of grasses on the ground, or sometimes by
the side of a log or root. (W. H. Moore.) Quite common at Ot-
tawa and Lake Nominingue. Nest sunken in the ground and
hidden by the grass, made with grasses, rootlets and hairs. Some-
times only two or three bits of grass and hair are used. One nest
was found in sand under a potato plant. It nests in May, June
and July and lays four eggs. (Garneau.) July 7, 1903, saw three
nests on the west coast of James bay, one with four young just
hatched, one with both young and eggs and one with six eggs. All
the nests were made of dry grass and were in the short grass just
above high-water mark. (Spreadborough.)

5426. Western Savanna Sparrow.

Passerculus sandwichensis alaudinus (BoNAP.) Ripcw. 1877.

Breeds in profusion throughout the region explored, that is along
the 49th parallel. Though not exclusively a bird of the prairie,
it seems to be as much at home in the open plains as anywhere,
associating with Centronyx, the chestnut-collared and McCown’s
longspurs. It is also found in the brush along streams and the
larger rivers which are not frequented by the above species. (Coues.)
An abundant summer resident on the prairies in Manitoba. The
bird is remarkably shy, even in places where man is scarcely ever

seen. (E.T. Seton.) Tolerably common at Aweme, Man. (Criddle.)
Breeds abundantly in open country everywhere in Manitoba and

west to Edmonton, Alta. (Atkinson.) First seen May 11th, 1892,
at Indian Head, Sask., common by May 13th; they breed in the
vicinity in great numbers; common at Crane lake, Sask., seemed
to prefer low ground where there were bushes; quite common on
the east end of the Cypress hills the last week in June, 1894, in low
damp ground ; in 1895, its habits were more carefully observed
and it was found that it was always by pools of water or in marshes
at West Selkirk, Brandon, Moose Jaw, Parkbeg and Old Wives creek.
It was found nesting at 12-Mile lake, near Wood mountain, and
always in marshy spots ; this species was noted wherever there
was water or marsh for 4oo miles to the westward—to the foothills
of the Rocky mountains. (Macoun.) First seen at Edmonton,

Alta., May 3rd, 1897, next day they were common; two nests were
32%

500 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

taken on the ground near a lake, each contained five eggs; common
in the foothills, south of Calgary in 1897; first seen on April 25th,
common by 29th, at Penticton south of Lake Okanagan, B.C. ;common
from Lesser Slave lake to Peace River Landing, lat. 56° 15’, June,
1903; common on the damp grass land from Edmonton to Jasper
House, also in the MacLennan River valley, B.C., in 1898 ; this
species was taken at Banff, in the Rocky mountains, in 1891, and
in other years at Revelstoke, mouth of Salmon river, Fernie, Midway,
Similkameen river, Penticton, Douglas, Agassiz and Huntingdon,
B.C.; also at Victoria, Vancouver island and very abundant along
the beach at Clayoquot Sound in September and October, 1907.
(Spreadborough.) This is a common species from the Saskatchewan
northward to the “‘barren grounds.’’ (Richardson.) Not uncommon,
but in summer only, and breeding here on the prairie at Prince:
Albert, Sask. (Coubeaux.) Common down the Mackenzie river.
to its mouth. (Ross.) Very abundant in marshy and sparsely
wooded tracts or plains near Fort Anderson and on the lower river,
seeing that ‘upwards of 200 nests with eggs’? were collected in
that quarter. They were all placed on the ground and composed
of dry stems of grasses lined with finer materials of the same.
Sometimes the nests are lined with a few feathers and deer hair.
The number of eggs in a nest was four or five. (Macfarlane.)

Common about the prairies and open places. (Lord.) Abundant
summer resident on the coast. (Séreator.) Summer resident on
the coast. (Fannin.) An abundant summer resident at Chilliwack,
an occasional bird remaining all winter. (Brooks.) This form
breeds in all localities in British Columbia from the Rocky mountains
to the coast, including the islands, from the sea level to 5,000 feet.
(Rhoads.) Sumas prairie, Lulu island and English bay, B.C.;
common at those localities. (E. F.G. White.) Next to the Lapland
longspur this bird is the most abundant of the sparrow tribe through-
out the Behring sea coast region of Alaska, and it extends thence
north to the Arctic shores of the territory. (Nelson.) This species
was not obtained at the Aleutian islands, but at St. Michael it was as
common as the other species. (Turner.) The western Savanna
sparrow was fairly numerous in the vicinity of Cape Blossom,
Kotzebue sound. The grassy meadows bordering lagoons seemed
to be its most congenial haunt, although I met with a few on the
hillsides towards the interior of the peninsula; young were half-

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS 501

fledged by July roth. (Grinnell.) Six breeding specimens taken
between June 1st and July 27th, and three in winter plumage, illus-
trate this species as seen at Point Barrow, Alaska. (Witmer Stone.)
A few were seen and four specimens taken at Hope and Tyonek,
Cook inlet, Alaska, September, 1900. (Osgood.) I saw several
Savanna sparrows in the marshes at Chilkat inlet, June rst, 1899,
and took individuals at Haine Mission and at Skagway and others at
Glacier, Alaska; several pairs were seen at Log Cabin on Lake
Bennett, at Cariboo Crossing and on an island in Lake Tagish, B.C.;
later they were seen on Lake Marsh, lat. 60° 15’, in the Yukon district ;
then after this none was seen until we reached the Alaska boundary,
they were found at Circle City, Charlie Village and at the Aphoon,
mouth of the Yukon, and at St. Michael. (Bishop.) From June
to September of 1901, eight specimens in all were seen at Homer
and Sheep creek near the Kenai mountains, Alaska. Found breeding
on the low sandy spit at Homer. Its nest was well concealed in
coarse grass. It was entirely covered and the entrance to the three
nests examined was on the southern side. (Figgins.) Nineteen
specimens were taken in 1903 at Seldovia and Sheep creek, Alaska.
(Anderson.)

BREEDING NoTEs.—A large suite of specimens was taken, a part
of it, however, unintentionally, for it is not an easy matter to always
distinguish between the Savanna sparrow and Baird’s bunting at
gunshot range, and when I have killed a bird I generally make a
point of preserving it, even though it is not particularly wanted as a
specimen in order that its life may not have been taken in vain.
The nest is placed on the ground, simply built of dried grasses with a
lining of horse hair; the eggs are four or five in number, in this
locality usually laid in the first half of June. Like nearly all the
fringilline birds of this region the Savanna sparrow is frequently
the cow-bird’s foster-parent, and in one instance that came under
my observation, the nest contained two of the alien eggs. (Coues.)
On June 18th, 1882, within a few feet of a straw-stack in the barn-
yard, where horses and cattle are continually running about, I
found the nest of a Savanna sparrow, protected only by a tuft of
prairie grass. It contained five eggs, and was composed of grass
with a meagre lining of horse-hair, the whole being slightly sunk in
the ground. (E. T. Seton.) This is a very abundant species in
' Saskatchewan and Alberta. Set of eggs usually four. Always

502 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

breeds near water, generally in old grass in a marsh or by a pool.
Nest composed altogether of dried grass with a lining of finer grass
and a little horse or other hair. (Macoun.)

542. Labrador Savanna Sparrow.
Passerculus sandwichensts labradoricus R. H. Howe, JR., 1901.

Fairly common at Port Manvers, lat. 57° northeastern Labrador,
during the last half of August and the first week of September, 1900.
(Witmer Stone.) Probably not separable from the Savanna sparrow.

CCXXII CENTRONYX Barrp. 1858.
545. Baird Sparrow.
Centronyx bairdw (Aup.) BaIRD. 1874.

It is difficult to understand how this bird eluded observation
for thirty years from the time of its original discovery by Audu-
bon on the upper Missouri nearly to the present day. I did not
meet with the species along the Red river itself, but found it as
soon as I passed from the Pembina mountains to the boundless
prairies beyond. In some particular spots it outnumbered all the
other birds together, and on an average through the country from
the Pembina mountain to the Mouse (Souris) river it was one of the
trio of commonest birds. The skylarks and chestnut-collared long-
spur being the other two. (Coues.) An abundant summer resident
throughout the Assiniboine valley, wherever there are alkaline flats.
In many parts of the prairies west of Birtle there are low flat alkaline
stretches sparsely covered with long, wiry grass. Wherever the
land is of this character the Baird bunting is sure to be a prominent
if not a prevailing species. (E. T. Seton.) One specimen secured
the first time we went collecting at Grand rapids of the Saskatchewan;
shot on a high grassy plain between the fort and the lake. (Nutting.)
Not observed in many numbers in the vicinity of Portage la Prairie,
Man., but was more numerous in grass marshes in 1906 west to
Edmonton, Alta. (Atkinson.) Uncommon in parts of Saskatchewan
visited by us but quite a number of pairs were located in grassy
hollows in the prairies. (A.C. Bent.) Common in proper localities
as far west as Calgary, Alta. (W. E. Saunders.)

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 503

BREEDING Notes.—I found a nest and four eggs of this bird as
I was riding over the prairie near Crescent lake, Sask., on June
3rd, 1901. On June 6th, while driving to Saltcoats marshes we
flushed another Baird’s sparrow off its nest containing five ex-
ceedingly handsome eggs. Nest on the ground at the side of the
trail. June 7th I found another nest and five eggs, nest, like the
other, made of dried grass, lined with hair, built on the ground
in short grass. The eggs are like well blotched eggs of the vesper
sparrow but are much smaller and averaging .75 x .55 inches.
(W. Razne.)

CCXXIII. COTURNICULUS Bonaparte. 1838.
546. Grasshopper Sparrow.
Coturniculus savannarum passerinus (WILS.) Ripew. 1885.

Said to occur in New Brunswick by Mr. Adams. (Chamberlain.)
Ifam quite sure this species is at Scotch Lake, York county, N.B.,
but have not secured a specimen. (W.H. Moore.)

There are two Toronto records, one in 1879, and the second in
1890. (J. H. Fleming.) Fairly common in the two southwestern

counties of Ontario; increasing steadily in numbers in the London
district. I now meet it every year and sometimes locate five or six
pairs in a single season though I have not yet foundanest. (W. E.
Saunders.)

5460. Western Grasshopper Sparrow.
Catduenibcus savannarum bimaculatus (SWAINS.) RIDGW. Ig01.
A summer resident near Vernon, B.C. (Brooks.)
CCXXIV. AMMODRAMUS Swainson. 1827.
547. Henslow Sparrow.
Ammodramus henslowii (Aup.) Gray. 1849.

Thus far we have found this bird only near Sarnia, and at Jean-
nette creek, Ont., but as about a dozen birds were observed alto-
gether on four different occasions in two years I believe it is a fairly
common sttmmer resident in the western peninsula of Ontario

504 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

wherever a favourable locality exists. The original discovery
was made on May 24th, 1898, when several were noted at Jeannette
creek and since then they have been found in the locality on two
other occasions. This is the most inconspicuous bird I have ever
met with; it runs through the grass like a mouse and does not rise
until one is almost on it, when it makes a short zigzag flight and
again conceals itself. (W. E. Saunders.) I was surprised to find
this sparrow on Lake Joseph, Muskoka, and apparently breeding.
I first noticed it on July 14th, 1902, in a hay-field about a mile from
Port Sandfield, and for some days had every opportunity of watch-
ing the males as they sat on the fence and uttered their rather
wheezy notes. Two more pairs were in one field, and I could find
none in any of the few likely places elsewhere. (J. H. Fleming in
The Auk, Vol. XIX., p. 403.) I met with a pair of these birds near
Lansdowne, Ont., in May, 1898. Later found the nest containing
four eggs. It was placed in a wet springy place in a meadow and was
well concealed under a tuft of grass. The eggs are readily dis-
tinguished from those of the Savanna sparrow, of which I have seen
numbers. The nest is somewhat similar but more substantial.
(Rev. C. J. Young.) Saw several on Sable island, N.S., May 18th,
1905 and May 16th, 1907. (j. Boutelier.) Mr. Boutelier is probably
mistaken in his identifications.

548. Leconte Sparrow.
Ammodramus lecontew (AuD.) GRAY. 1849.

A male specimen of this species was given to me as an Acadian
sharp-tailed sparrow, taken May 5th, 1897, at Toronto, Ont.; this
is the first record for Ontario. (J. H. Ames in The Auk, Vol. XIV.,
p- 411.)

The rediscovery of this little known and extremely interesting
species in Dakota was made in the season of 1873 by the Boun-
dary Commission. On the march between Turtle mountain and
the first crossing of the Mouse (Souris) river, I came upon what
seemed to be a small colony of the birds in a moist depression of
the prairie. I subsequently found the bird again and secured
another specimen. (Coues.) This beautiful sparrow abounds in
Manitoba wherever there are meadows that offer the right com-
binations of willow, scrub and sedgy grass, and has been taken by

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 505

myself on the west slope of Duck mountain to the north of the
province. (E. T. Seton.) Rare at Aweme, Man., but probably
breeds. (Criddle.) Noted occasionally about Portage la Prairie,
Man., and about the larger marshes in Manitoba but more numerous
in the alkali districts of the west. Noted breeding in 1906 from
Touchwood hills, Sask. to Beaver Hill lake, Alta. (Atkinson.)
In June, 1896, this species was breeding in a marsh at Sewell, Man.
(Macoun.) First seen at Indian Head, Sask., May 12th, 1892,
next seen June 23rd, when two nests were found; each nest contained
five eggs; nest made of dried grass under a tuft on the ground;
breeding in wet ground ; common on Bragg creek, about 40 miles
from Calgary, June 28th, 1897. (Spreadborough.) The Calgary
reference above should probally go to the Nelson sparrow.

BREEDING Notes.—On June 23rd, 1892, I found two nests of
this species. Each nest contained five eggs. The nest was placed
in old grass close to the ground, and was made of the same. The
land was low but not wet. The female was shot as she left the
nest. (Spreadborough.) In June, 1893, Mr. G. F. Dippie and
myself were fortunate in discovering the nest and eggs of this species
which were previously little known ; this was at Raeburn, Man.
Since then I have found several more nests of Leconte’s sparrow in
Manitoba arid Saskatchewan, all were made of fine dry grass and
nothing else and were invariably built in a tuft of marsh hay a few
inches above the ground. The eggs are greenish-white speckled at
the largest end with ashy-brown and are small, .65 x .50 inches,
(W. Raine.) On June 12th, 1896, the writer was collecting in a
swamp south of Sewell, on the Canadian Pacific railway and came
on the nest of a bird new to him. The following is from his note-
book and evidently refers to this species. ‘In the open swamp I
found another nest in the grass, almost touching the water which
here was standing in the grass and was evidently permanent as
Menyanthes trifoliata and Calla palustris grew close by. When the
bird arose I thought it was a clay-coloured sparrow, but on looking
into the nest saw four eggs about the same size as the sparrow’s
but the large end was completely covered with a deep shade of
brown which shaded off into a lighter colour and became mottled
with a lightish-green. Three eggs were as above, but one was much
lighter in colour and hence more distinctly mottled. They were
much incubated and were injured in De I refer the eggs to
Leconte’s sparrow.

506 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

549a. Nelson Sparrow.
Ammodramus nelsont (ALLEN) NORTON. 1897.

There are several records for Toronto. Dr. Dwight says the
Toronto birds are more nelsoni than subvirgatus, but not typical.
(J. H. Fleming.) I took a very fine female on 28th October, 1896,
at Toronto, and on the 17th November, Mr. I. Percival Turner
took two, a male and female, at the same spot. On the 17th Nov-
ember, 1900, I visited the place again and saw two. (j. Hughes-
Samuel.) On the 22nd September, 1894, near Toronto, Ont., I
shot two individuals of this species; on June 1oth, 1895, I shot
a female and in the autumms of 1896-97-98 I saw many others. (C.
W. Nash.)

On my arrival at Winnipeg, Man., Mr. Hine surprised me by
producing a specimen of this form, shot at Winnipeg on May 25th,
1892. On June 30th, at Carberry, I heard a curious bird-note
and going over the slough to the spot, I put up two small dark-
coloured sparrows. I obtained one which proved to be this form;
later in the day I took two more; the above specimens were sub-
mitted to Mr. F. M. Chapman and pronounced true nelsont. (E. T.
Seton.) Found breeding in fair numbers with Leconte’s sparrow in
grassy marshes near Red Deer, Alta., June, 1906. (W.E. Saunders.)
One specimen taken at Prince Albert, Sask., August, 1899. (Co-
beaux.) First seen at Edmonton, Alta., late in May, 1897, not
common, only observed about a dozen altogether; breeding in wet
ground; a few were found breeding in a marsh at Peace River Land-
ing, Alta., June, 1903 and one individual was seen west of the Grande
Prairie in August. (Spreadborough.)

BREEDING NoTEs.—On June 12th, 1893, Mr. Dippie and myself
found this bird nesting at Long lake, Man. The nest and eggs I
presented to the U. S. National Museum at Washington. On the
14th June, 1894, I again visited the locality and was fortunate in
finding another nest and four eggs of Nelson’s sparrow and the next
day I took another set of five eggs. Nests were made of dried grass
and built in a tuft of marsh hay a few inches from the ground. Their
voice is like that of a grasshopper and they sing until long after sunset.
(W. Raine.)

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 507

5496. Acadian Sharp-tailed Finch.
Ammodramus nelsoni subvirgatus (DWIGHT) NORTON. 1897.

Fairly: common about the salt marshes at the mouths of the
streams emptying into Minas basin, King’s county, N.S.,from June to
October. (H. F. Tujts.) Breeds not uncommonly on the Magdalen
islands, N.S. near the seashore. I observed it at Grosse Isle. (Rev. C. J.
Young.) Several specimens taken in the vicinity of Hampton, N.B.
(Chamberlain.) A nest of this species was taken near Baddeck, Cape
Breton island, July 26th, 1898 ; this species was not rare along the shore
of the bay east of Baddeck. (Macoun.) <A few birds in the salt
marsh at Tignish, Prince Edward island were the only ones I could
discover, although I searched in many other localities. (Dwight.)
Taken at St. Denis de Kamouraska, south shore of St. Lawrence,
eastern Quebec; breeding in some numbers. (Dionne.) A casual
visitor at Ottawa, Ont. One shot in 1882, identified by Dr. Coues.
(Ottawa Naturalist, Vol. V.)

This form is peculiar to the fresh and salt water marshes of the
Maritime Provinces of Canada, especially those bordering on the
Bay of Fundy and the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Strangely enough
it has never been taken in Nova Scotia, although it undoubtedly
occurs there, for I have observed it within two or three miles of
the boundary line when rambling over the meadows of the Petit-
codiac river in New Brunswick, not far from the type locality.
Since my discovery of the birds about ten years ago I have found
them breeding at Tignish, Prince Edward island, where they were
recorded as caudacutus long before subvirgatus was separated by
Brewster, at Bathurst, N.B., and at Riviere du Loup, Que., on
thesouth shore of the St. Lawrence. They have also been found
a few miles west of the last named place at Kamouraska by Dionne.
Westiof this I have not found them, neither at L’Islet nor on the
marshes between the city of Quebec and Ste. Anne de Beaupré.
Consequently there appears to be a wide gap between the head-
quarters ofthis form and those of nelsoni,—over one thousand miles.
(Dwight in The Auk, Vol. XIII., p. 276.)

BREEDING Notes.—This species is tolerably common on low
islands in the St. John river, in York county, N.B. The spring
migrants arrive in April, the first observed in 1903 was April 22nd, a

508 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

week earlier than the Savanna sparrow arrived. They run along
among the grasses rather than take flight. The song is a low un-
attractive s-e-e-t-s-k, emitted either from the ground or from an
elevation. They feed about the margin of pools of still water where
they seem to procure aquatic insects and grass seeds. Their colours
blend most perfectly with such surroundings and it is only by per-
servering watchfulness that an observer may see them, unless they
happen to take flight. The nests are built back from the water
where there is no danger from an overflow and are fairly well con-
cealed. The few nests observed have been built of dried grass
blades throughout, the lining being composed of the finest material.
One nest was a mere film of blades, scarce compact enough to lift
from the depression where it was placed. It was built under the
side of a log and contained five eggs which were very uniformly
marked, there being three distinct varieties of colouring. A set now
before the writer, taken May 27th, contains four eggs, .71 X .59,
.80 x .58, .72 x .60, .72 x .59. The ground colour is pale greenish-
blue marked with cinnamon-brown, umber and blue-gray. The
first, third and fourth are so heavily marked as to obscure the
ground colour, the second is much more finely and sparsely marked,
and with the third most heavily marked about the large end. The
nest was placed in a gully having a southern exposure, and was also.
well concealed by thick grasses. While the writer was walking
across an island the bird flushed from under foot and flew quietly
away without making the least attempt at alluring its disturber
from the vicinity of the nest, nor did it return for some time. The
male was not seen at all. The eggs were fresh, which fact probably
accounted for the shyness of the birds. (W.H. Moore.)

CCXXV. CHONDESTES Swainson. 1827.
552. Lark Sparrow.
Chondestes grammacus (SAY) BoNapP. 1838.

One seen on Sable island, N.S. on September 6th, 1902, and a
number on October roth. (J. Boutelier.)

This bird breeds regularly at Toronto; a nest was taken at the
Humber, May 15th, 1899; it is very local and not abundant. (J. H.
Fleming.) The first time I saw one of these birds taken at Toronto

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 509

was in May, 1884, and I have met with them at intervals since—
notably on May 24th, 1885, when I took a specimen and saw another.
(J. Hughes-Samuel.) A few were regularly observed near London
from 1878 till 1889, but none were observed from 1889 till 1900,
when a pair spent the summer about ten miles from London, Ont.
This species is a fairly common inhabitant of the western counties of
Ontario, along the Lake Erie shore, but is rare and, of late, irregular
near London. A single one was noted and watched for a short time
near Sault Ste. Marie in September, 1880. (W. E. Saunders.)

552a. Western Lark Sparrow.
Chondestes grammacus strigatus (SWAINS.) RripGw. 1880.

A common summer resident near Winnipeg; a few seen there
June 3rd, 1896; one shot by Mr. Hine. The Winnipeg specimens
may belong to the eastern form. (Macoun.) Rareat Aweme, Man.
(Criddle.) Collected specimens of this species at Portage la Prairie,
Man., in 1896, but have not seen it since. (Atkinson.) First saw
two May 16th, 1894, at Medicine Hat, Sask., common by the 15th;
I believe they breed here as I saw them up to the first week in June
when I left; a few specimens seen the last week in May, 1895, at Old
Wives creek, Sask.; not seen again until July rst, when a pair was
seen at Sucker creek in the Cypress hills; quite common in the Milk
River valley below Pend d’Oreille, later a few were seen at Castellated
rocks higher up the river; saw two at Meyer creek near Midway,
B.C., May 11, 1905; common at Osoyoos lake, found a nest there
_ June rst, on a bare hillside; the nest was a deep depression in the
ground, under a small sage bush and was made of weeds and grass
lined with horse hair. It contained five eggs, incubation far ad-
vanced; in the same year it was common on the Similkameen river.
(Spreadborough.) A very scarce summer visitant both east and
west of the Coast range, B.C. (Brooks.) Seen only at Vernon,
B.C., where two pairs of adult birds were feeding their newly fledged
young. (Rhoads.)

CCXXVI. ZONOTRICHIA Swainson. 1831.
553. Harris Sparrow.
Zonotrichia querula (NUTT.) GAMB. 1847.

In Miller’s ‘‘Mammals of Ontario” he notes a specimen seen at
Peninsula Harbour, Lake Superior. (W. E. Saunders.) A number

510 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

of specimens, including adults of both sexes and young just from
the nest, were collected, July 23rd to 30th, 1900, at Fort Churchill,
Hudson bay, where the birds were common. They frequent the
scattered patches of dwarfed spruce that grow in the small valleys
and ravines intersecting the extensive expanse of precipitous ledges
along the Churchill river in the vicinity of the post. They undoubt-
edly nest among these spruces but no nests attributable to this
species were found. Several were seen on our return to the upper
Hayes river, near the Robinson portage and at the Echimamish,
Keewatin. (Preble.) <A fine series of specimens of this handsome
and interesting bird was secured at our Mouse river depot, dur-
ing the latter half of September and beginning of October. Its
breeding grounds are as yet unknown. (Cowes.) Abundant spring
and fall migrant, frequenting thickets in Manitoba. (E. T. Seton.)
Abundant as a migrant in Manitoba. (Atkinson.) Specimen shot
at Fort Pelly, August 29th, 1881; in flocks 50 miles west of Brandon
on the road to Fort Ellice, Man. (Macoun.) Only three were seen
at Indian Head, Sask., during three months residence in the spring
of 1892; these were seen May 12th and 13th. (Spreadborough.)
Noticed,in company with other sparrows at Prince Albert, Sask.,
Sept. 2, 1900. (Coubeaux.) I took two individuals at Sumas, B.C.,
roth January, 1895, and saw a third at Chilliwack, B.C. (Brooks.)
Taken at Cadboro bay near Victoria by A. H. Maynard, October,
1894; and another individual shot at Comox, November, 1894, by
W. B. Anderson. (Fannin.)

BREEDING Notes.—I have pleasure in recording the first auth-
entic nest and eggs of this species. On June 11th, 1901, at Cres-
cent lake, Sask., I was fortunate in finding the nest in the root of
a small willow at the edge of a bluff. The nest was made of grass
and fine bark, lined with dry grass. The eggs are unlike those of
any other sparrow. They are large for sparrows, averaging .88 x
.68 inches, and are creamy white, spotted chiefly at the larger end
with rusty brown and lilac and have a high polish. The parent
bird was secured. This is the third species of sparrow found by
me breeding in northwest Canada whose nests and eggs were pre-
viously unknown to science. (W. Raine.) First seen on Kahino-
nay island, Great Slave lake as we went north, July 20, 1907. It was
there nesting. After that they were abundant nesting in a very
large thicket right to the edge of the “barrens.’’ In the Last woods,

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 511

August 5,1 found the nest. It was under a dwarf birch, was made
of grass and resembled the nest of the white-throated sparrow. It
contained three young ready to fly. (E. T. Seton.)

554. White-erowned Sparrow.
Zonotrichia leucophrys (ForstT.) SWAINS. 1831.

Seems to be confined to southern Greenland; not numerous but
certainly a breeding bird, though its nest has not yet been found in
the country. *(Arct. Man.) Very plentiful throughout eastern La-
brador; breeds abundantly at Fort Chimo. (Packard.) Not obser-
ved on James bay until a short distance north of Fort George when
they became common; very abundant from Richmond gulf across
Ungava to Fort Chimo. (Spreadborough.) Two specimens taken
at Chateau bay, Labrador, July 14th, 1891. (Norton.) A common
summer resident in Newfoundland. (Reeks.) The most abundant
land bird in northeastern Labrador ; common wherever there was any
spruce scrub. (Bigelow.) I have six nests and eggs of this bird taken
at Nachvak and Whale river, Ungava. (W. Raine.) In numbers on
Sable Island,N.S., May 25, 1905; one seen May 13,1907. (J. Boutelzer.)
A very common summer resident in New Brunswick; occurs more
frequently at Grand Manan during migration. (Chamberlain.) A
tolerably common spring and autumn migrant at Scotch Lake, York
county, N.B. (W.H. Moore.) Common at Lake Mistassini, northern
Quebec. (J. M. Macoun.) Taken at Beauport; summer migrant in
eastern Quebec. (Dionne.) A scarce transient visitor at Montreal,
both inspringand autumn. (Wintle.) First seen at York Factory,
Hudson bay where it was abundant and where a small series, includ-
ing old of both sexes, and young just from the nest, was taken,
July 12th to 14th. About the post at Churchill it was extremely
abundant July 23rd to 30th, but after passing north of that point
we saw no more until our return when ascending Hayes River.
(Preble.) York Factory, Hudson bay. (Dr. R. Bell.) Fort Church-
ill, Hudson bay. (Clarke.)

A common migrant in spring and fall at Ottawa. (Ottawa Natur-
alist, Vol. V.) A sparrow that I have never seen in Ontario in sum-
mer; neither did I observe it in June or July on the Magdalen islands.
It commonly arrives in Ontario about the 15th of May, and is plen-
tiful by the roth. It is very tame, frequenting wood-piles and

512 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

brush-heaps. In the fall I have seen it on Wolfe Island, near King-
ston, in September, but it is not so familiar a bird at that season.
(Rev. C. J. Young.) Regular migrant at Toronto, Ont.; a fairly
common migrant in the Parry Sound and Muskoka districts. (/.
H. Fleming.) Transient visitant at Penetanguishene, Ont.; not
very common. (A. F. Young.)

A summer migrant in Manitoba, probably breeding in the north-
eastern regions; abundant at the mouth of the Great Slave river
in 1907 but not seen farther northeasterly. (E.,T. Seton.) A
regular but not abundant migrant in Manitoba. (Afkimson.) Only
seen at Indian Head, Sask. as a migrant between the 9th and 2oth
May; they were quite common for some time. First seen on May
4th at Medicine Hat, Sask; they were common by the goth, but
were all gone by the 15th. On June 24th of the same year they
were common in all the brush on the east end of the Cypress hills
and were certainly breeding. First seen at Edmonton,Alta., May 7th,
1897; none seen after the ninth. All were migrants. (Spread-
borough.) First noticed in numbers at Prince Albert, Sask., last
spring (1899). Probably common but irregular in its visits. (Cou-
beaux.)

554a. Gambel Sparrow.
Zonotrichia leucophrys gambeli RiDGwW. 1899.

I was surprised to find that the white-crowned sparrows of the
Mouse (Souris) river were the variety instead of typical leucophrys,
but such was the case, as shown beyond question by some of the
specimens taken with perfect head-dress; found also in the Rocky
mountains in the autumn where they possibly breed. (Cowes.) A
regular but not abundant migrant in Manitoba, rather more numer-
ous than leucophrys. (Atkinson.) North to Lapierre House on
the Mackenzie river. (Ross.) Abundant on islands in Great
Slave lake in 1907. (E. T. Seton.) This species is a northern
bird and breeds in all parts of the Northwest Territories, arriving
about the middle of May and leaving early in September.
(Richardson.) North to Fort Resolution on Great Slave lake ;
rare. (Ross.) This was common as a migrant at Indian
Head in 1892, and at Medicine Hat, Sask., in May 18094.
About forty mile southwest of Calgary this species was rather
common; a nest was taken June 28th having five fresh eggs, placed

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 513

at the root of a clump of willows; on Moose mountain, at 6,000 feet
altitude, found a nest with six fresh eggs, the same day another
nest was taken at 7,500 feet, containing three young and two eggs;
common in the foothills from Calgary south to Crow Nest pass;
common from Prairie creek, Alta. to the Henry House, 1898; very
common and breeding at Banff, Rocky mountains, in 1891 ; first
seen April 23, at Penticton, Lake Okanagan, B.C., where they
became common; very abundant at Revelstoke, B.C., in April, 1890;
one seen at Trail near the 49th parallel, 1902, nearly all the specimens
taken were males; in May many were breeding in burnt woods all
around the town; rather common at Sicamous, B.C., in July, 1889,
and at Kamloops and Spence Bridge also; common at Fernie and
Elko, B.C., in 1904, and at Midway and Whipsaw creek in 1905;
saw a number on a mountain 14 miles south of Hope, B.C., at an
altitude of 6,000 feet, breeding. (Spreadborough.) ‘Two were seen
at Lake Okanagan, B.C., December 16th, 1898. Common migrant
at Chilliwack, B.C. (Brooks.) During migration this race is
sparingly scattered as far west as Vancouver island, where I took
two specimens. It became more frequent on the western slope of
the Coast range, and in the interior I found it breeding at higher
latitudes and altitudes. (Rhoads.) Rare spring and fall migrant
in British Columbia. (Sireator.) I found this bird very common
east of the Coast range. (Fannin.) Descending from the bleak
snow-covered rocks of White pass we reached Portage on June 14th,
a country of more luxuriant vegetation. Here this sparrow appeared
and continued with us to Circle City, Alaska. (Bzshop.) Every-
where in Alaska, the presence of bushes and timber is an almost
certain indication of this bird’s presence in summer. (Nelson.)
This species is quite abundant among the alder patches on all parts
of the island of St. Michael and breeds in considerable numbers.
(Turner.) This bird occurs at Point Barrow only as a straggler.
Only a single individual was taken. (Murdoch.) Occasionally
seen on the high grounds of Kenai mountains, Alaska, a few hundred
feet above timber line. (Figgins.) A few of Gambel’s sparrows
were observed in the vicinity of Cape Blossom, Kotzebue sound,
in July. They were always seen in brush patches or at their borders,
just as is the case in winter in southern California. (Grinnell.)
One female specimen taken at Point Barrow, Alaska, is typical in
every way. (Witmer Stone.)

33

514 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

BREEDING Notes.—The following spring the arrival of Gambel’s
sparrow, as indicated by its beautiful song, was in the evening of
May 2ist, and the species soon became common. The song is a
clear sad strain of five syllables, and with rising inflection. In
the Kowak delta on the 11th June, I obtained a set of six eggs in
which incubation had commenced. The nest wassunk into a hum-
mock of moss on the ground under some alder bushes on a hillside.
A clump of dead grass partly concealed it from view. It consisted
of dry grasses, lined with finer grass and black rootlets. The eggs
are pale Nile blue, rather evenly covered with irregularly outlined
spots of chocolate and vinaceous. They are ovate, and measure
.83.X .63, .81 x .62, .86x .63, .85 x .64, .83 x .62, and .76x .60.
the latter being a runt egg. (Grinnell.)

The intermediate sparrow breeds in great numbers in the wooded
sections of Anderson district. The nests were nearly always placed
on the ground, in the tufts of tussocks of grass, clumps of Labrador
tea (Ledum palustre) and amid stunted willows. ‘They were com-
posed of fine hay and lined with deer hair, occasionally mixed with
a few feathers. Several were made entirely of the finer grasses.
The usual number of eggs was four, but a lot contained as many as
five and six. Upwards of one hundred nests were collected in the
region referred to. ‘(Macfarlane.) On June 13th, 1893, at Banff,
Rocky mountains, I came across a nest and five eggs of this species,
it was built at the side of a grassy mound and made of dried grass lined
with hair. At Peel river, Arctic America, on June 2nd, 1898, Rev.
C. E. Whittaker found a nest and four eggs built in a patch of moss
on the ground. (W. Raine.)

5556. Nuttall Sparrow.
Zonotrichia leucophrys nuttalli RIDGWAY. 1899.

Common about the prairie and open timbered spots. (Lord.)
West of the Coast range, especially on the coast; this is the most
abundant small bird in the neighbourhood of Victoria. (Fannin.)
Rare migrant at Chilliwack. (Brooks.) Taken at Agassiz and Yale
in May, 1889; observed five at the mouth of Tami Hy creek, Chilli-
wack valley; very abundant at Huntingdon, B.C., on September
gth, 1901, feeding on thistle seed; common at Douglas, B.C., after
April 25, 1906; first seen on April roth, at Victoria, but common by

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 515

April 17th, 1893; nest found May 11th on the ground, made of dry
grass, lined with hair and containing three eggs; a summer resident
on all parts of Vancouver island, they do not appear to be common
at Comox. (Spreadborough.) A very common species on Van-
couver island; it was abundant on roadsides and in fields at Salt
Spring island and Comox in May, 1887 (Macoun.) A very abun-
dant summer resident on the coast of British Columbia. (Rhoads.)

557. Golden-crowned Sparrow.
Zonotrichia coronata (PALL.) BAIRD. 1858.

Common about the prairies and open timbered spots. (Lord.)
A very abundant spring and fall migrant. (Séreator.) An abun-
dant summer resident. (Fannin.) Not common; migrating in the
lower Fraser valley; breeds on the mountain tops at timber line.
(Brooks.) Quite rare at Hastings, Agassiz, and Vancouver in April,
1889; common at Douglas, B.C., in April and May, 1906; not rare
on Vancouver island at Victoria in spring, seen for the first time
April 27th, in 1893; by May oth they had disappeared; not common
at Clayoquot sound, Vancouver island, a few were seen in Septem-
ber, 1907. (Spreadborough.) Abundant at Salt Spring island and
Comox in May, 1887. (Macoun.) In abundant flocks during our
stay at Goldstream, Vancouver island. I am inclined to doubt
Mr. Fannin’s statement that they are resident on Vancouver island
and would restrict their southern range in summer to the Queen
Charlotte islands. (Rhoads.) At English bay, near Vancouver
city saw a flock of nearly 100, May 4th, 1890; very common on Sumas
prairie in October of the same year. (E. F. G. White.)

A few of these sparrows were seen and heard on August 21st in
brush among spruces back of our camp on the Kowak river, Kotze-
bue sound. They were not common at any time. (Grinnell.)
Common in the low, second growth brush about the village of Hope,
Cook inlet, Alaska; also occasionally seen on the mountains there.

(Osgood.) This sparrow was found on the heights above glacier
near Skagway and was common at White Pass summit and con-

tinued to Portage, B.C. A nest almost finished was found in a

conifer at Summit lake, June 12th. (Bishop.) Seen at Kenai

mountains and Homer, Alaska. Was not seen at Homer until late

summer when it became very common. (Figgins.) Four adults
33%

516 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

were taken at Muller and one at Seldovia, Alaska. (Anderson.)
The last of May, from the 25th to the 3oth, it arrives in the vicinity
of St. Michael, and breeds sparingly along the Behring sea coast
of the territory, and more rarely on the shores of Kotzebue sound.
From the peninsula of Alaska south to Puget sound it is a common
resident; its range extends beyond the Arctic Circle. (Nelson.) A
pair of these birds was shot in June, 1876, on the western end of
Whale island, near St. Michael; they are not common in the interior.
(Turner.)

558. White-throated Sparrow.
Zonotrichia albicollis (GMEL.) SWAINS. 1837.

Reported by Stearns as common and breeding in southern Labra-
dor; Audubon states that this species is common, and that they
saw young late in July; Drexler obtained this species at Moose
Factory on May 31st, 1860; Verrill reports this species as far the
most common singing bird on Anticosti. (Packard.) Two speci-
mens taken at Chateau bay, Labrador, July r4th, 1891. (Norton.)
A common summer migrant in Newfoundland. (Reeks.) . Fairly
common along the Humber river, Newfoundland, 1899. (Lows H.
Porter.)

An abundant summer resident in Nova Scotia. (Downs.) Not
uncommon on Sable island in the spring and autumn of 1902;
several seen May 13, 1904, one May 3, 1905; several came in a
northwest gale, September 30, 1905; seen in numbers May 10 and
20 and September 23, 1906; several seen April 1, one September 26
and others October 24, 1907. (J. Boutelier.) Common at Bad-
deck and Margaree, Cape Breton island, N.S., July, 1898; not un-
common at Brackley Beach, Prince Edward island, nests taken
June, 1888. (Macoun.) This bird, so characteristic of the Cana-
dian fauna, is less abundant than the ubiquitous juncos, but on
account of its loud and striking song is far better known to the
average inhabitant of Prince Edward island. (Dwight.) Breeding
abundantly at Sydney, Cape Breton island. (C. R. Harte.) Com-
mon in Nova Scotia from May to October. (H. F. Tufts.)

A common summer resident in New Brunswick. (Chamberlain.)
An abundant summer resident at Scotch Lake, York county, N.B-

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 517

(W. H. Moore.) Abundant in the Restigouche valley, N.B. (Brit-
tain & Cox.) Common on the Magdalen islands; nesting about the
last of June.e (Bishop.) Everywhere about the Gulf of St. Law-
rence, save on the wind-swept Magdalens, this bird was an abun-
dant species. (Brewster.) Common at Lake Mistassini in northern
Quebec. (J. M. Macoun.) Taken at Beauport; a common resi-
dent in eastern Quebec. (Dzonne.) A common summer resident
at Montreal; breeds in Mount Royal park. Observed here from
April 24th to October 30th. (Wunile.)

A common summer resident at Ottawa and breeding. (Ottawa
Naturalist, Vol. V.) Common migrant at Toronto, Ont., probably
breeds; a common summer migrant in the Parry Sound and Musko-
ka districts. (J. H. Fleming.) A very common summer resident
at Guelph, Ont., arriving about April zoth and leaving about
October 30th. (A. B. Klugh.) Abundant everywhere in Algon-
quin park, Ont.; found a nest on the ground in a bunch of grass,
July 15th, 1900; eggs quite fresh; common in 1903 from Missinabi
to Point Comfort on the east coast of James bay and on the west
coast north to Cape Henrietta Maria. (Spreadborough.) A com-
mon migrant but a rare breeder at London; found only in openings
in deep cedar swamps. Forty miles north of London and in the
Bruce peninsula it is quite common. (W. E. Saunders.) A com-
mon summer resident at Penetanguishene, keeping well to the deep
swamps and probably breeds as they remain throughout the summer.
(A. F. Young.) Abundant throughout the region between Norway
House and York Factory, Hudson bay. It was especially numer-
ous in the extensive tracts which had been devastated by fire. A
few were noted, one of which was collected at. York Factory in July,
1900; on our return trip a few were seen at Oxford lake, September
rith. (Preble.) Fort Churchill, Hudson bay. (Clarke.)

A common summer resident in woodlands in Manitoba; found
‘breeding at Carberry, Shell river, Little Boggy creek and Duck
mountain. (E. T. Seton.) Only seen at Indian Head, Sask., be-
tween the 9th and 2oth May, 1892, when they all migrated to the
north; a few were observed at Moose Jaw and Old Wives creek,
Sask., in May, 1895, but they soon disappeared ; first seen at Edmon-
ton, Alta., May 6th, 1897; shortly after they became common and
remained to breed; abundant from Lesser Slave lake to Peace River

518 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

landing, Alta., lat 56° 15’, in June, 1903; observed from Edmonton
to the Pembina river in June, 1898. (Spreadborough.) One of the
most abundant birds at Grand Rapids, Saskatchewan giver; it breeds
there in great numbers. (Nu#ting.) First noticed at Prince Albert,
Sask., in company with other sparrows on September 2, 1900.
(Coubeaux.) This species reaches the Saskatchewan about the mid-
dle of May, and spreads throughout the Northwest Territories up
to lat. 66° to breed. (Richardson.) North to Fort Simpson on
the Mackenzie river; rare. (Ross.) First seen May 7th, 1888,
near Calgary; common from there to Edmonton and Athabaska
Landing and up to Lesser Slave river, down the Athabaska to Clear-
water river, and up that river to Methye portage and thence to
Isle A la Crosse; it is the chief bird of the whole reigon. (J. M.
Macoun.)

BREEDING Notes.—Nest on ground among bushes, composed
of grass, weed stems and moss, lined with rootlets and fine grass.
Eggs 4,fdull white, spots and splashes of brown and lavender. (G.
R. White.) I have observed that this bird is sparingly distributed
throughout eastern Ontario through the summer. In June, 1888,
I foundjtwo nests on the rocky ground, two miles west of the village
of Renfrew, Ont., one in a small thick bush, the other among grass,
etc.,"on{the ground. During ten years I observed one pair close to
Lansdowne, Ont., that by their manner had young, though I did not
succeed{in finding the nest. I saw one bird on the Magdalen islands
andghave seen two nests taken in 1899 near Mingan, Que., where
it commonly breeds; breeds abundantly in North Frontenac and
North Hastings, Ont. (Rev. C. J. Young.) I found a nest of this
bird May 24th, 1886, in the park, built in the roots of an up-turned
tree stump, containing four eggs, and another nest May 3oth, 1891,
at Hochelaga woods containing three eggs, built on the ground in
a tussock of grass. (Wunile.) I took a nest near Sand lake on
May 25th, 1897. It was placed under some dead ferns on the fiat,
grassy bank of a stream, and was lined with moose hair; there
were four eggs in the set. I took a nest some years ago at Rosseau,
built about three feet up in a raspberry bush. (J. H. Fleming.)
On June 8th, 1893, I found a nest and eggs at Long lake, Manitoba;
June 19th, 1901, I found two nests at Carleton Junction, 40 miles
west of Ottawa, one nest was on the ground, the other in a brush
heap some distance above the ground. (W. Raine.) The nesting

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 519

season of this species is from May to August; eggs from three to
five in a set placed in a snugly built nest of grasses, lined with finer
grasses and hair, placed in brush or on the ground and well con-
cealed; the birds show much anxiety when one approaches the nest.
The young when fledged do not show white on the head or throat.
(W. H. Moore.) Near Ottawa and at Lake Nominingue, 100 miles
north of it, the nest is found in woods, under branches, in a bed
of green moss, or sometimes in a bush. It is built of coarse grasses,
rotten wood, dried leaves and usually green moss. The lining is.
fine grass or hairs. The set is of three or four eggs laid in June or
July. (Garneau.) In June, 1903, two nests of this species were
found by the writer in a swampy thicket near Ottawa; one was in
a clump of dead Carex stems (Carex riparia) and the other in a very
old brush-heap. (Macoun.)

CCXXVII. SPIZELLA Bonaparte. 1832.
559. Tree Sparrow.
Spizella monticola (GMEL.) BAIRD. 1858.

Common throughout Labrador. Breeds plentifully at Fort Chimo,
where eggs and nests were taken. (Packard.) None seen on James
bay until a little north of Fort George when they became common.
Very abundant across Ungava from Richmond gulf to Fort Chimo
in the summer of 1896. (Spreadborough.) Rather uncommon in
northeastern Labrador, but widely distributed. I observed a good
many at Port Manvers, lat. 57°. (Bigelow.) A common winter
visitor in Nova Scotia. (Downs.) Fairly common in winter in
Nova Scotia. (H. F. Tufts.) A regular winter visitor in New
Brunswick. (Chamberlain.) A winter visitor at Scotch Lake, York
co., N.B. ; tolerably common in some localities. (W. H. Moore.)
Two seen at Parsboro, N.S., in company with three slate-coloured
juncos on January 25th, 1899. (Morrell.) Quite common at Lake
Mistassini, northern Quebec, breeding, in 1885. (J. M. Macoun.)
Taken at Beauport; a winter visitor in eastern Quebec. (Dzonne.)
A transient but common visitant at Montreal; observed here in
spring from April 7th to 28th, and in the autumn from October 25th
to November 7th. (Wdzntle.) Observed at Albany, James bay,
migrating south and from there to Missinabi on our way up Moose
river. (Spreadborough.) We have four sets of eggs in our collection,

520 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

three being from Whale river, Hudson bay, and one from Fort
Chimo, Ungava.

A common migrant in spring and fall at Ottawa. (Ottawa Natur-
alist, Vol. V.) A northern breeder, common in Ontario in the early
spring, where it is one of the first birds tocome. (Rev. C. J. Young.)
Winter resident at Toronto, Ont., sometimes abundant. A regular
winter resident in the Parry Sound and Muskoka districts; common
at Sand lake in October, 1900. (J. H. Fleming.) A common
migrant at London, Ont.; a few are found most winters in sheltered
places. (W. E. Saunders.) Winter visitor at Guelph, Ont. (A. B.
Klugh.) A rare and transient visitor at Penetanguishene, Ont.
(A. F. Young.)

No tree sparrows were observed in summer during either season,
(1873-74) and I think none breed as far south as this. They appear
in numbers with the general migration which brings the northern
fringillines, and which reaches this latitude about the 1st of October.
(Coues.) Abundant migrant in Manitoba, frequenting thickets. It
commonly frequents thick copses rather than trees, and its general
habits would entitle it to be called scrub sparrow rather than tree
sparrow. First noted in 1907 near the east end of Great Slave lake,
afterwards abundant and nesting to the ‘“jbarrens ’’ where there were
small thickets. (E. T. Seton.) Abundant migrant at Aweme, Man.
(Criddle.) Abundant migrant everywhere in Manitoba. (Aékin-
son.) First seen at York Factory, Hudson bay, where the species
was rather common, and a young bird not long from the nest was
taken July 12th, 1900. It was abundant at Fort Churchill, July 24th
to 30th, and we took a series at that point. Many were noted on
the ‘‘barren grounds,” fifty miles south of Cape Eskimo, August 4th
to 8th. On our return trip several were seen at Duck point, Play-
green lake. (Preble.) Fort Churchill, Hudson bay. (Clarke.)

559a. Western Tree Sparrow.
Spizella monticola ochracea BREWST. 1882.

Very common in the spring at Indian Head, Sask.; first seen at
Medicine Hat, Sask., April roth, 1894, and all were gone by the 18th;
rare at Edmonton, Alta., in April, 1897; the bulk of the migration
had passed before I reached there; a few observed at Lesser Slave

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 521

lake, and one individual at Peace River Landing in lat. 56° 15’ in
June, 1903; rather common at Penticton, B.C., early in April, 1903;
quite common at Revelstoke, B.C., in April, 1891, feeding on the
ground up to April 17th, when they disappeared; from the crossing
of the McLeod river, October 6th, 1898, to Edmonton, Alta., the
species was common, evidently passing south. (Spreadborough.)
Common at Athabaska Landing, ninety miles from Edmonton,
May 24th, 1888. (J. M. Macoun.)

This little bird arrives in small flocks on the Saskatchewan in the
third week in April, and after a short halt proceeds further north
to breed. (Rechardson.) North to Lapierre House on the Mackenzie
river; abundant. (Ross.) This is perhaps the most abundant
sparrow found breeding in the valley of Anderson river, as is evid-
enced by the number of nests, two hundred and sixteen, secured.
Most of them were found on the ground and others on dwarf willows
at a height of one to four feet. Four and five eggs and sometimes
aS many as six and seven appeared to be the complement. (Mac-
farlane.)

Regular summer visitor. (Lord.) Migrant; not common at
Chilliwack; a few stay all winter at Lake Okanagan, B.C.; a few
bred at Barkerville, Cariboo district, B.C., 1901. (Brooks.) Taken
on Vancouver island by A. H. Maynard. (Fannin.) At Haine
Mission, Lynn canal, I took a female, June 2nd, 1899. At Cariboo
Crossing, lat. 60°, B.C., we took two pairs, June 29th, one of them
with a nest containing three fresh eggs. The nest was buried in
moss at the foot of a clump of willows in a willow swamp near the
lake; it was composed of fine dry grasses, lined with feathers covered
externally with a thick coating of living moss. It was occasionally
seen the whole length of the Yukon river to St. Michael. (Bishop.)
The western tree sparrow was numerous at Cape Blossom, Kotzebue
sound, Alaska. The patches of stunted willow and alder back
among the hills seemed to be particularly favoured by this species,
and in such localities full-fledged young and moulting adults were
found in the latter part of July. (Grinnell.) This species is very
common, especially along the coast of Behring sea, and of all the
birds that frequent bushes this is the most common to the north.
(Nelson.) This species arrives at St. Michael and remains about
two and one-half months. It breeds in the alder thickets that skirt

522 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

the small lakes and low grounds. It is quite common. (Turner.)
One specimen taken at Homer, Kenai peninsula, Alaska, September

8th, 1901, by Figgins. (Chapman.)

BREEDING Notes.—In the Kowak delta on the 14th and 15th
of June I took a set of five and one of six slightly incubated eggs,
respectively. The two nests were similarly placed in the tops of
clumps of grass at the edge of a marsh about six inches above the
water. The nest proper consisted of closely-matted broad dry grass
blades and stems, while the lining was entirely of white ptarmigan
feathers, though not one shows above the rim. The deeply cup-
shaped cavity is thus pure white, though when the bird was sitting
she entirely concealed it. The internal diameter of the nest is 2.00,
depth, 1.90; external diameter, 4.80, depth, 2.60. The ground
colour of the egg is very pale blue. The set of six is quite uni-
formly and thickly spotted with liver-brown and vinaceous tints.
One egg of the set of five is like them, but the others are wreathed
at the large ends with confluent markings of the same colours, while
the rest of the surface is very finely dotted and blurred with a pale
brown tint; so as to nearly obscure the ground colour. The eleven
eggs average .74X .57. (Joseph Grinnell.) I have several sets of
eggs from the Mackenzie delta; a nest and five eggs were found by
Rev. C. E. Whittaker on June 18th, 1900 at Peel river; another
nest with five eggs was found at the foothills of the Black moun-
tains by Mr. Stringer on June 13th, 1899; another clutch of four
eggs was found, west side of Mackenzie delta, by Mr. Stringer on
June 8th, 1899; the nests are made of dried grass warmly lined with
feathers and were built on mossy knolls on the ground. (W. Raine.)

660. Chipping Sparrow.
Spizella socialis (WILS.) BoNAP. 1838.

A common summer migrant in Newfoundland. (Reeks.) Com-
mon summer resident in Nova Scotia. (Downs; Tufts.) Common
at Sydney, Cape Breton island. (C. R. Harte.) Common at Bad-
deck and Margaree, Cape Breton island, N.S., July, 1898; quite
common at Brackley point, Prince Edward island, June, 1888.
(Macoun.) Not a common species and only occasionally observed
on Prince Edward island. (Dwight.) A common summer resident
in New Brunswick. (Chamberlain.) Common summer resident

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 523

at Scotch Lake, York county, N.B. (W. H. Moore.) Rare in
Restigouche valley; only seen in the nieghbourhood of Campbell-
ton, N.B. (Brittain & Cox.) Seen only at Gaspé, Quebec, where
it was common. (Brewster.) Common in eastern Quebec, in sum-
mer. (Dionne.) An abundant summer resident at Montreal.
Breeds in the city and in Mount Royal park. I have found their
nests with eggs from May 21st to July 22nd, and have observed
this sociable little bird here from April 23rd to September 28th.
(Winile.)

A common summer resident in and around Ottawa; breeds in
the city. (Ottawa Naturalist, Vol. V.) Common summer resident
at Toronto, Ont. A common summer resident in Parry Sound and
Muskoka districts; usually breeding about the settlements. (J. H.
Fleming.) Abundant summer resident at Guelph, Ont.; arrives
about April 20th and leaves about October 20th. (A. B. Klugh.)
A pair bred near the buildings at Cache lake, Algonquin park, Ont.
June, 1900. (Spreadborough.) A breeding summer resident at
Penetanguishene, Ont. (A. F. Young.) Much less common in the
city of London, Ont., than it was 20 years ago; but still fairly com-
mon over the whole country. (W. E. Saunders.) One observed
at God lake, Moose river, May 30th, 1896; common at Moose Fac-
tory, June 9th; none seen further north. (Spreadborough.) A few
chipping sparrows were seen about the post at Norway House, one
of which was collected. We also met with them about the build-
ings at Oxford House and saw one or two on an island in Knee lake
July 5th, 1900; none seen further north. (Preble.)

Specimens of this very common and familiar species were taken
in the Rocky mountains, and it was observed at other points where
none were secured. (Coues.) This species is quite rare in Mani-
toba. The earliest record I have is April roth, 1882, but this was
the only one seen at the time, and it was fully two weeks before
others appeared. I found one nest in a little spruce tree, but was
too late as the birds had flown. The nest is almost invariably lined
with horse hair, whence the other common name “‘hair bird.” (E.
T. Seton.) Tolerably common at Aweme, Man. (Criddle.) A
regular and fairly numerous breeding species in the settled districts
of Manitoba. (Atkinson.) Rare, two seen in the Cypress hills,
Sask., in 1905 and Dr. Bishop collected one on Mackay creek in

524 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

1906. (A. C. Bent.) Very abundant about Grand Rapids and
Chemawawin, North Saskatchewan river, at the latter place they
were feeding largely on the seeds of aquatic plants on the margin
of the slough east of the village. (Nutting.) Not common at
Indian Head, Sask., in the spring of 1892; first seen at Medicine
Hat, Sask., May goth, 1894, after that they became common, but
decreased in numbers towards the end of the month; in 1895 none
were seen until we reached Milk river late in July; they were in pro-
fusion at Pend d’Orielle, at Castellated rocks, St. Mary river and
Waterton lake, foothills of Rocky mountains; a very common re-
sident at Edmonton and southward in foothills to Crow Nest pass;
saw one individual at the crossing of McLeod river, June 19th, 1898;
common at Jasper lake, Yellowhead pass, July 2nd; common from
Lesser Slave lake to Peace River Landing, Atha., lat. 56° 15’, in
June, 1903. (Spreadborough.) Abundant along the trail between
Edmonton and Athabaska Landing, but rather rare on the Atha-
baska; common up the Clearwater river and between Methye por-
tage and Isle a la Crosse. (J. M. Macoun.) Not uncommon but
much less abundant than the tree sparrow around Prince Albert,
Sask.; breeding in the region. (Coubeaux.) North to Fort Simp-
son on the Mackenzie river; abundant. (Ross.) Several specimens
of this sparrow were obtained from Fort Yukon in June, 1876.
(Turner.) I would refer all British Columbia specimens collected
by myself and Mr. Streator, including those from the coast, to
socialis with the exception possibly of six skins collected at Ashcroft.
(Rhoads.) Common at Donald on the Columbia river, B.C., May
20th, 1894. (E. F. G. White.)

BREEDING Notes.—Nesting in low trees and shrubs; quite com-
mon around Ottawa. Nest composed of fine dried grass lined with
hair. Eggs, four or five. Bluish, speckled with blackish-brown
and purple. (G. R. White.) With us from last of April to October.
The nests are built in apple trees or small spruces, and made of grasses
lined with hair. The eggs number from three to five. One sum-
mer some nests were found to have their eggs broken in them. It
was some time before I could find out the cause. At last one morn-
ing, when sitting in view of a nest on an apple tree, a fine male of
this species was seen to deliberately pick a hole in the shell of an
egg and drink its contents. I then surmised that it was this bird
that was doing all of the mischief. (W.H. Moore.) This species

u

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 525

« nests in bushes or on the middle branches of large trees at Ottawa.

The nest is composed of rootlets and lined with hair. (Garneau.)

560a. Western Chipping Sparrow.

Sprzella socialis arizone COUES. 1872.

This species found to be common at Banff and breeding
in the summer of 1891 ; not uncommon at Revelstoke and in
Eagle pass in May, 1890; further down the Columbia river at
Deer park and Robson it was quite common and seemed to increase
to the south; quite common at Kamloops and Spence Bridge
in 1889; common at Elko, B.C., in May 1904, breeding by May
24;common in 1905 through the whole country between Midway
and Chilliwack lake; observed several individuals at Chilliwack,
B.C., in the spring of 1901; a few seen at Penticton in April, 1903;
first seen at Victoria, Vancouver island, April 26th, 1893, quite
common by May oth; an abundant summer resident at Victoria,
Nanaimo and Comox. (Spreadborough.) Regular summer visitor
in British Columbia. (Lord.) Found only in the interior, where
it breeds abundantly. (Streafor.) An abundant summer resident
east and west of the Coast range ; breeds in the neighbour-
hood of Victoria. (Fannin.) Common summer resident at Chilli-
wack. (Brooks.) Six skins taken at Ashcroft, B.C., are considered
intermediate between this and the eastern form. (Rhoads.)

BREEDING NotTes.—Common summer resident near the Inter-
national Boundary at Trail, B.C.; found a nest and three eggs June
5th, 1902, in a small bush about 18 inches from the ground, made
of dried grass and lined with hair. (Spreadborough.) We found
this species daily from Log Cabin on the White pass to Dawson on
the Yukon, lat. 64° 15’, between June 15th and August Ist, 1899.
We found a nest with four eggs at Lake Bennett, June 24th. Large
young in a nest on Tagish lake, June 30th. Young able to fly were
met with at Marsh lake, July 5th, and a set of three eggs on Thirty-
mile river, July 18th. The nests were in small spruces, one, four

‘inches, the other three feet from the ground. Gambel’s sparrow,

slate-coloured junco and this species are, in point of numbers, the
commonest sparrows on the Yukon river. (Beshop.)

526 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
561. Clay-coloured Sparrow.
Spizella pallida (SwaAINs.) Bonap. 1838.

On May oth, 1894, while hunting in a field of small shrubs about
15 miles west of London, Ont., I saw a small sparrow sitting on
the; top twig of a shrub, after the manner of the field sparrow and
heard him give a note whose author I was looking for. It proved
to be a Spizella pallida, the first recorded, I believe, in our prov-
ince, though they may yet be found inhabiting the northwestern
extremity, next to Manitoba. (W. E. Saunders.) The western
meadow lark, Brewer’s blackbird and the present species were the
chief birds I observed at Pembina to indicate an avi-fauna in any
wise different from that of the eastern province at large, and two
of these cannot be considered very strong marks since they both
occur some distance further eastward. (Cowes.) Very abundant
summer resident in Manitoba on scrubby prairies and half open
lowlands. This small sparrow arrives in flocks about the 12th
May. Its small size and pale-ashy hue will generally identify it as
it rambles over the scrubby part of the prairie. (E. T. Seton.)
This species was first seen at Indian Head, Sask., on May 2oth,
1892. In a few days after they were quite common, and on June
7th I found a nest in a low bush lined with dried grass and horse
hair. This species is found everywhere on the prairie wherever
there is brush from Manitoba to the foothills of the Rocky moun-
tains. It nests chiefly in rose bushes, but I have found them on
the ground at Frenchman river, under sage brush (Artemisia cana).
Nests were found at Spur creek in the sage brush as late as July 7th
with fresh eggs; common at Canmore in the Bow valley, but
scarce at Banff in the Rocky mountains in June, 1891 ; first seen
at Edmonton, Alta., May 31st; found a number of nests, all on the
ground at the roots of a little clump of willows; none of the nests
were more than four inches above the ground, and were made of
dried grass lined with horse hair; eggs from two to five in a set;
common in the foothills, 40 miles southwest of Calgary; common
in all the open country from Lesser Slave lake to Peace River Land-
ing, lat. 56° 15’ in June, 1903; common from Edmonton to Pem-
bina river in June, 1898. (Spreadborough.) Three specimens
secured at Grand rapids of the Saskatchewan. (Nutting.) Com-
monly seen in company with the tree sparrow and probably breed-

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 527

ing around Prince Albert, Sask. (Coubeaux.) This species fre-
quented the farm-yard at Carlton House on the Saskatchewan,
and was as sociable as the English house sparrow. (Richardson.)
North of Fort Resolution on Great Slave lake. (Ross.) Two
males taken at 150-Mile House, Cariboo district, B.C., July 3rd,
1901. (Brooks.)

BREEDING Notes.—Upon my arrival, the 1st of June, the bunt-
ings were all paired, the males were in full song, nidification was
mostly finished, and the eggs were about to be laid. The first
specimen procured, June znd contained a fully formed egg. A
nest taken June 5th was scarcely completed. The first complement
of eggs was taken June 11th; it numbered four. I think the eggs
are mostly laid by the end of the second week in June. The nest
is placed in bushes, generally within a few inches of the ground;
it resembles that of the chipbird, though it is not so neatly and
artistically finished, and often lacks the horse-hair lining, which is
so constant and conspicuous a feature of the latter; in size it aver-
ages about three inches across outside by two in depth, with a
cavity two inches wide and one and a half inches deep; the struc-
ture is of fine grasses and slender weed-stalks, with or without
some fine rootlets, sometimes lined with hair, like the chippy’s,
sometimes with very fine grass tops; it is placed in a crotch ‘of the
bush or in a tuft of weeds; the copses of scrubby willows I found
to be favorite nesting places, though any of the shrubbery along
the river bank seemed to answer; on those occasions when I ap-
proached a nest containing eggs, the female fluttered silently and
furtively away, without venturing a protest; the eggs I found in
one case to be deposited daily till the complement was filled; they
measure 0.62 in length by 0.50 in breadth on an average; the
ground-colour is light dull green, sparsely but distinctly speckled
with some rich and other darker shades of brown, these markings
being chiefly confined to the larger end, or wreathed about it,
though there are often a few specks here and there over the rest of
the surface; from the earliness of the first sets of eggs, I suppose
that two broods may be reared each season. (Cowes.) The spot
chosen for their home is mostly in a low bush, not more than a foot
from the ground; as exception to this rule I have noted five nests on
the ground and one or two at a height of three feet; it is a very
slight structure, a good deal like that of a chipping sparrow, but

528 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

composed entirely of grass; when compared with other tree nests
it is conspicuously flimsy and light-coloured, the latter effect being
due to the absence of the black fibrous roots so commonly used as
lining; the eggs are among the most beautiful of any produced by
the sparrows; when first the discoverer draws aside the bush and
exposes the nest with its complement, his feelings are as of finding
an exquisite casket of jewels; although this is one of the most com-
mon of our sparrows, and although on the scrubby plain between
the Duck mountain and the Assiniboine in early June, I could have
found as many as four or five nests in an hour’s walk, the treasure-
trove feeling in connection with the eggs continues in full force. I
infer from the above and other observations that the shattuck
bunting breeds twice, if not three times each season with us; it
leaves the ‘‘big plain” about the end of September. (E. T. Seton.)
Builds in rose bushes, snowberry and wolf-willows generally from

one to two feet from the ground; in size it is about three inches in
diameter, but the cavity is less than two inches across. The nest

is built of the stems of finer grasses and quite an oven structure lined
inside with coarse dark horse-hair, other nests were lined with
white hair; in June, 1896, two nests were taken at Sewell, Manitoba,
each contained four eggs and was built in bushes of dwarf birch,
Betula glandulosa. (Macoun.)

562. Brewer Sparrow.
Spizella brewert Cass. 1856.

Eastern slope of Coast range and Rocky mountain district; also
on the Similkameen river, B.C. (Fannin.) One specimen taken
in the pine woods above Ashcroft, B.C. (Rhoads.)

563. Field Sparrow.

Spizella pusilla (Wits.) Bonap. 1838.

An uncommon summer resident in Nova Scotia. (Downs.)
Several specimens seen October 4th, 1902, on Sable island, N.S.
(J. Boutelier.) A few specimens seen June 8th, 1902, at Sydney,
Cape Breton island. (C.R. Harte.) A pair in breeding plumage
was taken on Entry island, Magdalen islands, Gulf of St. Lawrence,
July 8th, 1887. (Bishop.) Of doubtful occurrence in eastern
Quebec. (Dionne.) A scarce summer resident at Montreal. I

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 529

have not secured a specimen as yet, but I believe I have come
across them on various occasions. (Wuntle.)

In each of the years 1888, 1889 and>1890 at least one individual
of this species has been observed several times through the summer.
(Ottawa Naturalist, Vol. V.) Quite a number of field sparrows were
noted at Eganville, Renfrew co., Ont., Oct, 12th, 1906. A few
days previously Mr. E. White saw one or more near Ottawa. (Rev.
G. Esfrig.) Not common in eastern Ontario. (Rev. C. J. Young.)
Summer resident at Toronto, Ont ; sometimes abundant; Mr. Kay
took one specimen at Port Sydney, Muskoka district in the summer
of 1890. (J. H. Fleming). I have found this bird fairly plentiful
in suitable places around Toronto; and have met with it as early as
April 12th. Took two on April 22nd, 1899. They usually haunt
waste ground in which occasional clusters of bushes are found. I
know of one spot of waste ground interspersed with small patches
of witch hazel and scrub oak, which is never without a few repre-
sentatives of this pretty little sparrow. Breeds here. Can easily
be identified at a considerable distance by its cinnamon-tipped
beak. (J. Hughes-Samuel.) Locally distributed, but generally
common near London, Ont. Easily found by its song, but not
conspicuous otherwise. It nests both on the ground and in small
shrubs one to four feet from the ground. In my trips to the Bruce
peninsula have seen but few of these birds; while at Kazabazua,
40 miles north of Ottawa, it has been fairly common at every visit.
Arrives at London about April 20th and departs about October 2nd.
There is probably a considerable area of the central part of western
Ontario from which this bird is absent. (W. E. Saunders.)

Very rare summer resident, Red river settlement; breeding.
(D. Gunn.) Winnipeg; summer resident; tolerably common.
(Hine.) Have seen it west of Winnipeg. (R. H. Hunter.) Qu’-
Appelle; common summer resident; breeds; arrives about April
15th. (Guernsey.) All the above references are taken from E. T.
Seton’s ‘‘Birds of Manitoba” and it may be noted that none are
his own observations. My opinion from many years’ observation
and correlation of other statements is that nearly all, if not all the
above references are erroneous, and that they apply to the clay-
coloured spatrow (Spizella pallida) which we know is abundant, at
least in western Manitoba. The latter, though abundant, was not

34

530 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

recorded by Guernsey, R. H. Hunter, nor Mr. Hine, so that in these
three cases I am quite sure that the identification is wrong. I
doubt very much the occurrence of this bird at Winnipeg. Mr.
Atkinson is of the opinion that the Manitoba records refer to the
tree sparrow. -(Macoun.)

BreEpDING Nortes.—I have found the nest several times by the
roadside in a small bush. It appears to be a late breeder as the
nests I found had fresh eggs in them in July. If closely observed
this bird is unmistakable, being easily recognized by its waxen-
coloured bill, Not common in Eastern Ontario. I have, however,
found it breeding in the township of Lansdowne, Ont., on three
occasions. I also found a nest on the ground in a pasture near
second growth woods in the township of Oso, N. Frontenac, in
June, 1904. It also breeds in the vicinity of Kingston Mills, Ont.,
in dry pastures. (Rev. C. J. Young.)

CCXXVIII. JONCO Wac ter. 1831.

567. Slate-coloured Junco.
Junco hyemalis (LInn.) Sci. 1857.

Not observed in the Ungava district of Labrador; but common
in the eastern and southern portions. Breeds at Davis inlet and
Rigolet. (Packard.) Observed one individual on Moose river, June
7th, 1896; one on James bay, June 18th; found a pair breeding at
Fort George; only seen twice in crossing Ungava from Richmond
gulf to Fort Chimo. (Spreadborough.) Locally common as far as
the tree line in northeastern Labrador, particularly at Aillik. (Bige-
low.) Two specimens taken at Northwest river, Labrador, July
28th, 1891. (Norton.) A summer migrant and tolerably common
in Newfoundland. (Reeks.) A few individuals seen along the.
Humber river, Newfoundland, 1899. (Louis H. Porter.) A few
specimens were seen on Sable island, N.S., in April and one in June,
but on October 4th and 23rd, 1902, they were quite numerous; one
seen May 16, 1904; several, April 30, 1905, and in the autumn, Oct.
7 and Nov. 12; they were seen in large flocks after a heavy gale on.
Nov. 5, 1906; several were seen April 1, 1907, and one on June 17,
1907. (J. Boutelter.)

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 531

Very common throughout Nova Scotia; breeds everywhere
(Downs.) Seen several times during the winter at Parrsboro,
Cumberland co., N.S.; migrants arrived at Shulee on March 18th,
and in a few days were abundant. (Morrell.) Quite common on Cape
Breton island, N.S., July and August, 1898, nests taken on Smoky.
mountain, August 1st, and at Margaree, July 16th; common along
Rustico bay, Prince Edward island, June 29th, 1888. (Macoun.)
Very abundant at Sydney, Cape Breton island. (C. R. Harte.)
Very common from April to November in Nova Scotia. Often ob-
served throughout the winter. (H. F. Tufts.) Next to the Savanna
sparrow this is probably the most abundant bird on Prince Edward
island. It is found everywhere—in door-yards, in open fields, fern-
clothed clearings, even deep woods. Its nest is on the ground,
preferably under something—the bottom rail of a fence or a hole
in some grassy bank. Young were just beginning to fly June 23rd,
and a week later, nests with fresh eggs indicated a second laying.
(Dwight.) Very common summer resident in New Brunswick.
(Chamberlain.) An abundant summer resident at Scotch Lake,
York co., N.B. (W.H. Moore.) Very common in the Restigouche
valley, N.B. (Brittain & Cox.) Breeds, but is irregularly dis-
tributed on the Magdalen islands. (Bishop.) Of general and
uniform distribution on the shores and islands of the Gulf of St.
Lawrence. (Brewster.) Abundant in summer at Lake Mistas-
sini, northern Quebec. (J. M. Macoun.) Taken at Beauport;
common summer resident in eastern Quebec. (Dionne.) An
abundant summer resident at Montreal ; breeds in Mount Royal
park. I have found their nests, with eggs, from May 17th to June
19th, and have observed them here from March 29th to October
25th; and on one occasion I saw two here, Dec. 24th, 1882. (Winile.)

A common summer and autumn migrant. A few remain to
breed around Ottawa. (Ottawa Naturalist, Vol. V.) I notice that
this bird is a common spring and autumn migrant in eastern Ontario.
Numbers of them arrive in the latter part of September, and are
met with commonly in clearings and stubble fields during October.
In the spring they re-appear early in April and continue through
the month. A few breed in the county of Renfrew, and I have met
with the nest in June. I have not noticed that it breeds along the
St. Lawrence, though I have watched for it in suitable localities.
It breeds sparingly on the Magdalen islands, as well as at Pictou,

34%

532 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

Nova Scotia, and I found it breeding not uncommonly in North
Hastings, Ont., in 1906. (Rev. C. J. Young.) Abundant migrant
at Toronto, Ont., breeds rarely. A common breeding summer
resident in the Parry Sound and Muskoka districts; very fond of
nesting near old bush roads. (J. H. Fleming.) A few remain around
Toronto every winter. (J. Hughes-Samuel.) Abundant every-
where along the Parry Sound railway within the Algonquin park,
Ont.; young ones were able to fly by June 19th, 1900; nests were
found on the ground near logs and another beneath a tuft of grass
on July 15th, 1900. Observed a few on both sides of James bay in
1904. (Spreadborough.) London seems to be nearly the southern
limit of this species; here it is rare in summer, but at Bryanston,
fifteen miles northeast, it is fairly common in the same class of
woods; and in north Bruce it is quite common. There have been
two or three seasons in the last twenty years when it has been noted
regularly throughout the summer, but, as a rule, it is only found
in large cedar swamps, and even then in small numbers. Although
nesting ustially on the ground, one nest was found here ten feet above
the ground in a thicket of vines against a brick wall and contained
five eggs, an unusually large set. Nests on the ground are almost
invariably made on sloping ground, and the nest placed well back
in an excavation. (W. E. Saunders.) Abundant during migra-
tions at Guelph, Ont., especially in spring; common in winter and
scarceinsummer. (A.B. Klugh.) Acommon and breeding summer
resident at Penetanguishene, Ont. (A. F. Young.)

A specimen was taken June 2oth at Norway House, where the
species was common; another was secured July 3rd, one of a number
seen in the spruce and tamarack woods about Oxford House, and
the species was again observed while we were ascending Steel river,
September 1st. (Preble.) Fort Churchill, Hudson bay. (Clarke.)
The snowbird appeared along the Mouse (Souris) river about the
middle of September in troops as usual and at once became abundant.
These specimens were pure hyemalis. (Coues.) An abundant
migrant in Manitoba, frequenting thickets and hillsides. A few
may breed in the northern part of the province; generally diffused
at least as far as the east end of Great Slave lake. (E. T. Seton.)
Abundant migrant in Manitoba and west, but not noted breeding.
(Atkinson.) This species was first seen April 4th, 1892, at Indian
Head, Sask., and disappeared by the 15th May; none seemed to

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 533

breed here; first seen at Medicine Hat, Sask., on April roth, 1894,
and later in the month a few more; a common species at Edmonton
and south in the foothills to Crow Nest pass ; abundant from mouth
of Lesser Slave river to Peace River Landing, lat. 56°, 15’, June,
1903; common from Edmonton to Yellowhead pass, Rocky moun-
tains, June, 1898. (Spreadborough.) Abundant at Grand rapids of
the Saskatchewan, where it was breeding; nests in thick bushes
along the river bank opposite the fort. (Nutting.) Very abundant
migrant at Prince Albert, Sask., in spring and fall; saw a small flock
at Prince Albert, July 23, 1903, so I presume they breed. (Coubeaux.)
First noticed, May 9th, 1888, at Red Deer river, north of Calgary;
common from that point to Edmonton and Athabaska Landing and
up to Little Slave river; rare down the Athabaska river to Fort
McMurray; not seen at all on the Clearwater river until Methye
portage was reached; very common on the portage and from there
to Isle 4 la Crosse. (J. M. Macoun.) Rare straggler at Chilliwack;
have taken it twice. (Brooks.) This bird is merely a summer
resident of the Northwest Territories, and is not common nor was
it seen by us beyond lat. 57°. (Richardson.) North to Fort Good
Hope on the Mackenzie river. (Ross.) This species breeds in the
forest and to the border of the ‘‘barrens,” where several birds, nests
and eggs were secured; the nests were always on the ground and
made with fine hay lined with deer hair. (Macjarlane.)

This is one of the rarest sparrows visiting Behring sea; it is, how-
ever, much more numerous in the interior and is found along the
entire course of the Yukon, at the mouth of which it breeds; it extends
its summer range along the Norton sound shore of Behring sea and
the coast of the Arctic about Kotzebue sound, yet there is no record
of it having been taken on the coast of southeastern Alaska, nor
does it occur on any of the islands of Behring sea. (Nelson.) This
species is rarely common at St. Michael; it is seen only in May and
November. (Turner.) This is a straggler at Point Barrow, only
one specimen being taken on May 24th, 1883, which was a male.
(Murdoch.) At the time of our arrival at our winter camp on the
Kowak, and up to the 9th September, juncos were seen nearly every
day, though not more than five at a time; they were always met
with in the deep spruce woods; the last were seen on the 12th Sep-
tember; in the following spring they were noted on the 23rd May;
they were never numerous, two pairs being the most that were seen

534 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA,

in half a day’s hunt; this species was not noted further down the
Kowak than near the mouth of the Squirrel river, where a pair was
seen on June 8th. (Grinnell.) Common at Hope, on Cook inlet,
Alaska, in August, 1900. (Osgood.) Five specimens were taken on
the Kenai mountains and at Homer, Alaska, in August and Sep-
tember, 1901; the breeding ground of this junco was in extensive
alder patches just above timber line; they were quite common and
were found in all such localities visited. (Figgins.) From Log
Cabin on the White pass, to Circle City in Alaska, this bird occurs
everywhere. The slate-coloured sparrow, Gambel’s sparrow and the
western chipping sparrow were most common about heaps of brush
left by lumbermen, weed-grown clearings resulting from forest fires
and cabins of the towns. Every nest was sunk in the ground to
the rim in an open place under a weed or tussock of grass. One

contained a few dark hairs, besides the usual fine grass lining.
(Btshop.)

BREEDING NotTEes.—The nesting season of this species in New
Brunswick is May and June. From three to five eggs are laid in
a, well-concealed nest placed on the ground, under the protection of
a rock, sod, root or log. The nest is composed of grass stems lined
with hair. One nest was found made entirely of hair taken from a
piece of cariboo skin. (W.H. Moore.) One nest found on Chelsea
mountain, nine miles from Ottawa, on May 12th, 1903, and another
taken on Montreal mountain on June 3rd, 1903, were in holes in the
ground; each nest was made of grass and hair and each contained
four eggs, and measured 4 x 2 and 2.50 x 1.50 inches. (Garneau.)
Not a common summer resident at Ottawa. Nest in a low bush or
on the ground, composed of strips of bark, rootlets and hairs, lined
with moss and hair; eggs 4 or 5, greenish-white, spotted and blotched
with reddish-brown. (G. R. White.) Found a nest, June 3, 1903,
at Missinabi, Ont.; it was under a clump of grass and made of grass
lined with fine dried grass. (Spreadborough.)

567a. Oregon Junco.
Junco oreganus (Towns.) Ripcw. got.

An abundant resident west of the Coast range. (Fannin.) Abun-
dant resident at Chilliwack, B.C. (Brooks.) Very abundant in the
Fraser valley below Yale in May, 1889; common during the whole

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 535

summer at Chilliwack and at Huntingdon, B.C. on the International
Boundary; a few seen at Douglas, B.C., in April, 1906. An abun-
dant summer resident at Victoria, Vancouver island; nesting by
April 9th, 1893. Doubtless common over the whole island, as it
was seen at Sooke, Comox and Nanaimo, although in 1907, only a
few were seen at Clayoquot sound in September. (Spreadborough.)
The occurrence of this bird in Alaska was first made known by the
capture of eight specimens at Sitka by Bischoff; it was afterwards
taken by Bean at Sitka. (Nelson.) A single specimen of this bird
was obtained at Unalaska island, April 8th, 1879, where it was shot
by a native. (Turner.) Numerous in open bushy places at Sitka,
Alaska. This junco was one of the commonest land birds there.
(Grinnell.) Not common on Queen Charlotte islands. It was very
seldom seen near the coast and but few were noticed on the moun-
tains. (Osgood.) Tolerably common at Skagway and more so at
Haines Mission. At Skagway, I took a female and four fresh eggs,
May 31st. The nest of dried grass, lined with short, white hairs,
was sunk in the ground and concealed by dead weeds under a birch
‘only about 30 feet above the waters of Lynn canal. (Bishop.)

Mr. Rhoads, after discussing the differences between this form
and the next, says:—‘‘I think it safe to say that birds indistinguish-
able from oregonus breed on the better watered mountains of the
interior of British Columbia. The only approach to shufeldti is
found in birds from the most arid lowlands and most eastern Rockies,
but their differences are too slight and fortuitous to warrant a dis-
tinction.”

5676. Shufeldt Junco.
Junco oreganus shufeldti (COALE) Ripcw. 1901.

In company with two hyemalis at Edmonton, Alta., in May, 1897,
and in the Rocky mountains south of Yellowhead pass, in July,
1898; apparently accidental in the Rocky mountains, one taken at
Canmore, near Banff, in May, 1891; very common and breeding in
the Columbia river valley from Revelstoke to the International
boundary, where a large series of birds was taken in 1890 and 1902.
Common from the Columbia to Vancouver. island. West of the

-Coast range, it becomes mixed with the Oregon junco; very abun-
dant at Penticton, south of Okanagan, B.C., in April, 1903; abundant

536 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

everywhere at Fernie and Elko, B.C., in 1904, and common every-
where at Midway, in 1905; common in the same year on mountains
between the Skagit river and Chilliwack lake. (Spreadborough.)
The junco breeding in the plateau region between the Coast range
and the Rockies and migrating south in winter, is evidently separable
from the coast form. Specimens referred here were collected at
Ashcroft, in June and July, 1889; taken also by Mr. Macfarlane at
Stewart lake with its nests and five eggs. (Sireator.) Abundant
at Lake Okanagan, B.C., in winter. (Brooks.) A female was taken
at Glacier in the White pass, June 7th, 1899, and another at White
Pass City, June 9th; others were taken and heard next day, both at
Glacier and White Pass City. (Bishop.)

BREEDING NotTes.—On May 31st, 1902, found two nests near
Trail, B.C.; one with four eggs, the other with two; incubation was
far advanced. Nests constructed of weeds and grass, lined with
hair. Both nests were in a bank overhung with grass; another was
found on May 25th in the bank of an old prospect hole with four
fresh eggs. Found a nest in a clump of bunch grass at Midway,
B.C., May 3, 1905; it was made of grass and lined with fine hair;
June 22, saw a nest with four eggs in a bank, under a small bush at
the head of Whipsaw creek at an altitude of 6,800 feet. (Spread-
borough.)

568. Mearns Junco.

Junco mearnst RIDGWAY. 1897.

This form accompanies hyemalis in the migration at Carberry,
Manitoba. (E. T. Seton.) Mr. E. T. Seton refers this bird to
shufeldi, but having taken mearnsi at Medicine Hat in 1894, and
found them breeding in June on the east end of the Cypress hills,
about 100 miles southeast of that point, we place his reference under
that species. (Macoun.) I secured a female and two young in the
Cypress hills, Sask., and a male and one young several miles away
on the following day; no others noted. (Bishop.) Quite common
at Banff, Rocky mountains, in the summer of 1891; nests were taken
on Tunnel mountain. They were always placed on the ground
beneath a bush or on a slope. Breeds twice in a season at Banff.
(Spreadborough.)

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 537

BREEDING NoTes.—I have the nest and eggs of this bird that
were collected on Tunnel mountain, at Banff, June 25th, 1893. Nest
on the ground amongst loose stones, composed of dried grass stems
lined with hair. (W. Raine.)

CCXXIX. MELOSPIZA Barrp. 1858.
581. Song Sparrow.
Melospiza cinerea melodia (WILSON) RIDGW. 1901.

Very common in Nova Scotia; a few remain all winter. (Downs.)
A common species at Sydney, Cape Breton island, arriving in March.
(C. R. Harte.) Abundant in Nova Scotia from April to December;
sometimes noted in winter. (H. F. Tujts.) One seen at Partridge
island pier, near Parrsboro, Cumberland county, N.S., February 12th
and following days. Migrants reached Shulee, March 22nd, becom
ing common at once. (Morrell.) Quite common at Baddeck anc
Margaree, Cape Breton island, N.S., July, 1898; breeding in large
numbers at Brackley point and other places on Prince Edwarca
island, July, 1888. (Macoun.) Very abundant and generally dis-
tributed on Prince Edward island. Mr. Bain states that some
winter on the island. (Dwight.) A common resident in New
Brunswick. (Chamberlain.) An abundant summer resident at
Scotch Lake, York county, N.B. (W.H. Moore.) Common in the
Restigouche valley, N.B. (Brittain & Cox.) Common at Lake
Mistassini, northern Quebec. (J. M. Macoun.) A rather common
summer resident on the Magdalen islands. (Bishop.) Abundant
along the shores of the Gut of Canso and a few at Gaspé, Que.
(Brewster.) Common summer resident in Quebec. (Dionne.) An
abundant summer resident in the district of Montreal. Breeds
in the city and in Mount Royal park. 1 have found their nests
with eggs from May 8th to July 28th, and observed them from
March 24th to October 24th. (Wdantle.)

An abundant summer resident around Ottawa, breeding on
banks and under bushes. (Cttawa Naturalist, Vol. V.) Common
everywhere in Ontario, occasionally commencing to breed in the
latter part of April, and continuing to do so through the spring
and summer as late as the middle of July. This year (1901) they
came on the 25th March, and were then in full song. I have found

538 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA,

the nest on the ground, often in a bush, and occasionally four feet
up. (Rev. C. J. Young.) Breeds abundantly in the Parry Sound
and Muskoka districts of Ontario. (J. H. Fleming.) Abundant
everywhere along the streams and shores of lakes in Algonquin
park, Ont.; common from Missinabi to Point Comfort on the east
coast of James bay, and about 200 miles up the west coast from
Moose Factory. (Spreadborough.) This general favourite may
frequently be heard breaking into full song at midnight during
the lovely nights in May, often being answered by birds roosting
in nearby trees or bushes. On two different occasions I have
found a nest of this species built in an old tomato tin. (J. Hughes-
Samuel.) Everywhere abundant in southwestern Ontario. Occa-
sionally one remains through the winter. (W.E. Saunders.) This
is an abundant summer resident and one which seeks the society
of man, being found wherever human habitations have been raised
within its range. (MclIlwratth.) Abundant summer resident at
Guelph, Ont. Arrives about March 12th and leaves about Novem-
ber 1st. (A. B. Klugh). A common and breeding summer resident
at Penetanguishene, Ont. (A. F. Young.) Common in the willow
thickets along the Moose river to James bay at Moose Factory;
none observed farther north. (Spreadborough.)

Common at Norway House, and in the shrubberry about the
clearing at Oxford House, and a number observed about Knee
lake, July 5th. Not noted between Knee lake and York Factory
on our downward trip, though we found the species rather common
on Hill river as we ascended it early in September. (E. A. Preble.)
One taken at Norway House, foot of Lake Winnipeg. (Dr. R.
Bell.) Only one specimen of this species taken by me on the 49th
parallel. This was on Turtle mountain. (Coues.) A common
summer resident in Manitoba, chiefly along the water courses and
northward, but always preferring the neighbourhood of water.
(E. T. Seton.) Common at Aweme, Man. (Criddle.) Noted
everywhere in 1906 between Portage la Prairie, Man., and Edmon-
ton, Alta., along the line of the G. T. P. Ry. (Atkinson.) First
noticed near Prince Albert on the Saskatchewan in company with
other species in the spring migrations of 1899. Probably not un-
common but an irregular visitant. (Coubeaux.) The most abun-
dant sparrow both at Grand rapids and Chemawawin, Saskatchewan
river, where the shrubbery was thick. (Nutting.) Quite common

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 539

on Clearwater river, lat. 56° 30’; very common on Methye lake
to the exclusion of other birds; common in places south to Isle
a la Crosse. (J. M. Macoun.) First individual seen at Indian
Head, Sask., April 30th, 1892; they were common by the 2oth,
and bred in considerable numbers; one male was seen at Medicine
Hat, Sask., April 30th, 1894; quite common in scrub along the
river and creeks by May 5th; a few found breeding at Crane lake,
but especially along Skull creek; in the Cypress hills, at the last of
June; they were quite common along the willow thickets bordering
the small creeks forming Swift Current creek. This species is
always by water, and wherever there is water and brush. We
found it from Old Wives creek to Wood mountain and west to
Frenchman river, and by all the creeks issuing from the Cypress
hills. Many nests were found on the ground, generally beneath
willows. A few individuals were seen in the Milk River valley at
Castellated rocks, Alta., also on the west Butte, on the 49th parallel,
and at Lee creek farther west; very rare at Banff in the Rocky
mountains, breeding in the bushes in the marsh below ‘‘the Cave
and Basin’ in June, 1891; first observed one, April 20th, at Edmon-
ton, Alta.;found a nest May 26th and another May 27th with five
eggs; nests, on the ground, composed of dry grass, lined with a little
horse hair; common south in thé foothills to Crow Nest pass; com-
mon from mouth of Lesser Slave river to Peace River Landing
lat. 56° 15’ in June, 1903; common from Edmonton to the crossing
of McLeod river, north of Edmonton in June, 1898. (Spreadborough.)

BREEDING NoTEes.—A common breeding bird around Ottawa.
Nest in a low bush, or tuft of grass, or on the ground, built of
grass, rootlets and vegetable matter, lined with grass and hair.
Eggs four, greenish or grayish white spotted with brown, choco-
late and lavender. (G. R. White.) Breeding in May, June and
July, and occasionally in August in New Brunswick. I would
not be surprised if some specialist were to divide our song sparrows
into two races. There is certainly a difference in the songs of those
in different localities, a great difference in their eggs and the loca-
tion of the nest. (W. H. Moore.) Some of the nests are on the
gtound or sunken in the ground, also in the midst of heaps of dead
branches or covered by tufts of tall grass in the fields or by reeds
in the marshes. Others are built in bushes or in small trees to a
height of ten feet, and many on the lower branches of large conifers.

540 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

A few are found in holes of trees or in logs in fences. The materials
used are grasses, bark and leaves with finer grass or hairs as lining.
Eggs may be found from April to August at Ottawa. (Garneau.)

5816. Mountain Song Sparrow.
Melospiza cinerea montana (HENSHAW) RIDGW. I9go01.

Not uncommon near the International boundary between Trail
and Cascade, B.C., in June, 1902; they seemed to be breeding on
the mountains; saw one at Fernie, B.C., April 22, 1904, and several
at Elko, May 9; found a nest with four eggs quite fresh in a clump of
brush on the side of a spruce tree about four feet from the ground.
Nest made of grass, lined with fine grass mixed with horse hair;
observed at Midway, Meyer creek and Sidley, B.C., in 1905, and
breeding at Osoyoos lake and Similkameen river. (Spreadborough.)

58le. Rusty Song Sparrow.
Melospiza cinerea morphna (OBERH.) RIDGW. Igol.

Regular summer visitor. (Lord.) Common in British Columbia
west of Coast range; specimens taken at Ashcroft in the interior
are of thisform. (Streator.) An abundant resident confined chiefly
to the coast and Vancouver island. (Fannin.) An abundant
resident at Chilliwack. Tolerably common winter resident at Lake
Okanagan, B.C. (Brooks.) The distribution of guttata in Wash-
ington and British Columbia is singularly uniform in all kinds of
localities, no difference between coast and interior individuals being
apparent. (Rhoads.) Breeding from extreme southern portion of
Alaska through British Columbia, including Vancouver island, to
Oregon. (Ridgway.) Saw what I took to be this form in the valley
of McLennan river, west of the Rocky mountains and south of
Yellowhead pass, in B.C., July, 1898; not uncommon at Revelstoke,
B.C., in April, 1890. Further west, it was found common at Sica-
mous and Kamloops, in 1889; not common at Penticton, B.C., a
few pairs breeding; it was very abundant, however, west of the
Coast range at all points visited and was particularly abundant on
‘Vancouver island. Except at Revelstoke, it was found breeding
throughout its range; like the eastern song sparrow it likes to breed
near water. (Spreadborough.)

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 541
581f, Sooty Song Sparrow.
Melospiza cinerea rufina (BONAP.) RIDGW. 1901.

An abundant resident chiefly along the coast of the mainland,
B.C. (Fannin.) An abundant resident in the Fraser valley, near
the International boundary, in the summer of 1901, in 1905 and
1906; rather common along the seashore at Hastings, Burrard inlet,
in May, 1889, and seen at Comox, Vancouver island, June, 1893,
and Clayoquot sound in 1907. Found a nest along the Chilliwack
river, May 7, 1906; it was in a clump of dead ferns and made of weeds
lined with fine grass. (Spreadborough.) No specimens of this form
were collected in the breeding season along the coast of British
Columbia by me. (Rhoads.) Common at New Westminster and
at English bay and Stanley park, near Vancouver, B.C., 1894.
(E. F. G. White.)

Tolerably common in the bushy or grassy margins of the forests
along the beaches at Sitka, Alaska. (Grinnell.) Very abundant
on Queen Charlotte islands. A few nests were taken, one was
situated in a bunch of weeds near the water’s edge and contained
two fresh eggs, all nests taken were in the same situation. (Osgood.)
We heard several singing at Skagway, May 31st, 1899, and others
were seen at Haines mission, June 1st and 2nd. (Bishop.) In the
wooded coast region of southeastern Alaska, including Sitka, and
thence northwest to Lituya bay and Kadiak, this bird is abundant,
but beyond this limited region it is unknown at present. (Nelson.)

581). Dakota Song Sparrow.

Melospiza cinerea juddt (BisHop) A. O. U. Comm. igor.

This sub-species is found throughout southern Saskatchewan. At
Yorkton, Sask., June 1st, 1901, I found a nest of this bird containing
four eggs, built on the ground amongst short grass. (W. Raine.)
Uncommon in the underbrush along Skull creek, Maple creek and
in the Cypress hills, Sask. (A.C. Bent.) Our specimens taken on
many parts of the prairie are all placed with the eastern form by
Mr, Oberholser. (Macoun.)

542 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

58ln. Yakutat Song Sparrow.
Melospiza cinerea caurina (RIDGWAY) RIpGw. 1901.

Coast of middle Alaska, from Cook inlet to Cross sound ; in winter
to southern Alaska, taken at Howcan, Prince of Wales island.
(Ridgway in The Auk, Vol. XVI, 1899, p. 36.) Coast of the St.
Elias district, Alaska, from Yakutat bay to Lituya bay. (Ridgway.)

58lo. Kenai Song Sparrow.
Melospiza cinerea kenatensts (RIDGW.) RIDGWAY. 1901.

Coast of Kenai peninsula, Alaska, from east side of Cook inlet to
Prince William sound. Type from Port Graham, Cook inlet, taken
April 9th, 1892, by C. H. Townsend. (Ridgway in The Auk, Vol.
XVII, p. 29, 1900.) Two specimens taken at Homer, October 12th,
1901, were the only ones seen by Figgins near the Kenai mountains,
Alaska; Anderson in 1903 took seven adults and four juvenals at
Seldovia. (Chapman.)

581.1. Kadiak Song Sparrow.
Melospiza cinerea insignis (BAIRD) RIDGW. 1901.

Island of Kadiak, Alaska, and opposite coast of Aliaska penin-
sula. (Ridgway.)

582. Aleutian Song Sparrow.
Melospiza cinerea (GMEL.) FINSCH. 1872.

Among the several insular forms occurring in the Aleutian islands
and rarely extending their range to the adjacent mainland of south-
eastern Alaska this large hardy bird, a veritable giant among its
congeners, is the most peculiar. It is a resident throughout the
Aleutian islands'and is limited to the rocky shores and low flats
with its bordering beaches, never going far inland, nor does it reach
any considerable altitude. Strangely enough it does not pass to
the northward even as far as the Pribilof islands. To the eastward,
however, it is abundant on the Shumagin islands‘and Kadiak. (Nel-
son.) This species is a constant resident of the Aleutian islands,
the peninsula of Aliaska and the adjacent islands lying on the south

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 543

as far eastward as Cook inlet. (Turner.) Abundant at Unalaska,
October 5th to 7th, 1899, frequenting the roofs of buildings, lumber
piles, wharfs, beaches and weeds of the level country. (Bishop.)
Ten specimens were taken at Sand point, Popof island, October 2oth,
1go1 by Figgins. This sparrow is fairly common on Popof island,
where it is resident. (Chapman.)

583. Lincoln Sparrow.
Melospiza lincoln (AuD.) BarrD. 1858.

Rare at Fort Chimo, Labrador; a male obtained June 1oth,
1883; common in southern portions. Drexler found it at Moose
Factory, May 23rd, 1860. (Packard.) Common along the north-
eastern coast of Labrador. A characteristic bird of the wooded
parts of the coast as far north as Hamilton inlet. (Bzgelow.) Not
an uncommon inland summer resident in Nova Scotia. (Downs.)
A pair was found breeding at Brackley point, Prince Edward island,
June 26th, 1888. (Macown.) Breeding in some abundance on
both shores of the Gut of Canso, N.S. (Brewster.) A rare summer
resident at Scotch Lake, York county, N.B.; taken in 1899 at
Fredericton where it undoubtedly breeds. (W.H. Moore.) Taken
at Beauport, near Quebec; an uncommon migrant. (Dzonne.)

A casual at Ottawa; a male of this species was shot, 16th May,
1884, near the east end of the city by Mr. G. R. White. (Ottawa
Naturalist, Vol. V.) Have occasionally met with this bird in the
county of Leeds, Ont., also once near Sharbot lake, Ont. It arrives
early, before the song sparrow, and commences nesting, the end of
April. I have found the nest several times, always on the ground
in rough places. The last nest was under a small spruce, built in
moss. The eggs are slightly smaller than the song sparrow’s, and
the nest is lined with fine grass. A few breed on the Magdalen
islands where the song sparrow seems to be very rare. (Rev. C. J.
Young.) Apparently rare in the Algonquin park, Ont.; shot one
at CAche lake, July 10th, 1900; doubtless a few breed. A few
observed along the east coast of James bay in 1904. (Spread-
borough.) Reaching us about the middle of May, these birds are so
secretive in their habits that it is very difficult to make an accurate
calculation of their numbers but a careful observer will usually see
a few specimens each season. They visit us here in Toronto on the

544 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

southern trip about the middle of September. (J. Hughes-Samuel.)
Regular spring migrant at Toronto, Ont. (J. H. Fleming.) Regular
but rare migrant at London, Ont.; recorded sometimes as fairly
common in a few localities. (W. E. Saunders.)

Observed in large numbers during the latter part of September
and beginning of October along the Mouse (Souris) river. (Coues.)
A rare spring and winter migrant at Carberry, Man. Nesting in the
vicinity of Fort Resolution, Mackenzie. (E. T. Seton.) Rare at
Aweme, Man., probably breeds. (Criddie.) A rare and tolerably com-
mon summer resident in Manitoba but not noted breeding. (Atkinson.)
Rather common, July 13th to 16th, at York Factory, where three speci-
mens were collected. (E. A. Preble.) Only noted as a spring migrant
at Indian Head, Sask.; they were first seen May 13th, 1892, and left
again in a few days ; only a few were observed at Old Wives creek
in 1895, but none were seen on the prairie at any place; they were
not rare and breeding in the bushes at Banff in 1891; first observed
at Edmonton, Alta. on May 5th, 1897, on June 1st found a nest on
the ground in a bunch of grass, nest made of dried grass, eggs five,
quite fresh; common in the foothills from Calgary southward to
Crow Nest pass; found a nest with four fresh eggs, June 28th, nest
same as first; abundant from Edmonton to Lesser Slave lake and
Peace River Landing, lat. 56° 15,’ 1903; seen everywhere between
Edmonton and Yellowhead pass in low bushes in June, 1898; quite
common at Revelstoke, B.C., in May, 1890, and on the Columbia
south to Robson, where they were seen again in 1902, they were
breeding in low thickets; common at Penticton, south of Lake
Okanagan, B.C., on April 28th, 1903. (Spreadborough.) North to
Fort Simpson, on Mackenzie river; not rare. (Ross.) Common
during the autumnal migrations. (Streator.) Regular summer
visitor. (Lord.) Found east and west of Coast range. (Fannin.)

At Nulato this bird is rare, but thence it becomes more and more
numerous towards the east and at Fort Yukon it is considerably
more abundant. (Nelson.) Mr. Rhoads in The Auk, Vol. X, p- 21,
says that he cannot see any difference between specimens of this
species taken on Vancouver island and those taken in Pennsyl-
vania, and on this account he rejects striata, which is based on
Vancouver island specimens. (Macoun.) Two or three pairs
breed in the grassy margin of the pond back of Sitka, Alaska.

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 545

A juvenile about one-third grown was taken on June 25th. Mr.
Brewster says of a female that was taken June 25th that it agrees
with siriata in respect to the streaking in the upper parts, but it
would be unsafe to make it that form without material. (Grinnell.)
An adult male was taken at Hope, Cook inlet, Alaska, and a few
others were seen when we were there. The specimen taken shows
none of the characters attributed to Melospiza lincolnii striata,
(Osgood.) Seen at Log Cabin, June 15th, 1899; a female and a
nest of fresh eggs were taken near Lake Marsh, July 5th. The
nest was composed of coarse grass lined with fine grass and was
in a tuft of grass in a swamp, about four inches above the water.
The species was occasionally met with to Circle City on the
Yukon. (Bishop.)

583a. Forbush Sparrow.
Melospiza lincolnii striata BREWST. 1889.

One seen near Victoria, Vancouver island, April 24th, 1893, and
another on May 5th; after which time they were more common;
observed a number in a marsh on Depot creek, Chilliwack lakes
B.C., July 24th, 1901; took one in a peat bog at Huntingdon on
the International Boundary on September 24th. (Spreadborough.)
Mount Lehman, lower Fraser valley; also Vancouver island.
(Streator.) Collected at Comox, Vancouver island, in September,
1888, by E. H. Forbush. (Fannin.) Tolerably common migrant
at Chilliwack; tolerably common breeder in the Cariboo district,
B.C.; one set of five eggs taken at 150-Mile House, July 3rd, 1901.
(Brooks.) Sitka, Alaska. (Grinnell.) Wrangel, Alaska. (Ander-
SON.)

All our museum specimens are placed with M. lincolnii, as we
cannot separate them from that species. (Macoun.)

584. Swamp Sparrow.
Melospiza georgiana (LaTH.) RIDGW. 1885.

Audubon, Vol. III, p. 111, states it to be abundant in Labrador.
(Packard.) Not’uncommon along the Humber river, Newfound-
land, 1889. (Louis H. Porter.) A common summer resident in
Nova Scotia. (Downs.) Nest found at Sydney, Cape Breton

35

546 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

island, May 25th, 1901; arrives in April. (C. R. Harte.) Common
in Nova Scotia from May to September. (H. F. Tufts.) Breeding
in some numbers around the swamps at Brackley point and Rustico,
Prince Edward island, June, 1888. (Macoun.) Rather common
in very wet, bushy meadows, with alders here and there, or in open
swamps of limited area, such as occur along brooks in a cleared
country such as Prince Edward island. Not uncommon at Bad-
deck, Cape Breton island. (Dwight.) An uncommon summer
resident at St. John, N.B. (Chamberlain.) A common summer
resident at Scotch Lake, York county, N.B. (W.H. Moore.) Not
uncommon on Magdalen islands. (Bishop.) Rare in the Resti-
gouche valley, N.B. (Brittain & Cox.) An abundant species on
Anticosti island and breeding there. (Brewster.) Taken at Beau-
port; a summer resident in eastern Quebec. (Dionne.) A com-
mon summer resident around Montreal. It is common in the
marshes, but on account of its retiring habits is not noticed unless
sought after by the collector of birds. (Wdntle.)

A moderately common summer -resident at Ottawa. (Ottawa
Naturalist, Vol. V.) A common summer resident in the marshes
of eastern Ontario. It makes its nest in the sedge i wet places.
The eggs are readily distinguished from those of the song spar-
tow, being spotted and speckled with umber instead of brick-red.
(Rev. C. J. Young.) One taken at Beaumaris on May 14th, 1898,
by Mr. Taverner is the only record I have for the Parry Sound and
Muskoka districts; regular summer resident at Toronto, Ont.; breeds.
(J. H. Fleming.) Abundant in the marshes of the Madawaska,
below Cache lake, Algonquin park, Ont. in June, 1900; very abun-
dant in swampy land from Missinabi, Ont. to Point Comfort and
Cape Henrietta Maria, Hudson Bay. (Spreadborough.) Found
abundantly in the marshes near Toronto. Have found many nests
early in May. (J. Hughes-Samuel.) Abundant summer resident
in bogs and marshes at Guelph, Ont. (A. B. Klugh.) A few were
seen in the shrubby woods back of the post of Oxford House
and an adult was taken July 3rd. At York Factory, where
the species was rather common, two young,not long from the nest,
were taken July 13th and 16th. (E. A. Preble.) This species was
observed with other members of the family during the autumn
migration from the middle of September until the middle of October
at the Mouse (Souris) river, lat. 49°. In all, six specimens were

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 547

taken. (Coues.) Tolerably common and breeding at Aweme, Man.
(Criddle.) An abundant breeding species in all marshes of Manitoba
and west to Edmonton, Alta. (Atkinson.) A common summer
resident in Manitoba; nesting in swamps that have some willows
about them; very abundant about Carberry, breeding in every
slough. (£. T. Seton.) North to Fort Resolution on Great Slave
lake; rare. (Ross.) One specimen taken at Indian Head, Sask., in
May, 1892; everywhere in marshes from the foot of Lesser Slave
lake to Peace River Landing, lat. 56° 15,’ June, 1903. (Spread-
borough.)

BREEDING NoTes.—Rather rare as a breeding bird at Ottawa.
Nest on ground in a tussock of grass or in a low bush, composed
of rootlets weeds and gre-s, lined with fine fibrous matter; eggs
4 to 6; greyish white, speckled with reddish brown. (G. R. White.)
Nests found in the marshes around Ottawa in May and June; they
are attached to the reeds, which often hide the nest; sometimes
they are built in bushes or on the ground along the swamps; the
materials used are grasses, those used as a lining are finer ; from
three to five eggs are in the set. (Garneau.)

CCXXX. PASSERELLA Swainson. 1837.
585. Fox Sparrow.
Passerella tltaca (MERR.) SWAINS. 1837.

Common in the southern part of Labrador; young obtained at
Rigolet late in June and early in July, 1882. (Packard.) Common
from some distance up the Moose river to Richmond gulf; none
observed when crossing Ungava; young able to fly July rst, 1896.
(Spreadborough.) Common along the southern coast of Labrador;
we found it as far north as Aillik. (Bigelow.) A summer mig-
rant on Newfoundland and very common. (Reeks.) Two young
birds seen August 17th, 1899, along the Humber river, Newfound-
land. (Louis H. Porter.) Common during the spring and autumn
migrations in Nova Scotia. (Downs.) One individual seen on Sable
island, N.S., April 2oth, 1902, and a flock on October 4th; seen in
numbers, 17 April, 1904; one, September 30th, 1905, one September
29th, 1906, and in 1907 several were seen April 14th and two, October
15th. (J. Boutelier.) Female shot at Sydney, Cape Breton

35%

548 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

island, May 18th, 1902; ovaries small; may possibly breed. (C. R.
Harte.) A flock of migrants was seen at Shulee, Cumberland county,
N.S., March 29th; they were in song. (Morrell.) Not uncommon
migrant in Nova Scotia. (H. F. Tujts.) Common in the spring
migrations, rare in the autumn migrations at St. John, N.B. (Cham-
berlain.) A rare spring and autumn migrant at Scotch Lake, York
county, N.B. (W.H. Moore.) Rather common; breeding on the
Magdalen islands about the last of June. (Bzshop.) We found
this sparrow among the Magdalens, on Anticosti and everywhere on
the north shore of the gulf, breeding abundantly. (Brewster.)
Taken at Beauport; a migrant in eastern Quebec, but breeding on
the Mingan islands. (Dionne.) A scarce and transient visitor in the
vicinity of Montreal. (Wuntle.)

A moderately common migrant at Ottawa. (Ottawa Naturalist,
Vol. V.) I have shot this bird in the fall in the county of Leeds,
Ont. I found it on two occasions frequenting second growth bush
in old clearings. (Rev. C. J. Young.) Regarded as rare at Port
Sydney, in 1888, by Mr. Kay; reported as common on September
7th, 1896, at Beaumaris by Mr. Taverner; both localities are in
Muskoka. (J. H. Fleming.) Common along the Moose river and
on both sides of James bay. (Spreadborough.) This species passes
through Toronto so rapidly in its spring migration that it is quite
easy to overlook it entirely, hence the idea, I think, that it is scarce.
I have met with these birds in the middle of April when each bush
contained several, many perched on the upper twigs singing the
richest sparrow melody I know of. On visiting the locality the next
morning at daybreak not a sign remained of our fleeting visitors ;
in the fall, their visit is of much longer duration, but on disturb-
ing a small party of these birds while scratching the dead leaves
for their food they will fly up into the nearest evergreen tree and
remain perfectly motionless till the intruder has passed from view.
(J. Hughes-Samuel.) Usually rare but occasionally a common
migrant in either spring or fall, and in rare seasons we may hear
this fine songster in full song for perhaps a week; and yet until
1885 only two or three specimens had been noted near London,
Ont., so that it appears to be increasing in abundance quite steadily.
(W. E. Saunders.) Irregular migrant in spring at Guelph, Ont.;
it is never common. (A.B. Klugh.) A rare and transient visitant
at Penetanguishene, Ont. (A. F. Young.)

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 549

Anabundant migrant in Manitoba. (Atkimson.) A not very
common migrant in Manitoba; breeding at Duck mountain in
the northern part of the province. Nests north to the edge
of the woods, one noted at Last woods on Artillery lake, August
5th, 1907 ; also observed at Pike portage, east end of Great
Slave lake. (E. T. Seton.) A not very common migrant in
northern Saskatchewan. (Coubeaux.) First noticed on the after-
noon of July roth, when its beautiful song was heard in the willow
thickets, bordering Hayes river, a few miles above York Factory.
While at York Factory we found fox sparrows fairly common in
willow thickets, and took a pair, July 16th. (Preble.) Found near
Red Deer, Alta., in full song, June, 1906. (W. E. Saunders.) This
handsome speci@ breeds in the wooded districts of the Northwest
Territories up to the sixty-eight parallel of latitude; it constructs its
nest in a low bush, of dry grass, hair and feathers. (Rzchardson.)
North to Lapierre House on the Mackenzie river; common. (Ross.)
Saw one, April 19th, 1897, at Edmonton, Alta.; saw individuals up
to June 1st, a few pairs doubtless breed here; observed two indi-
viduals near Edmonton, June 7th, 1898; common from Lesser Slave
lake to Peace River Landing, lat. 56° 15’, June, 1903. (Spread-
borough.) Not rare at Fort McMurray at the confluence of the
Clearwater river and the Athabaska, lat. 56° 40’; one bird and nest
seen on Methye Portage, eggs not hatched, July 18th, 1888. (J. M.
Macoun.)

I did not discover the presence of the fox sparrow at Cape Blossom
Kotzebue sound, until the evening of July 31st, 1898; fox sparrows
were seen or heard all along the lower course of the Kowak, and at
our winter camp they were quite common up to August 23rd, when
they abruptly disappeared. (Grinnell.) A wave of sparrows
occurred at Circle City, Alaska, August 19th, 1899, and one indi-
vidual was indentified as being of this species. (Bishop.) Along
the coast of Norton sound this bird is an abundant summer resident,
sharing with the tree sparrows the bushy shelter of the alder thickets
on the hillsides and sheltered ravines. (Nelson.) The fox sparrow
arrives at St. Michael by the 8th June; breeds here in the thickets
of alder around the edges of the small lakes. (Turner.)

BREEDING Notes.—This bird is very common on the Magdalen
islands where I found four nests in June, 1897; all except one con-

550 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

tained young by the 21st June; these nests were built in stunted
spruce, one as much as five feet above the ground; they occasion-
ally make their nest on the ground like the song sparrow, and I
have seen a nest found in such a locality; a most interesting species,
it perches on the topmost branches of a young spruce, and sings
incessantly in its breeding habitat. (Rev. C. J. Young.)

Tolerably common on both banks of the Anderson, and two or
three nests were also discovered in the vicinity of a small stream
named Swan river, in the ‘“‘barren grounds;’’ most of the nests were
built on trees, and they resembled those of Turdus alicie, but a
few found on the ground, however, were composed of coarse dry
grass, lined with some of a finer quality, a few deer hairs, and a
sprinkling of fresh moss; the complement of eggs varies from four
to five. (Macjarlane.) I have several sets from the Mackenzie
delta; on June roth, 1900, a nest and three eggs were found by Mr,
C. E. Whittaker at Peel river, the nest was built in the root of a
shrub near the ground; on June ist, 1898, another nest and 4 eggs
were found at Peel river by the Rev. J. O. Stringer, through whose
kindness I have been able to describe the nests and eggs of many
Arctic birds found by this gentleman in the far north during his
eight years sojourn amongst the Eskimos of that region, and it is
to be regretted that owing to failing health Mr. Stringer had to
abandon his work amongst the natives of the Arctic coast, as he
has proved himself to be a keen observer and careful, painstaking
ornithologist; many of the specimens collected by Mr. Stringer
were taken while he was travelling up or down the Mackenzie delta
or along Arctic coast with bands of Eskimos and often at night
when the natives had lain down to sleep, Mr. Stringer had to skin
the birds and blow the eggs and make his notes, and by the time
this work was done the Eskimos were astir again and making ready
to proceed on their journey. (W. Raine.)

58562. Shumagin Fox Sparrow.

Passerella iliaca unalaschensis (GMELIN) RipGw. 1900.

‘Shumagin Islands and Aliaska peninsula, Alaska; Unalaska
island. (Ridgway.) An adult female taken by Figgins at Homer,
Kenai peninsula, June sth, 1901, agrees with Shumagin island speci-
mens. Collected by Stone in 1903 at Miiller bay and Seldovia.
(Chapman.)

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 551
586.1. Kadiak Fox Sparrow.
Passerella tliaca insularis R1DGW. 1900.

Kadiak island, Alaska, in summer; south to California in winter.
Type taken at Kadiak island, May 17th, 1868, by F. Bischoff.
(Ridgway in The Auk, Vol. XVII, p. 30, 1900.)

585.2. Yakutat Fox Sparrow.
Passerella tliaca annectens RIDGWAY. 1900.

Coast of Alaska, from Cross sound to Prince William sound;
in winter south to California. (Ridgway.) Rather common at
Cook inlet, Alaska, but very shy as usual, and hard to secure. Two
specimens were taken at Hope and one at Tyonek but are not
typical. (Osgood.) Three specimens taken by Figgins at Homer and
on Kenai mountains in August, 1901. These birds agree with June
specimens of annectens from Yakutat bay. (Chapman.) This
species was taken in April, 1893, at Victoria, Vancouver island, by
Mr. Spreadborough and was found by him in abundance at Clayo-
quot sound, Vancouver island in September, 1907.

585. 3. Townsend Sparrow.
Passerella wiaca townsendi (AUDUBON) RIDGWAY. 1901.

Coast district of southern Alaska (islands and coast of mainland)
from southern side of Cross sound, Lynn canal, etc., to north side
of Dixon entrance; in winter south to northern California. (Rzdg-
way.) But very little is known of this bird’s habits, and nothing
of its nesting. There are four specimens in the National Museum
collection from Sitka, and the species undoubtedly occurs north
along the mainland coast. (Nelson.) Port Althorp, George island,
Alaska, June 19th, 1880. (Bean.) Common ‘on tall grass on St.
Lazaria island, near Sitka, Alaska, where half-fledged young were
observed on June 15th, 1898. (Grinnell.) One individual was seen
at Skagway and several noticed at Glacier, in the White pass, June
8-9, 1899. (Bishop.) Common on Queen Charlotte islands, but
exceedingly shy. Ten specimens in all were taken, but they are not
identical with Sitka specimens, and perhaps should be considered
intermediate between townsend: and fuliginosa. (Osgood.)

552 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

585. 4. Sooty Fox Sparrow.
Passerella iliaca fuliginosa RIDGWAY. 1899.

Breeding in the coast district of southwestern British Colum-
bia, including Vancouver island. (Ridgway.) I have only found
this bird west of the Coast range in B.C. It is a common summer
resident on Vancouver island, where it breeds. (Fannin.) A
common species in spring around Victoria, V.I. A marked peculi-
arity of this bird is its scraping among the leaves when feeding,
just like a hen. While doing this it hops about with its tail elevated
like a wren. It was seen late in June, 1887. (Macoun.) Regular
summer visitor in British Columbia. (Lord.) Tolerably common
migrant at Chilliwack, B.C.; breeding on the summits of the Coast
range. (Brooks.) Seen on Sea island, near Vancouver, B.C., April
25th, 1894. (E£. F. G. White.)

585c. Slate-coloured Sparrow.
Passerella iliaca schistacea (BAIRD) ALLEN. 1872.

Quite common at Banff, Rocky mountains, in May and June,
1891 where they ‘were evidently breeding; rare at Penticton, B.C.,
in April, 1903; one specimen of this form was seen at Rossland,
B.C., in June, 1902; one female was shot at Revelstoke, B.C.,
April 25th, 1890; observed near Fernie, B.C., in willow thickets,
April, 1904; first noted at Midway, B.C., May 1st, 1905, and on July
24th at an altitude of 6,000 feet near the Skagit river one appeared
to have a nest. (Spreadborough.) Taken at Nelson, on Kootenay
river, B.C., and two intermediates from further west. (Rhoads.)

CCXXXI. PIPILO Viettvor. 1816.
587. Towhee.

Piptlo erythrophthalmus (LINN.) VIEILL. 1824.

Audubon, Vol. III., p. 168, states that it occurs northward to
Labrador. (Packard.) Accidental in New Brunswick: one shot
at Irishtown, May 8th, 1881. (Chamberlain.) Cap Rouge, near
Quebec, obtained by Mr. Nelson. (Dionne.) A few seen and one
taken at Ottawa in August, 1890. (F. A. Saunders.) Three or
four of these birds were seen by the keeper of the rifle range at

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 553

Ottawa in 1904 and one shot. In the summer of 1906 he saw about
ten frequenting the same spot. (Rev. G. Evxjrig.)

This bird breeds commonly in the county of Leeds, near Lans.
downe, Ont. I have found the nest in a small thick hemlock ‘about
18 inches above the ground on the 19th May, and on the ground,
with four eggs, as early as the 6th May. It appears usually to raise
a second brood. In eastern Ontario it resorts to the same kind of
location as the fox sparrow frequents on the Magdalen islands,
preferring second growth woods and old clearings grown up with
brambles and brush. It has a preference for broken, uneven ground.
It arrives about the middle of April and is one of the last birds to
leave in the fall. I have seen it as late as the end of September.
(Rev. C. J. Young.) Summer resident at Toronto, Ont. First seen
at Port Sydney, Muskoka, by Mr. Kay, in 1887; they bred there in
1891; reported rare at Beaumaris in 1897 by Mr. Taverner. (J. H.
Fleming.) Fairly common summer resident at Guelph, Ont.
Arrives about April 2oth and leaves about October 8th. (A. B.
Klugh.) Common summer resident about London, Ont., arriving
early, sometimes in March, and averaging April 16th. Although
so common at London it is much less so in north Bruce, although
it appears to be more common now in that district than it was 10
years ago. The nests are placed on the ground, in shrubs, and
occasionally in brush heaps. Two broods are often reared in a
season usually consisting of four in the first and three in the second.
(W. E. Saunders.) This is one of the species which apparently
enters Ontario from the southwest, for on looking at the dates of its
arrival at London and Chatham we find it is always there before it
reaches Hamilton, while at Ottawa, Mr. White has not met with it at
‘all. (McIlwratth.) A common summer resident at Penetanguishene,
Ont. (A. F. Young.)

A common summer resident in sheltered scrub lands in south-
ern Manitoba and northwest to Carberry. (E. T. Seton.) This
bird was not uncommon about Pembina, where it was breeding in
June. A nest was taken, July 11th, containing two eggs that be-
longed in it, together with three that did not, having been deposited
by the cowbirds. (Cowes.) A regular and fairly abundant breeding
species in favorable districts throughout Manitoba. Noted in 1906
at Sidney, Birtle and Pilice, Man., and at Touchwood hills, Sask.
(Atkinson.)

554 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA

588. Arctic Towhee.

Pipilo maculatus arcticus (SWAINS.) COUES. 1872.

Along the 49th parallel this form becomes established at least
as far east as the Mouse (Souris) river, where I secured a speci-
men in September. On the boundary they were not met with
again until the Rocky mountains were reached. (Cowes.) First
saw one at Medicine Hat, Sask., May 3rd, 1894; by the rath they
were common in low scrub along the Saskatchewan and the creeks
leading into it. They were also common on the east end of the
Cypress hills at the end of June. This species was met with in
brush from Old Wives creek, Sask., to Wood mountain and south
to Rocky creek, and Medicine Lodge; it was found to be quite
common in all the wooded ravines of the Cypress hills; a nest was
taken at Farwell creek, June 28th, 1895; it was common in Milk
river valley and along the St. Mary river (Macoun.) Fairly
common species from the 49th parallel nearly to Calgary, becoming
rare further north. (W. E. Saunders.) Uncommon in the Skull
creek and Maple creek, Sask. timber. (A.C. Bent.) This hand-
some ground finch was observed only on the plains of the Saskatch-
ewan, where it no doubt breeds, as one specimen was killed late in
July; it arrives in the end of May and frequents shady and moist
clumps of wood, being generally seen near the ground. (Richard-
son.)

BREEDING Notes.—Breeds sparingly in central Saskatchewan
and northern Alberta; two sets of four eggs were taken at Fort
Saskatchewan, Alta., by Mr. J. Callaghan, on June 12th, 1898;
nests made of roots and grass and built in a low shrub a few inches
above the ground at the side of a coulee. (W. Raine.) This species
always builds on the ground or close to it; one nest was taken at
Farwell creek, Cypress hills, Sask., June 26th, 1895, on the slope of
the bank, under a willow root in a thicket; another was taken the
next day, also from the ground in the open, but this was under the
roots of Symphoricarpus occidentalis; the nests were chiefly built
of bark and grass and lined inside with hair; each nest contained
four eggs. (Macoun.)

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 555
588a. Spurred Towhee.

Pipilo maculatus megalonyx (BAIRD) COUES. 1872.

At Pass creek near Robson, Columbia valley, a strange bird
was seen in a tree on June 20th, 1890; it had a very long tail and
was new to us; the next day it was seen again and we decided it
was a towhee; on the 26th, Prof. Macoun flushed a bird off its nest
under a bush of Ceanothus velutinus and he immediately shot it.
The male then came along and was shot also; they proved to be
this form; within the nest were four half-grown young which we
drowned ; common everywhere at Trail, B.C., in low bushes,
young ready to fly, June 1st, 1902; common in low brush at Pentic-
ton, south of Lake Okanagan, B.C., April, 1903; also at Sicamous
and Enderby, B.C.; a pair seen at Elko, B.C., May 4th, 1904, and
found to be common in low bushes on hillsides at Osoyoos lake,
B.C., June, 1905. (Spreadborough.) An adult male and female
taken at Ashcroft. (Streator.) East of Coast range; breeds at
Ashcroft. (Fannin.) Abundantly haunting the woodlands of all
points visited in British Columbia up to 4000 feet. (Rhoads.)

5885. Oregon Towhee.
Pipilo maculatus oregonus (BELL) COUES. 1872.

Abundant on the coast at Hastings on Burrard inlet and at
Port Heney and Agassiz on the Fraser river, in 1899; very abund-
ant at Chilliwack, Douglas and Huntingdon near the International
Boundary; abundant on Vancouver island and on the islands in
the Gulf of Georgia. (Spreadborough.) Abundant on the coast of
British Columbia; breeds. (Sireator.) An abundant resident west
of the Coast range; winters on the coast. (Fannin.) Common
at Chilliwack; permanent resident. (Brooks.) Replacing mega-
lonyx west of the Coast range ; its exact counterpart in habits
and habitat. (Rhoads.) Rather common around Vancouver, B.C.
and Stanley park in July, 1895. (E. F. G. White.)

CCXXXII. CARDINALIS Bonaparte. 1837.
593. Cardinal. Red-bird.

Gardinalis cardinalis (LINN.) LICHT. | 1854.

Two were seen, a male and a female at Scotch Lake, York county,
N.B., August 20th, 1900. (W.H. Moore.) The cardinal can be only

556 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

regarded as a casual visitor along our southwestern border. Mr.
Norval reports one or two being found near Port Rowan and Dr.
Maccallum mentions that a few are seen every summer along the
lake shore south of Dunnville, where they are supposed to breed
among the evergreens. (Mcllwraith.) A fine male specimen of
this species in the museum of Toronto University is labelled ‘‘ Weston,
Ontario,” a northwestern suburb of Toronto. (E. T. Seton in Trans.
Can. Institute, Vol. I., p. 55, 1890.) Mr. Moore’s identification is
probably incorrect. The birds seen by him were almost certainly
the summer tanager.

In September I spent four days, 17th to 21st, in company with
my cousin Mr. H. H. Keays, at Point Pelee, collecting. Nearly
every day of our stay the fishermen gathered around our camp
fire, apparently much interested in us as strangers, and in our
work. After telling us of the strange birds they had seen on the
point (their descriptions of which were usually too complicated for
us to make more than a guess at the species) one of them asked
us of a bird that made its appearance about four years ago and
had since been quite common, stating that it was a splendid whistler,
and that an old lady living in the vicinity had caught a number of
_ them and sold them for cage birds, catching them in a cage trap

and using the first one taken as a decoy for more. From his des-
cription we concluded that it must be the cardinal (Cardinalis
cardinalis), and sure enough, on the following day, we secured one,
a young male in moulting plumage. Twice afterwards we heard
near our camp, just at dawn, the call note of what we decided
must have been this bird. Without doubt the cardinal has come
to stay at Point Pelee, nor could they select a more suitable place,
the cape being quite plentifully covered with red cedar, and the
weather in fall remaining mild longer than on the mainland, on
account of its proximity to the lake, as is evident by our having
no frost during our stay, while on our return we noticed the corn
well bleached on the mainland. It is to be hoped, however, that
it will not restrict its range to the point nor to the shore of Lake
Erie in Ontario, as this bright plumaged bird will make an acceptable
addition to our fauna. Inland, we have but few records of stragglers,
which in the vicinity of London are as follows: One shot at St.
Thomas, spring of 1890, by Mr. O. Foster; one taken in a cedar
wamp a mile from London, November 30th, 1896, this being the

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 557

first record for Middlesex county, and which is made complete as
far as I am able to ascertain by a second at Kilworth by Mr. John
Thompson, November 17th, 1899, both these birds being males.
The Rev. C. L. Scott reports one shot near Aylmer, Elgin county,
about October, 1900. From Guglph one is reported by Mr. F. N.
Beattie as spending the winter of 1899 around his place. Other
reports come from Chatham and Rondeau, all of single specimens,
and apparently stragglers. (J. C. Keays in The Auk, Vol. XIX.,
p- 204.) On February 14th, 1901, I procured a female cardinal
grosbeak at Penetanguishene, which I sent to Mr. Jas. H. Fleming, of
Toronto, about the same time a male was taken near Toronto. (A.
F. Young.) Between November 20th and 27th, 1902, a male was
seen about Rusholme road, Toronto; and one was taken in Toronto,
in February, 1900. There are several local records but only two
have dates. (J. H. Fleming.)

CCXXXIII. HABIA REeIcHENBACH. 1850.
595. Rose-breasted Grosbeak.
Habia ludovictana (LINN.) STEJN. 1848.

Met with only once near Baddeck, Cape Breton island. (Dwzght.)
Not common about Halifax, but frequent in the vicinity of Truro
and Pictou, N.S. (Downs.) Uncommon summer resident in Nova
Scotia. (H. F. Tujts.) A very rare summer resident near St. John,
N.B. (Chamberlain.) Seen from May to November at Scotch
Lake, York county, N.B.; breeds here; a family was seen passing
south, August 16th, 1901. (W. H. Moore.) A common transient
visitor around Montreal, but evidently goes further north to breed;
I have only observed it here in spring, so I infer it returns south
by another route. (Wuinile.) Taken at Beauport; rather rare
around Quebec. (Dzonne.)

A moderately common summer resident around Ottawa. (Ottawa
Naturalist, Vol. V.) A few of these handsome birds remain to breed
in the county of Leeds, Ont.; I have twice seen the nest; once on the
oth June in a small beech tree; the eggs were just hatching; again
in the middle of June a nest with three eggs in a maple sapling about
ten feet from the ground. This bird appears to have become quite
common in recent years. A number breed about Sharbot lake,

558 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

Ont., also in North Hastings. I have observed them feeding on
potato bugs in Frontenac county. (Rev. C. J. Young.) A common
summer resident in the districts of Parry Sound and Muskoka,
breeding usually in second growth hardwood. Regular spring
migrant at Toronto, Ont. Mr. Nash gives full records from July
13th to the middle of August and I took a young male on September
roth, 1906. (J. H. Fleming.) Rather uncommon summer resident
in Algonquin park, Ont. (Spreadborough.) Formerly common all
over South western Ontario; now it is more so in the north than in
the south where it has probably been killed off to a certain extent.
(W. E. Saunders.) Fairly common summer resident at Guelph,
Ont.; arrives about May roth, and leaves about September rst.
(A. B. Klugh.) A breeding summer resident at Penetanguishene,
Ont. (A. F. Young.)

Common summer resident in Manitoba, in thickets; breeds
throughout the province in suitable localities. (E. T. Seton.)
Quite common breeder at Aweme, Man. (Criddle.) An abundant
breeding species in all the wooded districts of Manitoba and west to
Yorkton, Sask. (Atkinson.) Only one specimen at Indian Head, Sask.
on May 26th, 1892; first saw three females at Medicine Hat, Sask., May
17th, 1894, later saw two males; a few pairs bred in the river valley;
late in June a few were seen in the Cypress hills; taken at Old Wives
creek and seen at Wood mountain post, Sask., in July, 1895 ; was
seen on the islands in St. Mary river, Alta. (Spreadborough.) A
specimen of this bird was obtained near the Saskatchewan on
Sir John Franklin’s first expedition, but we had not the good fortune
to meet with it on our second journey. (Richardson.) First seen
at Edmonton, Alta., May 15th, 1897; found a nest in an alder bush
about ten feet from the ground; nest a very slight affair, in fact, I
could see the eggs quite through it; it was just a few sticks placed
in the fork of a bush. Eggs three; the male was sitting on the eggs;
common in the poplar woods from Edmonton to the McLeod river;
common from Lesser Slave lake to Peace River Landing, lat. 56°
15’, June, 1903. (Spreadborough.) Common from Lesser Slave
river down the Athabaska river to Fort McMurray, lat. 56° 40’;
not rare up the Clearwater river to Methye portage. (J. M. Macoun.)
Rare near Prince Albert, Sask., only a few seen during the summer;
probab'y breeds in the country. (Coubeaux.)

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 559

BREEDING NoTEs.—-I was pleased to find this truly elegant bird
breeding in abundance at Pembina in the undergrowth of the
heavy timber along the banks of the Red river, as I had never
before enjoyed a good opportunity of studying its habits. It was
not observed at any other point along the line, though stated to
penetrate as far northward as the Saskatchewan region; a fine
suite of specimens was carefully preserved, and several sets of
eggs procured; the birds were mating and in full song by the be-
ginning of June, when I arrived upon the spot, but no nests were
found until the 21st; four was the largest number found in a nest;
others contained only two or three, but in all incubation had begun;
the only nest I took myself was built in a thick grove of saplings,
about eight feet from the ground; it contained three eggs averaging
an inch in length by three-fourths in breadth; these were of a pale
dull green colour, profusely speckled with reddish-brown; the nests
were rather rude and bulky structures, about six inches across
outside by four in depth, with the cavity only half as much each
way, owing to the thickness of the loose walls; they were built
entirely of the slender tortuous stems and rootlets of some climbing
shrub, for the most part loosely interlaced, though more firmly,
evenly, and circularly laid around the brim, and finished sometimes
with a little horse-hair lining, sometimes without; the male at this
season has a delightful song; the female is, however, nearly voice-
less, and of an extremely retiring disposition. (Cowes.)

Nests near Ottawa about ten feet from the ground in trees; the
nest is built with small twigs or branches loosely put together and
lined with hair-like roots. One nest with four eggs found on June
6th, 1895, and another containing three eggs found on May gist,
1902. (Garneau.) This species breeds commonly about Sharbot
lake, Frontenac county, Ont., I have seen three nests this month
near the road in low ground; they build a loose nest of twigs, etc.,
lined with rootlets and fibres, placed eight or ten feet from the
ground; the eggs were laid the first week in June. (Rev. C. J.
Young.) The nest of this species taken at Ottawa was built in a
low bush a few feet from the ground; it was a bulky and rude affair
built of weed-stems and stout rootlets; it was lined with a little
horse-hair and some fine rootlets; eggs, three, pale green, speckled
with reddish brown. (G. R. White.)

560 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

596. Black-headed Grosbeak.
Habia melanocephala (SWAINS.) STEJN. 1884.

Nest with three fresh eggs and male secured by me June 16th,
1905, near: Maple creek, Sask. Dr. Bishop saw another pair on
Maple creek, July 5th, 1906. On Mackay creek, July 11th, Dr.
Dwight and he secured a pair of birds and two eggs. (A. C. Bent.)
One or two taken and others seen and heard near High river, Alta. in
June, 1903 and 1906. (W.E. Saunders.) Not uncommon through
British Columbia to the coast; heard in the woods at Revelstoke,
B.C. May 26th, 1890; breeding in the valley of Pass creek at Robson,
B.C., June, 1890; a female shot on May 31st; only observed a pair,
which were breeding, near Trail in the summer of 1902; a rare
species at Spence Bridge, B.C.; seen at Hastings and Agassiz in the
Fraser River valley, where it was not uncommon in May, 1889;
abundant at Chilliwack in the spring of 1901; a few seen later at
McGuire’s a few miles up the river; one seen about 14 miles south of
Hope, B.C., June 24th, 1905, and several along the Chilliwack river
in 1906. (Spreadborough.) A common summer resident on Van-
couver island at Victoria and Comox; nests were taken at Lost
lake, near Victoria, May 21st, 1887, they were placed in the crotches
of Pyrus rivularis; at Nanaimo a nest found in Prunus emarginata.
(Macoun.) Common summer resident of the coast region; breeds;
arrived about May ist. (Streator.) A summer resident east and
west of the Coast range. (Fannin.) Common summer resident
at Chilliwack. (Brooks.) Breeding at Agassiz, B.C., May 14th,
1897. (E. F. G. White.)

CCXXXIV. GUIRACA Swarnson 1827.
597. Blue Grosbeak.

Gutraca cerulea (LINN.) SWAINS. 1827.

One specimen shot at Four-mile House, near Halifax, N.S.
(Downs.) On the 7th May, 1862, both sexes of this bird were
noticed at Mille Vaches, lower St. Lawrence, Que., by Mr. Peverley,
Sr.; they were accompanied in the same tree by the little indigo
bunting. (Couper in Can. Nat., Vol. VII., 1862.)

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 561
CCXXXV. CYANOSPIZA Bairp. 1858.
598. Indigo Bunting.
Cyanospiza cyanea (LINN.) BarrD. 1858.

Apparently rare at St. John, N.B.; but said to be common on
the western side of Nova Scotia. (Chamberlain.) Have only
seen one pair at Scotch Lake, York county, N.B. That was in
June, 1900. (W.H. Moore.) Taken at Charlesbourg, near Quebec;
rather rare in the vicinity of Quebec. (Dionne.) A common
summer resident in the Montreal district. Breeds in Mount Royal
park. I have found their nests with eggs from June 18th to July
13th, and observed them here from May 11th to August.13th.
(Winile.)

A moderately common summer resident around Ottawa. (Ottawa
Naturalist, Vol. V.) A common summer resident in the counties
of Leeds and Renfrew, where it usually makes its nest about the
middle of June in a raspberry thicket. (Rev. C. J. Young.) A
fairly common summer resident in the districts of Parry Sound and
Muskoka. It arrives later than most species. Regular though
not very common summer resident at Toronto, Ont. (j/. H. Flem-
ing.) Common summer resident at Guelph, Ont. (A. B. Klugh.)
Common in all suitable localities both in the western and northern
extremities of the western peninsula of Ontario. (W. E. Saunders.)
A rare and transient visitant at Penetanguishene, Ont. (A. F.
Young.) Iwas much surprised on July 30th, 1907, to locate a pair
of indigo buntings breeding in the thick underbrush of hazel and '
taspberry about 15 miles west of Portage la Prairie, Man. This is
the only record I have of it in Manitoba. (Atkinson.)

BREEDING Notes.—The nests taken at Ottawa were placed in
low bushes, and were large for the size of the bird. They are composed
of grass, leaves and weed-stalks, lined with fine grass. Eggs 4 or 5,
white, tinged with blue; some eggs are speckled with reddish-brown.
(G. R. White.) This bird breeds sometimes at Ottawa, but more
frequently in Montreal in June, also at Lake Nominingue, 100 miles
north of Ottawa, in July. Nest in a fork in a bush two or three
feet from the ground, made of dried leaves and lined with fine grass
or hairs. Eggs in the set,three or four of a pale blue colour. (Garneau.)
36

562 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
599. Lazuli Bunting.
Cyanospiza amena (SAY) BarrD. 1858.

This species was found in the Bow valley from the foothills at
Morley up to Banff in the Rocky mountains, but although often
seen was not common in the summer of 1891; common at Trail on
the Columbia and at Cascade in low bushes on the hillsides in June
and July, 1902; three seen at Osoyoos lake, B.C., May 28th, 1905
and common along the trail from Osoyoos to Princeton; found at
Kamloops and Spence Bridge, B.C., in abundance in June, 1889;
two pairs were seen at Agassiz on May 13th, the same year; one
specimen seen at Chilliwack, B.C., May 23rd, 1901; and one there
in 1906; shot a female at Comox, Vancouver island, June 23rd,
1893, the only one seen; one seen at a lake near Victoria, Vancouver
island, May 15th, 1887: (Spreadborough.) This beautiful bird is
abundant between the Coast range and the Rockies, but does not
extend further north than Bonaparte river which is north of Ash-
croft in British Columbia. (Rhoads.)

CCXXXVI. SPIZA Bonaparte. 1824.

604. Dickcissel.
Spiza americana (GMEL.) RipGw. 1880.

Since the irruption of this species into eastern and central Ontario
in 1895, recorded in the Ottawa Naturalist of that year none have
been observed near London; this species, however, is a steadily
common breeder in the west, all over the country south of Lake
St. Clair and becomes less numerous and more southern as one
comes east; the three nests so far recorded in Ontario were all on
the ground, though they are often placed higher in the prairie states;
the four or five blue eggs have a striking resemblance to those of the
bluebird. (W. E. Saunders.) Mr. Saunders writes that since the
publication of the first edition of this catalogue this species has
apparently vanished from western Ontario and that no positive
information of its occurrence has been received in recent years
though the customary localities have been investigated. (Macoun.)
On June 14th, 1897, while doing some miscellaneous collecting near
the big slough at Portage la Prairie, Man., a strange bird flushed

hee fp

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 563

out of the grass and alighted on a fence-post; I immediately secured
it and was very surprised to discover that I had collected a fine male
black-throated bunting ; no others were seen. (Atkinson.). One
individual taken on Sable island, N.S., September 12th, 1902.
(J. Boutelier.)

CCXXXVII. CALAMOSPIZA Bonaparte. 1838.
605. Lark Bunting. White-winged Blackbird.
Calamospiza melanocorys STEJN. 1885.

The apparent absence of this species from the Red river region
with its abundance on the Missouri is one of the strong marks of
difference in the fauna of the two watersheds. It is an abundant
and characteristic species of the sage-brush country of the upper
Missouri and extends thence to the Rocky mountains through the
Milk river region. The bird is rather a late breeder unless the eggs
found July 9th and 21st were those of a second brood. The eggs
are four or five in number, like those of the blue bird and normally °*
unmarked, though occasionally sparsely dotted. Two cow-bird’s
eggs were found in one of the nests secured. The nest is sunk in the
ground so that the brim is flush with the surface, and is built of grass
and weed-stalks, lined with similar but finer material. (Cowes.)
Rare at Aweme, Man. in spring. (Criddle.) A probable summer
resident of southwestern Manitoba. (E£. T. Seton.) Not noted at
all in 1905 except one doubtful record of a female. Very common
in 1906 on the prairies and hills north of Maple creek and about
Crane lake, Sask. (A.C. Bent.) Occasionally seen east of Crane
lake, but in its neighbourhood they were quite common and breeding
late in June, 1894. They always placed their nests on the ground
under sage bush (Artemisia cana); this they did in all parts of the
prairie region where they were found. In 1895 they were found in
some numbers at 12-Mile lake, near Wood mountain, Sask., in sage
flats; fifty miles further west on Frenchman river, in sage flats,
they were again numerous and breeding under sage brush; at East
End post, Cypress hills, Sask., it was again noticed; also at Farwell
creek, and lastly at Sucker creek, west end of Cypress hills where
there was a flock of over thirty; they always nested in the sage
brush and lived in colonies; one individual was shot at Banff,

Rocky mountains in May, 1891; saw one at Thurston ranch, Chilli-
36%

564 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

wack river, B.C., August 2nd, 1906. (Spreadborough.) I never saw
this bird in Manitoba but it is not at all scarce in southwestern
Saskatchewan and Alberta. I found its nest at Rush lake and
Crane lake, Sask. It makes its nest in the grass and lays 4 pale blue
eggs. This species and McCown’s longspur are two of the sweetest
ssongsters on the prairie. (W. Rawne.)

Famity XLIVII. TANAGRIDAS. Tanacers.
CCXXXVIII. PIRANGA VieEILLotT. 1807.

607. Louisiana Tanager.
Piranga ludoviciana (WILS.) RICHARDSON. 1837.

Fort Chipweyan, Lake Athabaska, Alta. (Ridgway.) Abundant
‘at Athabaska Landing, 90 miles north of Edmonton, and up the
Athabaska to Lesser Slave river. A few were seen down the Atha-
baska to Fort McMurray, lat. 56° 40’. (J. M. Macoun.) Common
from the mouth of Lesser Slave river to Peace River Landing, lat.
56° 15’, in June, 1903; first seen, May 8th, 1897, at Edmonton,
Alta.; after this date they became common and soon began to breed;
‘common from Edmonton to Yellowhead pass in June, 1898; common
in the foothills from Calgary to Crow Nest pass; not very common
at Banff, 1891, but breed in the Bow river valley from the ‘“‘Gap’”
inwards. They are found all through the mountains, but seem to be
most abundant in the Columbia valley both east and west of the
Selkirks; very common at Revelstoke, Deer park and Robson, in the
‘Columbia valley; common along the International Boundary from
Elko, B.C. west to Chilliwack lake in 1904 and 1905, apparently
‘breeding in tall trees as no nests were taken although many birds
were seen; also taken west of the Eagle pass in the Gold range;
‘occasional in woods at Spence Bridge and Kamloops, also at Agassiz
and Westminster Junction in 1889; abundant at Chilliwack; a few
‘seen at McGuire’s, and two observed on the International Boundary
at Huntingdon in 1901; a common summer resident throughout
Vancouver island. (Spreadborough.) Abundant summer resident
everywhere. (Streator.) An abundant summer resident throughout
‘the province; breeds on Vancouver island and mainland. (Fannin.)
‘Common summer resident at Chilliwack. (Brooks.) Fairly abundant
and uniformly distributed over the coasts, mainland and islands of
British Columbia. (Rhoads.)

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 565.

BREEDING Notes.—Mr. G. F. Dippie and myself have both
received eggs and skins of this bird from Red Deer, Altia.; on June
3rd, 1898, Mr. Wenman found a nest on the Red Deer river, it
contained four eggs and was built in a poplar five feet from the
ground. (W, Raine.)

608. Scarlet Tanager.
Pwranga erythromelas VIEILL. 1819.

A few occur in the spring in Nova Scotia. (Downs.) Very rare
summer visitor to the Annapolis valley, N.S. (H. F. Tufts.) A
very rare summer resident in New Brunswick; thas been taken at the
Grand falls of the St. John. (Chamberlain.) A rare summer visitor
at Scotch Lake, York county, N.B. (W. H. Moore.) Taken at
Lorette; a rare summer visitor around Quebec. (Dionne.) A
transient visitant, but common around Montreal; I have not seen
it in the autumn. (Winile.)

Moderately common summer resident at Ottawa. (Ottawa
Naturalist, Vol. V.) Decidedly more abundant at Ottawa than
formerly. (Rev. E. Eijrig. This handsome bird occasionally breeds
neat Lansdowne, Ont., and I suppose in the county of Renfrew, where
I have seen it in summer; I once found a nest in June, 1899, built
in a bushy second growth maple about seven feet from the ground,
not far from the Grand Trunk railway at Lansdowne. (Rev. C. J-
Young.) A common summer resident in the districts of Parry
Sound and Muskoka; breeds in hardwood bush. Regular migrant
at Toronto, Ont., sometimes common. (J. H. Fleming.) Not
rare in Algonquin park, Ont. in summer. (Spreadborough.) A
common summer resident in Middlesex and North Bruce, Ont.
(W. E. Saunders.) Fairly common summer resident at Guelph,
Ont.; arrives about May 12th, leaves about September 15th. (A.
B. Klugh.) A common and breeding summer resident at Pene-
tanguishene, Ont. (A. F. Young.) Not uncommon in eastern
Manitoba; known to breed on the shores of the south end of Lake
Winnipeg; has been seen as far west as Qu’Appelle in southeastern
Saskatchewan. (E. T. Seton.) A regular though not common
migrant at Portage la Prairie, Man. (Atkinson.)

BREEDING NotEes.—Nest at Ottawa on the horizontal bough of
a tree; it is rather a large affair, composed of twigs, fibres and

566 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

rootlets, lined with fine grass. Eggs, 4, of a dull greenish blue,
spotted with lilac and brown. (G. R. White.)

610. Summer Tanager.
Piranga rubra (LINN.) VIEILL. 1807.

One or two specimens of this species have been taken in the
spring in Nova Scotia. (Downs.) On the island of Grand Manan,
N.B.; one specimen taken in May, 1881. (Batchelder.) A rare
transient visitant in the district of Montreal. Mr. Kuetzing says
eight examples of this species have been shot on the island of Mon-
treal. I believe I saw one at St. Bruno on May 25th, 1885, but it
disappeared too quickly to be sure of it. (Wunitle.) One specimen
taken at Scarboro Heights, Ont., May, 1890. (S. Herring.) After
many years looking for its occurrence Mr. MclIlwraith obtained one
specimen near Hamilton in May, 1885. [See Birds of Ontario,
page 335.] A few specimens seen at Listowel, Perth county, Ont.,
in the spring of 1892. (W.L. Kells, in Trans. Can. Inst. Vol. III.,
p. 70.) Not having seen any of the specimens referred to above
none of these references can be vouched for with the exception of
the specimen taken at Scarboro Heights, near Toronto, by Mr.
Herring which is now in the National Museum at Ottawa.

Famity XLV. HIRUNDINIDA. Swattows.
CCXXXIX. PROGNE Bor. 1826.
611. Purple Martin.
Progne subis (LINN.) BatrD. 1865.

A very rare species in Newfoundland, only one shot at Daniel har-
bour. (Reeks.) A few seen in the spring at Halifax, but more
common at Windsor, N.S. (Downs.) Common at Truro and
common at Windsor, N.S. (Downs). One observed in August in
the vicinity of Windsor, N.S. (H. F. Tufts.) Common at Truro and
Amherst, N.S., in the spring of 1go1. (C. R. Harte.) A few pairs
breeding at Brackley point, Prince Edward island, June, 1888.
(Macoun.) Uncommon summer resident at St. John, N.B., but
quite common at Hampton and Westfield. (Chamberlain.) A
tolerably common summer resident at Scotch Lake, York county, N.B.

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 567

(W. H. Moore.) Observed at Point du Chene, N.B., where a colony
occupied a martin’s box in the village. (Brewster.) A common
summer resident around Quebec. (Dionne.) A common summer
resident at Montreal; breeds in the city. (Wzntle.) One observed
in August in the vicinity of Windsor, N.S. (H. F. Tujts.)

A common summer resident at Ottawa. (Ottawa Naturalist,
Vol. V.) This bird breeds readily in bird boxes placed against a
house as well as under the eaves of buildings and similar places.
It is common in Leeds, Lanark and Renfrew counties, but seems to
be decreasing in numbers. (Rev. C. J. Young.) Regular summer
resident at Toronto; local and decreasing. Reported as increasingly
common at Bracebridge, and in the settled parts of Muskoka by
Mr. Taverner. (J. H. Fleming.) A few breed in the cities, and an
odd pair in some of the villages around Guelph; arrives about May
1oth and leaves about August 1st. (A. B. Klugh.) A common
summer resident at Penetanguishene, Ont. (A. F. Young.) Rare
summer resident in Manitoba; breeding in pairs but seldom in num-
bers; have been taken breeding on Lake Manitoba. (EF. T. Seton.)
I was rather surprised to find martins breeding at Turtle mountain,
on the 49th parallel, having observed none at Pembina. (Coues.)
First seen at Indian Head, Sask., May 24th, 1892, they soon become
tolerably common and remained, breeding in hollow trees; first
arrivals at Medicine Hat, Sask., May 16th, 1894, breeding in the
river valley in old trees; observed two at the crossing of the McLeod
river, north of Edmonton, June 19th, 1898; tolerably common in the
streets at Victoria, Vancouver island; first seen May 8th, 1893, and
on May 28th, 1887; observed several in the dead woods north of
Peace river, near White Mud river, lat. 56° 20’ in June, 1903.
(Spreadborough.) Not uncommon but local near Prince Albert,
Sask.; noted breeding every year in great numbers in the dead trees
of a willow and poplar thicket among marshes. (Coubeaux.) Only
one specimen, a male taken at Victoria, was secured; it is difficult
to state if it belongs to the eastern or western form. (Rhoads.)
Common in the vicinity of Vancouver, B.C., and breeding in num-
bers in 1894. (E..F. G. White.)

BREEDING Notes.—I observed this species June 29th, 1886, nest-
ing in the city, in a bird house placed on top of a pole erected on a
shed in rear of St. Joseph Drug Hall, No. 2241, Notre Dame street,

568 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

where they are said to breed twice a year, in the months of April and
June; I have not noticed the purple martin breeding in any other
place within the city, but I dare say they do breed in other yards
where they are encouraged to nest. (Wvnile.) At Ottawa this
species builds in holes in trees or in boxes in the city. The nest is
composed of hay, straw, bits of twine and paper; lined with feathers;
eggs, four or five, pure glossy white. (G. R. White.) Breeds all
over central and western Ontario, making its nests in holes under the
eaves of buildings; in the vicinity of Yorkton it makes its nest in
holes in trees like the tree swallow; on June 1st, 1901, I found a pur-
ple martin sitting on five eggs in a hole in an old stub five feet from
the ground; the bird allowed me to lift her off the eggs and I threw
her into the air and she flew away; the following day I again found
her sitting upon the eggs; later I found other nests around Crescent
lake. (W. Raine.)

CCXL. PETROCHELIDON Caszanis. 1850.
612. Cliff Swallow.

Petrochelidon lumfrons (SAY) CassIN. 1853.

A rare summer migrant in Newfoundland. (Reeks.) Common
summer resident at Halifax, N.S. (Downs.) Common in Nova
Scotia from May roth to September 1st. (H. F. Tufts.) Common
at Sydney, Cape Breton island, breeding locally. (C. R. Harte.)
Abundant in some localities, especially at Margaree, Cape Breton
island, July, 1898; rather common ,flying over the marshes at
Brackley point, Prince Edward island, July, 1888. (Macoun.) A
common bird on Prince Edward island; locally distributed and
nesting in colonies under the eaves of barns and houses. (Dwight.)
An abundant summer resident in town and country in New Bruns-
wick. (Chamberlain.) A summer resident at Scotch Lake, York
county, N.B. (W.H. Moore.) I found a small colony nesting under
the eaves of a shed at Port Hawkesbury, Cape Breton island. (Brew-
ster.) Taken at Beauport; a common summer resident around Que-
bec. (Dionne.) Common summer resident at Montreal. Breeds
on the island of Montreal. Observed from April rgth to September
4th, 1893. (Winile.)

Common summer resident at Ottawa. (Ottawa Naturalist,
Vol. V.) Very common in all parts of eastern Ontario. (Rev. C.

CATALOGUE OF-CANADIAN BIRDS. 569

J. Young.) Regular summer resident at Toronto, Ont. (J. H.
Fleming.) Formerly abundant about London, Ont., but now re-
stricted and found on but very few farms, though when protected
as many as fifty pairs are yet known to breed on one barn. (W. E.
Saunders.) Breeds in large colonies at a few barns in the vicinity
of Guelph, Ont. Arrives about May 15th, leaves about August 17th.
(A. B. Klugh.) An abundant summer resident at Penetanguishene,
Ont. (A. F. Young.)

This is the most abundant, generally distributed and characteristic
species of the swallow family throughout the region along the 49th
parallel from Pembina to the Rocky mountains. The laying season
in this latitude is at its height during the second and third weeks of
June. (Coues.) Very abundant summer resident in Manitoba; at
Brandon, Fort Ellice and Shoal lake, in 1882, they were breeding in
very large numbers, having placed their nests under the eaves and
gables of barns and houses. Nesting in great colonies in the cliffs of
Great Slave and Artillery lakes. (E. T. Seton.) Rare at Aweme,
Man., but noted in large numbers nesting in the banks of the Souris
tiver. (Criddle.) Everywhere in the west an abundant breeding
species. Particluarly interesting colonies are to be found along the
course of the Assiniboine river, through the Carberry sandhills,
where hundreds of nests forming compact masses, covering many
square yards, are built against the sheer high banks. (Atkimnson.)

First observed at Indian Head, Sask., on May 24th, 1892; they
soon became common and bred in large numbers in suitable places;
this species reached Medicine Hat, Sask., May 22nd, 1894, and im-
mediately began to build new and repair old nests; later they were
found breeding under the eaves of all the water-tanks along the
Canadian Pacific railway between Medicine Hat and Moose Jaw;
at Crane lake they were particularly abundant, building their nests
in hundreds under the eaves of the farm buildings; no matter how
often the nests were knocked down they were replaced by others;
this species was seen in 1895 from Old Wives lakes throughout the
whole prairie region across southern Saskatchewan by Wood moun-
tain, Frenchman river and the Cypress hills; in Alberta it was abun-
dant along Milk river, where it bred in large communities, as well as
along Spur creek, Sage creek and Many Berries creek; a common
species in the Bow valley nearly up to Banff in the Rocky Mountains;
very abundant along the Peace river, Alta., in 1903; first seen at

570 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

Edmonton, Alta., May 13th, 1897; common by the 21st, and building
their nests by hundreds in the town; saw a few nesting in the cut
banks of the river between Edmonton and the Athabaska river in
June, 1898. (Spreadborough.) A large number of old nests were
noticed between Athabaska Landing and Lesser Slave river, Alta.,
but no birds were seen; we were very likely too early in the season.
(J. M. Macoun.) First observed on May 30th, 1900, then in great
numbers, building their nests in the town of Prince Albert, Sask.
(Coubeaux.)

In the year 1820 this species was discovered by Major Long near
the Rocky mountains, and in the same year by Sir John Franklin's
party, on the journey from Cumberland House to Fort Enterprise,
and on the banks of Point lake in lat. 65°, where its earliest arrival
was noted, in the following year, to be June 12th. Its clustered
nests are of frequent occurrence on the ‘barren grounds,” and they
are not uncommon throughout the whole course of the Great Slave
and Mackenzie rivers. (Rechardson.) North to Rat river on the
Mackenzie; common. (Ross.) In 1856 about one hundred and
fifty nests of this species were built, for the first time, at Fort Good
Hope, on the Mackenzie river, and in 1866, one was seen examining
the eaves of the houses at Fort Anderson, but it did not remain.
They, however, breed in large numbers along the banks of the Lock-
hart and Anderson rivers. (Macfarlane.) Common in British
Columbia. (Lord.) Common everywhere in the interior; breeds.
(Streator.) Breeding on farm buildings at Osoyoos lake, B.C.
(Spreadborough.) I have only found this bird east of the Coast
range, where in some localities along the Cariboo road it is very
abundant. (Fannin.) Rare at Chilliwack; may breed in the
vicinity. (Brooks.) Abundant east of the Coast range in British
Columbia. (Rhoads.)

This bird, from its nesting habits, is precluded from being a resi-
dent on the arctic coast. It has been taken at Nulato, and seems
to be common at the trading stations along the Yukon. (Néelson.)
This species was common at Log Cabin, June 15th; at Cariboo Cross-
ing, lat. 60°, saw a few on June 29th, probably members of the small
colony breeding on the cliffs of a small island in Tagish lake. We
next saw the species near Hootalingua river, July roth, and from
this point to Dawson in lat. 64° 15’ we frequently met with colonies

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 571

of varying size, the largest being near White river. Their nests
were attached to cliffs bordering the river, except at Fort Selkirk,
where they were breeding under the eaves of houses. (Bishop.)

BREEDING NoTes.—The nest of the cliff swallow is built of mud
and is shaped like a bottle with the neck downward; it is lined with
feathers, grass, leaves, string and bits of rag; eggs, four; white,
spotted with reddish brown. (G. R. White.) At Ambherst, N.S.,
the birds were common on June 5th, and under the Chignecto ship
canal power-house were the remains of many old nests, but no new
ones; the watchman said they breed very erratically, some years in
large numbers, others not at all; there were no nests under the eaves
of barns. (C. R. Harte.) <A covered nest of mud lined inside with
grass and feathers, fixed on the outside wall of barns and sheds just
under the roof; nests taken at Ottawa and Lake Nominingue, 100
miles north of it; a first sitting in May and a second in July is the
usual procedure. (Garneau.)

CCXLI. H1LRUNDO Linn. 1758.
513. Barn Swallow.
Hirundo erythrogaster Bopp. 1783.

Two specimens are known to have been obtained in Greenland ;
one at Fiskenes about 1830, the other at Nenortalik. (Avrct. Man.)
Breeds at Northwest river at the head of Hamilton inlet, Labrador.
(Packard.) A rare summer resident at Cow Head, Newfoundland.
(Reeks.) Common summer resident throughout Nova Scotia.
(Downs; Tufts.) Two individuals seen on Sable island, N.S., April
30th, 1902, and one September 16th, same year; in large numbers
June 8th, May 22nd and August 20th, 1904; four on August gth,
1905, and a number, August 20th, 1905; one, May 4th and others
May 1oth, 1906. (J. Boutelver.) Very common in Amherst, N.S.,
June 5th, 1901; there were plenty of old nests, but no new ones
at that date. (C. R. Harte.) Rather common on Cape Breton
island, 1898; common at Brackley point, Prince Edward island,
1888. (Macoun.) Abundant and generally distributed on Prince
Edward island. (Dwight.) Common summer resident throughout the
country around St. John, N.B. (Chamberlain.) Rare in the Resti-
gouche valley, N.B. (Brittain & Cox.) Common summer resident

572 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

at Scotch Lake, York county, N.B. (W.H. Moore.) Taken at Beau-
port; common summer resident around Quebec. (Dionne.) A
common summer resident at Montreal; breeds on the island of
Montreal; observed here from May 19th to August 20th. (Wuntle.)

A common and abundant summer resident at Ottawa. (Ottawa
Naturalist, Vol. V.) Very common in eastern Ontario. (Rev. C.
J. Young.) An abundant summer resident in the Parry Sound and
Muskoka districts; regular summer resident at Toronto, Ont. (/.
H. Fleming.) Common in Algonquin park, Ont.; a pair built in the
boat-house at Cache lake, eggs hatched on June 16th, 1900. (Spread-
borough.) Common summer resident at Guelph, Ont.; arrives about
April 20th, leaves about September 5th. (A.B. Klugh.) An abun-
dant summer resident at Penetanguishene, Ont. (A. F. Young.)
On the morning of August 13th, 1901, while I was encamped at the
mouth of a river on the ‘‘ barren grounds,’ about twenty-five miles
south of Cape Eskimo, on the west coast of Hudson bay, a barn
swallow that had evidently been following the course of the stream
flew past the camp. When it reached the bay it turned southward
and soon disappeared from sight down the coast. (E. A. Preble.)

I have no note of seeing this bird at Pembina, but during July and
August, they were observed at various points along the 49th parallel,
nearly to the Rocky mountains. (Coues.) Tolerably common at
Aweme, Man. (Criddle.) A rapidly increasing species throughout
Manitoba and the Northwest. _I was five years at Portage la Prairie
before I collected a specimen, but of recent years they are becoming
quite numerous. (Atkinson.) A rare summer visitant in Manitoba,
but breeding west of the province at Qu’Appelle. (E. T. Seton.)
First seen at Indian Head, Sask., on May 24th, 1892; they were
common in a few days and breed in the vicinity; two males were the
first arrivals at Medicine Hat, Sask., May 15th, 1894, building com-
menced on May 2oth; at Crane lake, 100 miles to the east, many
pairs were breeding in the farm buildings early in June; late in the
month they were found in old buildings at the east end of the Cypress
hills ; one nest was found at Crane lake, built on a stringer of a bridge
across a small creek; in 1895 this species was seen on the prairie
from Old Wives creek by way of Wood mountain and Frenchman
river to the south side of the Cypress hills; it was found in all the
ravines of the Cypress hills and a nest was taken at Sucker creek in

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 573

an old shack; it was also found on Spur creek and was very common
along Milk river, St. Mary river, and Lee creek to the foothills of the
Rocky mountains; two observed at the head of Lesser Slave lake in
June, 1903; common from Edmonton to Yellowhead pass in June,
1898; occasionally seen in the foothills from Calgary southward to
Crow Nest pass in July and August, 1897; a common species at Banff,
Rocky mountains, breeding in the barns and outhouses in the village
in June, 1891; first seen at Midway, B.C., May oth, and observed
breeding in several places along the Similkameen river; not seen in
the Columbia valley except on the mountains on the west side of
Pass creek, near Robson, B.C., June 26th, 1890; common at Kam-
loops, Spence Bridge and Penticton, B.C.; specimens were taken at
Westminster Junction, Agassiz and Hastings, Burrard inlet, B.C.,
in 1899; abundant at Chilliwack in the spring of 1901; a few seen at
Huntingdon, on the International Boundary, in September; an
abundant summer resident throughout Vancouver island. (Spread-
borough.) In the Northwest Territories, where the habitations of
men are few and far between, it inhabits caves, particularly in the
limestone rocks, and it also frequents the outhouses of the trading
posts. When Fort Franklin was erected on the shores of Great Bear
lake, in the autumn of 1825, we found many nests in the ruins of a
house that had been abandoned for more than ten years. At Fort
Chipweyan, in lat. 59°, the barn swallows arrive regularly about
May 15th, and we observed them in the same month at Fort Good
Hope, on the Mackenzie river, in lat. 674°. (Richardson.) Several
seen about tall cliffs on the north side of Great Slave lake. (E. T.
Seton.) North to Fort Resolution, on Great Slave lake; rare. (Ross.)
An abundant summer resident throughout British Columbia. (Fan-
nin.) More plentiful east than west of the Coast range. (Lord.) Com-
mon everywhere; breeds. (Séreator.) An abundant summer resident
at Chilliwack, Fraser river valley, B.C. (Brooks.) Uniformly abun-
dant throughout British Columbia up to 5,000 feet. (Rhoads.) Im-
mense flocks late in the fall at Lulu island, in the lower Fraser river,
B.C. (E. F. G. White.)

A few barn swallows were always found about the numerous de-
serted Indian villages and their nests were frequently noticed on the
big cedar beams which are the framework of the Haida houses on
Queen Charlotte islands. (Osgood.) Three specimens taken at
Seldovia, Alaska, July, 1903. (Anderson.) This bird is the most

574 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

common and widely distributed species of the swallows throughout
the north. In Alaska it is found along the southeastern coast, ex-
tending thence over nearly the entire Aleutian chain, and north
along the coast of the mainland to Kotzebue sound, and thence east
throughout the territory wherever suitable locations occur. (Nelson.)
Breeding abundantly about the town of Sitka, Alaska, under the
eaves of buildings; a few pairs found nesting on the cliffs on the
islands out in the bay. This swallow was seen almost daily at Cape
Blossom, Kotzebue sound, Alaska; the species was seen on the upper
Kowak and in the delta of that river in June. (Grinnell.) This
bird arrives at St. Michael about June, and as soon as the ground ig

thawed, begins to build. (Turner.)

BREEDING NoTES.—The nest of this species is built of mud mixed
with hay or straw and lined with fine grass and a thick bed of feathers.
Eggs, five; white, spotted with reddish-brown. (G. R. White.) Not
nearly so plentiful at Scotch Lake as lunifrons. Always building
inside buildings. Eggs, from four to six, placed in a soft feather-
lined nest of mud and hay. Some pairs raise two broods in one
season in the same nest. One pair abandoned the second brood and
went south, September 9th, 1901; the young died in the nest. (W.
H. Moore.) JI was told by missionaries that the swallows nested in
the deserted Eskimo igloos, building their mud nests against the sides
near the roof. On July 1st, 1899, I found a barn swallow’s nest
built on a beam in the house of a small river steamer, stranded at the
side of Mission inlet. The nest was constructed as usual of a mix-
ture of mud and grasses with a lining of finer grass and a large quan-
tity of white ptarmigan feathers almost burying the eggs. (Grin-
nell.) Nests oblong and attached to the walls or to the rafters of
barns and other buildings; or round and placed on the beams. They
are made of mud arranged in small pellets formed and mixed with
grass and have a lining of feathers and hair. Four to six eggs in
the set at Ottawa and at Lake Nominingue, 100 miles north of it,
in June and July. (Garneau.)

613a. Alaskan Barn Swallow.
Hirundo erythrogaster unalaschkensis (GMEL.) PALMER. 1899.

A few barn swallows were flying over the marshes of Chilcat inlet,
June ist, 1899; I heard they were common at White Pass City, June

aan

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 575

oth, and we saw two about the buildings at White pass summit,
June 1oth; at Log Cabin they were common, June 14-20th; a few
were noticed at Lake Bennett, June 19-21st. I refer all seen to this
sub-species, because all had remarkably long tails. (Bzshop.)
Walking along the hills near the village of St. George on May 28th,
1890, with Mr. Ed. Lavender, we saw a swallow skimming along the
edge of the cliff, catching the flies which the warm sun had enticed
from the crevices of the rocks. Shortly afterwards it flew just over
my head while among the houses of the village. Drs. Noyes and
Hereford, who have each spent more than ten years on the island,
assured me that a swallow was unknown there, but later in the
evening I had the opportunity of showing them the bird on another
part of the cliff; it remained about the village for nearly two weeks;
on June 4th, while standing on Black bluff, St. Paul, I watched a
swallow coming into the land and then fly northward up the island;
I found a nest at Unalaska, on August 13th, containing three large
young, a male and two females and secured the adults also; the nest
is of mud held together by grass rootlets; it is nine inches wide by
four inches deep, the cavity is two and a half inches in diameter and
one and three-quarter inches deep; grass rootlets encircle the cavity,
which is well lined with gull and raven feathers; it was built in a
large cavity, almost a cave, of a rock on a hillside, and was placed
on the slightly sloping face of the back portion, about its centre; a
slight inequality of the rock face was sufficient to hold it in place;
to enter the cavity the birds had to fly to the face of the rock and
then dip downward between the rock and many tall plants, which
effectually hid the opening; I saw no others. (Palmer.)

CCXLII. IRIDOPROCNE COUES. 1878.
614. Tree Swallow.
Tridoprocne bicolor (VIEILL.) CoUES. 1878.

Common at Big island in the Koaksoak river near Fort Chimo
where it breeds abundantly; abundant throughout the northern
portions of Labrador. (Packard.) A very common summer
migrant at Cow Head, Newfoundland. (Reeks.) A common sum-
mer resident at Halifax, N.S. (Downs.) Common in Nova Scotia
from April zoth to September. (H. F. Tufts.) A common summer
resident at Sydney, Cape Breton, island. (C. R. Harte.) Rather

576 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

common in many parts of Cape Breton island, N.S., 1898; com-
mon at Brackley point, Prince Edward island, June, 1883. (Ma-
coun.) Fairly common, nesting in old woodpecker holes and clear-
ings, crevices about barns and the hollow ends of rails composing
the zig-zag fences so common on Prince Edward island. (Dwight.)
Common summer resident at St. John, N.B. (Chamberlain.) A
tolerably common resident at Scotch Lake, York county, N.B.
(W. H. Moore.) Rare in the Restigouche valley, N.B.; only seen
in the vicinity of settlements. (Brittain G Cox.) On July goth
two were seen at Fox bay, Anticosti. (Brewster.) A common
summer resident around Quebec. (Dionne.) An abundant sum-
mer resident at Montreal; breeds in the city and in Mount Royal
park; I have found their nests containing eggs, from May 29th to
June 2nd, and young birds in nests to July 14th; observed here
from April 7th to September 13th. (Wanile.)

A common and abundant summer resident at Ottawa. (Ottawa
Naturalist, Vol. V.) Very common in eastern Ontario; this species
is the first swallow to arrive in the spring and consequently is the
earliest to breed. (Rev. C. J. Young.) Regular summer resident
at Toronto, Ont.; abundant summer resident in the Parry Sound
and Muskoka districts; I have met with them nesting in deserted
woodpecker holes. (J. H. Fleming.) Two pairs were breeding
at Cache lake, Algonquin park, Ont. in June, 1900, one pair in an
old woodpecker’s nest in a telegraph pole, the other pair in a hole
in a tree on the shore of the lake; common from Missinabi to Moose
Factory, James bay. (Spreadborough.) Formerly quite common
at London, Ont., but now much less so; fully as numerous in north
Bruce as near London; although this bird departs from the vicinity
of London about August 2oth to 25th yet on September 2oth, 1900,
I saw about 50 circling over the marshes at Point Pelee, so that it
evidently travels very slowly for the first stage of its journey. (W.
E. Saunders.) Common summer resident at Guelph, Ont.; arrives
about April 14th and leaves about August 18th. (A. B. Klugh.)
A few seen on lower Red river, June 15th, 1901, and two at Norway
House, June 19th; common between Norway House and Oxford
House, and many nests were observed in deserted holes of wood-
peckers, in trees at the water’s edge, June 23rd to 30th; common
also at Oxford House and noted on Steel river, July 9th; on our
return through their haunts early in September we saw none. (E.
A. Preble.) York Factory, Hudson bay. (Dr. R. Bell.)

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 577

Only observed at Pembina on the 4th parallel where it was
breeding in small numbers about the fort. (Cowes.) Common
summer resident of wooded parts of Manitoba; on July 17th went
to White Horse hill; found a large colony of white-breasted swal-
lows nesting in old woodpecker’s holes, with which the timber is
riddled; this is the largest colony I have seen; it numbers perhaps
20 pairs; nearly all of these settlements that I have noted have
been close to a sheet of water. (E. T. Seton.) Fairly common at
Aweme, Man. (Criddie.) One of the most abundant breeding
species in Manitoba, and the west. (Atkinson.) First seen at
Indian Head, April 8th, 1892; they became common by May roth,
but a few remained to breed as they were seen as late as June 24th;
only two specimens observed at Crane lake in 1894 and none at
Medicine Hat; a few specimens were observed at Waterton lake,
close to Chief mountain in August, 1895; observed from the mouth
of Lesser Slave river to Peace River Landing, lat. 56° 15’, June,
1903; first seen at Edmonton, Alta., April 30th, 1897, breeding in
trees late in May, found a nest in a hole in a balsam poplar stub
about 12 feet from the ground; nest made of a little fine grass, lined
with feathers; seen from Edmonton to Jasper House, breeding in
holes in trees in June, 1898. (Spreadborough.) A few seen in the
timber along creeks in 1905 and one at Hay lake, June 6th, 1906.
Mr. Day found a nest with four eggs in the Skull creek timber,
June oth, 1906. (A. C. Bent.) Abundant every year and breed-
ing in great numbers throughout northern Saskatchewan. (Coubeaux.)
While on a moose hunt, about twenty miles above Chemawa-
win, I saw apparently thousands of these birds on a few
dead trees standing out in the marsh. Some of those trees
were so crowded by the perching swallows that there seemed
literally to be no more room. (Nutting.) A few specimens
were seen between Athabaska Landing and Lesser Slave river;
afew individuals at north end of Methye portage; about half
a dozen birds on Isle a la Crosse lake. (J. M. Macoun.)
This neat and handsome bird frequents the wooded districts up
to lat. 60°, making its nest of dried grass and feathers in hollow
trees. (Richardson.) North to Fort Good Hope, Mackenzie
river. (Ross.) Breeding in trees at Canmore, within the Rocky
mountains, in June, 1891; not uncommon at Revelstoke, on the
Columbia, B.C., in April, 1890; breeding in the old trees in the

37

578 GEULOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

river valley; common and breeding at Trail and Penticton, B.C.,
in June, 1902 and 1903; at Fernie and Baynes lake in 1904; com-
mon at Kamloops, Spence Bridge, Agassiz and at Hastings, Bur-
rard inlet, B.C., 1889; abundant at Chilliwack, B.C., in spring,
nesting in holes in trees. (Spreadborough.) More common east than
west of Coast range. (Lord.) Common summer resident in the
coast region; breeds. (Streator.) Abundant summer resident
at Chilliwack, B.C. (Brooks.) Uniformly abundant throughout
British Columbia up to 5,000 feet. (Rhoads.) Common at Donald,
B.C.; and at Vancouver and Victoria in 1894. (E. F. G. White.)

Breeding commonly in old woodpecker holes in the tall dead
firs at the foot of the mountain back of Sitka, Alaska. (Grinnell.)
I saw several at Skagway, May 31st, and over the Chilcat marshes,
June 1st. Others were seen at Cariboo Crossing, B.C.; others at
Lake Marsh and several at Miles Cafion; others again at Fort Sel-
kirk, Yukon district, entering an old dead tree. (Bishop.) This
species has even a wider range than the barn swallow though not
breeding so far to the north owing to its nesting in holes in banks
and in trees. (Nelson.) On several occasions I saw this swallow
flitting about the buildings at St. Michael during the months of
August and early September. (Turner.)

BREEDING NoTEes.—The sudden dissappearance of a swallow as
it alighted on a fence was almost startling until I learned that in
some deep hollow, decayed out of the heart of an unsplit rail was a
very cosy nest of grass and feathers. It was impossible to dislodge
the birds that were sometimes out of arm’s reach, but several nests
examined the last week in June contained young. I have never
found this species nesting in such a location before. (Dwight.)
This species builds its nest generally in holes in trees 10 to 30
feet from the ground. The nest is made of fine soft grass, well
lined with feathers and down. Eggs five, pure white. (G.R. White.)
From May to July is the nesting time for this species at Scotch Lake,
N.B. The nests are placed in hollow fence poles or in old wood-
pecker nests. The nests are beautifully made of feathers and con-
tain from three to six eggs. When the nest isin a hollow pole the sit-
ting bird has a way of spreading itself so that only dark feathers show-
when a person looks in at the nest, so that sometimes a person can-
not tell if the bird be on the nest or not. (W.H. Moore.) A nest

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 579

of grass and feathers built in a deserted woodpecker’s nest; it may
be in any hole in tree or fence post around Ottawa where they breed
in numbers. The four or five eggs are laid in May and June. (Gar-
neau.)

615. Northern Violet-green Swallow.
Iridoprocne thalassina lepida (MEARNS) A.O.U. Comm. 1902.

Observed only on one occasion ,June 26th, 1874, on the upper
Missouri, near Quaking Ash river. (Coues.) A common species at
Banff, Rocky mountains, breeding in cliffs at Canmore, June, 1891;
a large colony was found along the Wait-a-bit which flows into the
Columbia at Donald, B.C.; not seen at Revelstoke, but shot in the
Eagle pass a little to the west; quite common at Deer Park and
Robson in the Columbia valley, breeding in large numbers in the
cliffs; observed a few at Henry House, Athabaska pass in July,
1898; first seen,* April gth, 1903, common by the 17th at Penticton,
south of Lake Okanagan; a number seen near Fernie, B.C., in 1904
and common, from Midway to Osoyoos lake in 1906; abundant
around the cascade at Spence Bridge and at Yale, B.C., May, 1889;
a few were observed at Chilliwack, B.C., in the spring of 1901, and
a pair found nesting there in 1906; first seen near Victoria, Van-
couver island, April 8th, 1893; by May 1oth they were very abun-
dant; later in the season they were found breeding at Sooke, Nanaimo
and Comox. (Spreadborough.) Common in British Columbia. (Lord.)
Found only at Ashcroft in 1889; breeds. (Sitreator.) An abundant
summer resident throughout the province. (Fannin.) Common;
may breed in the vicinity of Chilliwack. (Brooks.) Uniformly distri-
buted throughout British Columbia up to 7,000 feet. (Rhoads.)
Common at Donald, Columbia river; very common at the mouth
of Nicola river, B.C.; and in Stanley park, Vancouver, B.C. (E.
F. G. White.)

We saw a single male among flocks of bank swallows flying over
Fifty-mile river above Miles cafion, July 11th, 1899, and another
between White Horse rapids and Lake Lebarge. In July, I took
a male from several that we saw near Hootalinqua river and at the
Semenow hills, July 20th, Osgood secured a female, finding her nest
with four young in a crevice in the cliff; after this we saw colonies
of a six to ten individuals and one near White river that must

3772

580 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

have contained over fifty; they were nesting about the cliffs as a
rule, but several times we saw them enter holes in banks similar to
those of the bank swallow, while at Fort Selkirk they were nesting
in the interstices between the logs of the cabins; we often met
with small colonies until we were within fifteen miles of Circle City,
Alaska. (Bishop.)

CCXLITI. RIPARIA Forster. 1817.
616. Bank Swallow.
Riparia riparia (LINN.) SHARP & WyatTrT. 1894.

A pair said to have been seen on Melville island, June gth, 1820,
by Parry. (Arct. Man.) Audubon states that it rarely begins
to breed before June and lays only once; said to be plentiful on the
south shore of Labrador. (Packard.) Not common, but a few were
seen throughout the trip from Moose Factory across Ungava to the
forks of the Koaksoak above Fort Chimo on August 24th, 1896.
(Spreadborough.) Very rare at Cow Head, Newfoundland, but said
to be common about the Bay of St. George. (Reeks.)

Not found at Halifax, N.S., but plentiful about the shores of the
Bay of Fundy. (Downs.) Common summer resident in Nova
Scotia. (H. F. Tufts.) Not rare in certain localities along Bras
d’Or, Cape Breton island, 1898; rather common at Brackley point
Prince Edward island, July, 1888. (Macoun.) I perhaps do this species
an injustice when I say that it is outnumbered by the Savanna
sparrow and the junco. I saw colonies of hundreds at several points
along the coast, of P.E.I. and as every bluff is crowned by a layer of
sand and much of the coast is a continuous bluff the species has
unrivalled opportunities for nesting places. (Dwight.) A common
summer resident at St. John, N.B. (Chamberlain.) An abundant
summer resident in suitable localities at Scotch Lake, York county,
N.B. (W.H. Moore.) A small colony was found at the mouth of
the Kedgwick, Restigouche valley, N.B. (Brittain & Cox.) Toler-
ably common on the Magdalen islands; breeding on Grindstone
island. (Bishop.) We met with this species frequently in the Gulf
of St. Lawrence but only observed two breeding stations, one at
Grand Entry island in the Magdalens and the other at Gaspé, Que.
(Brewster.) Summer resident around Quebec. (Dionne.) A com-

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 581

mon summer resident at Montreal. A small colony of these birds
used to breed in the bank above the high level reservoir in Mount
Royal park, but they deserted the place in 1885; another large
colony used to breed in the sand pits at Hochelaga, where I have
observed them burrowing, May 12th. (Winile.)

A common and abundant summer resident at Ottawa. (Ottawa
Naturalist, Vol. V.) Very common in eastern Ontario. (Rev. C.
J. Young.) Regular summer resident at Toronto, Ont.; an abun-
dant summer resident in the Parry Sound and Muskoka districts.
(J. H. Fleming.) Not common in Algonquin park, Ont. A few
seen breeding in a bank at Whitefish lake; a number seen nesting
in the banks of the river above Moose Factory in 1904, last seen on
James bay that year, Aug. 12. (Spreadborough.) Abundant where
suitable breeding places are, even sometimes in thousands in the
cliffs along Lake Erie. These birds always make an oval hole for
nesting about 14 inches by 2}, and from one to three feet in length.
(W. E. Saunders.) <A fairly common summer resident at Guelph,
Ont. (A.B. Klugh.) An abundant summer resident at Penetan-
guishene, Ont. (A. F. Young.)

A small colony was found on Red river, a few miles below Win-
nipeg, June 14th, 1901, and a large one in a high clay bank on the
shore of Oxford lake, near Oxford House, June 30th. Several
colonies were seen on Hayes river, a few miles above York Factory.
(E. A. Preble.) Very abundant at Aweme, Man. (Criddle.)
Breeds abundantly from Manitoba west to Edmonton. (Atkinson.)
This species was found everywhere along the 49th parallel where
there were cut banks suitable for breeding sites for the digging of
holes in which the nests are constructed. (Coues.) A somewhat
common summer resident in Manitoba. They excavate their nests
in the banks of the Assiniboine and Qu’Appelle, and breed in colonies.
(E. T. Seton.) First individual was seen at Indian Head, Sask.;
May 30th, 1892, after this time they became common; they must
breed near here as they were seen in numbers up to June 27th when I
left; very common on Skull creek, near Crane lake, Sask.; they
reached there June 11th, and began breeding in the cut banks of
the creek; dug out two nests, but only obtained three eggs, one
in one nest and two in the other; one was seen later in the month
at the east end of the Cypress hills; in 1895 this species was first.

582 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

noticed at Old Wives creek, Sask., and afterwards on the prairie
wherever there were cut-banks to Frenchman river; it was also
seen on the prairie at the west end of the Cypress hills; later it
was found to be abundant along the Milk river, St. Mary river and
Lee creek, almost to the Rocky mountains; first seen at Edmonton,
Alta., May 8th, 1897; breeding in the river bank below the lower
ferry by May 22nd; common from Lesser Slave lake to Peace River
Landing, lat. 56° 15’, in June, 1903; breeding in the banks of Bragg
creek, about 40 miles southwest of Calgary, June 25th; breeding in
the cut banks of the Bow river, below Banff, in the Rocky moun-
tains, in June, 1891; abundant at Kamloops, B.C., 1889; a flock
was seen in the Eagle pass, 5 miles west of Revelstoke, May 13th,
1890, but none in the Columbia valley; breeding in numbers in the
bank of the Columbia just below Trail, B.C., in June, 1902; ob-
served first at Penticton, B.C., April 24th, 1903; they only stayed
a few days when they disappeared. (Spreadborough.)

Very abundant on the Athabaska river between Lesser Slave
river and Fort McMurray, lat. 56° 40’, first noticed June 1st; not
rare up the Clearwater river to Methye portage; a few birds on
Deep river near Isle a la Crosse. (J. M. Macoun.) This species
is very widely distributed in the Northwest Territories and thou-
sands were observed fluttering at the mouths of their burrows near
the mouth of the Mackenzie river in lat. 68°, on July 4th; they
are equally numerous in all other localities suited for burrowing.
(Richardson.) North to Fort Simpson on the Mackenzie river;
abundant. (Ross.) Found in thousands along Great Slave river to
Fort Resolution. Not seen farther, northeasterly. (E. T. Seton.)
This species is to be met with in considerable numbers during the
season of nidification; it builds its nests in holes in sandy or clay
banks on Anderson river. (Macfarlane.) Scarce at Chilliwack;
may breed in vicinity. (Brooks.)

Along the arctic coast, as well as the shores of Behring sea, this
is an extremely rare visitant, occuring merely as a straggler, duing
its migrations; on the river courses of the interior, however, it is
one of the most abundant, if not the most abundant species of
swallows. (Nelson.) These swallows are but occasional visitors
to the vicinity of St. Michael, where it was only observed during
the middle of the summer season. (Turner.) More plentiful

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 583

east than west of the Coast range. (Lord.) Found breeding along
the Thompson river at Ashcroft and more abundantly at Kamloops,
B.C. (Rhoads.) The bank swallow was very common all along
the Kowak river, Kotzebue sound, Alaska, from the delta to Hotham
inlet, eastward; on our trip up the Kowak from August 12th to rgth,
1898, many colonies of the nesting burrows were observed in the
sandy tiver banks. (Grinnell.) We found a small colony nesting
at the northern end of Lake Tagish, July 1st, and a larger one on the
west shore of Lake Marsh, but we were entirely unprepared for the
great abundance of them on Fifty-mile river above Miles cafion.
There, almost every bank was honeycombed with their holes; along
the rest of the Yukon to Circle city in Alaska, August 1st; after this
their presence was only manifested by their deserted holes. (Bishop.)
Very abundant at Dawson, Yukon district, lat. 64° 15’, breeding in
clay banks, July 19th, 1902. (Macoun.)

BREEDING NoTES.—On June 5th, 1902, there was a severe and
very cold storm, and at one colony the birds evidently crowded
into the partially completed burrows for shelter, to such an extent
that those at the end were crushed or smothered to death; almost
every burrow had three or four dead birds, rammed hard
against the end; one hole had six, jammed into a mass which
held together, so strongly that I was able to drag it out by
pulling on one wing; some holes contained but one bird, and
in these cases the little bodies were not so badly jammed;
one of these solitary corpses proved to be that of a barn
swallow; I presume these single birds died from the cold,
as doubtless had the several found on the ground at the
foot of the bank; ,altogether some 30 or 40 swallows perished
in this colony. (C. R. Harte.) Nests abundantly in cut banks
of islands and gravel banks; the nest is at the end of a double
mouthed tunnel and is composed of a few dried grasses; the eggs
are three, pure white and the shells are exceedingly thin. (W. H.
Moore.) Nests dug in sandy banks to a depth of three or four
feet and lined with grass and feathers; they breed in colonies in
suitable places near Ottawa; the set is five eggs, laid in May and
June. (Garneau.)

584 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
CCXLIV. STELGIDOPTERYX Bairrp. 1858.
617. Rough-Winged Swallow.

Stelgidopteryx serripennis (AUD.) BAIRD, 1858.

Probably a rare summer resident at Toronto, Ont. A male
was taken, May 16th, 1900, and on June 12th, 1906, I found
a pair building in an old kingfisher’s tunnel and took the
female. (J. H. Fleming.) Common along the streams and
rivers of Middlesex county, Ont. Data are lacking for other
points in the west of the province. I have been unable to
ascertain that this bird ever excavates its own nesting holes.
Certainly it often uses old kingfisher holes and sometimes a cavity
in a brick wall. The holes are not less than three inches in the
smallest diameter, and the nests have been found at all depths.
Sometimes they are visible from the outside and at others 40 inches
from the outside. The nests are bulky and made of straws, weed-
stems, roots and small sticks, and are usually lined with green
willow leaves, but have not so far been found with a feather lining
as is usually the case with the bank swallow. The eggs are larger
than those of that species, and are in sets of six or seven, while the
bank swallow lays four or five and sometimessix. (W.E. Saunders.)

A specimen of this bird, taken near Winnipeg by Mr. Hine, is
in the Manitoba museum. (£. T. Seton.) Probably occurs at
Aweme, Man, but passes for the last. (Criddle.) Found breeding
at Canmore within the Rocky mountains in June, 1891; shot at
Revelstoke, B.C., May 6th, 1890; breeding in the cut banks of the
Columbia in many places; large numbers were nesting at Robson
in July, 1890; breeding in numbers in a bank on Trail creek, B.C.,
in June, 1902; seen for only a few days at Penticton in 1903; ob-
served a number near Fernie, B.C. in 1904 and between Midway and
Osoyoos lake in 1905; common at Kamloops and Spence Bridge;
also breeding in a steep bank near Vancouver, B.C., and at Port
Moody, Burrard inlet, and at Port Heney, on the Fraser river;
common at Chilliwack, in the spring of 1901; a common summer
resident on Vancouver island, breeding at Goldstream and Shaw-
nagin lake; also in holes by the sea shore at Comox and Sooke.
(Spreadborough.) Much more plentiful east than west of the Coast
range. (Lord.) Common throughout the province; breeds.

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 585

(Streator.) Common all over the province; breeds in the banks at
Beacon hill, Victoria. (Fannin.) Common summer resident at
Chilliwack. (Brooks.) Not common in British Columbia, but of
the same distribution as the barn swallow. (Rhoads.) Common at
Revelstoke, Salmon arm and Agassiz and breeding in the Sea Bird
bluffs near Vancouver, B.C., in May, 1897. (E. F.G. White.)

Famity XLV. AMPELIDA. Waxwincs.
CCXLV. AMPELIS. Linnazus. 1766.

618. Bohemian Waxwing.

Ampelis garrulus LINN. 1766.

A flock appeared at the Three-mile House, near Halifax, N.S.,
in the winter of 1864-5, but none have been seen since up to the
time of writing. (Downs.) Some winters, quite plentiful at St.
Stephens, N.B. (Chamberlain.) Observed in winter at Harvey,
York county, N.B.; rare. (W. H. Moore.) Taken at Lorette; a
winter migrant at Quebec. (Dzionne.) A rare winter visitant at
Montreal. I have not seen them myself and have no recent record
of their occurrence in the vicinity of Montreal. (Wznile.)

A winter visitor. It is now many years since this bird has visited
us in large numbers. (Ottawa Naturalist, Vol. V.) But seldom
met with in the county of Leeds, in eastern Ontario. One winter I
saw two of them sitting on a rail fence and quite tame. On June
14th, 1899, I found a nest in a rough, rocky part of the country
near Charleston lake, Leeds county, that I attributed to this species.
It was built in a erdétch of a soft maple that grew in a wet swampy
place. The nest contained two eggs, measuring 1.10 x .70 and
0.94 x .68. They are noticably larger than any cedar bird I ever
saw. They are of the same ground colour, but sparingly spotted
with round black spots. The nest was a firm, substantial structure,
quite deep and built of rootlets, twigs and fibres; not of grass and
straws as most of the cedar birds have been that I have seen. A
few were seen at Cataraqui near Kingston, Ont. in February, 1904,
and others were observed in the same locality in 1907. (Rev. C. J.
Young.) Occurs rarely in the Parry Sound and Muskoka districts
in winter. Only visits Toronto occasionally. When it does so it

586 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA

keeps well in the centre of the city. A flight occurred in 1895,
when several small flocks spent a month or more in the residential
parts of the city. (J. H. Fleming.) About 18th February, 1895,
Toronto was favoured by a visit, in considerable force, of these
beautiful northern birds. While here they fed chiefly on the berries
of the mountain ash, and on 20th March I noticed numbers of them
fly down to a pool of snow water in Queen’s park to drink and bathe
or rather splash themselves. I saw four on the 14th December, 1895,
and one on 5th March, 1896, with a flock of A. cedrorum; and on 31st
December, 1896, I saw a fine male taken from a small flock just
north of the city. A few remained with us till late in April, and on
the 16th of this month I saw them in the tall elms in University
grounds, having changed their habits entirely, for they were chasing
every luckless winged insect that came in sight, and snapping their
bills much after the manner of the flycatchers. Mr. Percival Turner
writes me that he saw a small flock in the English Church yard at
Belleville on 6th February, 1900. (J. Hughes-Samuel.)

Three were observed by Mr. Alfred E. Preble in the stunted spruce
woods near Fort Churchill, Hudson bay, on June 25th, 1901. Mr. J.
B. Tyrrell speaks of seeing a flock ’’in a grove of birch trees near
the shore of Theitage lake, on their breeding grounds.‘‘ This lake
is situated about 300 miles slightly north of west of Fort Churchill.
(E. A. Preble.) A tolerably common winter resident in Manitoba.
(E. T. Seton.) Sometimes common at Aweme, Man., in early winter.
(Criddle.) An erratic species in Manitoba both as regards numbers
and regularity of appearance. Appearing suddenly in large numbers
and again being absent for several years. Only noted in midwinter.
(Atkinson.) An uncommon straggler near Psince Albert, Sask.;
shot once only, but twice noted in the spring of 1895. (Coubeaux.)
One specimen of this species in first plumage was shot on the moun-
tain side adjoining Chief Mountain lake (Waterton lake) at an
altitude of about 4,200 feet in thick coniferous woods, where it was
in company with numbers of Ampelis cedrorum. Being taken on
August 19th it was evidently in its summer home. (Cowes.) One
specimen seen at Medicine Hat, Sask., April 11th, 1894, and another
on the 14th of the same month; a common species at Canmore,
Rocky mountains, in May, 1891, but no nests were seen. [In 1885,
the writer shot young birds, on June 27th, at the same place, and
had no doubt about nests being in the spruce woods that then

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 587

filled the valley.] I believe that a colony, or more than one, of
these birds exists on the eastern slope of the Rocky mountains,
and doubtless. are permanent residents; saw a large flock on Lake
mountain, east of the Columbia river, on the International Boun-
dary, B.C., November 3rd, 1902; saw three near the summit of the
Rocky mountains in the Athabaska pass, July 11th, 1898; also a
flock of about fifty on the Brazeau river, September 24th, said to stay
in the mountains all winter. (Spreadborough.) This elegant bird
has only lately been detected in America, having been discovered in
the spring of 1826 near the sources of the Athabaska river by Mr.
Drummond, and by myself the same season at Great Bear lake, in
lat. 65°; it appears in great flocks at Great Bear lake about the
24th May, when it feeds on the berries of the alpine arbutus and
marsh vaccinium; it stays only a few days; none of the Indians
knew where it nests, but I have reason to believe that it is in the
mountain limestone districts in lat. 67° or 68°. (Richardson.) I
have been informed by Mr. John Hope, a resident at Fort Frank-
lin on Great Bear lake that these birds build in numbers in the
vicinity; but so high up on the trees that the eggs are very diffi-
cult to obtain; a specimen was shot at Fort Liard in February
which leads me to believe that it is a winter resident. (Ross.)
An egg and nest of this bird were found in a pine tree on the Ander-
son river in 1861 in about lat. 68°. Several skins were obtained
at Fort Anderson in 1862, but the most careful search failed to
produce any nests. (Macfarlane.) Shot only east of the Coast
_ Yange. (Lord.) A resident chiefly east of Coast range and Rocky
mountain district; a rare winter visitor on Vancouver island.
(Fannin.) Abundant in some winters in Chilliwack and entirely
absent in others; abundant at Lake Okanagan, B.C., in the winter of
1897-98, but less so the next winter; breeds. (Brooks.) Saw
numbers of large flocks up the Columbia from Golden, B.C., De-
cember 17th, 1899; and numbers up the Nicola, February 23rd,
1898. (E. F. G. White.)

On August 20th, 1899, the day we arrived at our winter camp
on the Kowak, Cook inlet, Alaska, I saw a flock of 50 waxwings
ju a bunch of spruce trees, but none afterwards. (Grinnell.) Three
adults were seen at Moose camp, Alaska, October 8th, 1903. (Ander-
son.) There is no record of this bird’s occurrence anywhere along the
shores of Behring sea on the arctic; in the interior, however, it

588 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

is rather common, and specimens were brought to me from Nulato
and Fort Reliance on the Yukon; the only examples we have (from
Alaska) of the waxwing’s nest and eggs were taken by Kennicott
at Fort Reliance, Yukon, on 4th July, 1861. (Nelson.) This bird
is only an occasional visitor to the coast; specimens were obtained
from Nulato and Fort Yukon. (Turner.) We saw several on
Six-mile river, July 1st; two at Lake Marsh, July 7th; one on
Fifty-mile river, July roth; two pairs at Miles cafion, July 11th;
and later they were seen in pairs and families at many points on the
Yukon to near Circle City; the last were seen August 12th; the
birds that we collected had been feeding on the purple berries of
some unidentified plant. (Btshop.)

The plant referred to above was likely the bog blueberry (Vac-
cimum uliginosum) which was abundant on mossy slopes and sphag-
num flats between Dawson and Selkirk. Berries ripe at Dawson,
lat. 64° 15’, July roth, 1902. (Macoun.)

BREEDING Notes.—Breeding from 150-Mile House northward;
I arrived at Quesnel too late for eggs, but kept a sharp lookout
for waxwings the following spring at 150-Mile House; I first noticed
them there on 11th June, when I came across a small flock and shot
one which proved on dissection to be a female about to lay. On
returning to the same spot I found the waxwings, consisting of a
colony of five pairs of birds, still there, and soon discovered a nest
in a Murray pine, near the end of a limb and about 25 feet up; this
then (12th June) contained two eggs; on the 15th I took this set,
which then consisted of four eggs; the nest was loose and bulky,
composed of Usnea moss, dry grass and weed stems, and lined with
fine material, with a few green aspen leaves in the lining, no doubt to
render the eggs less conspicuous; on the 26th June I carefully looked
over all the trees in the neighbourhood with my binocular, and
found three more nests, all in tall Douglas fir trees; two of these I
was able to climb to; each contained four eggs within a few days of
hatching; the nests were similar to the first but without the green
aspen leaves, probably due to the fact that the nests were better
concealed from above; I was unable to reach the fourth nest, nor
could I find that of the remaining pair of birds. (Brooks.) Early
in June, 1893, I saw and heard this bird chattering in the woods on
the slopes of Squaw mountain at Banff in the Rockies; my guide

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 589

informed me he had several times seen its nest late in July; I offered
him a good price for a set of eggs and sure enough he succeeded in
finding a nest and four eggs on July 30th, 1893; this nest is com-
posed of fine twigs, roots and grass and was built 20 feet up in a
spruce tree; on July 13th, 1894, he found a nest and five eggs, also
built in a spruce tree top, while on July 22nd, 1897, he found another
nest and four eggs, again built in the top of a low spruce tree, and
secured one of the birds. (W. Razne.)

619. Cedar Waxwing. Cherry-bird.
Ampelis cedrorum (VIBILL.) GRAY. 1846.

One specimen obtained August 26th, 1860, at Moose Factory
by Drexler. (Packard.) Saw a flock of about 30 on Moose river
June 2nd, 1896; common at Moose Factory, June 13th; none ob-
served further north. (Spreadborough.) A common summer resi-
dent at Sydney, Cape Breton island, N.S. (C. R. Harte.) Common
summer resident at Halifax, N.S. (Downs.) Fairly common
summer resident in Nova Scotia. Once taken by me in winter.
(H. F. Tufts.) A flock of ten seen in Amherst, N.S., March 1st,
1899. (Morrell.) A small flock of these birds reached Sable island,
N.S., June 7th, 1902, and another in Septem@er of the same year.
(J. Boutelier.) Seen at Mount Stewart, Prince Edward island,
July 11th, 1888. (Macoun.) Seen now and again on Prince Edward
island, but not common. A few observed at Baddeck, Cape Breton
island. (Dwight.) A common summer resident at St. John, N.B.
(Chamberlain.) Tolerably common summer resident at Scotch
Lake, York county, N.B.; nesting in orchards and conifers. (W.
H. Moore.) Rare at Lake Mistassini, Que. (J. M. Macoun.)
Common in burnt places, Restigouche valley, N.B. (Brittain &
Cox.) A common summer resident around Quebec. (Dionne.)
Permanent resident and abundant at Montreal. Breeds in the city
and in Mount Royal park. I have found their nests with eggs from
June 13th.to August 27th. During the winter months flocks of
these birds appear in-the city to feed on the berries of the mountain
ash trees. (Wunile.)

Common summer resident at Ottawa. (Ottawa Naturalist,
Vol. V.) A common species along the St. Lawrence below King-
ston, Ont. (Rev. C. J. Young:) Resident at Toronto, Ont., irreg-

590 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

ular in winter; a common summer resident in the districts of Parry
Sound and Muskoka. Usually nesting along the banks of streams.

- (J. H. Fleming.) Abundant at Cache lake, Algonquin park, Ont.
(Spreadborough.) Common but very erratic around London, Ont.
Sometimes seen in winter, and more often in flocks in early spring
but the breeders arrive here about May 6th. This is an average
date of arrival for 13 years. Seems to hold its own in spite of its
frequent fate at the hands of the owners of stolen cherries. (W. E.
Saunders.) Common summer resident at Guelph, Ont. Arrives
about May 29th, and leaves about Sept. 26th. (A. B. Klugh.) A
common and breeding summer resident at Penetanguishene, Ont.
(A. F. Young.) Recorded by Baird from Moose Factory, at the
foot of James bay, where it was collected by Drexler on Aug. 26th,
1860. Walton Hayden took specimens at the same place in 1881.
(E. A. Preble.)

Not seen at Pembina, but found at various other points along
the 49th parallel, and ascertained to be particularly abundant in
the Rocky mountains. (Coues.) A common summer resident of
woodlands in Manitoba. On July 22nd, 1884, at Portage la Prairie,
found a nest of a cedar bird in the woods near the river. It was
placed on the branch of a low oak, and was much the same as a
specimen taken in the eastern provinces. It contained two fresh
eggs, from which I infer that the species is a very late nester here.
(E. T. Seton.) Common and breeding at Aweme, Man. (Criddle.)

- An abundant and regular breeding species in all the wooded dis-
tricts of Manitoba and west to Edmonton. Not noted during the
winter. (Atkinson.) A few seen in the Maple creek timber in
1906. (A.C. Bent.) Three individuals were seen at Indian Head,
Sask., on June 2nd, and later they became common, they breed
here; apparently breeding at Old Wives creek in June, 1895; seen
in numbers at Waterton lake the same year; quite common along
Peace river, lat. 56°, in July, 1903; common from Edmonton to
Athabaska pass in June, 1898; observed a number of individuals at
Jumping Pound creek, near Calgary, June 27th, 1897; common at
Crow Nest pass the same year ; a common breeding species at Banff,
Rocky mountains, in June, 1891; abundant at Deer Park and Rob-
son, on the Columbia, in June, 1890, only commencing to breed on
June 20th; common at Agassiz after May 24th, also at Spence
Bridge; one pair seen at Kamloops, June 18th, 1889; seen in flocks

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 59f

in the fall feeding on the fruit of black elder and thorn at Hun-
tingdon, on the International Boundary, B.C., 1901; common along
the Skagit river, B. C., Aug. 5, 1905; saw six on the Chilliwack river
in 1906; during the summer of 1893 not more than a dozen speci-
mens of this species were seen on Vancouver island, these were at
Victoria and Comox. (Spreadborough.)

Not uncommon as a summer resident near Prince Albert, Sask.
Have seen them in my garden in July. (Coubeaux.) Abundant
and nesting at Chemawawin and Grand rapids of the Saskatche-
wan. Nest well made of rather coarse twigs. (Nutting.) First
seen near Gros Roche portage, Clearwater river, lat. 56° 30’. Com-
mon from there to Methye portage, and on the portage, of ten miles,
itself. Common in places between Methye lake and Isle a la Crosse.
(J. M. Macoun.) This species is more southern in its habits than
the Bohemian chatterer, and does not pass north of lat. 54° as far
as my observations go. Mr. Drummond obtained specimens on the
Saskatchewan plains on 27th June, 1827. (Rzchardson.) Common
on Vancouver island and along the Fraser and Columbia rivers.
(Lord.) Common wherever there is an abundant food supply;
breeds. (Streator.) A common summer resident throughout the
province. (Fannin.) Tolerably common summer resident at
Chilliwack. Not observed at 150-Mile House, B.C., but found
breeding at Quesnel, further to the north, where it evidently laid
its eggs later than the larger species. (Brooks.) A common species
in British Columbia, and as erratic in presence and abundance as

its eastern counterpart. (Rhoads.) Large flocks were seen at
Seymour creek, B.C., July 12th, 1891; other large flocks on Sumas
prairie, October roth, 1894, and others again on Sea island in the
Fraser river, B.C. (E. F. G. White.)

BREEDING NoTEs.—I have often seen the nest in an apple tree
in an orchard, occasionally in a hemlock, and frequently in a young
maple; it is not usually built very high up in the tree, generally
from 10 to 15 feet, but I have seen it as low down as five feet and
as high astwenty. This bird is, with the exception of the goldfinch
and the field sparrow, our latest builder; I have seen the nest with
fresh eggs late in July, and never earlier than the 18th of June; it
is built of straws, grass stalks and wood, and lined with hair and
feathers; in this respect it presented a marked contrast to the nest
I found at Charleston lake, Leeds county, and from the size of the

592 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

eggs and location attributed to the last species; eggs of the cedar
bird vary considerably. (Rev. C. J. Young.)

At Ottawa this species builds in bushes or trees, generally in a
crotch or saddled on a limb, a nest composed of twigs, bark, leaves
and rootlets; lined with fine grass, hair and wool; eggs 4, slate
blue, spotted and blotched with brownish-black. (G. R. Whate.)
Nests built in all kinds of trees, never very high up, and made of
various materials, such as twigs, grasses, rootlets, leaves, plant-
down, wool and hairs; four to six eggs are laid in June, July and
August, near Ottawa and at Lake Nominingue 100 miles north of
it. (Garneau.)

Famity XLVII. LANIIDA®. Surixzes.

CCXLVI. LANIUS Linnaus. 1758.
621. Northern Shrike.

Lanius borealis VIEILL. 1807.

Not common at Fort Chimo, Labrador; breeds there; young taken
by the hand and unable to fly, June 30th, 1884; said to be common in
the southern portion of Labrador. (Packard.) A young female was
taken at Lake Melville, eastern Labrador, July 29th, 1891. (Norton.)
One observed at Moose Factory, June 9th, 1896; also one at Seal lake,
Labrador, July 24th; apparently rare. (Spreadborough.) Rather
rare in Newfoundland and may breed. (Reeks.) Rare in Nova
Scotia in winter; only single specimens seen. (Downs.) An un-
common migrant in Nova Scotia. (H. F. Tujts.) One individual
seen on Sable island, N.S., in November, 1902, and one, November

- 16th, 1907. (J. Boutelier.) Seen at Sydney, Cape Breton Island,
on March 8th, and April 13th and 20th, 1902. (C. R. Harte.) An
uncommon fall and summer visitant at St. John, N.B. (Chamber-
lain.) A rare permanent resident at Scotch Lake, York county,
N.B.; possibly breeds. (W. H. Moore.) Taken at Beauport; resi-
dent in Quebec. (Dionne.) A common winter visitant at Montreal;
observed here from October 2oth to April 11th, and I believe I saw
one as late as May 23rd, 1891, at Céte St. Antoine, on the mountain
side. (Wintle.)

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 593

Moderately common winter resident around Ottawa. (Ottawa
Naturalist, Vol. V.) This bird is met with in eastern Ontario in fall
and winter; it is not common. It seems to prefer the vicinity of
towns and villages and preys on the English sparrow. I have seen
it as early as October and late in April. The nest I have only met
with once and that was in the province of Quebec. (Rev. C. J.
Young.) Regular winter resident at Toronto, Ont.; I took a nest
May 28th, 1887, but this is the only record. A not uncommon
winter resident in Parry Sound and Muskoka districts; I have met
them at Sand lake, in October, 1899. (J. H. Fleming.) A few
reach, us every fall at Toronto and spend the winter with us, paying
great attention to Passer domesticus. On the 29th October, 1896, I
watched one for upwards of thirty minutes chasing a bat which had
been driven from an old shed; the actions of the shrike were most
quaint, as each time he approached the bat he seemed to hesitate to
seize it—even granted that he could do so; at last the shrike con-
cluded to leave the uncanny object alone and to seek some more
congenial repast. (J. Hughes-Samuel.) An occasional winter visitant
at Penetanguishene, Ont. (A. F. Young.)

Two specimens were taken at Fort Churchill, where the birds were
rather common, July 23rd to 30th, 1901, and one was taken and
another noted near Painted Stone portage on September 14th. (E.
A. Preble.) Taken at York Factory, Hudson bay. (Dr. R. Bell.)
Taken at Fort Churchill, Hudson bay.(Clarke.)

A tolerably common spring and fall visitant in Manitoba; saw two
at Fort Reliance, September 15th, 1907. (E. T. Seton.) Fairly
common in winter at Aweme, Man. (Criddle.) <A regular winter
resident in Manitoba. (Atkinson.) Very common and regular
summer visitor, breeding throughout the district around Prince
Albert, Sask. (Coubeaux.) An individual seen at Fort McMurray,
lat. 56° 40’. (J. M. Macoun.) This is by no means an uncommon
bird in the wooded districts of the Northwest Territories up to lat.
60°, if not further north. It is most frequent on the banks of the
Saskatchewan, where it is usually seen on the borders of the plains,
or in the vicinity of a lake, perched upon a tree. (Réchardson.)
North.to Fort Good Hope, on the Mackenzie river ; not rare. (Ross.)
A nest of this species, containing six eggs, was obtained at Fort
Anderson on 11th June, 1863, afterwards another nest was obtained

38

5904 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

more to the north on the Anderson river. (Macfarlane.) This
species arrives at Indian Head, Sask., in March, or before, and
although they became tolerably common in April, all were gone by
the 21st of that month; only two pairs were seen at Revelstoke,
B.C., in April, 1890; none were seen at Banff the next year, so that
it seems to be rare in the Rocky mountains; saw half a dozen at
Penticton, B.C., April, 1903; one seen at Sumas prairie, Fraser river
valley, October 4th, 1901; rather rare on Vancouver island. (Spread-
borough.) Tolerably abundant in British Columbia. (Lord.) Seen
only on Vancouver island, where two immature females were taken
in September, 1899. (Streator.) The province at large; nowhere
common; a few are found throughout the winter on the coast.
(Fannin.) Common winter visitant at Chilliwack. Tolerably
common at Lake Okanagan, B.C., in winter. (Brooks.)

The only specimen of this bird from southeastern Alaska was
obtained at Fort Kenai, Cook inlet, 19th May, 1869; over the entire
portion of the territory from Behring sea, east to the British boun-
dary, and north to the Alaskan mountains, it is a resident, rather
common some places but nowhere abundant. (Nelson.) This
species is found throughout the Yukon district; it is a resident,
breeding wherever found in summer. (Turner.) An immature
bird in the brown plumage was shot at Hope, Cook inlet, Alaska,
September, 1900 ; several others were seen at Homer. (Osgood.)
During the fall of 1899, this bird (invictus) was met with in the
Kowak valley, Cook inlet, Alaska. (Grinnell.) Two specimens
were taken at Homer on September 15th, 1901. Several shrikes
were seen on Kenai mountains, Alaska, just above the edge of the
timber line. They were found in pairs during the entire summer
and no doubt breed there. (Figgins.) One adult male at Moose
camp, Alaska, October 1st, 1903. (Anderson.)

BREEDING NoTEs.—I have only met with this shrike nesting at
Toronto once. I took a nest on May 28th, 1887; it contained five
eggs and was situated quite conspicuously on the horizontal branch
of a maple near the end and about fifteen feet from the ground. The
nest was bulky, the outside of sticks and strings, with a few bright
labels from meat tins worked in; the lining was of cow hair and felt;
the nest was much larger than the white-rumped shrike builds. (J.
H. Fleming.) At Ottawa I have taken its nest in a low cedar tree.

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 595

The nest was composed of sticks, strips of bark, grass and some soft
vegetable matter, lined with grass. Eggs, four; greenish-gray, very
thickly spotted with reddish-brown and purplish. (G. R. White.)
I met with this bird breeding some years ago on the Island of Mont-
real, Que. The nest, built in a large thorn bush that grew among
some elms, was nearly finished on the 17th April; on the 26th, it
contained seven eggs, incubation commencing. The birds were
wild and alighted on the top branches of the elms. The nest was
compact and very firm; built of sticks and thorn twigs outside and
lined with grass, bits of rag, hair and feathers. At the time the nest
was building there was still a great deal of ice in the river, and snow
in places two feet deep. (Rev. C. J. Young.) On June 11th, rgor,
at Crescent lake, Sask., J came across a nest and six eggs of the
northern shrike, and sectired the parent bird. The nest was built
in a fire-killed willow at the edge of a bluff looking out over the
prairie and built about five feet from the ground. The nest is a
fine specimen, well built, about nine inches in diameter, and com-
posed externally of twigs and willow leaves. The centre is deep and
well felted with down and animals’ fur, and the eggs are larger than
those of the white-rumped shrike. I have another large well-built
nest and six eggs that Mr. Wenman took at Spotted lake, northern
Alberta, on June 7th, 1897. This nest was also built in a willow
seven feet from the ground. (W. Raine.)

622c. Migrant Shrike.
Lanius ludovicianus migrans W. PALMER. 1898.

A rare summer resident at Scotch Lake, York county, N.B.; it
bred here in 1900; have seen five young with one pair of adults. (W.
H. Moore.) This bird is sometimes seen in Quebec. (Dionne.) A
common summer resident at Montreal; breeds within the city limits.
(Wintle.) A rare summer resident at Ottawa. (Ottawa Naturalist,
Vol. V.) This bird appears to be more common or at any rate has
been noticed more during the last two years in the neighbourhood of
Ottawa. During August and September, 1903, I saw several pairs
and their young in March township, and saw one pair building their
nest neat Janeville, on the Rideau river, in April, 1903. On April
the 6th, 1904, saw the first pair for this year, and on April the 18th,
saw five pairs along the Rideau, between Cumming’s and Billing’s

38%

596 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

Bridge; have always found them in pairs, and have not as yet seen
more than two adults together. April the 21st saw a pair on Rock-
liffe riflerange. (E. F.G. White.) This form is very common along
the St. Lawrence, in eastern Ontario; it breeds on Wolfe island, and
about Kingston, also Frontenac and eastward through Leeds,
and Lanark; I did not meet with it in the county of Renfrew, but
it is common in the vicinity of Madoc, Hastings county. (Rev.
C. J. Young.) Regular summer resident at Toronto, Ont., not
very common; reported as common at Beaumaris, Muskoka dis-
trict, by Mr. Taverner. (J. H. Fleming.) Fairly. common in
former years but less so now; still it will be found every mile or
two along the country roads; leaves us early in the fall; September
18th being the date of the latest observations; extends into the Bruce
peninsula, where it is not common; raises two broods annually. (W.
E. Saunders.) This was a common summer resident at Guelph,
Ont., a few years ago, but has been decreasing in numbers for the
past three years; this year (1903) it was very scarce; arrives about
March 26th, and leaves about August 18th. (A. B. Klugh.)

BREEDING NoTEs.—I took a nest of this bird containing one egg,
May 2oth, 1883, at Hochelaga, which was built in a thorn tree; I
visited the same place the following month, June 3rd, and found
another nest built by the same species in a thorn bush close to the
first, but some one had lodged a big stone in this nest; I also found a
nest of this species, May 24th, 1888, at Laprairie, built in a bush
alongside the railroad track, and saw a shrike close to the nest; I
found another nest of this shrike, May 30th, 1891, at Hochelaga,
built in a thorn tree, containing two eggs, incubated, and June 6th,
1891, Mr. Inglis found two fresh eggs of this bird in what appeared
to be an old nest, near the same place. (Wintle.) I have found this
bird to be the common species of shrike in eastern Ontario, for the
most part keeping along the St. Lawrence, apparently not going
further north than the county of Lanark; at least I have never seen
it in northern Frontenac or in Renfrew county. It is a summer
migrant, arriving early in April. I have seen it as early as the ath;
and commonly by the 17th; the nest is commenced about the end
of April and usually contains the complement of eggs by the first
week in May. If the first nest is destroyed, a second nest is built,
and eggs are laid towards the end of May; I have frequently met
with the nests; they are common about Lansdowne, Ont., on Wolfe

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 597

island, and in the vicinity of Kingston; one nest I found, built in a
thorn bush about three feet from the ground, was completed on 29th
April; on the 4th May, it contained five eggs, speckled and zoned and
smaller than the eggs of L. borealis. The old birds were very tame
and did not behave in the same way as those of the other species,
which latter kept far off and perched high up in the trees; there
were no large trees near this nest; May 6th, found a nest in a simi-
lar location, containing four fresh eggs, birds were very tame, allow-
ing of my approach within a few feet; April 3rd, 1890, I saw a pair
of migrant shrikes, and on the 28th found the nest containing seven
eggs in a thorn bush; on the 7th May found another nest with five
eggs, incubated, built so low in the thorn bush that I could look into
it when standing on the ground. April 18th, 1892, I found a migrant
shrike’s nest in a thorn bush in a pasture field, which, on the 29th,
contained six eggs; May 2nd, 1898, found a migrant shrike’s nest in
a thorn bush with six fresh eggs; April 6th, 1899, I saw a pair of
migrant shrikes, and their nest on the 29th April with six eggs, built
as usual in a thorn tree in a pasture field, and no great height from
the ground; I could refer to perhaps twenty other instances of this
bird breeding as above in thorn bushes in pasture fields the last
week of April or first week in May. (Rev. C. J. Young.) This bird
begins its nest around Ottawa in April, and lays five, six or seven
eggs; the nest is built in thorn trees or bushes from four to ten feet
high, and is composed of branches, rootlets and strings, with woolly
lining united to feathers and hairs. (Garneau.) A detailed account
of the breeding of this bird in the vicinity of Ottawa, Ont., is given
in The Auk, Vol. XXII., p. 314, by the Rev. G. Eifrig.

6222. White-rumped Shrike.

Lanius ludovicianus excubitorides (SWAINS.) COUES. 1872.

This is the characteristic species of the whole region along the
49th parallel from Pembina to the Rocky mountains. At Turtle
mountain, during the last week in July, I found a family of these
birds in an isolated clump of bushes. The young, four in number,
had just left the nest, which was discovered in the crotch of a bush
five or six feet from the ground. The nest proper rested upon a
bulky mass of interlaced twigs; it was composed of soine white weed
(Anaphalis margaritacea) that grows abundantly in the vicinity,
matted together with strips of fibrous bark. (Coues.)

598 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

Common summer resident of half-wooded districts in Manitoba.
Breeding freely at Carberry, Shell river and Qu’Appelle. (E. T.
Seton.) A regular and common breeding species in Manitoba
generally and noted along the G.T.P. Ry. in 1906, west to Edmonton,
Alta. (Atkinson.) Formerly common but now rather rare at
Aweme, Man. (Criddle.) First seen at Indian Head, Sask., on
May 16th, 1892, they were never common; a few breed there, as
they were seen up to the end of June; first seen at Medicine Hat,
Sask., on May 14th, 1894, later they became common and doubtless
bred in the river valley; apparently breeding near Pend d’Oreille,
on the Milk river, Alta., July 10th, 1895; observed a pair on May
18th, 1897, at Edmonton, Alta., building a nest in a clump of wil-
lows; I unfortunately shot the female; nest nearly finished, com-
posed of weeds; observed one at Midway, B.C., April 6th, 1905.
(Spreadborough.) This is a more southern bird than Lanius borealis
and does not seem to advance further north than lat. 54°. Its habits
are precisely similar to the other, and its food, which was grasshop-
pers, the same. They are numerous on the plains. Mr. Drummond
found a nest in a willow bush, in the beginning of June, which was
built of twigs of Artemisia and dried grass and lined with feathers.
(Richardson.)

622). California Shrike.
Lanius ludovicianus gambeli RipGw. 1887.

One taken in April, 1888, at Chilliwack, Fraser river valley, B.C.,
1888. (Brooks.) This specimen is referred here on the authority of
Mr. W. Brewster.

Famity XLVITI. VIREONIDA. Virzos.
CCXLVI. VIREOSYLVA. Bonaparte. 1838.
624 Red-Eyed Vireo.
Vireosylva olivacea (LINN.) BONAP. 1850.

One specimen received in Copenhagen from Greenland in 1844.
(Arct. Man.) Very abundant all down the Moose river; not ob-
served further north than Moose Factory. (Spreadborough.) Com-
mon in Nova Scotiainsummer. (H.F. Tufts.) A common summer

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 599

resident at Halifax, N.S. (Downs.) One individual seen on Sable
island, N.S., on September 30th, and one on October 8th, 1902.
(J. Boutelter.) Many old nests noticed at Sydney, Cape Breton
island; first seen May 18th, 1902. (C. R. Harte.) Obsetved at
Baddeck and Margaree, Cape Breton island, July, 1898; in woods,
Union Road, Prince Edward island, July 5th, 1888. (Macoun.) A
common and in a few localities abundant bird, here as elsewhere a
tireless songster. It prefers deciduous trees, particularly large
maples. (Dwight.) Common summer resident in the interior of
New Brunswick, but only seen at St. John in the migrations. (Cham-
berlain.) Common summer resident at Scotch Lake, York county,
N.B. (W.H. Moore.) Common in Restigouche valley, N.B. (Brit-
tain & Cox.) Taken at Beauport; not rare around Quebec. (Dionne.)
An abundant summer resident around Montreal. Breeds in the city
and in Mount Royal park; I have found nests from June 6th to
August 13th, and observed them here from May r1th to October 6th.
(Winile.)

A common and abundant summer resident’ around Ottawa.
(Ottawa Naturalist, Vol. V.) A common summer resident in eastern
Ontario. (Rev.C. J. Young.) Regular summer resident at Toronto,
Ont. A very common summer resident in Parry Sound and Muskoka
districts of Ontario. (J. H. Fleming.) Breeding in Draper town-
ship, Muskoka, Ont.; abundant everywhere in Algonquin park,
Ont.; a pair nested in a mountain ash near the buildings at Cache
lake; the nest is made chiefly of birch bark; I watched them build-
ing, they always stopped work as soon as the sun was well up; it
seemed to get too warm for them as the tree was in the open; very
abundant all down the Moose river and north to East point on the
east coast of James bay. (Spreadborough.) Very common summer
resident at Guelph, Ont. Arrives about May ioth and leaves about
September 23rd. (A. B. Klugh.) A common summer resident;
at Penetanguishene; breeds in the hardwood woods; nests are quite
common. (A. F. Young.)

Abundant about Lake Winnipeg, at Norway House, and between
Norway House and Oxford House. In the vicinity of Oxford House
its song was heard almost continually. After leaving that point we
heard nothing more of the bird. (£. A. Preble.) Abundant at
Pembina, where it was breeding in June and again on the upper

600 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

Missouri. (Couwes.) Common at Aweme, Man. (Criddle.) Abund-
ant summer resident of woodlands in Manitoba, and breeds in
suitable places. In July, 1883, a nest was taken which contained
one bird ready to fly, another half grown and an egg which was near
being hatched; the nest was composed outwardly of wasp-nest
paper. Common about Fort Resolution. (E£. T. Seton.) Abundant
at Grand rapids of Saskatchewan. Breeding at Chemawawin. One
of the most conspicuous songsters in the country. (Nutting.) A
common but irregularly distributed species from Manitoba west to
Edmonton, Alta. (Atkinson.) First noted at the Grand rapids of
the Athabaska; common down the river to Fort McMurray; common
up the Clearwater to Methye portage; very common between Methye
lake and Isle a la Crosse. (J. M. Macoun.) One seen by Bishop
near Maple creek, Sask. (A. C. Bent.) This species was shot at
Cumberland House, on the Saskatchewan, 2nd June, 1827. (Richard-
son.) North to Fort Simpson, on the Mackenzie river; rare. (Ross.)
First seen at Indian Head, Sask., June 7th, 1892; soon after, they
became common, and began to breed; the first arrivals at Medicine
Hat, Sask. were on May 19th, they never became common before I
left for Crane lake; a pair seen at Old Wives creek, Sask., May 29th,
1895; another pair seen at Medicine Lodge, on Rocky creek, south
of Wood mountain, June 14th, 1895; first seen May 13th, 1897, at
Edmonton, Alta., on June 3rd found a nest in a small alder tree
about ten feet from the ground, the nest had three of its own eggs and
one cowbird’s egg; common from Lesser Slave lake to Peace River
Landing, lat. 56° 15’, in June, 1903; common from Edmonton to
Athabaska pass; also in the valley of McLennan river, B.C., in June»
1898; seen in the Crow Nest pass, July 29th; rather scarce at Banff,
Rocky mountains, in June, 1891, breeding in the Bow valley; breed-
ing in the Columbia river valley at Robson in June, 1890, nest in the
fork of a tall shrub; quite common near the International Boundary,
between Trail and Kettle river, B.C., in the summer of 1902; a few
seen at Osoyoos lake and along the Similkameen river, B.C., in 1905;
seen and heard at Kamloops and Agassiz, B.C., May, 1889; common
at Chilliwack in the spring of 1902, and seen along the river later in
the summer. (Spreadborough.) Common at Ashcroft and abundant
at Ducks. (Streator.) The most abundant vireo both east and west
of the Coast range in B.C. (Brooks.) East of the Coast range this
species is commonly distributed, and a few were found at Lake La
Hache, B.C. (Rhoads.)

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 601

BREEDING NoTEes.—A nest taken by me was a neat cup suspended
by the brim in the embrace of a forked twig. It was built of strips
of bark, pine needles, pieces of wasps’ nests and paper. Apparently
agglutinated with the saliva of the bird, and lined with grass. Eggs,
three to five; pure white, marked with fine dark reddish-brown spots
toward the larger end. (G. R. White.) This species lays two or
three eggs during June in its swinging nest, which is generally placed
in a sapling maple. A few nests have been found in conifers. (W.
H. Moore.) This species builds a suspended nest, cup-shaped, the
brim attached to a small horizontal fork at the end of a branch,
from two to thirty feet from the ground. The nest is made of
strips of thin, flexible bark, the outside ornamented with the white
bark of the birch, and the inside lined with hair-like roots, fine
leaves or very small twigs. Nesting season in June. Three or four
eggs are laid. Nests taken at Ottawa and at Lake Nominingue, 100
miles north of Ottawa. (Garneau.)

625. Yellow-Green Vireo.
Vireosylva flavoviridis flavoviridis CASSIN. 1851.

One specimen of this species was taken at Godbout, on May 13th,
1883, by Mr. Comeau. (Dzonne.)

626. Philadelphia Vireo.

Vireosylva philadelphica CASSIN. 1851.

One individual obtained from Moose Factory, James bay, June
and, 1860, by Drexler. (Packard.) A rare summer visitor around
Ottawa. (Ottawa Naturalist, Vol. V.) I have met with this bird
two or three times. Once I found the nest close to Lansdowne
station, in Leeds county, Ont.; this was in June, 1896. It was built
in a bush of Spirewa salicifolia, was prehensile like the other vireo’s,
but not so neatly or closely constructed. It contained one vireo’s
egg and two cowbird’s. The egg is identical with, but smaller than
that of the red-eyed. This nest was in’a damp pasture field, where
there were swampy places overgrown with alders and Spirea. (Rev.
C. J. Young.) Regular migrant at Toronto, Ont., not very common.
A not uncommon bird in the Parry Sound district. I believe they
breed as they are always paired by the middle of May. (/. H.
Fleming.) This bird so closely resembles others of its family that

602 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

it is difficult to decide as to its relative abundance at Toronto. I
seldom fail to see one or more specimens each season. (J. Hughes-
Samuel.) <A regular migrant at London, Ont., though never yet
found to be common. Two or three are all that any one observer,
will usually note in one migration. (W. E. Saunders.) Seen as a
passing migrant at Guelph, Ont. (A. B. Klugh.)

A peculiar song heard on Hill river, Keewatin, July 8th, was
probably the song of this species, but I was unable to secure the
bird. (E. A. Preble.) Although only two specimens were taken, it
undoubtedly breeds about Pembina on the 49th parallel, in the
heavy timber of the river bottoms, but I was not so fortunate as
to discover its nest, a circumstance the more to be regretted, since
neither the nest nor eggs have yet come to light. (Coues.) Very
rare at Aweme, Man., may breed. (Criddle.) An abundant breed-
ing species in the wooded districts of Manitoba. (Atkinson.)
Summer resident of thickets in Manitoba; nest found on Duck moun-
tain. (E. T. Seton.) One was secured by Dr. Bishop in the Maple
creek, Sask. timber on June 8th, 1906, in the great wave of migrants
that passed through on that day. (A.C. Bent.) Not uncommon
and breeding at Edmonton, Alta., in May, 1897. Not observed in
any other locality west of Manitoba. (Spreadborough.)

BREEDING NoTEs.—On June gth, 1884, near Fort Pelly, on the
upper Assiniboine, I found a vireo nesting in a small bluff of poplar
and willow; the chosen site was in the twigs of a willow some ten
feet from the ground; the nest was the usual suspended cup formed
of fine grass and strips of birch bark; on the ground immediately
below it was another nest of precisely the same make and materials;
intending to take this with me on my return I hung it in the tree,
but when I came back I found it on the ground, it was again hung
as before, and again thrown down, although it had been firmly
attached to a twig; this happened several times so that there was
little doubt that it was the vireo’s doing, but why? I cannot
imagine. On June 13th, the vireo began to sit on her four eggs; I
shot her and found her to correspond exactly with Coues’ descrip-
tion of philadelphica, except that the yellow on the breast was quite
bright; the eggs closely resembled those of the red-eyed vireo, but
were destroyed by an unfortunate accident before they were accur-
ately measured. (E.T. Seton.) At Crescent lake, Sask., June 11th,

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 603

1901, I found the nest and four eggs of this species; nest of fine strips
of bark, grass and fine roots, built in a poplar tree; at Long lake,
Manitoba, on June 12th, 1894, I found a nest and four eggs of this
species suspended to the branch of a willow, six feet from the ground.
(W. Raine.)

627. Warbling Vireo.

Vireosylva gilva (VIEILL.) Cassin. 1851.

A common summer resident at Halifax, N.S. (Downs.) Not un-
common at Calais, on the boundary of New Brunswick. (Cham-
berlain.) A rare visitant in summer at Quebec. (Dionne.) A
scarce transient visitant at Montreal; I have met with only two
specimens of this species, which I took on Montrealisland. (Wuntle.)

An abundant summer resident around Ottawa. (Ottawa Natura-
list, Vol. V.) A common summer resident, nesting high up in maple
and elm trees, in eastern Ontario. (Rev. C. J. Young.) Regular
migrant at Toronto, Ont.; not common. I have taken this species
several times at Emsdale, Muskoka district, in May; Mr. Taverner
has taken the species at Beaumaris, Muskoka. (J. H. Fleming.)
Abundant along the city streets in London, Ont., but somewhat less
so in the country; eggs usually four, but sometimes only three; nests
always high up, not less than twenty-five feet from the ground,
while the red-eyed vireo seldom builds higher than eight feet and
usually less; the male bird takes his share of the work of incubating,
and sings freely while sitting. (W.E. Saunders.) Common summer
resident at Guelph, Ont.; prefers city shade trees and orchards to
the bush; arrives about May 8th, leaves about September 20th. (A.
B. Klugh.) Observed in abundance at Pembina, on the 49th parallel,
and again found at the opposite extremity of the line, the specimen
captured in the Rocky mountains, being probably the slight variety
swainsont; at Pembina the warbling vireo was in full song and breed-
ing in June; a nest found on the 11th of that month was empty; but
in this latitude few of the small insectivorous birds appear to lay
before the third week in June. (Cowes.) Summer resident of wood-
lands in Manitoba; common on the south slope of Riding mountain
and west side of Duck mountain. (E. T. Seton.) Rather rare at
Aweme, Man., but not uncommon at Stockton, Man., and at some
other points. Nests high up in tall trees. (Criddle.) Next to the
red-eye this is the most abundant of the vireos in the west. Noted

604 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

everywhere along the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway in 1906, from
Manitoba to Edmonton, Alta. (Atkinson.) First seen at Indian
Head, Sask., June 6th, 1892, after this date it became common and
commenced to breed; first arrivals at Medicine Hat, Sask., May 17th,
1894, evidently intending to breed; seen along Old Wives creek,
Sask., in June, 1895; along St. Mary river and at Waterton lake, in
Alberta, in July, 1895. (Spreadborough.) Some of the western
references probably should go under the next variety.

627a. Western Warbling Vireo.
Vireosylva gilva swainsonu (BAIRD) RipGw. 1875.

Common from Lesser Slave lake to Peace River Landing, lat. 56°
15’ in June, 1903; first seen at Edmonton, Alta., May 8th, 1897,
breed in the vicinity; observed from Edmonton to McLeod river in
poplar woods in June, 1898; not rare in foothills from Calgary south
to Crow Nest pass; a common species at Banff, Rocky mountains,
breeding in the trees in the valley; shot at Revelstoke, B.C., on May
6th, 1890, after which they became common, also at Deer Park and
Robson late in June, 1890; observed several at Trail near the Inter-
national Boundary, in 1902, not very common; common near Fernie,
B.C., in 1904 and west of Midway in 1905; this species is rare at
Kamloops, but not uncommon at Agassiz, Port Heney and Hast-
ings, B.C.; common at Chilliwack, B.C., in the spring of 1901, a
few were also seen at McGuire’s further up the river; a common
summer resident on Vancouver island; common at Victoria, Sooke
and Comox in July, 1893. (Spreadborough.) North to Fort Simp-
son on the Mackenzie river; rare. (Ross.) Very numerous every-
where; breeds. (Séreator.) East and west of coast range; com-
mon summer resident. (Fannin.) Common summer resident at
Chilliwack. (Brooks.) Collected west of Rocky mountains in
British Columbia. (Rhoads.)

CCXLVII. LANIVIREO (Barrp). 1858.
628. Yellow-throated Vireo.
Lanivireo flavifrons (VIEILL.) LAWRENCE. 1868.

A rare summer resident at Montreal; Mr. W. W. Dunlop, observed
this species paired in Hochelaga woods, and shot two specimens

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 605

there May 2oth, 1883. (Wintle.) A summer migrant in New-
foundland. (Reeks.) A rare summer visitor around Ottawa.
(Ottawa Naturalist, Vol. V.) I noticed one specimen of this species
at Rockport, Leeds county, Ont., which appeared to be nesting in a
large hickory tree near the St. Lawrence river. (Rev. C. J. Young.)
Regular migrant at Toronto, Ont.; rare. One example taken at
Beaumaris, Muskoka district by Mr. Taverner. (J. H. Fleming.)
I have only come across this bird in limited numbers and then only
during the spring and fall migrations. (J. Hughes-Samuel.) Fairly
common everywhere near London, Ont. Not observed in North
Bruce. (W. E. Saunders.) A passing migrant at Guelph, Ont.
Not common; seen about May rath, and again about September
and. (A. B. Klugh.) A rare summer resident in Manitoba; July
19th, 1884, Miller Christy brought me a specimen of a yellow-
throated vireo from Moose Jaw, Sask. (E. T. Seton.) Very rare at
Aweme, Man. (Criddle.) I have noted only two or three in Mani-
toba in ten years. (Atkinson.) Found breeding at Yorkton, Sask.,
June ist, 1901. (W. Raine.) We have not seen Mr. Raine's speci-
mens and must consider this reference to be doubtful.

BREEDING Notes.—On the third of June, 1906, I discovered in
a birch tree near Ottawa a nest of the yellow-throated vireo con-
taining two eggs. Both parent birds were around the nest. It
was placed 20 feet up and was made of thin bark with wasps’ nest
and spiders’ webs. All the brim was ornamented with lichens and
the lining was of thin grass. Outside diameter 3.50 inches by 2.50
inches high; inside diameter 2 inches by 1.50 inches. I took the
bird, the nest and four eggs on the 6th of June. The eggs are creamy
white spotted with reddish brown. (Garneau.)

629. Solitary Vireo.
Lanivireo solitarius solitarius (WILS.) ALLEN. 1869.

Fairly common in Nova Scotia from May 10 to Oct. 1. (H. F
Tufts.) Not rare at Baddeck and Margaree, Cape Breton island,
July, 1898; seen at Hunter river, Prince Edward island, July 2nd,
1888. (Macoun.) At Souris, Prince Edward island, one day I
was attracted by the song of this bird and soon saw the performer.
(Dwight.) A rare summer resident at St. John, N.B. (Chamber-
lain.) Observed only at one point in the valley of the Restigouche

606 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

river, N.B. (Brittain & Cox.) A tolerably common summer
resident at Scotch Lake, York county, N.B. (W.H. Moore.) On
June 23rd, heard a male singing at Macnain cove, Cape Breton island.
(Brewster.) I noticed an example of this species on the Magdalen
islands in June ,1897, and have no doubt it breeds there. (Rev. C.
J. Young.) Taken at Beauport; not uncommon around Quebec.
(Dionne.) A rare transient visitor at Montreal. I have met with
only two examples of this vireo in this district. (Wundtle.)

A moderately common summer visitor around Ottawa. (Ottawa
Naturalist, Vol. V.) Regular migrant at Toronto, Ont. Not un-
common in the districts of Parry Sound and Muskoka in May.
They probably remain to breed. (J. H. Fleming.) Not common
in Algonquin park, Ont. A few were seen in the spruce woods
near Cache lake usually well up in the tops of the trees. (Spread-
borough.) Not common as a migrant, and not known to breed at
London, Ont. (W. E. Saunders.) A passing migrant at Guelph,
Ont. Not common; seen about April 30th, and again about Sept.
20th. (A. B. Klugh.) One (a male) taken at Oxford House, July
3rd, and one heard singing in a swamp bordering Knee lake July 5th.
(E. A. Preble.)

One specimen of this rather rare species was secured at Pembina,
which is probably its northern limit. It was taken in the timber
of the river bottom, frequented by three other species of the same
genus. (Cowes.) A rare summer resident in Manitoba. On June
roth, 1884, at Duck mountain, a solitary vireo was observed. (E.
T. Seton.) Fairly common at Aweme, Man., during migrations.
(Criddle.) Apparently a rare species in Manitoba as I have not
noted over half a dozen specimens in ten years and these were
migrants. (Atkinson.) One specimen secured at the Grand rapids
of the Saskatchewan. (Nutting.) First seen May 11th, 1897, at
Edmonton, Alta., common in spruce woods by the 21st; doubtless
breeding; always seen in or near spruce woods; common from
Lesser Slave lake to Peace River Landing, lat. 56° 15’, in June,
1903. (Spreadborough.) At Clandeboye bay, Lake Manitoba, June
13th, 1894, I found the nest and four eggs of this species about
seven feet up in a willow. At Oak lake, Manitoba, May 23rd, 1893,
I found a nest and four eggs of this species. It is rather rare in
Saskatchewan. (W. Raine.)

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 607
629a. Cassin Vireo.
Lanivireo solitarius cassinit (XANTUS) RipGw. 1875.

Rather rare at Canmore, but breeding in June, 1891; not uncom-
mon at Deer Park, Columbia river, and found breeding on Pass
creek at Robson, B.C.; common in thick woods on the International
Boundary between Trail and Kettle river, B.C., in the summer of
1902; common at Elko, B.C., by May 2oth in 1904; common from
Midway to Lake Osoyoos and between Princeton and Hope summit
in 1905; apparently rare in the Fraser valley, only taken at Agassiz
and Westminster Junction, 1889; common at Chilliwack, B.C. in
the spring, observed young out of the nest by June 5th, 1901; first
seen at Victoria, Vancouver island, April 27th, 1893, common by
May 5th; apparently common at Comox, Nanaimo, Sooke, and Stubb
island on the west coast. (Spreadborough.) Sumas and Vancouver
island: (Lord.) Rare, only two specimens taken, one at Ashcroft,
the other at Ducks, B.C. (Séreator.) East and west of Coast range;
summer resident. (Fannin.) Summer resident at Chilliwack; not
common. (Brooks.) This species is represented by specimens from
nearly every locality in British Columbia, including Vancouver
island, Lac La Hache and Vernon; it is found in the open timber
at higher elevations. (Rhoads.)

CCXLVIII. VIREO Vieillot. 1807.
631. White-eyed Vireo.
Vireo noveboracensis noveboracensis (GMEL.) BONAP. 1824.

Audubon, Vol. IV., page 148, states that a few were seen in Labra-
dor. (Packard.) One shot at South bay near St. John, N.B.
(Chamberlain.) A single bird was observed for some minutes in full
song, and within five or six feet, on September 8th, 1899, along the
Humber river, Newfoundland. (Louis H. Porter.) Am positive I
I saw this species, August 30th, 1901, at Glace bay, Cape Breton
island; and that I heard it several times before in the same locality.
(C. R. Harte.) About two miles from Woodstock, Ont., we have
a piece of woodland composed of small cedars with here and there
a little grassy glade and some patches of hawthorns and second
growth maple; on the 25th April, 1902, I shot in this bush an ex-

608 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

ample of this species; this identification has been confirmed by
Mr. W. E. Saunders, of London, to whom I have sent the specimen.
(W. D. Hobson in The Ottawa Naturalist, Vol. XVI., p. 163.)

BREEDING Notes.—In the first week in June in the year 1898,
while skirting the top of Rosedale ravine, at Toronto, I came across
this bird nesting in a large beech. The nest was built rather deeper
than that of the red-eyed and warbling varieties and was hung in the
fork of a limb that reached down to about five feet from the ground;
I was able to approach to within six or eight feet before the bird
flushed, and so had a good chance of securing it; not being familiar
with the white-eyed variety at this time, I was strongly impressed
with the white iris, and on returning home it proved to be the posi-
tive identification of this bird. (A.S. Goss.) Some doubt has been
thrown on Mr. Goss’ record as this bird usually nests in bushes or
small shrubs, but as the nest was found only five feet from the ground
the identification may be correct.

632c. Anthony Vireo.
Vireo huttoni obscurus ANTHONY. 1890.

This species may be considered a rare visitor to Vancouver island;
I secured one near Victoria; this specimen, also two secured by Mr.
Maynard in the spring of 1891, near the same place are of this
strongly marked race. (Rhoads.) This vireo evidently winters at
Comox, Vancouver island as I took a specimen on December 4th,
1903. In life it is impossible to distinguish it from a ruby-crest,
and like that bird it associates with flocks of chestnut-backed tits,

(Brooks.)
Famity XLIX,. MNIOTILTIDAS. Woop Warsters. *
CCXLIX. MNIOTILTA. Viemtor. 1816.
636. Black and White Warbler.
Mniotilta varia (LINN.) VIBILL. 1818.

A specimen was obtained at Moose Factory, May 13th, 1860, and
also on the 3oth by Drexler. (Packard.) Quite common at Moose
Factory, June, 1896; none seen elsewhere. (Spreadborough.) Ap-

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 609

parently a common summer migrant in Newfoundland. (Reeks.)
Common summer resident at Halifax, N.S. (Downs.) Common
in Nova Scotia from May 1 to Sept. (H. F. Tufts.) A common
migrant at Sydney, Cape Breton island, N.S. (C. R. Harte.) One
seen on Sable island, N.S., Aug. 20th, 1904, one on Sept. 12th, 1905,
one on Sept. 23rd, 1906 and one on Sept. 27th, 1907. (/. Boutelier.)
Not rare at Baddeck and Margaree, Cape Breton island, July, 1898;
seen at Mount Stewart, Prince Edward island, July 11th, 1888.
(Macoun.) Occasionally seen or its ’’wiry‘' song heard, though
not very common. (Dwight.) A common summer resident at St.
John, N.B. (Chamberlain.) Rare on the Magdalens, but very likely
breeds. (Bishop.) On July 9th a male was heard singing at Fox
bay, Anticosti; another was taken alittle later. (Brewster.) Taken
at Beauport; not rare at Quebec. (Dionne.) A scarce summer
resident but common migrant at Montreal. Observed here from
May 3rd to August 22nd. (Winile.) Saw a pair in Compton
county, Que., June 5, 1902 which evidently had a nest near by.
(L. M. Terrill.)

A common summer resident but more abundant during migra-
tions. (Ottawa Naturalist, Vol. V.) A fairly common summer
resident in the woods of eastern Ontario. I once found a nest in
a mossy bank in a large wood, containing four infertile eggs and
one young bird on June 29th, 1894, near Lansdowne, Ont. (Rev.
C. J. Young.) Abundant migrant at Toronto, Ont.; rare summer
resident, breeds; a common summer resident in the districts of
Parry Sound and Muskoka. (J. H. Fleming.) Not common in
Algonquin park, Ont. Only observed two from May 25th to
June 15th, 1900. (Spreadborough.) Abundant near Toronto and
breeds there. On 25th April, 1896, saw large numbers of them.
(J. Hughes-Samuel.) Near London, Ont., this species is confined
to the coniferous swamps where it breeds in fair numbers. (W. E.
Saunders.) A common summer resident at Guelph, Ont. Arrives

about April 28th and leaves about September 12th. (A. B. Klugh.)
A single specimen was taken at Pembina where it probably

breeds, though the fact was not ascertained. Not found further

west. (Couwes.) This species is widely distributed in Manitoba.

It is an abundant species on Duck mountain in that province, in

spruce woods. (£. T. Seton.) First seen at Aweme, Manitoba,

May 12th, 1903, and last was seen August 27th 1903; it was com-
39

610 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

mon on May 12th. (Criddle.) Abundant migrant in Manitoba
breeding in some localities occasionally. I noted it breeding about
Portage la Prairie and in 1906 found it at Rirtle, Fort Ellice and
Saskatoon. (Atkinson.) Saw a few near Maple Creek, Sask.,
May 29th, 1905, which were doubtless migrating as we saw none
later. (A. C. Bent.) This seems to be a rare migrant at Indian
Head, Sask., it was first seen May 11th and disappeared by the end
of the month, not seen further west on the prairie; one individual
seen at Peace River Landing, lat. 56° 15’, in June, 1903; first seen
at Edmonton, Alta., May 6th, 1897, not very common, seen chiefly
in the mixed timber along the river hardly ever seen in poplar
woods; a few individuals seen in the foothills south of Calgary.
(Spreadborough.) North to Fort Simpson on the Mackenzie river ;
very rare. (Ross.) One specimen found dead in the woods at the
Grand rapids of the Saskatchewan. (Nutting.)

BREEDING Notes.—Nest on the ground, composed of bark, grass
and leaves, lined with plant down and hair, in woods near Ottawa.
Eggs 4-6, creamy-white, spotted and sprinkled with reddish-brown.
(G. R. White.) This warbler commences to build its nest about
May 20th. The full complement of eggs is usually laid by May
28th. On that date in 1906 I found a nest in an upturned root
near the Rawdon creek, North Hastings. It was constructed out-
wardly of leaves and weed stalks, and lined with fibres, finer leaves
and hair. Was noticeably deep and cup-shaped and firmly con-
structed. The bird fluttered to the ground as I stood by the root
and tumbled along as though hurt. (Rev. C.. J. Young.) This
warbler is one of the first of the main drove of warblers that arrives
from the south. They come early in May and herald their arrival
by singing their weak see-see-see-see song. The young are able to
be about with the adults by the roth of July. Although resembling
the parent birds, the stripes are not so well defined in their plumage
as are those of the parents. The old birds are very alert and watch-
ful when the young are unable to know danger themselves. (W. H.
Moore.) On the southeast corner of the farm lot that adjoins
Wildwood on the north, and but a few rods from the boundary
line, in a stretch of low ground, there stands the turned-up root
of an old fallen tree, the top of which is over a dozen feet from
the level ground. In what was once the “upper” side of this
“turn-up”” and about half-way in its height, I discovered on the

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 611

28th of May a nest containing three eggs which, at the time, I
took to be those of a Canadian warbler. Three days after I re-
visited the site, found the mother bird ‘‘at home,” and seated on
the nest. At my near approach she flushed off and down upon
the grcund, where with outspread and quivering wings, and the
venting of a few notes, she attempted to draw my attention from
her treasures. Gazing down on the interesting little creature
within a few feet of where I stood, I was not much surprised, though
somewhat disappointed, to note that the specimen was of the M.
varta species, and that it was her nest that was placed before me»
and which now contained five beautifully spotted fresh eggs. The
cavity in which the nest was placed had been partly excavated,
probably by the bird itself; but in order to support the foundation
quite a large quantity of dead leaves and strips of bark had been
used, and inside of this there was a lining of fine vegetable materials
and some animal hair. (W. L. Kells.) I have found in small
woods, about the middle of June, nests with young warblers able to
fly. One of those nests, discovered on the 14th of June, was placed
at the foot of a tree under dead branches. The young birds flew
away, and in the bottom of the nest was a cowbird’s egg covered
over as it is in a yellow warbler’s nest. It was made of inner
bark and leaves, lined with hairs and rootlets. Outside diameter
4 inches and height 2.50 inches; inside diameter 2 inches by 1.75
inches deep. (Garneau.)

CCL. PROTONOTARIA Batrp. 1858.
637. Prothonotary Warbler.
Protonotaria citrea (BopD.) BatRD. 1858.

A rare migrant in New Brunswick. (Chamberlain.) One speci-
men taken at Hamilton, Ont., May 23rd, 1888. (MclIlwratth.)
Has been seen at Toronto, Ont., at least once. (J. H. Fleming.)
I have every reason to suppose that this bird occasionally crosses
the St. Lawrence and visits Ontario, I even think it occasionally
breeds, for I came across a nest located in the stub of a willow at
the ‘drowned lands,” some eight miles north of Gananoque, which
contained one egg, and which corresponds with the description of
site of nest and authentic egg of this bird; the date was June roth,
1896. (Rev. C. J. Young.)

39%

612 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

CCLI. HELMINTHOPHILA Ripcway. 1882.
642. Golden-winged Warbler.

Helminthophila chrysoptera (LINN.) RipGw. 1882.

Seen on the Magdalen islands on June 17 and 30, 1897, evidently
breeding; also noted there by Mr. W. E. Beaupré in the early sum-
mer of 1904. (Rev. C. J. Young.) In June 1903 an individual of
this species was observed in the vicinity of Fredericton, N.B. (W.
H. Moore.) Fairly common summer resident throughout’ western
Ontario; not noted in Bruce county. (W. E. Saunders.) I have
met with this species on two occasions near Hamilton, Ont.; have
also heard of its being noticed at Port Rowan. Dr. Macallum sees
it every spring and summer near his residence at Dunnville, Ont.
(MclIlwraith.) By the kindness of Mr. W. Hine, of Winnipeg,
Man., I am enabled to record the capture of a golden-winged warbler
taken by him near Winnipeg on or about May 27th, 1887. (C. F.
Batchelder in The Auk, Vol. VII, p. 404.) One male noted at Aweme,
Man., May 22, 1906. (Criddle.) A female taken at Portage la
Prairie, May 26, 1905, is the only specimen I have ever seen in the
west. (Atkinson.)

BREEDING Notes.—This species makes its nest largely of leaves
and places it on the ground generally among or beside the stems of
ashrub. The nest is bulky for the bird and the four or five eggs
are small for its size. Quite common in some of the more western
counties near Lake Erie. (W. E. Saunders.)

645. Nashville Warbler.

Helminthophila rubricapilla rubricapilla (Wits.) Ripew.
1882.

Obtained twice in Greenland; once at Godthaab about 1835, and
again at the Fiskenzs, August 31st, 1840. (Arct. Man.) A sum-
mer migrant in Newfoundland, but apparently rare. (Reeks.) A
not very common summer resident at Halifax, N.S. (Downs.)
Common summer resident in Nova Scotia. (H. F. Tufts.) A few
specimens seen at Baddeck, Cape Breton island, July, 1898. (Macoun.)
Rather abundant at Tignish, Prince Edward island, and not met with
elsewhere (Dwight.) A common summer resident at St. John,

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 613

N.B. (Chamberlain.) Common summer resident at Scotch Lake,
York county, N.B. (W. H. Moore.) Heard singing in the woods
at Gaspé Bay, Que., July 15th. (Brewster.) Taken at Charles-
bourg and common around Quebec. (Dionne.) A scarce transient
visitant I have observed two examples of this warbler here, both
males, which I shot on the spur of Mount Royal; Mr. Kuetzing
says he has found this species common here, and that they breed in
the swampy parts of the woods on the Island of Montreal.
(Wintle.)

A summer resident at Ottawa, Ont.; a nest of this species with
four eggs was taken in Dow’s swamp, 13th July, 1881; in 1882 the
bird was noted as quite common. (Ottawa Naturalist, Vol. V.) A
not uncommon spring migrant in eastern Ontario. I observed it
near Lansdowne, Ont., where a nest with four eggs was found near
the St. Lawrence in June, 1893. Have noticed the bird several times
near Madoc, Ont., and found its nest in a mossy hummock on the
edge of a tamarac swamp, May 25, 1906. (Rev. C. J. Young.)
Abundant migrant at Toronto, Ont. A summer resident in Parry
Sound and Muskoka districts; breeding in swampy places. (J. H.
Fleming.) Common in tamarac swamps in Algonquin park, Ont.,
in June, 1900. (Spreadborough.) Very plentiful in spring at Tor-
onto, especially among scattered patches of scrub oak trees where
they seem to find palatable diet among the slowly expanding buds;
I have not observed these birds in such numbers during the fall
migrations. (J. Hughes-Samuel.) Often common as a migrant at
London, Ont.; this bird is increasing as a summer resident and is
to be found now (1906) in many localities near London where none
were to be seen five years ago. More common in Bruce county in
summer. (W.E. Saunders.) Abundant as a migrant in spring, and
fairly common in the fall; breeds sparingly at Guelph, Ont.; arrives
about May r2th, leaves about September 22nd. (A. B. Klugh.)

Arare summer resident of woodlands in Manitoba; on June 11th,
1884, I found a Nashville warbler in full song and evidently breeding.
(E. T. Seton.) Ihave only two records of this warbler in Manitoba,
both males taken at Portage la Prairie, one May 15, 1905, and one
May 19, 1906. (Atkenson.) At the south end of Lake Manitoba, near
Portage la Prairie, Man., on June 13th, 1894, I took a nest and four
eggs of this species; the nest was built at the side of a mossy knoll

614 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

in a bluff. (W. Raine.) This is a rare species at Aweme, Man.;
probably breeding. (Criddle.) A single individual of this species
was killed in the woods at Cumberland House, on May 15th, as it
was hopping among the branches of a tree. (Richardson.) North
to Fort Resolution on Great Slave lake; rare. (Ross.)

Breepine Notes.—Arriving generally about the middle of May
these birds are mostly found in young second growth woods. One
nest found was placed on the ground in a depression on the side of
a mound in a moist bush-grown pasture and was well concealed by
overhanging ferns, grasses and weeds, and was composed of thin
dried grass stems and moss, and was lined with fruit stems of hair
moss. It contained three fresh eggs July 15th. The bird flew
from the nest on being discovered and was silent and did not appear
for nearly an hour. This species is fairly common here, but at St.
John, Mr. Banks informs me they are rare. (W.H. Moore.) Found
a nest in Compton county, Que., June 12, 1904, deeply imbedded
in the yielding side of a mound. It was a slight affair (the sur-
rounding mosses rendering a more substantial structure unneces-
sary) of withered grasses, moss and rootlets, containing four young
afew days old. (L. M. Terrill.) A nest containing two fresh eggs
of this bird and two cowbird’s eggs was found near Ottawa, June
ist, 1899. It was built on the ground by the side of a log in a
marshy place, and made with green moss, grass and hairs. The
bird left the nest only after the log had been shaken a couple of
times; nest 3.50 X 1.50 and 2.10. (Garneau.)

645a. Calveras Warbler.

Helminthophila rubricapiula gutturalis (RipGwW.) Faxon.
1896.

First seen at Revelstoke, B.C., May 9th, 1890; the birds seemed
to come from the west through the Eagle pass and not up the Colum-
bia; came in great numbers on the 13th, but seemed to travel north-
ward; at Robson they were found breeding 1,000 feet above the
Columbia on June 26th, 1890; observed throughout the district
between Trail and Kettle river, near the International Boundary,
quite common at Trail where a nest was taken on May 24th, 1902,
it was placed on the ground between two stones, overhung with
grass; the nest was made of the inner bark of trees lined with hair

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 615

and quills from the western porcupine. (Spreadborough.) Com-
mon in the Okanagan district of B.C. (Brooks.) Two examples
were taken at Vernon, B.C., and others were seen at Nelson. They
may be considered as neither rare nor abundant in British Columbia.
(Rhoads.) , Taken at Vernon, Lake Okanagan, by Mr. A. C. Brooks
in 1898. (Fannin.)

646. Orange-crowned Warbler.

Helminthophila celata celata (Say) Ripcw. 1882.

Of rare occurrence at St. John, N.B., but has never been record -
ed at Scotch Lake. (W. H. Moore.) One example taken at Beau-
port near Quebec, in 1890. (Dionne.) A rare transient visitant at
Montreal. I shot a male specimen of this warbler, May 21st, 1890,
on the spur of Mount Royal and it is the only one of the kind I have
met with here. (Wdnile.), A casual in the vicinity of Ottawa; a
male was shot by Mr. E. F. G. White, Sept. 27th, 1885, near the
eastern end of the city. (Ottawa Naturalist, Vol. V.) Among the
first warblers to arrive in the spring of 1906 at Madoc, Ont. I first
saw it searching for insects on the buds of poplar trees that fringe
a tamarac and cedar swamp. This was on May 14th. (Rev. C. J.
Young.) Regular migrant at Toronto, Ont., rare; I have records
of only eight in eight years. (J. H. Fleming.) During several
seasons of careful observations I have only once met with a small
party of these warblers; this was on 12th May, 1900 when I was
fortunate in obtaining two specimens, one of which I was surprised
to find on dissecting was afemale. The plumage of this bird is very
plain and but for the frequency of its call note or “chep” might
easily pass unnoticed; and even when its presence is detected it is
so remarkably active and darts so rapidly from tree to tree that its
capture is by no means certain. (/. Hughes-Samuel.) As a strag-
gler I have met with this bird on only two occasions, the latter
being on the 11th of May, 1886 when a specimen was taken at
Hamilton Beach by Mr. K. C. McIlwraith. (MclIlwratth.) A re-
gular migrant at London, Ont.; but never common. (W. E. Saun-
ders.) A few seen on the east coast of James bay, July, 1904.
(Spreadborough.) One was taken in a willow thicket at York
Factory, July 16th, 1901, and the species was again noted near Pine
lake, September 13th and at Duck point, Playgreen lake, September
19th. (E. A. Preble.)

616 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

Observed during the fall migration, in September, along the
Mouse (Souris) river, where it was abundant. (Coues.) Common
summer resident in woodlands, in Manitoba; evidently breeding in
the woods around Carberry. (E&. T. Seton.) First seen at Aweme,
Manitoba, on May 12th, 1903, was common on the 17th and dis-
appeared on September 16th. A common breeding species. (Crid-
dle.) This is a rare summer migrant at Indian Head, Sask. It was
first seen at Indian Head, May z2oth, 1892, and disappeared on the
25th; first seen at Medicine Hat, Sask., May 9th, 1894, common by
the 15th, and were all gone by the 2oth. (Spreadborough.) Com-
mon in families of flying young in the Cypress hills, Sask., July 25th,
to 30th. No adult males found. (Bzshop.) North to Fort Resolution
on Great Slave lake; rare. (Ross.) This is one of the rarest warb-
lers that breeds on the Anderson river where four or five nests were
found containing from four to six eggs. The nests were made of hay
or grasses, lined with deer hair, feathers and finer grasses, and were
found on the ground in the shade of a clump of dwarf willow or
Labrador tea. (Macfarlane.) Throughout the wooded region of
northern Alaska, from the British boundary line west to the shores of
Behring sea, and from the Alaskan range of mountains north within
the Arctic circle as far as the tree limit, this species is a summer
resident. (Nelson.) Two individuals of this species were shot
among the weeds surrounding the redoubt at St. Michael. They are
not common as they were the only ones ever seen at that place.
(Turner.) Two specimens taken at Ducks were of this form.
(Streator.) East and west of Coast range; a summer resident.
(Fannin.) Tolerably common during the migrations at Chilliwack.
A scarce summer resident in the Cariboo district, of B.C.; both old
and young birds showed typical celata. (Brooks.) Five specimens
from the interior of British Columbia are distinguishable from the
coast form which does not appear to cross the Coast range. (Rhoads.)

Osgood took an adult male at Cariboo Crossing, lat. 60°, B.C.,
June 26th, 1899; I took a female and two young 20 miles below
Fort Selkirk, July 27th, and a young one near Dawson, August
2nd. Osgood secured an adult and a young one at Camp David-
son, August 5th and another was seen near Fort Yukon, Alaska,
August 21st; all taken were in willows or alders close to the water.
(Bishop.) I saw this species but once, on the 25th May, near our
camp on the Kowak, Kotzebue sound, Alaska, but heard it a num-
ber of times. (Grinnell.)

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 617

BREEDING Notes.—On June 18th, 1900, Mr. C. E. Whittaker,
found a nest of this rare warbler at Peel river, within the Arctic
circle. It was built in the grass on the ground and contained six
eggs; on June 22nd, 1902, Mr. Dippie found a nest and five eggs
at Banff, Rocky mountains. (W. Raine.) On May 25th, 1906, I
found a nest of this species near Madoc, Ont., in a hummock of
marsh fern and moss among small tamaracks and cedars and well
concealed under the dead fern. The nest was small, of dry grass and
moss lined with finer grass. The eggs were five in number, white
with a zone of purplish red specks around the larger end. (Rev. C.
J. Young.) A nest of this species was found on June 13th, 1897, on
the edge of a wood in a rather damp situation. This was com-
pletely hidden by over-hanging grass and small aspen trees; it was
sunken in the ground and was composed of grass built with a few
horse hairs. There were five eggs in it almost hatched. Another
nest of the same species was found on July rst near the edge of a
large bluff, this was hidden as much as the somewhat scanty veget
ation would allow and was hidden from above by young aspens.
There were four fresh eggs in the nest which were between 15 and 16
mm. long and 12 mm. wide, they were white, thickly marked about
the larger end with very fine slaty-gray and somewhat large brown
spots. A third nest examined after the birds had left was in almost
exactly the same situation as the first. (@viddle.)

646a. Lutescent Warbler.

Helminthophila celata lutescens RipGw. 1878.

Saw one individual at Edmonton, Alta., May sth, 1897, after-
wards the species was occasionally seen so that I think a few re-
mained to breed; breeding in numbers at Banff, Rocky mountains,
in June, 1891; shot in Eagle pass, west of Revelstoke, B.C.; breed-
ing in the pass, but not seen east of the Columbia in 1890; only one
observed at Trail, B.C., in June, 1902; first seen at Penticton, B.C.
in 1903, on April 24th, common by the 29th ; first noted at Elko,
B.C., May 16th, 1904, and at Sidley, May 13th, 1905, common along
the Hope trail in July of that year ; abundant in the woods at
Hastings, but not so common at Agassiz, B.C., in May, 1889; a few
seen at Chilliwack, B.C., in the spring of 1902; and spring of 1906;
a common summer resident on Vancouver island; first seen on

618 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

April 16th, 1893, and became common in a few days, a nest was
taken containing four eggs on May 13th; nest on the ground built
of moss lined with dry grass and hair; quite common at Comox
and Nanaimo. (Spreadborough.)

Five specimens taken at New Westminster and one taken at
Mount Lehman on September 15th are typical of the coast form.
(Streator.) Chiefly west of the Coast range; a very abundant
summer resident on the coast. (Fannin.) More common than
the type; a summer resident. (Brooks.) A very abundant sum-
mer resident on the Pacific slope of British Columbia. (Rhoads.)
Rather rare on Queen Charlotte islands, seen twice at Cumshewa
inlet. Three specimens taken at Fort Kenai, Alaska, by Bischoff
in May, 1869. (Osgood.) Common at Haines Mission, Lynn
canal, June 1st, 1899. (Bishop.) Extending up the Pacific coast
this-bird is found as a common summer resident of the wooded
southeastern shore of Alaska, where it replaces celata. (Nelson.)
Tolerably common about clearings, and in the low growths of firs
which border the beaches at the mouths of the streams at Sitka,
Alaska. (Grinnell.) Four specimens taken at Sheep creek, and
four on Kenai mountains, Alaska, in August, 1901. The species
was fairly common along all streams in the timber belt even to
its highest limits where it breeds. (Figgins.) Two adults taken
at Seldovia, Alaska and one juvenal at Sheep creek. (Anderson.)

BREEDING Notes.—Banff, Rocky mountains, June toth, 1893,
in the valley of the Bow river, we flushed a little warbler off its
nest and five eggs. This nest was built on the ground amongst
short herbage growing at the side of a fallen log. As I wished to
secure the parent bird to prove the identity of the eggs we did
not molest the nest. Next morning my collector brought me a
female orange-crowned warbler he had caught with his hand on
the nest we found the day previous, so I took my camera along
and photographed the nest and the photo-engraving of this nest
is to be seen in Oliver Davies’ “‘Nests and Eggs of North American
Birds,” page 431. (W. Razne.)

647. Tennessee Warbler.

Helminthophila peregrina (Wits.) Ripcw. 1882.

Obtained by Drexler at Fort George, James bay, in June and
July, 1860. (Packard.) Rather common at Stewiacke, but never

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 619

seen at Halifax, N.S. (Downs.) A rather common summer resident
at St. John, N.B. (Chamberlain.) A rare summer resident at
Scotch Lake, York co., N.B. (W. H. Moore.) Very rare in the
Restigouche valley, N.B. (Brittain G@ Cox.) Not rare at Lake
Mistassini, Quebec. (J. M. Macoun.) The only specimen noticed
was shot at Fox bay, Anticosti, July 11, (Brewster.) Not common
summer resident around Quebec; taken at Beauport. (Dzonne.) A
common but transient visitant at Montreal. Mr. Kuetzing has
found this species here in May, and common for a week or two in
swampy places, and I have shot a few in hedgerows in the fields at
Hochelaga in May. (Wunile.)

Rare migrant in the vicinity of Ottawa; one was shot on the
bank of the Rideau, April 9, 1882, by Mr. G. R. White; another
was shot May 16, 1888. (Ottawa Naturalist, Vol. V.) On May
18, 1897, I took one of these warblers in a large alder swamp at
Emsdale, Parry Sound, Ont., and saw several more in the same
place on 22nd May. They continued common till the 26th, when
I only saw one. (J. H. Fleming.) I have usually heard this bird
spoken of as rare, but since I first had the pleasure of its personal
acquaintance I have concluded that many observers have passed
it over on account of its dull plumage, and in some cases it may
have been passed as a Regulus, which, in coloration, it somewhat
resembles. I believe the bird occurs with us regularly, at any rate
in limited numbers; my note dated 22nd May, 1900, reads:—A

grand morning, warm and summer-like, a great many warblers in
the willows; magnolias very abundant, some of these being so

particularly handsome as to give the place quite a tropical effect;
I came across an unusually large number of Tennessee warblers
singing, or rather chipping merrily away in the early morning
sunshine, two of which I secured; there were not less than 25 of
this species in one small patch of willow. (J. Hughes-Samuel.)
Sometimes fairly common at London, Ont., in migration. (W. E.
Saunders.) One seen at East point, James bay, July 5, 1904.
(Spreadborough.)

Upon my arrival at Pembina, the beginning of June, I at once
perceived that the vernal migration of the present species past
this point was about to be concluded, as female specimens pre-
ponderated ; the species was not observed further west on the 49th

620 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

parallel. (Coues.) Not an uncommon summer resident in the
wooded parts of Manitoba, apparently breeding on Duck moun-
tain. One seen near the eastern end of Great Slave Lake July 20,
1907. (E. T. Seton.) Common during migration at Aweme, Man.;
possibly breeds. (Criddle.) Noted in Manitoba only as a migrant
of which it is one of the most abundant. (Atkinson.) Abundant
in the streets of Winnipeg, May 27, 1903; near Red Deer, Alta., it
is the most abundant of all breeding warblers except the yellow.
W. E. Saunders.)

This is a common migrant at Indian Head, Sask., and very likely
breeds; first seen May 31st, and soon became common in willow
thickets where it remained to June 15th, when all disappeared ;
first seen at Medicine Hat, Sask., May 18th, 1894; others were
seen afterwards, but they were never numerous; a few seen on
Old Wives creek, Sask., late in May, 1895; a common breeding
species at Banff, Rocky mountains, in the summer of 1891 ; common
in willow thickets from the mouth of Slave river to Peace River
Landing, lat. 56° 15’ in June, 1903; first seen on May 22nd, 1897,
at Edmonton, Alta., tolerably common along the creeks by the
28th; no doubt they breed here; common from Edmonton to the
Athabaska pass in willow thickets in low grounds and, along streams
in June, 1898; common in the foothills south of Calgary. (Spread-
borough.) On May 29th, 1905, I saw a bird within 10 feet of me
in’ thefMaple creek, Sask., timber which I was quite sure was a
Tennessee warbler, but none were collected. (A.C. Bent.) Com-
mon at the Grand rapids of the Saskatchewan, where it doubtless
breeds. (Nutting.) One of the most abundant birds between
Athabaska Landing and Lesser Slave river; first noted May 30th;
common down the Athabaska river to Fort McMurray, lat. 56° 40’;
common up the Clearwater river and at the north end of Methye
portage; common between Methye lake and Isle 4 la Crosse lake;
last seen August roth. (J. M. Macoun.) One specimen only was
procured at Cumberland House, on the banks of the Saskatchewan,
in the latter end of May. (Richardson.) North to Fort Simpson
on the Mackenzie river. (Ross.) I have a nest and four eggs of
this bird collected at Fort Saskatchewan near Edmonton, Alta.,
on June 12th, 1899, by Mr. J. Callaghan; nest in a wiNow two feet
from the ground. (W. Raine.) This was a common breeder at
150-Mile House, B.C., where its sharp insistent song was to be heard

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 621

from every copse in the partially wooded district. (Brooks.) Found
only at Cariboo Crossing, lat. 60°, B.C., where Iheard four males
singing and secured three of them, June 27th and 28th, 1899. They
were in comparatively open willow and spruce swamps. (Bzshop.)

BREEDING Notes.—The birds made their first appearance on
the 22nd of May at Carpenter mountain, Cariboo, B.C., and were
common the same day. From that day I heard their song in
almost every clump of trees. A great number drew off to the
northward, but a good many remained. They generally frequented
the clumps of aspen trees and Norway pines, where the ground
was covered with a thick growth of dry fine grass. As I saw no
female nor evidence of nesting I gave the birds three weeks and
started out to look for their nests on the 15th June. Luckily I
soon found a female off her nest and after an hour’s watching,
during which time I suffered torments from the mosquitoes, she at
last dropped down to her nest. On walking up she fluttered out,
and flew off some distance, returning shortly with two others of
the same species, when I put her off and shot her. A hundred
yards further on I came across another female, probably one of the
two that returned with the first one. I took up a good position
and waited twenty minutes, when she darted down to the ground
and disappeared, I went up and was just going to kill her with my
little .38 caliber collecting pistol as she fluttered off, when out of
the tail of my eye I saw the nest contained newly hatched young;
I found another nest the same day by carefully quartering a likely
piece of ground, and found several the next week with young also.
The nests were always on the ground, sometimes at the foot of a
small service-berry bush or twig. They were all arched over by
the dry fine grass of the preceding year; this year’s growth having
just well commenced. The nest is small and loosely constructed,
being quite flat; it is composed outwardly of a few leaves, a little
moss and a good deal of fine grass, lined only with the latter ma-
terial. The nest was situated on the ground in, and arched over
with dry grass, and no bush or twigs were near. (J. Parker Norris,
Jr.,in The Auk, Vol, XIX, 88.)

622 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
CCLII. COMPSOTHLYPIS Capanis. 1850.
648a. Northern Parula Warbler.

Compsothlypis americana usnee BREWSTER. 1896.

One specimen sent from the southern inspectorate of Greenland
in 1857. (Arct. Man.) A rare summer resident, occurring inland
on hardwood trees, Nova Scotia. (Downs.) Common summer re-
sident in King county, N.S. (H. F. Tufts.) Infrequent'y ob-
served on Prince Edward island, and generally in the upper branches
of hardwood forest. (Dwzght.) A rare summer resident at St. John,
N.B. (Chamberlain.) A tolerably common summer resident at
Scotch Lake, York county, N.B. (W.H. Moore.) Seen near Port
Hawkesbury, Cape Breton island, and at Fox bay, Anticosti. (Brew-
ster.) Taken at Beauport; rare in the vicinity of Quebec in sum-
mer. (Dionne.) A common transient visitant at Montreal. Shot
a male and two female specimens of this warbler in May, 1890, on
the spur of Mount Royal. (Wzanile.)

A moderately common migrant in the vicinity of Ottawa. (Ottawa
Naturalist, Vol. V.) A specimen of this species was shot on a cur-
rant bush in a garden at Kingston, Ont., in May, 1899. A number
observed during migration near Madoc, Ont., on May 4th, 1905. (Rev.
C. J. Young.) Abundant migrant at Toronto, Ont. A common
summer resident in the Parry Sound and Muskoka districts; they
arrive about the middle of May, and for the first two weeks keep
to the highest trees. (J. H. Fleming.) Not common in Algonquin
park, Ont. Nearly always seen up in the tops of trees. (Spread-
borough.) Abundant in spring and fall at Toronto. The earliest
arrivals I have noted being on 5th May, 1896. (J. Hughes-Samuel.)
A passing migrant at Guelph, Ont. (A. B. Klugh.) Of four speci-
mens taken in the Thames valley, in western Ontario, by Mr. Robert
Elliott and Mr. W. E. Saunders two are said to be typical of the
northern form usnee, the other two not being quite typical of the
southern form. (Robert Elliott, in The Ottawa Naturalist, Vol. XVI.,
P- 95.)

BREEDING Notes.—I have no particular data regarding nesting
season, but a nest was found 4o feet up a yellow birch tree com-
posed of a few fine rootlets and feathers worked into a growth of

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 623

Usnea that hung below a limb three-quarters of an inch in diameter
and about eight inches below the limb. (W.H. Moore.)

CCLIII. DENDROICA Gray. 1842.
650 Cape May Warbler.

Dendroica tigrina (GMEL.) BaIRD. 1858.

A specimen obtained by Drexler, May 28th, 1860, at Moose
Factory, James bay. (Packard.) Very rare in Nova Scotia; only
one specimen taken at Stewiacke in midsummer. (Downs.) Rare;
may breed at Grand Manan, N.B. (Chamberlain.) Of rare occur-
rence at Scotch Lake, York county, N.B.; it is known to breed here;
one nest was found containing three eggs, placed in a hemlock tree a
few feet from the trunk, and about eight feet up. (W.H. Moore.)
A scarce and transient visitant at Montreal; I shot three male
specimens of this warbler and saw others on the spur of Mount
Royal, one of which I shot May 14th and the other two May aust,
1890. (Winile.) This species is rare at Quebec, but two specimens
were taken in June, 1884. (Dionne.) A rare migrant at Ottawa;
have been taken by Mr. G. R. White in 1883, 1885, 1887, and 1888.
(Ottawa Naturalist, Vol. V.) Met with it on the Magdalen islands
in 1897; I have a nest containing two eggs taken there from a small
spruce tree about two feet from the ground. Rarely met with in
North Hastings county, Ont., during migration. (Rev. C. J. Young.)

Correctly described as rare in Ontario; I have previous to the
present spring season of 1900, seen only two specimens of this
bird, viz.: a male on 19th May, 1898, and a female on 21st May,
1899; but between the 8th and 19th May, 1900, I was fortunate in
seeing five males of the species and to hear their song; I had also
a chance to observe their habits during their short stay. (J.
Hughes-Samuel.) Rare migrant at Toronto, Ont., sometimes not
uncommon; formerly one of our rarest warblers. (J. H. Fleming.)
A rare migrant at London, Ont., two or three being the most noted
in a single migration. (W. E. Saunders.)

Common summer resident along the Red river in Manitoba; not
widely distributed. (E.T. Seton.) An abundant migrant in
most parts of Manitoba but not noted breeding. (Atkinson.) A
rare species at Aweme, Manitoba. (Criddle.) Two specimens were

624 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

taken at Medicine Hat, Sask., May 17th, 1894. (Spreadborough.)
At Long lake, Yorkton, Sask., on June and, 1891, I took a nest and
four eggs of this bird; it was built nearly three feet from the ground
in a willow. (W. Raine.)

652, Yellow Warbler.
Dendroica estiva estiva (GMEL.) BAIRD. 1858.

Specimens obtained by Drexler, July 12th, 1860, at Fort George,
James bay. (Packard.) Common from Missinabi down the Moose
river and up James bay to Richmond gulf; a nest containing four
eggs was found on an island in the bay, June 23rd, 1896; none ob-
served on a trip across Ungava; seems to keep along the coast.
(Spreadborough.) A very common summer migrant in Newfound-
land. (Reeks.) Very common in gardens around Halifax, N.S.
(Downs.) Common in Nova Scotia. (H. F. Tufts.) Common
summer resident at Sydney, Cape Breton island, N.S. (C. R.
Harte.) One seen on Sable island, N.S., June 4, 1904, and one on
Aug. 3; one was seen June 27, 1905, and one Aug. 9. (J. Boute-
lier.) Quite common at Baddeck and Margaree, Cape Breton
island, July, 1898; rather rare at Brackley point, Prince Edward
island, June, 1888. (M/acoun.) Rather common on Prince Edward
island, and quite as likely to be found among lonely alder bushes as
in the trees around houses. (Dwight.) An abundant summer resi-
dent at Scotch Lake, York county, N.B. (W.H. Moore.) Rare,
except near the settlements in the Restigouche valley. (Brittain &
Cox.) Common at Lake Mistassini, Quebec. (J. M. Macoun.)
Common summer resident on the Magdalen islands. (Bishop.)
Rather abundant at Fox bay, Anticosti; a few specimens seen at
Gaspé bay, Que. (Brewster.) A common summer resident at
Quebec. (Dionne.) An abundant summer resident at Montreal;
breeds in the city and Mount Royal park; I have found their nests
containing eggs from May 29th to July 7th, and observed this warbler
here from May 7th to September 3rd. (Wiantle.)

An abundant summer resident in the vicinity of Ottawa. (Ot
tawa Naturalist, Vol. V.) Reguiar summer resident at Toronto, Ont.,
I took a male at Emsdale, Parry Sound, Ont., on May 27th, 1899,
the only one I have seen in Parry Sound; it was not uncommon at
Rosseau in 1897, and Mr. Taverner regards it as common at Beau-

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 625

maris. (J. H. Fleming.) Without doubt, more of this species of
warbler remain to breed around Toronto than of any other variety.
Practically, they are everywhere in suitable places, and if a youthful
enthusiast wants to study bird life he has merely to seat himself near
a patch of willows during the merry month of May when he will have
a grand opportunity of becoming acquainted with our common
summer yellow-bird; I have noted one of these birds at Toronto as
early as 18th April, 1899. (J. Hughes-Samuel.) Common summer
resident at Guelph, Ont.; arrives about May 4th, leaves about Aug.
18th. (A. B. Klugh.) Abundant summer resident, breeds in
gardens very frequently at Penetanguishene, Ont.; I have seen
four nests of this species in a garden of less than half an acre. (A. F.
Young.) Rather common at Norway House, Oxford House, and
York Factory. Specimens taken at these three points have a
slightly darker crown than is usual in eastern examples, but are
referable to the typical form. (E. A. Preble.) York Factory,
Hudson bay. (Dr. R. Bell.) Also taken at Fort Churchill, Hudson
bay. (Clarke.)

This abundant and universally diffused species was observed at
various points along the 49th parallel from Pembina to the Rocky
mountains. (Coues.) A very abundant summer resident every-
where in Manitoba, breeding throughout the whole province. (E. T.
Seton.) Common and breeding at Aweme, Man. (Criddie.) First
seen at Indian Head, Sask., May 27th, 1892; soon after they be-
came abundant and began to breed in great numbers; first seen at
Medicine Hat, Sask., May 15th, 1894; commenced nesting by the
23rd ; two nests finished by the 29th and laying commenced ; common
in all brushy parts of western Saskatchewan, especially at Crane
lake and Cypress hills. This is a common species wherever there
is brush, and builds indiscriminately in the forks of a rose-bush,
a willow or Eleagnus; numerous nests were taken at Wood moun-
tain and wherever there was brush across southern Saskatchewan
and Alberta to Waterton lake at Chief mountain in the summer of.
1895; observed from the mouth of Lesser Slave river to Peace River
Landing, lat. 56° 15’, in June, 1903; first seen at Edmonton, Alta.,
May 12th, 1897; June 14th, two nests were taken in small willow
trees; nest very compact, composed chiefly of willow down held
together with horse-hair; abundant in willow thickets throughout
the trip from Edmonton west to Athabaska pass, in June, 1898;

40

626 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

common in the foothills south of Calgary; quite common and breed-
ing in large numbers at Banff, Rocky mountains, in the summer of
1891; common at Elko, B.C.; very common at Revelstoke and
Robson, on the Columbia river, in June, 1890; one nest was taken
in the fork of a cottonwood, 40 feet from the ground, on June 21st,
1890, containing four fresh eggs; a few were breeding at Trail,
near the International Boundary, in June, 1902; occasional at Kam-
loops and Spence Bridge, B.C.; a few doubtful specimens at Victoria,
Vancouver island. (Spreadborough.) Very abundant summer resi-
dent in thickets at Prince Albert, Sask.; arriving in May. (Cou-
beaux.) Common at Grand Rapids and at Chemawawin; breeding
in thickets. (Nutting.) Very abundant throughout the entire
wooded regions of arctic America, where it builds on dwarf willows
and small scrub pine at a height of a few feet from the ground.
(Macjfarlane.) This species is known throughout the Northwest
Territories as far north as the woods extend, or to lat. 68°. It
reaches the banks of the Saskatchewan about the third week in
May, and Great Bear lake, in lat. 65°, in the beginning of June.
(Richardson.) North of Lapierre House, on the Mackenzie river.
(Ross.) Fairly common and nesting at Fort Resolution and thence
to the north shore of Great Slave lake, at least as far east as W.
long. 109° (E. T. Seton.)

BREEDING Notes.—This warbler is very common along the St.
John river, near Fredericton. Have never seen them more than
a mile from a river or large stream where they nest in low bushes
that grow about such places. The nest is seldom over a yard from
the ground, and have often seen them within a yard of the highway
toad. By the first week in June the majority of their eggs are laid,
three and four being the number in a clutch. The nest is com-
posed of plant fibres, dried grasses, wool and hair. (W.H. Moore.)
Nest found in a lilac bush was composed of vegetable substances
and down, lined with hair and down, a very compact and neat affair.
Eggs 5, grayish or greenish white dotted and blotched with reddish-
brown and lilac. (G. R. White.) Nests in bushes, conifers and
other trees around Ottawa. The nest is placed two to fifteen feet
from the ground, and composed of grayish fibres of plants and
vegetable down with a few bits of grass bark or feathers. The in-
side is white when not lined with hair. This warbler often adds a
story to its nest to cover up a cowbird’s egg laid in the original nest.

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 627

(Garneau.) This bird builds a neat and compact nest and generally
places it high up on the willows or in the forks of a small tree, rose
bushes or wolf willow. It is chiefly composed of dead leaves of
grasses and carices, and with a thick lining inside of small feathers,
hairs and fine cottony wool gathered from the catkins of willows;
numerous nests of the above character were found in June, 1895,
in southern Saskatchewan by the writer.

652. Alaskan Yellow Warbler.
Dendroica estiva rubiginosa (PALL.) OBERHOLSER. 1897.

West of Coast range an abundant summer resident. (Fannin.)
Common summer resident at Chilliwack, B.C. (Brooks.) Rather
rare on Queen Charlotte islands; seen twice in Cumshewa inlet.
(Osgood.) One specimen taken at Deer- Park, on the Columbia
tiver, in June, 1890, belongs to this form; a few seen at Midway,
B.C., in 1905 in willow thickets; quite common at Agassiz, B.C., in
May, 1889; common in thickets along the Hope trail in 1905; com-
mon at Chilliwack, B.C., in spring of 1901; none observed in the
autumn; a summer resident on Vancouver island; first seen near
Victoria on April 25th, 1893, they were common in a day or two;
nesting in willow and alder thickets at Victoria, Comox and Nanaimo.
(Spreadborough.)

Alaska in general, both along the coast and throughout the in-
terior; and southwest to Vancouver island, migrating southward in
winter to California. (Ridgway.) This is perhaps the most abun-
dant warbler in Alaska. It is found everywhere in the wooded
interior. (Nelson.) Specimens of this species were obtained from
several localities. It is common at many points on the Yukon
river. (Turner.) A single adult male taken June 23rd at Sitka,
Alaska; and a few others heard previously in the dense firs along
Indian river were all noted on this occasion. Yellow warblers,
mostly in immature plumage were observed commonly in the Kowak
valley, Kotzebue sound, Alaska, in the latter part of August. (Grin-
nell.) I am positive I have often heard the song of this species at
Bennett, June 17th-22nd. I took an adult male at Cariboo Crossing
June 27th, and heard the song at Lake Marsh. An adult female
was taken by Osgood near the Nordenskiold river July 22nd and

family parties were often found in the alders and willow thickets
40%

628 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

between the Pelly river and Circle City, in the Yukon valley. (Bishop.)
Three immature males were taken at Kenai Mountains, Sheep creek
and Homer, Alaska; found occasionally at the upper edge of timber
line on Kenai mountains. (Figgins.) One specimen taken at
Sheep creek, Alaska. (Anderson.)

654. Black-throated Blue Warbler.
Dendroica cerulescens cerulescens (GMEL.) BAIRD. 1865.

Audubon, Vol. II., p. 63, states he found a dead one in Labrador.
(Packard.) An uncommon summer resident at Halifax, N.S.
(Downs.) Uncommon summer resident in Nova Scotia. (H. F.
Tufts.) Seen in woods at Margaree, Cape Breton island, July, 1898.
(Macoun.) One seen on Sable island, Oct. 7, 1905, and another
Sept. 28, 1907. (J. Boutelier.) A few were detected at Souris,
Prince Edward island. (Dwight.) A rare summer resident at St.
John, N.B. (Chamberlain.) Tolerably common summer resident at
Scotch Lake, York county, N.B. (W.H. Moore.) Taken at Beau-
port; rather uncommon in Quebec. (Dionne.) A common and
transient visitor at Montreal. A few probably breed at Montreal.
I have seen them from May 4th to October 5th. (Wunitle.)

A moderately common migrant in the vicinity of Ottawa. (Ottawa
Naturalist, Vol. V.) I have occasionally noticed the bird in spring
and fall in the county of Leeds, Ont. Once I found the nest in
June, 1899, in an ash swamp. It was built in a bush of Spirea that
grew among ferns and weeds, and was not more than three feet
from the ground. The bird was very tame and easily identified.
The nest much resembles the nest of the redstart except for location.
I have also noticed this bird near Sharbot Lake, Ont., where it breeds
in the underbrush of a large wood of maple and beech. Near Madoc
I have noticed it among the latest warblers to depart south. (Rev.
C. J. Young.) Regular migrant at Toronto, Ont. An abundant
summer resident in the Parry Sound and Muskoka districts of
Ontario. I took a nest on June 8th, 1894; it was on the side of a
hill in a dense hardwood bush, and was placed on the fallen branch
of a dead hemlock, shaded by the horizontal branch of a seedling
maple. (J. H. Fleming.) Common amongst balsam fir in Algonquin
park, Ont., June, 1900. (Spreadborough.) Reaching us in the first
week in May at Toronto this bird becomes very abundant. The

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 629

female of this species occasions probably as much trouble with the
novice as regards identification as any of our birds, flycatchers
excepted; but the white spot at the base of the primaries is indis-
putable evidence and when not clearly apparent always shows when
the feathers are parted. Found young just from the nest at Have-
lock, Ont., July, 1894. (J. Hughes-Samuel.) Rare summer resident
in Middlesex county, Ont., but more common in North Bruce.
Fairly common at London, Ont., as a migrant. (W. E. Saunders.)
Mostly a passing migrant at Guelph, Ont. A few pairs breed.
Arrives about May 12th, leaves about Sept. 26th. (A. B. Klugh.)
Summer resident at Penetanguishene, Ont. (A. F. Young.) Mr.
Norman Criddle observed a warbler at Aweme, Man., Oct. 17th,
1906, which he believes to be this species. The circusmtances under
which it was seen are detailed in The Ottawa Naturalist, Vol. XX.,
p. 189. Mr. Criddle is one of our most careful observers but as the
bird was not shot there is still a little doubt about his determination.

BREEDING Notes.—This species is common during the spring
migrations and a goodly number stay during the summer. The
female“displays great courage and feigns helplessness and distress,
to the utmost degree, when one is near her nest. A nest found
July 21st contained three nearly fresh eggs. It was placed two feet
up in a small beech bush, well built into the fork of small limbs and
was composed of rotten wood fibres, cocoon silk, and scantily lined
with white horse hair. (W.H. Moore.) A nest with young birds
was found on the 4th August, 1902, in a wood near Lake Nominingue,
about 100 miles north of Ottawa. It was built in a raspberry bush
and made of grass and a few leaves, lined with hairlike roots; nest
3x2and 2x 1.25. (Garneau.) On the afternoon of June 5, 1886,
when out in a tract of low, thick underwood, about a mile to the
west of Wildwood, I found a nest with one egg, which at first I took
to be one of a chestnut-sided warbler, so much did it resemble the
nest of that species in form, size, materials of composition and situa-
tion. The egg also had a much similar appearance, but the different
notes of the female owner of this nest soon attracted my attention,
and I waited, a short time till she came out of the thick foliage where
she was concealed and approached the more open space where I was
standing, then I saw that she was quite a different species, and a
more close examination of the nest showed that it was a more com-
pactly formed structure than is usually made by the chestnut-sided

630 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

bird, though the eggs of both species are much similar. The scolding
notes of this bird soon brought her mate upon the scene, but he
seemed more disposed to sport with her than assist to drive off the
intruder. Both birds, however, came quite close, and I identified
them as a pair of the black-throated blue warbler species. Being
anxious to secure this nest and a full set of eggs, I noted the place
and returned four days later. Then the female was seated on the
nest, and when she flushed off I found that it contained three of her
own eggs and one of acowbird. These I collected and prepared for
my cabinet, but they have since passed to the collection of a gentle-
man in Philadelphia. After I had secured the nest and eggs above
described, on my homeward way, I found another nest of the same
species. This was also placed.in the fork of a small maple twig,
about two feet off the ground, and on the outskirts of a thick patch
of low underwood, and then contained three young of the bird’s own
two or three days old, and also a young of the cowbird. I noted in
both cases that the old birds on leaving the nests dropped to the
ground and made quite a commotion among the dry leaves, evidently
with the intention of diverting attention from the nests. (W. L.
Kells.)

655. Myrtle Warbler.

Dendroica coronata (LINN.) GRAY. 1842.

Three examples taken in Greenland prior to 1860. (Arct. Man.)
A single example, an adult male, was taken in Godhaven harbour,
Greenland, July 31st, 1878. (Kwmelin.) Audubon, Vol. IL., p. 24,
found them plentiful in Labrador, with young scarcely able to fly.
Drexler obtained specimens July 21st, 1860, at Moose Factory.
(Packard.) Rather common on the southern half of the coast of
Labrador. (Bigelow.) A common summer migrant in Newfound-
land. (Reeks.) Common in Nova Scotia. (H. F. Tufts.) The
commonest warbler in the vicinity of Halifax, N.S. (Downs.)
Common summer resident at Sydney, Cape Breton island, N.S.
(C. R. Harte.) Brought to Sable island in a north west gale, Sep-
tember 30, 1905; seen in numbers, September 29, 1907. (J. Bou-
teliev.) An abundant species at Baddeck and Margaree, Cape Breton
island, July, 1898; in spruce trees along Brackley point, Prince
Edward island, June 29th, 1888. (Macoun.) Common on Prince
Edward island. Their favorite haunts were clumps of spruces and

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 631

firs in partly cleared lands. (Dwzght.) An abundant summer
resident at St. John, N.B. (Chamberlain.) Quite common in the
Restigouche valley, N.B. (Brittain & Cox.) Common spring
migrant, but is rather rare in summer. Breeds at Scotch Lake,
York co., N.B. (W.H. Moore.) A common resident on the Mag-
dalen islands. (Bishop.) Common migrant at Quebec. A few
may breed. (Dionne.) An abundant transient visitant at Montreal;
observed here from May 3rd to 19th, and from October 8th to roth.
(Wintle.)

An abundant migrant and possibly breeds. Has been seen all
through the summer and probably breeds in the Mer Bleue. (Ottawa
Naturalist, Vol. V.) Common in central Ontario during migration.
A nest I found at Calabogie lake was built in a cedar, near the top,
about ten feet from the ground, and contained four fresh eggs on
May 29th; it was composed of twigs, roots, etc., lined with hair
inside. It also breeds at Sharbot Lake, Ont., where it shows a prefer-
ence for the neighborhood of water and nests in small cedars. (Jev.
C. J. Young.) Regular migrant at Toronto, Ont., not common in
the spring but abundant in the fall. Fairly common in the spring
in Parry Sound and Muskoka districts, Ont. (J. H. Fleming.)
Rather common in summer in Algonquin park, Ont. Saw a pair
building in the top of a hemlock tree near Cache lake. They failed
to complete it and moved to another tree as they were seen there
all summer. (Spreadborough.) Probably the first warbler to reach
us in the spring and last to leave us in the fall. I found young birds
just out of the nest on a small island in Belmont lake, near Have-
lock, Peterborough county, Ont., June 28th, 1895. (J. Hughes-
Samuel.) A migrant only, in Middlesex county, but has been
observed in several localities in North Bruce in the month of June.
(W. E. Saunders.) Usually abundant during migrations at Guelph,
Ont., but almost entirely absent in the spring of 1903. Seen from
about April 30th to May 12th and from September 6th to 8th.
(A. B. Klugh.)

One was seen in company with kinglets and chickadees in the
spruce woods bordering Hill river, September 2nd, 1901. (E. A.
Preble.) Not observed on the 49th parallel until about the middle
of September, when during the fall migration it made its appear-
ance in abundance along the Mouse (Souris) river in company with

632 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

the snowbirds and other species just come from the north. (Coues.)
An abundant migrant; a few breed in Manitoba, at the Duck moun-
tains where I shot a male on June roth, 1884. (£. T. Seton.) First
seen at Aweme, Manitoba, April 20th, 1903, became common by
May 14th, 1903, last seen October roth. (Criddle.) One of the
most migrating species in Manitoba, the first to come and the first
to leave. (Atkinson.) This bird arrives on the banks of the Sas-
katchewan at Prince Albert in May and breeds in thickets. (Cou-
beaux.) Abundant at Grand rapids and Chemawawin; breeding in
the latter place. (Nuéting.) I have the nest and four eggs with the
parent bird that were collected at Red river, Alberta, June 14th,
1898, by Mr. W. Wenman. (W. Raine.) This is a common migrant
at Indian Head, Sask.; it was first seen on April 25th, and the last
ones disappeared on June 2nd, 1892; first seen on April 30th, 1894,
at Medicine Hat, Sask. Those shot were all males. By May 11th
they were very abundant in willow thickets, but were all gone by the
18th; observed two at the upper crossing of the Lob-stick river,
Alta., June 17th, 1898, where they were breeding; seen in large
flocks at Henry House, September 2nd; a spring migrant at
Banff, Rocky mountains in 1891; arrived at Revelstoke, B.C.,
April 24th, 1890, but soon disappeared ; a few seen at Trail, near the
International Boundary, in 1902, but all soon disappeared. (Spread-
borough.) :

This bird arrives on the banks of the Saskatchewan about the
middle of May and continues there all summer, frequenting willow
thickets and the borders of streams and lakes, where Myrica Gale
grows in abundance. (Richardson.) North to Lapierre House, on
the Mackenzie river. (Ross.) This warbler is not numerous on the
Anderson river, where some thirteen nests were found built on low
spruce trees and a few on the ground. It lays from four to five eggs.
(Macfarlane.) On September 3rd, 1907, a small flock appeared at
Last woods, Artillery lake. This may be a northward fall migration.
(E. T. Seton.)

BREEDING Notes.—This bird occasionally breeds in central and
northern Ontario, and commonly north of the Ottawa river. It
is recorded as doing so at Listowel, Ont., by Mr. Wm. L. Kells.
In the early spring and again in the fall when on migration it is one
of the commonest of the warblers; the first nest I found was in the

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 633

spring of 1889, on 29th May, on the bank of Calabogie lake, Ren-
frew co.; it was built near the top of a cedar against the stem, about
eight or nine feet from the ground and close to the water, and on
that date contained four fresh eggs; I easily identified the bird by
its white throat and other characteristic markings; though I often
saw the bird in the interval I did not again meet with its nest until
June 11th, 1902, when I found a nest in a second growth of white
pine on an island in Gull lake, Frontenac co., Ont.; at this date it
contained three young birds, recently hatched; on the 16th June I
found another nest on an island in Sharbot lake; it was just like the
first one I found close to the water and about seven feet from the
ground; the nest is large for the bird, built of dead twigs of spruce
and hemlock with some fibrous roots, and lined with grass, feathers,
rootlets, etc., the feathers in each nest being a special feature; out-
side it somewhat resembles the nest of the purple finch. (Rev. C. J.
Young.)

The first warbler to arrive in spring at Scotch Lake, N.B., coming
about the first of May and staying mostly about young growth woods
or bushy pastures; they are fairly common during migration, and
some seasons stay to breed; one nest was placed six feet up in a
tamarac bush and contained four eggs. (W. H. Moore.) Nests
found around Ottawa in May and June, saddled on the middle of a
branch six feet from the ground in a large fir tree or at the summit of
a small cedar tree ten feet high; they are made of twigs and rootlets
covered with spider webs or a little plant down and lined with feathers
and hairs; in some the feathers hide the eggs, in others the hairs are
over the feathers; nest 4.x 2 and 2x 1.50. (Garneau.) On the 18th
June, 1882, I discovered for the first time in my experience, a nest
of the myrtle warbler; it was in a low, black ash timbered swamp,
where there was intermingling of other soft woods and conifers, near
where I had found a bay-breasted warbler the year before, and of
whose nest I was again in search, when I espied in a low balsam,
about four feet from the ground, a nest with the mother bird seated
upon it; at first sight this avifaunian cradle, in situation, material
and construction, appeared like that of a chipping sparrow, but
when the bird flushed off on my near approach, and from a position
on a branch nearby, watched my movements, shifting uneasily and
uttering a few ‘“‘chip’’-like notes, I carefully noted her plumage and
became certain of her identity as a female myrtle warbler. This

634 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

nest contained four eggs, quite fresh, though the bird had begun to
incubate; the nest itself was composed of stalks of dried weeds,
fibres of bark, rootlets and hair from the tails of horses and cattle;
the next summer I saw another complete nest of this bird, it con-
tained no eggs; this was placed in the top of a small bushy blue-
beech five or six feet high, and situated in a swampy piece of bush
land. (W.L. Kells.) A very abundant species last spring (1903);
the 17th May last I discovered a nest, most certainly a warbler’s,
which resembled those of the yellow warbler, built in the forked
branches of a small maple about seven feet from the ground ; this was
in a hardwood thicket; there was but one egg in it, white with small,
dark spots; I did not disturb either the nest or egg as I was desirous
of seeing who the owners were; I watched for some time but saw only
a myrtle warbler and she did not seem to be over anxious to claim
the dainty little nest and its contents,.so I left it, intending to call
soon again, but did not get a chance until a week later when, to my
sorrow, I found only the nest, which, however, seemed as sound as
ever, but its contents were gone; so I am unable to prove it a myrtle
warbler’s nest, but from the actions of the birds about it when I
first saw it, I believe it belonged to this species. (A. F. Young.) In
The Ottawa Naturalist, Vol. XVIIL., p. 151, Mr. L. M. Terrill gives a
very full account of the breeding of this bird in Compton co., Que.

655a. Hover Warbler.
Dendroica coronata hoovert MCGREGOR. 1899.

Though not now generally recognized as separable from typical
coronata we still retain its varietal name for most of our Alaskan
and B.C. coast specimens.

Western United States, breeding probably in British Columbia
and Alaska. (Allen in The Auk, Vol. XVI., p. 343.) First seen at
Victoria, B.C., April 26th, 1893, and two following days when they
appeared in large numbers flying about in the poplar trees; they
left in a few days; they were seen up to May 13th at Cedar hill,
near Victoria, in 1887; common at Huntingdon on the Interna-
tional Boundary, in the Fraser river valley, in September, 1902;
not common at Clayoquot sound, Vancouver island in September,
1907. (Spreadborough.) British Columbia. (Lord.) Not com-
mon and found only near the coast; a few individuals were found on

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 635

Vancouver island, associating with audubont. (Streator.) An
abundant summer resident. (Fannin.) Tolerably common mi-
grant at Chilliwack, B.C. (Brooks.) Found associating with
audubont on Vancouver island; not seen east of the Coast range.

+(Rhoads.) This species is the hardiest of American warblers. In
Alaska it breeds to the northern tree limit, considerably within the
Arctic circle. (Nelson.) My specimens of this species were obtained
at Fort Yukon where they breed. I observed this species at Nush-
agak, Bristol bay, in June, 1878, where it was quite abundant
among the willow thickets along the river. (Turner.) We found
Hoover’s warblers at Skagway, Glacier, Log Cabin and Haine
Mission, on the Lynn canal and White pass; also Bennett, Cariboo
Crossing, Lake Tagish, Miles cafion, White river, Sixty-mile creek,
and 12 miles above Circle City, in the Yukon valley. (Bishop.) A
single adult male was taken June 23rd, 1897, and a few others heard
previously in the dense firs along Indian river, Sitka. (Grinnell.)
Two specimens were seen during June and July and several during
August and September, 1901. One was taken on the Kenai mount-
tains, August 17th, and one at Sheep creek, August 18th. (Frggins.)
Several specimens taken at Seldovia and Sheep creek, Alaska, in
1903. (Anderson.)

BREEDING Notes.—Hoover’s warblers were numerous summer
residents of the timber tracts throughout the Kowak valley from
the delta eastward; in the latter part of August scattering com-
panies were frequenting the spruce, birch and cottonwoods, among
the foilage of which they were constantly searching, with oft-re-
peated ‘‘chits,’”’ just as are their habits in winter in California; the
last observed, a straggling flock of six or eight, was seen in a patch
of tall willows about sunset of August 30th; the following spring
the arrival of Hoover’s warblers was on May 22nd; they were
already in pairs and the males were in full song; at this season they
were confined exclusively to the heavier spruce woods; in the
Kowak delta, on the 23rd of June, a set of five considerably in-
cubated eggs was secured; the nest was in a small spruce in a tract
of larger growth, and only four feet above the ground; it is a rather
loose structure of fine, dry grass-blades, lined with ptarmigan
feathers; the colour of the eggs is an extremely pale creamy tint,
almost white, with wreaths about the big ends of large lavender
blotches, and smaller spots of drab, overlaid by a few Vandyke
brown. (J. Grinnell.)

636 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

656. Audubon Warbler.

Dendroica auduboni audubont (ToWNS.) SCLATER. 1858.

This warbler was only observed in the Rocky mountains beyond*
the eastern foothills of which it is not known to extend. (Coues.)
Mr. Eastgate shot a female in a grove of pines in the Cypress hills,
Sask., in 1906. (A.C. Bent.) Observed a-pair near Calgary, June
22nd, 1897, in the foothills from there to Crow Nest pass in July and
August; observed a few in the valley of the McLennan, B.C. in July,
1898; common at Banff, Rocky mountains, in the summer of 1891,
building their nests in tall spruce trees; quite plentiful at Revel-
stoke, B.C., on the Columbia river, and down that stream to Deer
park and Robson in June, 1890; young full grown by June 24th;
arrived at Revelstoke on April 12th, 1890; common and breeding
at Trail, on the International Boundary, in June, 1902; first seen
April 13th, 1903, at Penticton, B.C., after this date they became
common; rather rare at Spence Bridge, B.C., in May, 1889, but
common at Hastings and Agassiz, in the Fraser valley; common
nearly everywhere along the International Boundary from Fernie
west to Douglas, B.C., in 1902-6; common around Victoria early in
May, 1893, but the bulk of them had left by the roth, only a few
remained to breed; during the latter part of April and first half of
May this bird is common in most parts of Vancouver island, but
later they are very scarce. (Spreadborough.) British Columbia.
(Lord.) Abundant spring and fall migrant. I think a few breed in
the coast region; it is very common on Vancouver island. (Streat-
or.) Very abundant summer resident all over the province. (Fan-
nim.) A common summer resident at Chilliwack; a few remain
until January. Tolerably common breeder at 150-Mile House, B.C.
(Brooks.) Abundant summer resident everywhere in British
Columbia. (Rhoads.) Found nesting at Donald, Agassiz and
Vancouver, B.C. in 1894. (E. F. G. White.)

BREEDING Notes.—At Banff, in the Rocky mountains, on June
14th, 1893, I found a nest containing four eggs of this species. It
was built in a willow about five feet above the water on the shore
of Vermilion lake. Mr. Dippie found its nest at Devil lake, fourteen
miles from Banff, June 22nd, 1902. (W. Raine.)

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 637
657, Magnolia Warbler.
Dendroica maculosa (GMEL.) BAIRD. 1858.

Taken in South Greenland, near Godthaab, 1875. (Wunge.)
Audubon, Vol. II., p. 66, reports it common, with eggs and nest in
the beginning of July, 1833; Drexler obtained a specimen at Moose
Factory, May 28th, 1860. (Packard.) Common at Moose Factory,
James bay, June, 1896; none observed elsewhere. (Spreadborough.)
Tolerably common in Newfoundland in summer. (Reeks.) An
abundant summer resident in Nova Scotia. (Downs; Tufts.) A
common summer resident at Sydney, Cape Breton island, N.S. (C.
R. Harte.) One seen on Sable island, N.S., May 25, 1904, and quite
a large number, May 25, 1907; noted, May 31st, fJune 2oth
and October 8th, 1902. (J. Boutelier.) In woods at Baddeck
and Margaree, Cape Breton island, July, 1898; on trees at
Brackley point, Prince Edward Island, July 20th, 1888. (Macoun.)
This is a characteristic warbler of the region and is abundantly re-
presented on Prince Edward island. (Dwight.) An abundant
summer resident at St. John, N.B. (Chamberlain.) Quite common
in the Restigouche valley, N.B. (Brittain & Cox.) An abundant
summer resident at Scotch Lake, York co., N.B. (W. H. Moore.)
Rare at the Magdalens, a male taken on Grindstone island. (Bzshop.)
At both Fox and Ellis bays, Anticosti, this species was most abun-
dant; it is also a common bird at Port Hawkesbury, at Gaspé and
along the north shore of the St. Lawrence. (Brewster.) Rather
common in woods at Lake Mistassini, Que. (J. M. Macoun.) A
common summer resident around Quebec; taken at Charlesbourg.
(Dionne.) A common but transient visitant at Montreal; observed

here from May 18th to 24th, but not met with in the autumn.
(Wintle.)

A moderately common migrant. A few may breed; found at the
Mer Bleue, 3rd July, 1890, by Mr. W. E. Saunders. (Ottawa Natur-
alist, Vol. V.) Common in eastern Ontario during migration;
rarely breeding; one nest I found contained four fresh eggs on July
1st, 1895; it was built in a bush of Spirwa, among small pines and
hemlocks, near Otly lake, Lanark co., Ont. This bird is a common
breeding species near Mingan, Que. I saw a nest with four eggs
taken there in June, 1899; the nest was built in a small spruce tree.
(Rev. C. J. Young.) An abundant summer resident in Parry Sound

638 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

and Muskoka districts, Ont. (J. H. Fleming.) Not rare as a summer
resident in Algonquin park, Ont. Several seen at Missinabi,
Ont., during the first week in June, 1904. (Spreadborough.)
Abundant in spring and fall at Toronto, and as they reach us before
the end of August fall migration it is reasonable to conclude that
some at least do not go far to breed. (J. Hughes-Samuel.) A
common migrant, but a rare summer resident in Middlesex co.,
Ont.; abundant in parts of north Bruce in June. (W. E. Saunders.)
Passing migrant; seen about May roth at Guelph, Ont., and again
from about August 28th up till September 28th. (A. B. Klugh.)
One or two seen at Norway House, Keewatin, and one taken at
Oxford House. (E. A. Preble.)

One specimen of this species was taken in Wood mountain by
Dr. G. M. Dawson and seen in his collection. (Cowes.) A migrant
in Manitoba, and apparently common near Winnipeg, but may
breed in the northern part of the province. (EZ. T. Seton.) A
tolerably common spring and autumn migrant at Aweme, Manitoba;
arrives about the middle of May. (Criddle.) Abundant in Manitoba
generally as a migrant, but not noted breeding. (Atkinson.) A few
specimens seen at Wood mountain, Sask., where they were doubtless
breeding, on June 12th, 1895; a specimen was shot at Revelstoke,
B.C., in July, 1890; no others were seen; only two individuals ob-
served at Edmonton, Alta., on May 22nd and 25th, 1897. (Spread-
borough.) Abundant at Chemawawin, on the Saskatchewan. (Nut-
ting.) A number of specimens seen at Lesser Slave river, Alta. (/.
M. Macoun.) This is a common bird on the banks of the Saskat-
chewan,; it is usually to be found in the thickets of young spruce
trees and willows, flitting near the ground from one branch to an-
other. (Rtchardson.) North to Fort Simpson, on the Mackenzie
river; rather rare. (Ross.) Taken at Vernon, Lake Okanagan,
B.C., in 1898, by Mr. Brooks. (Fannin.) A specimen taken at
Field, in the Rocky mountains, and two or three observed at Vernon,
B.C. (Rhoads.) Several seen at Quesnel, B.C., during the fall
migration. (Brooks.)

BREEDING NotTEs.—This species occasionally breeds in central
Ontario, probably more often than the myrtle warbler. I found a
nest in a small hemlock, May 30th, 1902, which grew on a wooded
bank under large hemlock trees on a point at Sharbot lake. The

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 639

nest was ill-concealed, about four feet from the ground, and the bird
left it when I approached. At a short distance it resembled a chip-
ping sparrow‘s, but was composed outwardly of fine hemlock twigs,
neatly woven, and was lined with hair and fibres. There were four
fresh eggs, which were boldly marked, rather than spotted, with
blotches of a dark brick-red on a creamy ground. I saw the bird
leave the nest three times and identified it by the yellow markings
and black on side of head. (Rev. C. J. Young.) This pretty little
warbler arrives at Scotch Lake from the 1oth to 15th May, and
within a week of the first arrival is common. They frequent young
spruce trees in pastures and partly cleared land. They nest in June,
building near the ground in small spruces and generally on the outer
end of a small limb. They lay four eggs, and the period of incuba-
tion is ten or eleven days, and the young stay in the nest about two
weeks. (W. H. Moore.) A few pairs breed at Ottawa, while a
great number go more to the north at Lake Nominingue. It nests
in bushes of all kinds from one to four feet from the ground. The
nests consist of small twigs, fine grass and rootlets, lined with hair
or hair-like roots. (Garneau.) A very full account of the nesting of
this species in Compton co., Que., by Mr. L. M. Terrill was printed
in The Ottawa Naturalist, Vol. XVIIL., p. 150.

658. Cerulean Warbler.

Dendroica rara (WIiLs.) RipGway. 1897.

Rare spring migrant at Toronto, Ont. I have records of three
males, May 24, 1890, May 20, 1893, and May 11, 1897; besides these
there are four or five other local specimens, including a pair in the
museum of Toronto University, taken in 1856. (J. H. Fleming.)
Common in the southwestern part of Ontario, but rare near London
and not extending much further north. A number of nests have
been taken, varying from 25 to 60 feet above the ground and all
saddled on fairly large limbs from { to 2 inches in diameter. The
nests are quite shallow, but are constructed similarly to those of the
redstart. Eggs four. In former years the birds were much more
common in the vicinity of London, Ont. (W. E. Saunders.) Nest
and eggs taken at Drummondville, near Niagara Falls, Ont. (See
Ridgway, Hist. N. Am. Birds, 1., 1874, p. 235.) A regular summer
resident in southern Ontario, but local. One spring I searched for it

640 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

carefully near Hamilton without seeing a single individual, while
across the bay, four miles off, Mr. Dickson reported it quite common
and breeding in the woods near the Waterdown station of the Grand
Trunk railway. (McIlwraith.)

BREEDING NoTEs.—I have two nests with sets of eggs of this
species collected by Mr. Edward Reinecke, of Buffalo, N.Y. One
nest containing four eggs was found on Navy island, in the Niagara
river. The nest was placed on the limb of an elm, near the top
about 50 feet from the ground and very hard to get at. (W. Raine.)

659. Chesnut-sided Warbler.

Dendroica pensylvanica (LINN.) Batrp. 1858.

Accidental in South Greenland in 1887. (Winge.) Tolerably
common throughout the summer in Newfoundland. (Reeks.) An
abundant summer resident at Halifax, N.S. (Downs.) Rather un-
common summer resident in Nova Scotia. (H. F. Tufts.) A rare
summer resident at St. John, N.B. (Chamberlain.) Tolerably com-
mon summer resident at Scotch Lake, York county, N.B. (W. H.
Moore.) Common summer resident at Montreal; breeds in Mount
Royal park; nests with eggs found from June 5th to 24th; observed
here from May 11th to August 18th. (Wintle.) A scarce migrant
and possible resident in summer at Quebec. (Dionne.)

A common summer resident in the vicinity of Ottawa. (Ottawa
Naturalist, Vol. V.) Not uncommon about Lansdowne, Leeds
county, Ont.; I found a nest with four eggs, built in a small elm three
feet from the ground, June 3rd, 1896, and plainly identified the bird.
I have found it breeding commonly near Madoc, Ont., making its
nest in hazel bushes. (Rev. C. J. Young.) Abundant migrant at
Toronto, Ont.; rare summer resident, probably breeds. An abund-
ant summer resident in Parry Sound and Muskoka districts. (J. H.
Fleming.) Observed several in low bushes along the Parry Sound
railway on dry ground and in burnt woods where the second growth
is low, in Algonquin park, Ont., in June and July, 1900. Common
and breeding along the C.P. Ry. at Missinabi, Ont. (Spreadborough.)
Not as common as formerly in summer though it still breeds in fair
numbers around London, Ont. (W. E. Saunders.) Common as a
migrant, breeding in varying numbers every year at Guelph, Ont.;

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 641

arrives about May 8th and leaves about August 18th. (A. B.
Klugh.) One specimen only of this distinctive species was secured
at Pembina—perhaps its western if not its northern limit. (Coues.)
A common summer resident in the wooded parts of Manitoba. Its
choice of locality usually causes it to be found chiefly in half-open
woods, especially along the edges of low, marshy places. It fre-
quents the tops of the highest trees. (E. T. Seton.) Tolerably
common at Aweme, Manitoba, where it breeds. (Criddle.) Very
abundant as a migrant in Manitoba, breeds sparingly throughout the
province. (Atkinson.)

BREEDING NotTes.—Found a nest in Beechwood cemetery near
Ottawa, which was built in an upright crotch about six feet from
the ground. The nest was a loosely woven mass of dried weeds and
fibrous substances lined with fine grass and horse-hair. Eggs 4,
white with reddish brown markings. (G. R. White.) Nests around
Ottawa in June and also at Lake Nominingue, 100 miles north of
Ottawa, in raspberry bushes and low shrubs; the nests are made
with grasses and strips of bark lined with vegetable fibres and finer
strips of bark; nest 3 x 2 and 2x 1.25. (Garneau.) On May 22nd
of the past year (1900) not far distant from each other, I noticed
two newly formed nests of this bird; the first seen was deep in the
underwood, and placed in the fork of a small bushy maple about
twenty inches off the ground; this was so bulky and compactly built
that at first I took it to be a nest of an indigo bird; it was formed of
akind of woody fibre gleaned from decayed timber, vines and grasses,
and lined with long, black horse-hair, which it must ave taken the
builder a good deal of time, with much trouble, to collect and place
in position; on the above date this nest contained an egg of the cow-
bird, which I removed and—five days after—it contained three eggs
of the chestnut-sided warbler, and on these the female was incubat-
ing, and as the usual set of eggs of this species numbers four, it was
evident that the cow-bird had removed one of the warbler’s when
she deposited her own; this tramp among birds, is one of the worst
enemies with which the whole family of the warblers has to contend,
as many of their nests are found to contain one or more of the cow-
bird’s eggs; and there is danger that the progeny may destroy the
whole brood in the nest of the species in which it is cradled; on one
occasion I found a nest of the chestnut-sided warbler which contained
four cow-bird’s eggs, and but one of the warbler’s own; the eggs of

41

642 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

this species are of a whitish hue, with a very irregular wreath, or
belt, of a brownish colour, around the larger end, and some dottings,
sometimes of a blackish hue, on the middle surface; the smaller end
is unmarked; the other nest of this species, noted on the same date,
was near the edge of the wood, and placed between several stalks of
raspberry vines about two feet off the ground, and composed of
materials much similar to the other, with the exception of the horse-
hair lining, and was not so bulky in size—this was on the 3oth of
May, contained four eggs; a week after, two other nests of this
species were noted, both deeper in the wood, and both placed in the
forks of little maples, but at varying elevations from the ground, one
being about four feet, this contained four eggs, the other which con-
tained three eggs, was about two feet off the ground, and by the
side of a pathway. In both cases these were evidently advanced in
incubation, and were not molested; I concluded that in this tract of
forest about a dozen pairs of this species were breeding, but they
have many enemies among other birds and small animals. (W. L.
Kells.) In the Ottawa Naturalist, Vol. XVIII, p. 152, Mr. L. M.
Terrill describes the nesting of this bird in Compton county, Que.

660. Bay-breasted Warbler.

Dendrotca castanea (WiLS.) Barb. 1858.

Drexler obtained a specimen at Moose Factory, June 2nd, 1860;

three individuals were seen at Black island, Hamilton inlet, by my-
self, June 9th,.1882; two specimens were shot but lost. (Packard.)
Tolerably common summer resident in Newfoundland. (Reeks.)
An uncommon summer resident at Halifax, N.S.; more common
inland. (Downs.) Rare summer resident in Nova Scotia. (H. F.
Tufts.) One seen at Baddeck, Cape Breton island, June 4th, 1890.
(F. H. Allen.) An occasional summer resident at St. John, N.B.
(Chamberlain.) In the vicinity of Scotch Lake, N.B.; this is one of
the late arriving warblers, not being observed until late in May. It
is a rather rare summer resident and is found mostly about the
scrubby edges of woodlands in rather moist places. (W.H. Moore.)
A pair seen in woods near Black river, Prince Edward island, July
18th, 1888. (Macoun.) A scarce transient visitant at Montreal. I
have shot specimens on the spur of Mount Royal as late as May 28th,
1892, but have not met this species after that date. Mr. Kuetzing

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 643

says this species breeds on Montreal island, as he has seen them on
the eastern part of the island in July. (Wzntle.) Seldom met with
around Quebec in summer; taken at Beauport. (Dionne.) A rare,
irregular spring migrant in May and June. A pair was observed
gathering nest material, June 15th, 1902, at Scotch Lake, N.B. (W.
H. Moore.)

A moderately common migrant around Ottawa. (Ottawa Natur-
alist, Vol. V.) An uncommon warbler in eastern Ontario; I saw
one specimen in the grass at Lansdowne, Leeds co., Ont. A few
breed on the Magdalen islands. I obtained a nest with four eggs
taken there in June, 1898, ten feet from the ground, in a spruce tree.
The eggs are fully as large as those of the black-poll warbler, but are
differently marked. (Rev. C. J. Young.) Not abundant in the
Parry Sound and Muskoka districts. I have met with it only during
migration. Regular spring migrant at Toronto, Ont., not very
common; one fall record, a young female, August 24th, 1906. (J. H.
Fleming.) Though usually by no means abundant I think no spring
season passes without a fair number visiting this locality. If they
pass this way in the fall in any numbers I think they do so in com-
pany with DFstriaia, which they at this season much resemble, and so
are not noted. Occasionally in May they are unusually abundant—
my note for 19th May, 1888, reading: “Heavy thunder storm about
3 am. and another at 6 am. Morning much milder than of late;
atmosphere very hazy. Vast influx of migrants, many of which
had no doubt been kept back by the cold nights the past week. Bay-
breasts were astonishingly numerous, and in fact, though it may
seem strange, although many of the common warblers were here in
full force, D. castanea was certainly the most numerous—so much
so in fact that at one time I counted no less than twelve feeding on
the ground at one time, and in the space of a few feet. The insects
had been beaten down by the previous night’s storm. I also saw
several of these birds taking a dainty little bath in a puddle of water
in company with many birds of widely divergent habits. (J.
Hughes-Samuel.) Passing migrant at Guelph, Ont. Abundant
this fall (1903). Seen about May 15th, and again about August 27th.
(A. B. Klugh.) I found the nest of this species north of Waterloo,
Ont., May 22nd, 1899 ; nest in a hemlock, five feet from the ground.
(W. Raine.)

41%

644 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

A rare summer resident in Manitoba. Only mentioned by a few
observers. (E. T. Seton.) Very abundant as a migrant in Mani-
toba, breeds sparingly throughout the province of Manitoba; not
noted west of Fort Ellice in 1906. (Atkinson.) A rare summer
resident at Aweme, Manitoba; arrived May 18th, 1903, and last seen
August 21st. (Criddle.) A rare summer migrant at Indian Head,
Sask. Only one individual seen in the spring of 1892, on June 8th.
Only one individual was seen at Medicine Hat, Sask., in the spring
of 1894. (Spreadborough.) One was taken at Oxford House, Kee-
watin, July 3rd, 1901. (E. A. Preble.)

BREEDING Notes.—Here the first nest that claimed my attention
was one placed on the side of a small birch tree, where a tuft of
twigs grew out from the ground. I soon reached and secured this;
it contained three fresh eggs; these were of a white hue with dot-
tings and patches of a brownish or flesh colour, the nest itself being
composed of fragments of bark, rootlets and hair; I did not then note
the owner, nor could I at that time have identified the species, but
I gave them a name and placed them in my collection. Two years
after—June, 1879—I was out in a piece of swampy woods, south of
the town, when my attention was arrested by the actions of a small
bird, which was constructing a nest among some leafy twigs growing
on the small horizontal branch of a little water-elm, about three feet
out from the trunk and ten feet off the ground. Some days after I
viewed this nest again, it then contained one egg, and three days
later when I revisited it, I found the bird at home sitting on three
eggs, which I inferred were the full set, and that incubation had
begun. When this bird flew off her nest and took a position on a
branch nearby, uttering a few chip-like notes, I identified her as a
female bay-breasted warbler. The nest and eggs were exactly like
those above described, and of course both belonged to the same
species. Some days after this I found another nest of this bird in
a neighbouring lowland wood; this was placed in the top of a small
hemlock, about fourteen feet from the ground, constructed of similar
materials, and contained four eggs. Since then no nest of this
species with eggs has come under my observation, but I have noted
a few others in which young had apparently been raised. One of
these was on the side of a small cedar, where a little branch grew out,
and about four feet off the ground; another, evidently a new nest,
but after the breeding season when I found it, was placed among

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 645

some leafy twigs on the side of a pretty large birch tree, five or six
feet from the ground. This, with a set of the first eggs of the species
that I took, are still in my collection, and a notable feature about the
nest of this find, is that the beginning and outside of the nest is
ornamented with pieces of birch bark, and usually also with insect
cocoons. It much resembles the nest of a chipping sparrow, but
there is less hair in the inside, and the foundation is less bulky.
Inside, it is about two inches across, by one and a half deep. (W.
L. Kells.)

661. Black-poll Warbler.

Dendroica strvata (FORST.) BAIRD. 1858.

One specimen sent from Godthaab, Greenland, in 1853. (Arct.
Man.) Abundant throughout the wooded portion of Labrador.
Breeds plentifully at Fort Chimo, where seven nests and eggs were
obtained in 1884 by Turner. (Packard.) Observed one at Fort
George, June 20th, 1896, and two more between the fort and Rich-
mond gulf; common all across Ungava from Richmond gulf to Fort
Chimo; I believe the last of them left the country for the south
about August 23rd, 1896, as on that day I saw the last one near
Fort Chimo. (Spreadborough.) A very abundant and character-
istic bird, of northeastern Labrador; as far north as the limit of
timber near Cape Aillik. (Bigelow.) Apparently not uncommon in
summer in Newfoundland. (Reeks.) Seen in large numbers on the
Humber river, Newfoundland, August 27th, 1899. (Lows H.
Porter.) A not uncommon summer resident at Halifax, N.S.
(Downs.) Locally common summer resident in Nova Scotia; com-
mon as a migrant in King’s county from June 1 to1o. (H. F. Tufts.)
Appeared in numbers on Sable island, N.S., May 21st, 1902. This
was after a gale; one seen, May 18th, 1907. (J. Boutelier.) Not
common at Baddeck, Cape Breton island. (F.H. Allen.) Common
during the spring and autumn migrations. Rare in summer at St-
John, N.B. (Chamberlain.) A rare spring migrant at Scotch Lake,
York county, N.B. (W.H. Moore.) A: very abundant bird on the
Magdalen islands; breeding everywhere. (Bishop.) Decidedly the
most numerous of the warblers on the Magdalen islands, and fairly
common at Anticosti as well as along the north shore of the St.
Lawrence. (Brewster.) Not rare at Lake Mistassini, Que. (J. M.

646 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

Macoun.) A rare migrant in spring at Quebec. (Dionne.) I con-
sider this species an irregular spring migrant, and have not met with
them here in the autumn. (Wdnile.)
r Rab |

A moderately common migrant in the vicinity of Ottawa. (Ottawa
Naturalist, Vol. V.) I have seldom seen this bird in eastern Ontario.
I found this to be the commonest warbler by far in Magdalen islands
in June, 1897; I found four nests all built in bushy spruce trees at
from two to five feet from the ground; they are late birds to arrive
there and do not commence to build until the middle of June; I
noticed that the eggs were almost all blotched with dark umber
brown as well as spotted and speckled like the last species. (Rev.
C. J. Young.) Regular migrant at Toronto, Ont., not very common.
(J. H. Fleming.) The black-polls seem very local at Toronto, as,
though I have found them decidedly abundant during the last two
years in a particularly nice little patch of tall willows near the lake
shore, I do not know of any one else having noted a single specimen.
May 15th is the earliest date on which I have seen them—three males
appearing then, and increasing in numbers till 26th May, when the
first females were seen; by 2nd of June all had passed on; my
earliest fall note is 27th August, and from this date on the numbers
daily increase till the trees are almost alive with their weak call-
notes. While with us in the spring the males keep up their some-
what insect-like notes at intervals during the whole day, as they
glide from branch to branch—not dashing and darting about with
the vim that is so characteristic of many members of this family.
(J. Hughes-Samuel.) A passing migrant at Guelph, Ont.; not com-
mon. (A. B. Klugh.) Abundant migrant in fall but not very
common in spring at London, Ont. (W. E. Saunders.) Observed
several on the east coast of James bay in 1904. (Spreadborough.)
Taken at Fort Churchill, Hudson bay. (Clarke.) At Oxford House,
June 30th to July 4th they were rather common; on July roth we
noticed a pair in a thicket that bordered Hayes river, a few miles
above York Factory, and on arriving at that post we again found
the birds rather common; at Fort Churchill, where they were also
common we took another specimen, July 24th, 1901. (E. A. Preble.)

One specimen of this species was procured at Wood Mountain on
the 49th parallel by Dr. G. M. Dawson, Geologist of the English
Commission. (Coues.) A rare migrant in Manitoba; probably

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 647

breeding. (£. T. Seton.) A tolerably common spring visitant,
possibly breeds at Aweme, Manitoba. (Criddle.) Common migrant
in Manitoba generally, not known to breed. (Atkinson.) This is
a common spring migrant at Indian Head, Sask., two individuals
were seen May gth, 1892; towards the end of the month they became
common, but all disappeared by June 5th; first saw one male May
roth, 1894, at Medicine Hat, Sask.; quite common by the 16th, all
disappeared by the end of May; some may breed, as they acted as
if they would; a few individuals seen at Old Wives creek, Sask., late
in May, 1895; one individual seen at the upper crossing of Lob-stick
creek, northwest of Edmonton, June, 1898; a common breeding
species at Banff, Rocky mountains, in the summer of 1891; observed
a pair at Bragg creek, about 4o miles southwest of Calgary, June 28th,
1897. (Spreadborough.) One specimen secured at the Grand
Rapids of the Saskatchewan. (Nutiing.) Two or three individuals
seen on the Athabaska river near Lesser Slave river. (J. M. Macoun.)
Our specimen of this bird was killed by an Indian in the neighbour-
hood of Cumberland House, in the latter end of May. (Rzchardson.)
North to Lapierre House, on the Mackenzie river; common. (Ross.)
More plentiful than D. coronata, although only 21 nests were secured.
(Macfarlane.) Female observed feeding young at Artillery lake,
August 5th, 1907. (£. T. Seton.) They were all similarly situated,
and contained four or five eggs, and two or three of them were on
the ground. I shot a black-poll warbler in the first plumage at
Quesnel, B.C., but was unable to find it in the thick brush; I am very
well acquainted with the species and am positive of its identity.
(Brooks.) Although this species has its breeding grounds in the
wooded interior it occurs along the sea-coast of Norton sound during
‘the spring migration. (Nelson.) This species was obtained only at
Fort Yukon on September 18th, 1875, and also in 1877; it is not
common at any time in that locality. (Turner.) At Log Cabin in
the White pass on June 15th, 1899, this species was common; on
July 5th took a male at Lake Marsh and two specimens were taken
at Cariboo Crossing, B.C. (Bishop.) One specimen taken at Fort
Kenai, Cook inlet, Alaska, by Bischoff. (Osgood.) Found breeding
in the Kowak valley, Kotzebue sound, Alaska, in 1899. (Grinnell.)
An adult female was taken on Sheep creek on the Kenai peninsula,
Alaska; besides being noted at several other points and no doubt
breeds there. (Figgins.)

648 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

662. Blackburnian Warbler.

Dendroica blackburnie (GMEL.) BAIRD. 1858.

A young specimen taken in Greenland at Frederickshaab, October
16th, 1845, is referred here. (Arct. Man.) Audubon, Vol. IL, p. 48,
saw several in Labrador. (Packard.) A very rare summer resident
inland in Nova Scotia. (Downs.) Rather common summer resident
in King’s county, Nova Scotia. (H. F. Tujts.) Rare at Baddeck,
Cape Breton island, July, 1898. (Macoun.) An occasional summer
resident at St. John, N.B. (Chamberlain.) A tolerably common
summer resident at Scotch Lake, York county, N.B. (W. H.
Moore.) Not very common summer resident at Quebec; taken at
Charlesbourg. (Dionne.) A common transient visitant at Mont-
real. Observed here from May roth to 24th, but not met with in
the autumn. (Winile.) I saw a pair in an open spot in spruce
woods in Compton county, Que, July r2th, 1902. (L. M. Terrill.)

A common migrant at Ottawa. A male in full plumage was
seen in Dow’s swamp, June 24th, 1890, by Dr. F. A. Saunders.
(Ottawa Naturalist, Vol. V.) Commonly seen as a migrant in Leeds
county, Ont., in the month of May. I saw a pair of these birds in a
small swamp of black spruce and tamarack at Sharbot lake, Ont.,
June 17th, 1904. They appeared to be breeding. They are common
in migration at Queensboro, West Madoc, Ont. (Rev. C. J. Young.)
Regular migrant at Toronto, Ont ; this was a rare warbler twenty
years ago. A common summer resident in Parry Sound and: Mus-
koka districts. (J. H. Fleming.) Observed several in thick woods
in Algonquin park, Ont. They keep to the tops of trees. I have
never seen them near the ground. (Spreadborough.) This beauti-
fully attired warbler is just plentiful enough at Toronto for all who
desire to make their acquaintance annually to do so with but little
trouble. Their favourite resort is among the hemlocks and similar
growths. Usually reaching us about roth May and I have seen a
few as early as 3rd of May. In the year 1900 I saw several on 21st
August. (J. Hughes-Samuel.) A rare summer resident, but a
fairly common migrant at London, Ont. (W. E. Saunders.) A
passing migrant, fairly common at Guelph, Ont. Seen about May
8th and again about August 28th. (A.B. Klugh.)

A rare summer visitor in the western part of Manitoba, but more
common in the eastern part where it doubtless breeds. I noticed

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS, 649

it only once at Carberry. (£. T. Seton.) A rare spring migrant at
Aweme, Manitoba. (Criddle.) Common in Manitoba generally,
not known to breed. (Atkinson.) This species is recorded by
Murray from Severn House and Trout lake, Keewatin under the
name Sylvicola parus. (E. A. Preble.)

665. Black-throated Gray Warbler.
Dendroica nigrescens (TowNs.) BatrD. 1858.

This species was taken at Agassiz and at Hastings, in the Fraser
valley in May, 1889; four individuals were shot at Huntingdon
on the International Boundary in September, 1902, these were the
only ones seen; several seen at Douglas, B.C., and two on the Chilli-
wack river in 1906. (Spreadborough.) British Columbia. (Lord.)
Found on the coast only; not common. (Streator.) Not common;
I have only noticed it on the coast. (Fannin.) Tolerably com-
mon summer resident at Chilliwack. (Brooks.) On Vancouver
island the peculiar song of nigrescens was occasionally detected
but no birds secured. I feel quite sure that I saw a pair in the
mountains back of Clinton, B.C. (Rhoads.)

667. Black-throated Green Warbler.
Dendroica virens (GMEL.) BAIRD. 1858.

_ One specimen sent from Julianshaab in 1853. (Arct. Man.) A
tolerably common summer resident in Newfoundland. (Reeks.)
Abundant in Nova Scotia. (H. F. Tufts.) Common summer resi-
dent in pine and spruce woods at Halifax, N.S. (Downs.) Several
seen, May 25th, at Sydney, Cape Breton island, N.S. (C. R. Harte.)
Quite common in spruce trees at Brackley point, Prince Edward
island; breeding June, 1888; common at Baddeck and Margaree,
Cape Breton island, July, 1898. (Macoun.) One seen on Sable
island, N.S., October 7th, 1905 and one seen, June 17th, 1906,
(J. Boutelier.) Abundant at every place visited on Prince Edward
island where the forest was of considerable size. (Dwight.) A
common summer migrant in the vicinity of St. John, N.B. (Cham-
berlain.) A common summer resident at Scotch Lake, York county,
N.B. (W. H. Moore.) Rare on the Magdalen islands; one pair
seen on Grindstone island. (Bishop.) Rare in the Restigouche

650 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA,

valley, N.B. (Brittain & Cox.) Met with only about Port Hawkes-
bury, Cape Breton island, and at Fox and Ellis bays, Anticosti.
(Brewster.) A rather common summer resident at Quebec; taken
at Charlesbourg. (Dionne.) A common spring migrant, but a
scarce summer resident at Montreal. Observed here about May 7th
and leave about October roth. (Wunile.)

A moderately common migrant in the vicinity of Ottawa. (Ottawa
Naturalist, Vol. V.) A few of these birds are to be met with in
eastern Ontario in the breeding season; I met with a nest once in the
month of July, 1898; this was on Deer island, one of the Thousand
islands; it was built in a pine tree about 25 feet from the ground
and at the time contained young birds. I noticed a pair breeding at
Sharbot lake, Ont. in June, 1903. (Rev. C. J. Young.) Abundant
migrant at Toronto, Ont. A common summer resident in Parry
Sound” and Muskoka districts; Mr. Kay refers to it as only just
becoming common at Port Sydney, Muskoka in 1890. (J. H.
Fleming.) Not very common in summer in Algonquin park, Ont.; in
1900 only afew observed in the tree topsin thick woods. Observed
on the Missinabi river and Moose river nearly to Moose Factory.
(Spreadborough.) A common summer resident in the deeper cedar
swamps around London; abundant as a migrant; a common breed-
ing bird in North Bruce. (W. E. Saunders.) Fairly common
summer resident at Guelph, Ont., and abundant during migrations.
This year (1903) it has been as common a breeder as the yellow and
black-and-white warblers and by far our most abundant migrant;-
arrives about May ist and leaves about September 30th. (A.B.
Klugh.)

‘One specimen taken at Medicine Hat, Sask, May 17th, 1894; the
only one seen; first seen at Edmonton, Alta., May 15th, 1897; com-
mon in the spruce woods by May 22nd; breeding in the woods;
one pair seen at Peace River Landing in lat. 56° 15’ in June, 1903.
(Spreadborough.) This species was seen at Aweme, Manitoba, on
May 13th and 17th, 1898. (Criddle.) A regular but not common-
migrant in the more eastern portion of Manitoba. (Atkinson.)

BREEDING Notes.—My notes on this species in Compton county,
Que., are based on three nests, and if others should be found to con-
tinue in a relative similarity, a description of one would suffice.

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 651

The first, found June 1st, 1902, was fastened, one foot from tip,
on to a limb of a small shrubby spruce, three feet from the trunk
and six from the ground. The spot chosen was a side hill covered
with a growth of young spruce and cedar. The nest, well hidden by
an overhanging branch, held four fresh eggs and was composed
exteriorally of dead spruce twigs neatly interwoven with yellow
birch bark shreds and lined with fine grasses and animal hair. Its
inside diameter measured 13, outside 3 inches; inside depth, 1},
outside, 24 inches. The well rounded and finished appearance
and the predominance of birch bark reminded me of certain vireos’
nests. Two nests found later, on June gth and 29th, were similarly
situated and constructed and contained respectively four fresh and
one addled egg. The eggs measured uniformly .66 x .49, are white,
distinctly and obscurely dotted, chiefly at the larger end, with
varying shades of rufous brown and lilac and a few distinct spots
of black. (L. M. Terrill.)

668. Townsend Warbler.

Dendroica townsendi (TOWNS.) SCLATER. 1858.

A few individuals seen at Revelstoke, B.C., in May, 1890, and
a male shot on the 23rd; one taken at Huntingdon, on the Inter-
national Boundary, in September, 1902, the only one seen; first
seen on Vancouver island, April 19th, 1893; shortly after they
began to nest in the Douglas firs near Victoria. A common sum-
mer resident on the island. (Spreadborough.) British Columbia.
(Lord.) A single specimen was collected at Mount Lehman in
September. (Streator.) East and west of coast range; not common.
(Fannin.) Migratory at Chilliwack; scarce. (Brooks.) Abun-
dant on Vancouver island, but rare east of the Coast range.
(Rhoads.) One specimen seen at English bay near Vancouver, B.C.,
August 8th, 1894. (E. F.G. White.) One taken at Cumshewa inlet,
Queen Charlotte islands, June 15th, and five others at Skidegate,
July 14th; Mr. Keen found it at Massett and noted its spring arrival
from 1891 to 1898. (Osgood.) A single adult female taken at
Sitka, Alaska, August 14th, and two others seen at the same tiie.
(Grinnell.) Wartlaub states that this species was once seen by Dr.
Krause on May 27th, in conifers of upper Dejah valley, Alaska,

652 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

which is probably the most northern point from which it has yet
been recorded. (Nelson.) Osgood took a male at Skagway, May
31st. It was tolerably common at Glacier in the dense woods of
spruce and fir, and unquestionably nesting. Altogether we noted
about twenty individuals during our stay. Osgood took an adult
at the southern end of Lake Marsh, north of lat. 60°, in the Yukon
district, July rst, and I an adult female and a young female on the
west shore of Lake Lebarge, July 14th. This is a new species to
the Yukon valley. (Bishop.) Two specimens taken respectively
in Kenai mountains, Alaska, August 14th, and at Sheep creek,
August 17th, considerably extend the range of this species to the
westward. (/2ggins.) One taken at Seldovia and one at Sheep
creek, Alaska. (Anderson.)

669. Hermit Warbler.
Dendroica occidentalis (Towns.) BAIRD. 1858.

A summer resident, chiefly west of the coast range in British
Columbia. (Fannin.) We have no other record of this species,
and yet we have looked for it every season.

670. Kirtland Warbler.
Dendrowca kirtlandu Batrp. 1858.

This is said to be the only warbler occurring in North America
of which the nest and eggs are unknown; and prior to the past
spring (1900) the appearance of this bird in Canada has not been
recorded, as far as I have been able to ascertain. My notes are as
follows: “16th May, 1900, 5.30 a.m., morning dull; east wind,
warblers, etc., plentiful. After a while I was attracted to the
centre of a cluster of tall willow trees by notes—strong, clear and
with quite a musical ring—and as the song, short but remarkably
pretty, was quite new to me I approached carefully under cover
of a tree trunk and found myself within a few feet of my new ac-
quaintance, for such it proved to be. While watching the bird
with my field glass I noticed a tendency to jerk its tail slightly,
and not like the ostentatious jerk of a waterthrush, but more
after the nervous manner I have seen adopted in fall by Wilsonia
pusilla. As soon as the bird observed me he darted into another

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 653

tree, hiding behind a branch, but, curiously enough, still singing.
I approached under cover and on taking the bird found I had been
fortunate enough to secure a specimen of D. kirtlandw in good
plumage. On stepping the distance from the tree where I was
standing to the tree on which the bird was singing when I first
heard him, I found it to be 110 yards, which goes to show the power
of his voice.” (J. Hughes-Samuel.)

671. Pine Warbler.
Dendroica vigorstt vigorsi (AuD.) Ripcw. 1885.

Several seen on June 20th, and September 27th, 1902, on Sable
island, N.S.; one taken, June 8th, 1904; one, May 28th, 1905, and
several, September 30th in a northwest gale; one seen June 17th and
several, September 29th, 1906; one seen, May 16th, 1907. (/.
Boutelier.) Said to occur in New Brunswick by Dr. Adams.
(Chamberlain.) A specimen was picked up on Haymarket square
by master Ralph Finlay and communicated to me by Mrs. M. V.
Laurence. (A. G. Leavitt.) Specimens have been taken in Quebec
prior to 1889. (Dionne.) A scarce transient visitant at Montreal. I
have shot specimens of this warbler on the spur of Mount Royal
from September r2th to 26th. (Wunile.)

A rare spring migrant at Ottawa. (Ottawa Naturalist, Vol. V.)
One taken by Mr. Taverner on April 30th, 1898, is the only record
I have for either the Parry Sound or Muskoka district. (J. H.
Fleming.) I found these birds quite abundant among the pines
west of Toronto in 1894, the first arrivals were noted on the 21st
April; on the 8th May, 1895, I took one specimen and on 20th
April, 1896, met another single bird; since these dates I have not
met with the species, either on account of none having visited
this district or more likely because the haunts in question have been
denuded of the trees. (J. Hughes-Samuel.) A rather common
species at Hamilton, Ont., where it raises its young every season.
(McIlwratth.) Rather rare both as a migrant and summer resident,
though it may be found each year in a few pine woods around
London, Ont. (W. E. Saunders.) <A tolerably common summer
resident to the north and east of Manitoba. (E. T. Seton.) A
tolerably common summer resident at Aweme, Manitoba; it arrives
about May 15th and leaves about September 2nd. (Criddle.)

654 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

672, Palm Warbler.

Dendroica palmarum palmarum (GMEL.) BarrD: 1858.

This species was found common and breeding in the Mer Bleue,
July 3rd, 1890, by Messrs. W. E. and F. A. Saunders and several
of the young were shot; it was again seen there August 9th of the
same year. (Ottawa Naturalist, Vol. V.) Often found in places
where one would not usually look for warblers; the palm warbler
reaches us at Toronto early in May in fair numbers, and some-
times in the fall it is certainly abundant, as was the case during
the last week in September, 1899. (/. Hughes-Samuel.) Occurs
regularly at Toronto but not very common. Hamilton records,
April 27th, 1891, and September ist, 1886. (J. H. Fleming.)
Usually rare in the migrations, but sometimes quite common around
London, Ont.; not known to breed in this district. (W. E. Saunders.)

A fairly common spring and autumn migrant at Aweme, Man.
first seen about May roth, and last seen October 6th, 1903. (Criddle.)
An abundant migrant in eastern Manitoba; apparently all go north
to breed. (£. T. Seton.) Very abundant migrant in Manitoba,
but not noted breeding. (Atkinson.) Taken at Fort Churchill,
Hudson bay. (Clarke.) One was seen on a small willow-covered
island in Hill river, Keewatin, September 4th, 1901. (E. A.Preble.)
A single specimen of this species was shot on the swampy banks of
the Saskatchewan at Cumberland House, in a shady thicket of
willows, alders and ash-leaved maples. (Richardson.) North to
Fort Resolution on Great Slave lake; rare. (Ross.)

BREEDING NoTEes.—Two nests with four eggs in each, perfectly
fresh, were taken by me at the Mer Bleue, near Ottawa, Ont., on
May 25th and July 6th, 1908. On the first occasion I saw the female
on the top of a black spruce. I hid and watched her for half an
hour, and when the male appeared the female went straight to
the nest, which was about fifty yards from my hiding place. The
nest was on the ground at the base of some small blueberry bushes
and lined with fine grass and feathers. (C. H. Young.)

672a. Yellow Palm Warbler.
Dendroica palmarum hypochrysea RipGw. 1876.

A specimen was obtained by Drexler at Moose Factory in July,
1860; Audubon, Vol II., p. 55, found them plentiful in Labrador;

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 655

young seen in August. (Packard.) One of the earliest spring
migrants and tolerably common in Newfoundland. (Reeks.) Seen
in large flocks on the Humber river, Newfoundland, 1899. (Louis
H. Porter.) In numbers on Sable island, N.S., September 16th,
1905, and October 3rd, 1907. (J. Boutelier.) One of the earliest
arrivals in Halifax, N.S.; not very common. (Downs.) A common
summer resident at Sydney, Cape Breton island. (C. R. Harte.) Com-
mon migrant in Nova Scotia, afew remain to breed. (H. F. Tufts.)
A few observed at Baddeck, Cape Breton island, in June, 1890.
(F. H. Allen.) An incubating female taken at Tignish, Prince
Edward island is the only evidence I have of this bird's occurrence
there. (Dwight.) The first spring warbler at St. John, N.B.;
breeds abundantly. (Chamberlain.) Spring migrant at Scotch
Lake, York county, N.B. (W.H. Moore.) <A rare spring migrant
at Quebec. (Dionne.) A rare transient visitant at Montreal;
I shot a male specimen of this species May 7th, 1891, on the spur
of Mount Royal. This is the only example of this warbler that I
have met with in this district. (Winile.)

A rare migrant at Ottawa; latest record, May 6th and 8th, 1888.
(Ottawa Naturalist, Vol. V.) I noticed this bird to be very common
in bushy places and waste ground on Wolfe island near Kingston,
Ont., near the end of April and beginning of May, 1900. They
were migrating, but for a few days were quite tame, alighting a
good deal on the ground at the base of small bushes. (Rev. C. J.
Young.)

673. Prairie Warbler.
Dendrotca discolor (VIEILL.) BaIRD. 1858.

The only note I have of this bird reads:—‘“ 11th May, 1900.
Very cold morning and I did not see more than a dozen common
watblers from 5 to 7 a.m. As Iwas coming home I saw a small but
active little warbler which was quite new to me and I followed _it
for a considerable distance as it passed quickly from tree to‘tree.
Ultimately I took it and was pleased to find that I had a specimen
of the prairie warbler, the first recorded appearance of this ‘bird
in Ontario.” (J. Hughes-Samuel.) On May 11th, 1900, while on
a collecting expedition near Toronto, Ont., I took a male “prairie
warbler in full plumage. (J. H. Ames in The Auk, Vol. XVIIL.,

656 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

p. 106.) On September 5th, 1905, I took a young male on the east
shore of Point Pelee, Fssex county, Ont. (A. B. Klugh.) Mr.
W. E. Saunders took one specimen, a female, near Cameron lake,
Bruce county, May 28th, 1905, and on May 3oth heard several
others. An account of their occurrence was published in The
Ottawa Naturalist, Vol XIX., p. 206.

CCLIV SEIURUS Swatnson. 1827.

674. Oven Bird. Golden-crowned Thrush.
Seiurus aurocapillus (LINN.) SWAINS. 1827.

A skin taken at Nanortalik, Greenland, in May, 1882, is in the
museum at Copenhagen. (Winge.) Stearns, p. 116, records this
species as breeding in southern Labrador. (Packard.) Very
abundant along the Moose river; seemed to prefer the hillsides
of the river valley that have a heavy growth of birch and poplar;
none observed as far north as Moose Factory in 1896. (Spread-
borough.) Locally common as far north as Aillik in north-eastern
Labrador. (Bigelow.) A summer migrant in Newfoundland, but
not common. (Reeks.) A common summer resident of Halifax,
N.S. (Downs.) A few observed at Baddeck, Cape Breton island,
in June, 1890. (F. H. Allen.) One seen on Sable island, N.S.,
May 25th, 1904. (J. Boutelier.) A common summer resident at
Sydney, Cape Breton island. (C. R. Harte.) One was noted at
Tignish, Prince Edward island, and a number at Souris in the hard-
wood timber. (Dwight.) A common summer resident at St. John,
N.B. (Chamberlain.) Common summer resident at Scotch Lake,
York county, N.B. (W. H. Moore.) Tolerably common in the
Restigouche valley, N.B. (Brittain & Cox.) Rather common on
Grindstone island, Magdalen islands. (Bishop.) A single pair was
observed at Ellis bay, Anticosti, July 24th. (Brewster.) With us
this bird is a common summer resident around Quebec. (Dzonne.)
A common summer resident at Montreal. Breeds in Mount Royal
park. Nests with eggs found June 5th and 13th and young fledged,
June 21st. Observed here May 8th to September 15th. (IWunile.)

A common summer resident around Ottawa. (Ottawa Naturalist,
Vol. V.) A very common species in eastern Ontario throughout
the summer and heard in almost every large wood, especially where

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 657

beech trees grow; it makes its domed nest on the ground among
the leaves; one I found, 29th May, 1896, contained six eggs. (Rev.
C. J. Young.) Common migrant at Toronto, Ont.; rare summer
resident; breeds. One of the most abundant summer residents
in Parry Sound and Muskoka districts; breeds on the ground,
usually in the open hardwood bush. (j/. H. Fleming.) Every-
where common in hardwood bush in Algonquin park, Ont., June
and July, 1900; from Missinabi to Moose Factory, James bay.
(Spreadborough.) Abundant around Toronto; breeds in many places
near the city. (J. Hughes-Samuel.) Abundant resident in all suit-
able localities around London, Ont. (W. E. Saunders.) Common
summer resident at Guelph, Ont. Arrives about May 6th and leaves
about September 22nd. (A. B. Klugh.) A specimen was taken at
Moose Factory, James bay, in the summer of 1881, by Walter Hay- -
don, (E. A. Preble.)

A common summer resident at Aweme, Manitoba. It arrives,
on an average of eight years, on May 15th, and leaves about the
middle of September. (Criddle.) A common summer resident of
woodlands throughout Manitoba. (E. T. Seton.) A common breed-
ing species, noted in 1906 from Portage la Prairie west to Edmonton.
(Atkinson.) Only one specimen seen at Medicine Hat, Sask., May
17th, 1894; none at Indian Head in 1891; abundant from the mouth
of Lesser Slave river to Peace River Landing, lat. 56° 15’, in June,
1903; common from Edmonton to the crossing of the McLeod
river, in June, 1898; first seen, May 14th, 1897, at Edmonton, Alta. |
by the 22nd they were common in poplar timber on the hillsides
along the rivers and streams. Nests finished but no eggs by June
3rd. (Spreadborough.) Not rare between Athabaska Landing and
Lesser Slave river; first noted May 30th; a few seen at Fort McMur-
tay, lat. 56° 40’. A few individuals at the north end of Methye
portage. (J. M. Macoun.) This very pretty bird breeds on the
banks of the Saskatchewan, and perhaps in still higher latitudes.
One was killed at Cumberland House, June 1st, 1827. (Richardson.)
From Fort Yukon, some distance down the river, this bird is known
to breed. Dall tells us that it is common in that region, and on
May 30th, secured a single specimen above Nulato; its nesting
range extends within the Arctic circle on the Upper Yukon. (Nel-
son.) Osgood took a male at Skagway, Alaska, May 31st, 1899.
At Glacier it was tolerably common in the dense woods of spruce

42

658 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

and fir and unquestionably nesting; altogether we noticed about
twenty individuals during our stay. Osgood took an adult at the
southern end of Lake Marsh, July 1st, and I an adult female and
a young female on the west shore of Lake Lebarge, July 14th. This
is a new species to the Yukon valley. (Bishop.) Accidental on
Vancouver island at Esquimault. (Ridgway.)

BREEDING NotEs.—On the 14th June, as I was passing with a
team of horses attached to a wagon, along a roadway through the
above mentioned wood, my companion directed my attention to
the action of a small bird that was seen to flush almost from under
the horses’ feet, and by her manner of running along the ground,
indicated that she had been disturbed off her nest. A little search
discovered her home, which contained three young just hatched out;
this was a nest of an oven bird, otherwise known as the accenator,
or golden-crowned thrush; it was partly sunk in the virgin mould,
amid dry leaves and some wild-flower stalks, and under a small
branch, and composed of dry leaves and decayed vegetable stalks,
and being covered over like a small hut, or oven, was so well con-
cealed that the passer-by, even in searching for it, could fail in most
cases to notice it, and this site was only a few inches from where the
horses and cattle had walked with heavy steps, and where the wheels
of the wagon had sunk deep in the soft earth; it contained three
young just hatched; and the mother bird, in leaving it, acted more
like a mouse than a creature with wings. (W. L. Kells.) A nest
with four eggs found on July 1st, 1903, near Ottawa; it was under a
bed of dead leaves, roofed over, but with a side entrance, and had
the form of an oven; the materials used were leaves and grass; it was
six inches long, six inches wide and four inches high; the entrance
was three inches wide and one and a half inches high. (Garneau.)
Breeds at Rice lake, and fairly common at Carleton Junction, Ont.;
Mr. Kells has found it nesting at Listowel, in northern Ontario. (W.
Raine.) The four eggs of this bird are laid about the first part of
June in a dome-shaped nest of grasses and leaves placed on the
ground in woods of mixed growth. (W. H. Moore.) Nests in
woods, thickets and swamps at Guelph, Ont.; nest domed, varying
much in composition ; most nests are composed of dried grass, leaves,
twigs and plant stems, lined with leaves and a little hair, the dome
being composed of fine wiry grass; some nests are composed almost
entirely of pine needles; eggs mostly five in number, pinky-white,

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 659

very variable as to markings, but usually spotted and blotched,
mostly in the form of a wreath on the larger end, with dark reddish-
brown, light brown and pale lavender. (A.B. Klugh.) Nest found
near Hemlock lake, Ottawa, built on the ground, composed of dead
leaves, moss and grass lined with fine grass and rootlets; eggs, four;
white, profusely speckled with reddish-brown and lilac. (G. R.
White.)

675. Water Thrush.
Seturus noveboracensts noveboracensis (GMEL.) BONAP. 1838.

Locally common on the Labrador coast as far north as Aillik.
(Bigelow.) Several individuals, young of the year among them,
were procured by me at Davis inlet, in August, 1884; a specimen
was procured at Moose Factory, May 26th, 1860, by Drexler. (Pack-
ard.) Very abundant all the way down Moose river to Moose Fac-
tory; also common at Fort George, on James bay, latitude 54°; rare
farther north; one specimen was taken on a river a short distance
inland from Richmond gulf ; another individual was seen on the
Koaksoak, above Fort Chimo, August 14th, 1896; always found on
low, wet ground. (Spreadborough.) Abundant along the Humber
river, Newfoundland, 1899. (Louis H. Porter.) Rather common
summer resident at Halifax, N.S.; occurs also at Kentville and
Grand Lake. (Downs.) A pair seen at Sydney, Cape Breton island,
N.S., in 1901. (C. R. Harte.) Uncommon summer resident in
Nova Scotia. (H. F. Tufts.) Observed at Baddeck and Margaree,
Cape Breton island, N.S., July, 1898. (Afacoun.) A few individuals
were met with at Tignish, Prince Edward Island, only. It is in-
variably found along brooks or in their near vicinity. (Dwight.) A
summer resident, but not a common bird, at St. John, N.B. (Cham-
berlain.) A tolerably common summer resident at Scotch Lake,
York county, N.B., breeding in June. (W. H. Moore.) Met with
frequently in the Restigouche valley, N.B. (Brittain & Cox.)
Common and breeding at Lake Mistassini, Que. (J. M. Macoun.)
A scarce summer resident around Montreal; it has been taken at
Hochelaga and seen at St. Lambert, but no nests have been taken,
though it evidently breeds on the island of Montreal. (Winile.)
Not common around Quebec; taken at Beauport. (Dionne.)

A moderately common summer resident in the vicinity of Ottawa.
(Otiawa Naturalist, Vol. V.) I have noticed this bird both-in the
42%

660 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

counties of Lanark and Leeds, Ont.; in the latter it breeds among the
Thousand Islands of the St. Lawrence, as I found a nest as late as
July, 1894. (Rev. C. J. Young.) A pair taken by Mr. Kay, at Port
Sydney, Muskoka, Ont., on May 24th, 1889, is the only record I have
for the district. (J. H. Fleming.) Common everywhere in the
flooded woods at the margins of the lakes in Algonquin park, Ont.
Common from Missinabi, Ont. to Hannah river, James bay, and up.
the west coast of the bay to Raft river. The singing habits of the
western form are quite different from the eastern. The former is
usually seen perched on a dead twig quite above all the surrounding
bushes or on a dead branch of a tall tree, sometimes forty or fifty
feet from the ground. The latter is seldom seen except in the
thickest of thickets, where I have seen them sing within a foot of
the ground. Never have I seen one singing from a dead twig.
(Spreadborough.) Breeds commonly around Belmont lake, Peter-
borough county, Ont.; in the fall migration it is sometimes very
abundant near Toronto, as was the case from the 12th August to
15th September, 1900. (J. Hughes-Samuel.) Common in the
migrations at London, Ont.; a few bred in retired localities. (W.
E. Saunders.) Common summer resident at Guelph, Ont.; arrives
about April 30th, and leaves about August 29th. (A. B. Klugh.)
I have a set of five eggs that was taken by Mr. Kells, at Listowel,
western Ontario, on May 22nd, 1890; the nest was built in a cavity
of a turned-up tree root inaswamp. (W. Raine.)

BREEDING Notes.—Nest found on the bank of the Rideau river,
near Ottawa; it was built by the side of a log and composed of moss,
old leaves and plant stems, intermixed with black rootlets. Eggs,
five, white with reddish-brown spots, mostly at the larger end.
(G. R. White.) Near the centre of the woodland, adjoining Wild-
wood on the north, is a natural water “runway” where most of
the large timber was up-rooted in the terrible wind and ice storm
of April, some seven or eight years ago; in one of those up-turned
toots, below which there is, in the early season, a deep pool of
water, I have on several occasions, in past years, noticed a nest of
a water-thrush, and expected this year to take a set of its eggs
from a cavity in the same old root, but a delay of several days
having occurred after the time when I intended to have visited it
for that purpose, I found when I did so on the 28th May, that I
was too late, the nest was there, but a glance at the four eggs which

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 661

it contained showed by their galvanized appearance that they
were far advanced in incubation, and I did not remove or revisit
them; the cavity in which this nest was placed was small, the bird
had either found it ready for her purpose, or had partly enlarged
it, and the nest itself was made of weed-stems, dry grass, animal
hair, and “hair-moss.’’ Usually when the cavity is large, this
species uses a quantity of dead leaves in the construction of her
nest. (W. L. Kells.) This bird is commoner at Sharbot lake
than on the St. Lawrence; here I found a numbér of pairs
breeding in 1903; one pair had a nest and young on a small island,
June 12th, 1903. I also found an unfinished nest on a small
island in Mosquito lake, North Frontenac, May 28, 1905. (Rev.
C. J. Young.)

675a. Grinnell Water-Tbrush.

Seturus noveboracensts notabilis RipGw. 1885.

We saw our first water-thrush at Painted Stone portage. It was
close to the edge of the water and was running through the under-
growth which fringed the foot of a cliff. On the afternoon of the
same day, June 26th, we noted another at Robinson portage, and
on June 30th, a third at Oxford lake. When we arrived at Oxford
House we found the species rather common, and from there to
York Factory, as we descended the rivers, its sprightly song was
heard daily. A pair seen at a portage on Hill river, July 7th, were
feeding young just from the nest. Three specimens were taken in
the marshy woods about York Factory, where the species was com-
mon July r1th to 17th, and one was taken August 8th by Alfred
E. Preble on Churchill river about 15 miles above Fort Churchill.
These proved to be intermediate between novaboracensis and nota-
bilts, but nearer to notabilis. (E. A. Preble.) A summer resident
along watercourses in Manitoba. They were very abundant at
Humphrey lake on August gth, 1884. Evidently preparing to
migrate. (E£. T. Seton.) A common migrant at Aweme, Man., a
few may breed. (Criddle.) An abundant migrant and an abun-
dant breeder about all the water-courses in Manitoba and noted
everywhere in wooded sections along the G.T.P. Ry., west to
Edmonton in 1906. (Atkinson.) Two specimens from Chemawa-
win, near Grand Rapids of the Saskatchewan, agree more nearly
with the species than with S. novaboracensts notabths. (Nutting.)

662 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

A specimen of this species was secured in August west of the Sweet
Grass hills, on the headwaters of the Milk river. It was again ob-
served in the undergrowth surrounding some reedy pools near
Chief mountain. (Couwes.) This is an abundant spring migrant at
Indian Head, Sask., the first individual seen was on May 11th, they
became common at once and were abundant in spring for a few
days along streams and shores of lakes; one specimen seen at Ed-
monton, May 15th, 1897, evidently a migrant; common from the
mouth of Lesser Slave river to Peace River Landing, in lat. 56° 15’,
June, 1903; breeding around Vermilion lakes at Banff, Rocky
mountains, July, 1891, rather scarce; one seen on the International
Boundary near Rossland, in May, 1902; observed one on the
shore of a small lake about 8 miles west of Elko, B.C., May 14,
1904; common in willow thickets on the islands and shore of Elk
river, May 21. (Spreadborough.) One was taken in the Maple
creek, Sask. timber on June 8, 1906, in a wave of migrants. (A.C.
Bent.) This bird was only seen at Carlton House where it fre-
quented the moist and thickly wooded points of the river. It
arrived in May and disappeared in a few days, probably going
further north to breed. (Richardson.) Common about the Slave
river delta in mid-July. (E. T. Seton.) North to Lapierre House,
on the Mackenzie river; common. (Ross.) Two specimens were
taken at Ducks, August 7th and goth, 1889. (Streator.) Found
breeding along interior streams of British Columbia; Lac la Hache
and Bonaparte river. (Rhoads.) Breeding at Quesnel, B.C., and
less commonly at 150-Mile House. (Brooks.)

The barren coast of Behring sea from the mouth of the Yukon
north and south affords it but little shelter in the spring, hence
its extreme rarity there in spring. It occurs in spring where the
dense growth of bushes about Kotzebue sound affords it available
breeding grounds. It is, in fact, one of the commonest bush-
frequenting birds we have in the north. (Nelson.) Several speci-
mens of this bird were obtained at St. Michael in August, 1876.
I have never observed it there during the breeding season. (Turner.)
The first sound that I heard on the morning of August 1st, when
we were on a small island about 10 miles below Sixty-Mile creek,
was the unmistakable alarm note of the water-thrush. This was
the first time we had met with this species, and before starting that
morning on our daily Yukon drift, Osgood and I each secured a

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 663

young bird. Near Forty-mile creek, Tatondu river and Charlie
creek water-thrushes were again met with. At Circle I saw several
August 16th-2oth, took one 15 miles above Fort Yukon, August 21,
and saw two in a thicket at the Aphoon mouth, August 28th. The
young in full plumage taken on the Yukon are clove-brown above»
including wings and tail—far darker than is usual in notabilis—
and have darker streaks below. (Bishop.) I have a nest and four
eggs taken by Rev. Mr. Stringer at the mouth of Mackenzie river,
June roth, 1899. Nest on the ground under willows near the river
bank. (W. Raine.) For a few days after our arrival in August
at the site of our new winter quarters on the Kowak, Kotzebue
sound, Alaska, this species was moderately common. It frequented
the alder and willow thickets along the streams and was shy and
restless. The species arrived in the spring on May 22nd, and was
henceforth common, especially in the Kowak delta in June; but it
was not detected west of the tree limit. (Grinnell.) An immature
male was taken at Homer, Kenai peninsula, Alaska, August 18th,
1901. This is undoubtedly a rare bird at Homer, as one specimen
was all I noted. (Figgins.) One adult male taken at Seldovia,
Alaska. (Anderson.)

676. Louisiana Water-Thrush.
Seiurus motacilla (VIEILL.) BonaPp. 1850.

A rare summer resident in Middlesex co., Ont.; not noted further
north. (W. E. Saunders.) There are two records for Toronto,
Ont., a female taken by Mr. Ernest Seton, Aug. 23, 1888, and an-
other female taken by Mr. C. W. Nash at Kew Beach, East Toronto,
May 8, 1900. (J. H. Fleming.) The large-billed water-thrush
is by no means so common a bird in Ontario as the preceding species,
but along the southern border of the province, wherever there is a
rocky ravine, its loud, clear notes are almost sure to be heard in the
spring, mingling with the sound of the falling water. It arrives from
the south early in May and leaves in September. (MclIlwraith.)

CCLV. OPORORNIS Bairp. 1858.

677. Kentucky Warbler.
Opororms formosa (WILS.) BatrD. 1858.

Taken at Quebec by Mr. Nelson. (Dzonne.) Only one specimen
known from near London, Ont.; this was taken by Rokert Elliott

664 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

near Bryanston in a thicket of well grown thorn trees in May, 1898.
(W. E. Saunders.)

678. Connecticut Warbler.
Oporornis agilis (WILS.) BaIRD. 1858.

Mr. J. H. Fleming writes me that he once saw a Connecticut
warbler at Ottawa. (Rev. G. Exfrig.) A rare migrant at London,
Ont. (W. E. Saunders.) <A regular spring and autumn visitor to
this district, reaching us about 2oth May and leaving for the north
a few days later, 30th May being the latest date on which I had
noted it; as this bird is with us again before the end of August it is
not unreasonable to hope that it will be found nesting at no great
distance. While here the bird is very shy and keeps as much as
possible to dense under-growths of vines, but when driven to the
trees it tries to conceal itself by sitting motionless behind a limb;
a curious habit of this bird is to walk slowly along the small branches
of a tree peering into every crevice for insects, much after the man
ner Seturus aurocapillus. Its song, which I have only heard on
two occasions, has considerable merit, and it has also another note
not at all unlike the well-known ‘‘teacher’’ of the oven-bird. I
saw one or more of these birds daily from 22nd to 30th May, 1900;
in the fall they are here during August and may be seen creeping
cautiously through borders of Convolvuli and Nasturtiums; on 18th
May, 1896, I took a specimen in Jackson park, Peterboro’, Ont.
(J. Hughes-Samuel.)

A somewhat common summer resident of tamarac swamps in
Manitoba; on June 21st, 1883, in the Carberry swamp found a nest
and eggs of this species. For full description of this nest and eggs
see The Auk for April, 1884, p. 192. On June 14th, 1884, at Duck
mountain, found one or two pairs breeding in the tamarac swamp
near there. (E. T. Seton.) A tolerably common summer resident
at Aweme, Manitoba, arriving about the middle of May and leaving
about Sept, 7th. (Criddle.) Regular but not very common in
migration in Manitoba, breeds in some numbers in tamarac swamps
in the northern portion of the province. Noted breeding in 1906 at
Battle river, Alta. (Atkinson.) The writer paid a visit to the
swamp south of Carberry in June, 1896, and had the good fortune
to secure a nest on the outskirts of the bog and almost on a level

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 665

with the water. It contained one egg and three very young birds;
there seemed no scarcity of excited birds as I floundered through
the bog.

679. Mourning Warbler. *
Oporornis philadelphia (WILS.) WooLsEy. 1880.

One specimen obtained at the Fiskinzes in 1846, another at
Julianshaab in 1853. (Arct. Man.) Rare about Halifax, but
common in the interior of Nova Scotia as a summer resident.
(Downs.) Rare summer resident in Kings co., N.S. (H. F. Tufts.)
Apparently rare on Prince Edward island, though a few were found
at Souris in the bushy edges of dry fields, adjoining woods. (Dwight.)
A rare summer resident at St. John, N.B. (Chamberlain.) Not
uncommon in the upper part of the Restigouche valley, N.B. (Brit-
tain & Cox.)

*

A rare species around Quebec; taken at Beauport. (Dionne.)
Transient and scarce visitant around Montreal. Has been shot
at Outremont and Hochelaga. (Wintle.) A moderately common
summer resident around Ottawa. (Ottawa Naturalist, Vol. V.)
A few of these birds breed in the county of Leeds, Ont. I met
with the nest on 31st May, 1893, containing four eggs much resem-
bling those of the yellow-throat. A peculiarity of the nest, and
one I believe generally observed, is that it is lined with black fibres
and rootlets and not as the yellow-throat with fine grass and hair.
This bird is a common species during migrations on the Magdalen
islands and probably breeds there also. (Rev. C. J. Young.) A
fairly common resident in Parry Sound and Muskoka districts. It
is one of the latest arrivals in spring. Regular migrant at Toronto,
not uncommon; rare summer resident, breeds. (J. H. Fleming.)
Quite common along the Parry Sound railway in Algonquin park,
Ont., always in dry thickets. Common in low bushes along the
C.P. Ry. at Missinabi, Ont.; one seen about 100 miles down the
Missinabi_ river. (Spreadborough.) A not uncommon summer
resident all over western Ontario. (W. FE. Saunders.) Uncommon;
but perhaps considered more so than it really is as the bird is such
an adept at keeping out of sight. Still if one knows their haunts
and reaches them about 18th to 24th May he may see a few if he
will only sit down close to the ground and keep quiet; though on

666 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

walking through one of their favourite retreats one can be almost
sure to hear the warning or scolding notes of any birds that may
chance to be disturbed. Any that I have heard singing have been
invariably perched on a dead branch well up from the ground. On
seeing that they are observed they will dart to thick cover, in which
case one is not likely to’see them again for some time. On 30th
July, 1895, I met with a party of adults and young in a thick patch
of cedars a few miles west of Toronto. From 11th to 30th May,
1899, I saw from one to six almost daily. (J. Hughes-Samuel.)
Fairly common during migrations, and breed in fair numbers.
Arrives about May 16th and leaves about September 1st. (A. B.
Klugh.)

I was agreeably surprised to find this species breeding abund-
antly at Pembina. At the end of June I found a nest supposed to
be of this species but the identification was not at all satisfactory.
(Coues.) A common summer resident of scrub lands, throughout
Manitoba. (£. T. Seton.) A tolerably common summer resident
at Aweme Manitoba; arrived May 24th, 1903, and disappeared
early in September. (Criddle.) This species was seen at Old Wives
creek, eastern Saskatchewan, in May, 1895. (Spreadborough.) A
common breeding species throughout Manitoba in the wooded dis-
tricts; noted west of that province in 1906 at Touchwood hills and
Saskatoon, Sask., and Battle river, Alta. (Atkinson.) A possible
hybrid of this species and O. tolmiei was taken at Grand rapids of
the Saskatchewan. (Nutting.) This was a common species round
Lake Manitoba in June, 1881. A nest was taken at the ‘“‘narrows”’
on June 16th. (Macoun:)

BREEDING Notes.—On June 14th, 1902, a nest with four eggs
was found in a damp place near Montreal. It was built in a clump
of golden rod three inches above the ground and composed of grass
stems and leaves lined with thin black rootlets and hair. Nest
4X 3 and 2.25 x 1.75. Another nest was found in the forks of a
small bush, the brim six inches from the ground and made of dried
leaves, grass and bark, with a lining of hair-like roots, nest 4.25 X 3
and 2.25 x 1.75. ‘(Garneau.) Nest found near Tetreauville, Hull,
Que., in a low bush, rather large for the size of the bird, composed
of moss, leaves and other vegetable matter, lined with grass and

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 667

rootlets. Eggs 4, white, slightly sprinkled at the larger end with
brown. (G. R. White.) Mr. Ottomar Reinecke, of Buffalo, has
taken several sets of this species in the Niagara district, Ont. I
have found a set of four that he collected at Sherkstown, Welland
county. The nest was built in a tussock of grass one foot from the
ground. (W. Raine.) I met with a nest near Lansdowne, Leeds
county. June 2nd, 1892. It was located in a rocky place among
branches and ferns near some large woods. It was a somewhat
loosely built structure of weeds, leaves and dry grass, lined with
some fibres and black hair hardly 12 inches above the ground and
well concealed. (Rev. C. J. Young.)

680. Tolmie Warbler.
Oporornis tolmiet (Towns.) RIDGWAY. 1902.

A single specimen of this species was secured in the Rocky moun-
tains in August, near Chief mountain. (Coues.) I saw a few in
the Cypress hills, Sask., May 31st, 1905 but none were collected.
Bishop found it common there in families from July 25th to 30th
in 1906. (A.C. Bent.) Quite common in the brush along the upper
branches of Swift Current creek in the east end of the Cypress hills,
Sask.; a nest was taken on June 25th, 1894, it was placed under the
root of a turned-up tree on a few dead sticks about six inches from
the ground and contained four eggs nearly hatched; nest very bulky,
composed of reeds, lined with a little horse hair and dry grass; on
June 11th, 1895, this species was taken at Wood mountain post,
Sask., and seen at Medicine Lodge, near the 49th parallel a few days
later; very common in all the wooded ravines on the south side of
the Cypress hills, a nest was taken on the 26th June along a creek in
the hills; seen on the West Bute, Sweet Grass hills and at Waterton
lake, on the 49th parallel, in July, 1895; quite common and breed-
ing at Banff, Rocky mountains, in the summer of 1891; first seen
at Edmonton, Alta., June 3rd, 1897, not common, found chiefly
along the high banks back of the river where there is plenty of dead
brush, they breed here without doubt; observed from Lesser Slave
lake to Peace River Landing in June, 1903; seen in the foothills
south of Crow Nest pass; seen at Revelstoke, B.C., May 21st, 1890;
they soon became common close to the ground and commenced to
breed, later they were found at Deer Park and Robson, on the

668 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

Columbia river, where they were common; occasional on the north
bank of the Thompson at Kamloops in June, 1889; abundant in
low woods at Agassiz, B.C., after May 9th, 1899; common along the
International Boundary in 1904-6 from Elko, B.C., went to the coast ;
abundant at Chilliwack, B.C., in the spring of 1902; none were seen
in the autumn; first observed two males near Victoria, Vancouver
island, May 9th, 1893; by the 11th of the month they were common
and soon spread all over the island, being found at Sooke, Nanaimo:
and Comox. (Spreadborough.) Common summer resident in B.C.;
breeds. (Streator.. A common summer resident throughout the
greater protion of the province. (Fannin.) Common summer re-
sident at Chilliwack. (Brooks.) Found breeding in British Colum-
bia at all localities and at all elevations. (Rhoads.)

CCLVI. GEOTHLYPIS Caszanis. 1847.
681d. Northern Yellow-throat.
Geothlypis trichas brachidactyla (SwaIns.) W. PALMER. 1900.

Common in southern portions of Labrador. Stearns reports it
from Natashquan. (Packard.) A common summer migrant in
Newfoundland. (Reeks.) An abundant summer resident at Hali-
fax, N.S.; breeding in wet places. (Downs.) Common summer
resident in Nova Scotia. (H. F. Tufts.) One individual taken on
Sable island, N.S., May 23rd, 1902. (J. Boutelier.) A pair seen at
Sydney, Cape Breton island, N.S., May 25th, 1901. (C. R. Harte.)
Common at Baddeck and Margaree, Cape Breton island, July, 1898;
Hunter river, Prince Edward island, July 2nd, 1888. (Macoun.)
Found sparingly in the western portions of Prince Edward island.
(Dwight.) Common near St. John, N.B., throughout the summer
season. (Chamberlain.) Common summer resident at Scotch Lake,
York county, N.B. (W. H. Moore.) Rare in the valley of the
Restigouche river, N.B. (Brittain & Cox.) Probably on the
Magdalen islands; not seen but heard. (Bishop.) Met with at
Fox bay, Anticosti, where two specimens were seen. (Brewster.)

This is the most common warbler in eastern Quebec; taken at
Beauport. (Dzonne.) A common summer resident on Montreal
island. Breeds in Mount Royal park. (Wintle.) A common
summer resident in the vicinity of Ottawa. (Ottawa Naturalist,

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 669

‘Vol. V.) A very common warbler about Lansdowne, Leeds county,
Ont., where after the yellow warbler it is the most frequently seen
of all others. I have found its nest several times, usually built in
long grass and brush a little above the ground, sometimes as much
as twelve inches. I have seen eggs in May, June and July. This
species was also common on the borders of a marsh on Amherst
island, Lake Ontario. (Rev. C. J. Young.) Regular migrant at
Toronto, Ont., common; rare summer resident. A fairly common
summer resident in Parry Sound and Muskoka districts; arrives
about the same time as the mourning warbler. (J. H. Fleming.)
Only one individual observed on Moose river, near Moose Factory,
June 7th, 1896; not common in Algonquin Park, Ont.; found
in low wet ground amongst grass and low bushes. Saw a nest
with four young about a week old in a clump of grass in a marsh
on June 26th, 1900. (Spreadborough.) Generally abundant about
Toronto. I have found it in great abundance in all suitable places
near Peterborough, Ont. (/. Hughes-Samuel.) Common summer
resident at Guelph, Ont. Arrives about May roth and leaves about
September 16th. (A. B. Klugh.)

Observed at Pembina, on Turtle mountain, and in the Rocky
mountains, but not in the open country between these points.
(Coues.) An abundant summer resident in the wooded portions of
Manitoba; the Maryland yellowthroat is an abundant resident at
Duck mountain, Man.; its favourite haunts are low damp thickets,
so that it is in a measure the complementary species of the mourn-
ing warbler, which manifests a liking for none but the driest of
copses. (FE. T. Seton.) This is a common breeding summer
resident at Aweme, Manitoba; arrives about May 20th and stays
to September. (Criddle.) Regular and tolerably common migrant
in Manitoba, breeding in suitable scrub and bush localities. (Atkin-
son.) This is a summer resident at Indian Head, Sask.; it was
first seen May 21st, 1892, and became common in a few days; they
breed in considerable numbers, nesting in rushes about a foot from
the ground on the edge of small lakes; first seen at Medicine Hat,
Sask., May 15th, 1894, they never became common; late in June
the same year they were very common in all the willow thickets
bordering the upper branches of Swift Current creek in the east end
of the Cypress hills; one specimen was shot at 12-Mile lake, near
Wood mountain, Sask., June 6th, 1895; later in the month it was

670 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

taken on Rocky creek near the 49th parallel and on Frenchman
river; it was common in the Cypress hills wherever there was brush,
and the same in the Milk river valley and along St. Mary river and
at Waterton lake; first seen at Edmonton, Alta., May 27th, 1897,
common and nesting in the willows by June 1st; common from
Edmonton to the summit of the Rocky mountains in Yellowhead
pass in July, 1898, breeding in willow thickets on the borders of
marshes; common from Lesser Slave lake to Peace River Landing,
lat. 56° 15’, in June, 1903; quite common in the foothills from
Calgary southward; a nest containing four eggs was found on
Bragg creek on June 28th, 1897, in a tuft of grass, nest made of dry
grass; this was a common species at Banff, within the Rocky moun-
tains in June, 1891. (Spreadborough.) Many of the references to
Saskatchewan and Alberta probably should go with arizela.

BREEDING Nores.—Breeds at Ottawa and Lake Nominingue,
100 miles north of it, from the middle of May to the middle of July.
Nests in swampy places and undergrowth, on or near the ground,
hidden among reeds, weeds and small bushes; they are made of
reed-stalks, grasses and leaves, lined with fine grass and sometimes
a few hairs; two nests were found in reed-plants having the form
of inverted cones five inches long. Nests average 4.x 3 and 2x 1.50.
(Garneau.) Nests are built in low bushes close to the ground at
Ottawa, composed of dead leaves and grass, lined with fine grass,
hair and rootlets. Eggs 4 to 6, white, sparingly sprinkled at larger
end with brown. (G. R. White.) The nests I have seen contained
eggs the first week in June; the nest is well concealed, but I have
seen two, which were six or eight inches above the ground; one of
these was in a small elm sapling, around which long rank grass grew;
I could not assign the nest to any other species as the eggs were
similar to others I had seen and a male bird was hopping about in
the immediate vicinity. (Rev. C. J. Young.)

681b. Pacific Coast Yellow-throat.
Geothlypis trichas arizela OBERHOLSER. 1899.

Uncommon in the underbrush along the creeks in the Cypress
hills, Sask., and in the drier parts of the sloughs. Dr. Bishop re-
ferred all the birds taken to this sub-species. (A.C. Bent.) Pacific

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 671

coast region of southern British Columbia to California. Taken at
Comox, Vancouver island. (Oberholser.) First seen at Revelstoke,
B.C., on May 15th, 1890, later they became common and commenced
to breed, the males were very much in evidence; late in June they
were found breeding at Robson, on the Columbia river; one in-
dividual was observed in a marsh at Sheep creek, on the International
Boundary in May, 1902; quite common in thickets along the North
Thompson at Kamloops, B.C., in June, 1889; very common in wet
woods at Agassiz, B.C., in May, 1889; observed a number at Chilli-
wack, B.C., in the spring of 1901; saw one at Huntingdon on the
International Boundary, B.C., in autumn; rather rare on Van-
couver island, a few taken in 1893; common in reeds by small lakes
near Elko, B.C. in 1904; common in the marshes at Osoyoos lake
and along the Similkameen river in 1905, also along the Hope trail.
(Spreadborough.) Common everywhere ; breeds. (Streator.) A
common summer resident throughout the greater portion of the
province. (Fannin.) An abundant summer resident at Chilliwack.
(Brooks.) Rare on Vancouver island, abundant at Lulu island in
the Fraser valley, and about the shores of reedy lakes in the interior
of British Columbia. (Rhoads.)

CCLVII. ICTERIA ViertLor. 1807.
688. Yellow-breasted Chat.

Icteria virens virens (LINN.) BaIRD. 1865.

The only specimen of this species I ever collected was on 16th
May, 1884, when I found a dead individual near my house where it
was probably killed by a telegraph wire. A week or so afterwards,
when visiting Mr. Dickson, who is station master on the G.T.R. at
Waterdown, he pointed out to me an old, unused millrace, grown up
with briars and brambles, where the day before he had seen a pair
of chats mated. Mr. Dickson was collecting at the time, and was
greatly surprised at the sudden appearance within ten feet of where
he was standing, but on his moving backwards, with a view of getting
to a safer shooting distance, they disappeared in the thicket and
did not again become visible, though they kept up their scolding
as long as he remained near the place. A pair of this species was
also found by Mr. Saunders breeding on the north shore of Lake
Erie, near Point Pelee in 1884, which completes the record for On-

672 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

tario, so far as I have heard. (MclIlwraith.) Mr. John Boyd, of
Sarnia, has a specimen which he believes was taken at the Humber
in 1889 but he was never able to trace the bird back to the original
collector. (J. H. Fleming.) This has been found to be a constant
and not very rare resident of the vicinity of Pelee point, Lake Erie.
(W. E. Saunders.) Mr. P. A. Taverner’s paper on the occurrence
of this species in Michigan should be read in this connection. See
The Wilson Bulletin, Vol. xviii., p. 17.

683a. Long-tailed Chat.
Icteria virens longicauda (LAWR.) COUES. 1872.

In the bushes which line the banks of the Thompson river, below
Ashcroft, B.C., I secured two males of this species; another was
heard singing on a ranch above the town. (Rhoads.) Two taken
in bushes along the Similkameen river, B.C., near its mouth, June,
1905. (Spreadborough.) From Kamloops south through the
Okanagan district of B.C. (Fannin.) Sumas, in the Fraser river
valley, 26th May, 1897. (Brooks.)

CCLVII. WILSONTA Bonap. 1838.

684. Hooded Warbler.
Wilsonta mitrata (GMEL.) BONAP. 1838.

Mr. Norval reports finding this species occasionally, at Port Rowan,
on the north shore of Lake Erie, and I once found a young male
near Hamilton, Ont. It was found towards the end of May when
there had been a big bird-wave the previous night, and this one had
been apparently carried away in the crowd. (Mcllwraith.) A
specimen of this warbler, rare in Ontario, was captured at Cataraqui,
near Kingston, Ont., and is now in the collection of a resident there.
(Rev. C. J. Young.) Some specimens were taken in the spring by
Atwater near Rondeau, Ont., about 1884. One was taken in May,
1906 near Woodstock, Ont., by Mr. J. A. Cole. (W. E. Saunders.)

685. Wilson Warbler.
Wilsonia pusilla pusilla (WiLs.) BonaP. 1838.

Audubon, Vol. IL., p. 21, records it as breeding in Labrador, and
anest obtained. (Packard.) Common at Moose Factory, June 9th,

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 673

1896; observed one at Fort George, on James bay, 150 miles further
north, on June 20th; none seen afterwards. (Spreadborough.) A
summer migrant in Newfoundland, but not very common. (Reeks.)
Abundant along the Humber river, Newfoundland, 1899. (Loms
H. Porter.) Rare summer resident at Halifax, N.S. (Downs.)
Common summer resident at Kings county, N.S. (H. F. Tufts.)
One specimen was secured at Tignish, Prince Edward island, in an
extensive arbor-vite and alder swamp. Not common at Baddeck,
Cape Breton island, in 1887. (Dwight.) An uncommon summer
resident at St. John, N.B. (Chamberlain.) Has been taken at
Petitcodiac, and observed at Fredericton, N.B. (W. H. Moore.)
Only observed twice at Ellis bay, Anticosti, when the old ones
were feeding young fledglings. (Brewster.)

Met with in the woods around Quebec; taken at Beauport
(Dionne.) A transient and scarce visitant at Montreal. Observed
only in spring. Has been seen as late as July 13th on the island of
Montreal. (Wzinile.) A moderately common summer resident
around Ottawa. Found breeding in the Mer Bleue, 3rd July, 1890,
by Messrs. W. E. and F. A. Saunders. (Ottawa Naturalist, Vol. V.)
A rare migrant in eastern Ontario. Not uncommon on the Magdalen
Islands and frequently observed about Mingan, Que., in June, 1898,
where they breed. (Rev. C. J. Young.) The only record I have for
Parry Sound and Muskoka districts is that of a male which I took
on the Magnetawan river, near Emsdale, on 2zoth May, 1897. (J.
H. Fleming.) JI notice it around each spring at Toronto about the
third week in May, and in the fall they sometimes become very
abundant, choosing usually willows near the banks of a stream. I
have seen such places alive with these birds from 21st August to 9th
September. (J. Hughes-Samuel.) A rare migrant in Middlesex
county, Ont. A single male was noticed in full song in North Bruce
on 20th June, 1900, where it was doubtless breeding. (W. E. Saun-
ders.) Fairly common during migration at Guelph, Ont. Seen
about May 18th and again about August 27th. (A. B. Klugh.)
Rather common in the undergrowth bordering a swamp at Robinson
portage, June 27th, 1901. Several were seen at York Factory,
July roth to 17th, one being taken July 14th. (E. A. Preble.)

A common species eastward, but only observed on the 49th par-
Ilael in the Rocky mountains near Chief mountain. (Cowes.) A
43

674 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

rare migrant in eastern Manitoba. Near Long river, Man., I saw a
black-capped warbler on May 21st, 1882, my only record, though
others claim it is a summer resident. (E. T. Seton.) Found at
Grand rapids and Chemawawin on the Saskatchewan. (Nutting.)
One pair seen at Fort McMurray, lat. 56° 40’; common on the Methye
portage; common between Methye portage and Isle a la Crosse.
(J. M. Macoun.) Tolerably common in migration at Aweme, Man.,
may breed. (Criddle.) An abundant migrant in all the wooded
districts of Manitoba breeding in suitable locations; also observed
in 1906 at Wainwright and Battle river, Alta. (Atkinson.) Three
individuals were seen on May 15th, 1894, at Medicine Hat, Sask.,
and later a few more; first seen at Edmonton, Alta., on May 2oth,
1897, a few pairs remained to breed; quite common and breeding
at Banff, Rocky mountains, in June, 1891; abundant at Revelstoke,
on the Columbia river, from May 15th, 1890, nested in the woods in
large numbers; observed one individual on the International bound-
ary near Trailin May, 1902. (Spreadborough.)

North to Lapierre House on the Mackenzie river; very rare.
(Ross.) Preble collected one at Last woods, Artillery lake, August
sth, 1907. (E. T. Seton.) This is one of the commonest brush-
frequenting species in the north and extends its breeding range to
the shores of the Arctic ocean where it is found breeding about
Kotzebue sound as well as along the entire coast of Norton sound,
wherever shelter is afforded. (Nelson.) The series of Wilson‘s
warbler taken in eastern and western British Columbia compared
among themselves and with specimens from the Atlantic states are
devoid of any differences which would justify their separation.
(Rhoads.) A single specimen of this species was captured by a
native in the bushes which skirted a lake about a mile distant from
the redoubt at St. Michael; it is not a common bird in that vicinity,
occurring only in the fall migrations; other specimens were obtained
from Fort Yukon and Nulato, where it is not rare. (Turner.)
Osgood took an adult female near the Chandindu river, Aug. 4th,
1899, and I a young female near Charlie Village, Aug. 11th, and a
young male 25 miles above Circle City, Alaska, August 20th. These
birds, while not typical pusilla, are, like those of the lower Yukon,
nearer it than pileolata. (Bishop.)

BREEDING Notes.—On June 14th, 1893, I found a nest and four
eggs of this species and secured the parent. The nest was built

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 675

on the ground in a willow swamp in a clump of herbage on the
edge of Vermilion lake at Banff, Alberta. (W. Raine.) Nest, in
a hemlock tree near the ground in woods near Ottawa, composed
of dry moss and twigs compacted together; lined with fine fibre
and fine grass; eggs 4, dull white, sprinkled with reddish and brown
dots towards the larger end where the markings form a circle, leaving
the extremity plain. (G. R. White.) This is a rare warbler in
Ontario; a nest was taken in the vicinity of Lansdowne, Leeds
county, in June, 1894 not very far from the St. Lawrence; there
were four eggs in this nest, which was built on the ground; they
were small and white, thickly marked with fine brick-red spots.
(Rev. C. J. Young.)

685a. Pileolated Warbler.

Wiulsonia pusilla pileolata (PALL.) COUES. 1880.

Common at Sidley, B.C. in 1905 and at Douglas in 1906; rather
rare at Agassiz, B.C., in May, 1889; observed at Chilliwack, B.C.
and along that river to the head of Chilliwack lake in the summer
of 1901; first seen on May 7th, 1893, near Victoria, Vancouver
island, by the 14th they were common in all the willow thickets;
they were seen at Sooke, Nanaimo, Comox and other points and
are a common summer resident on the island. (Spreadborough.)
British Columbia. (Lord.) More common in the coast region than
in the interior; breeds. (Sireator.) A common summer resident,
chiefly west of the Coast range. (Fannin.) A tolerably common
summer resident at Chilliwack. (Brooks.) As early as May 12th,
these birds have been found feeding their young in Oregon; from
this region it extends north and occupies the entire Pacific shore of
the Alaskan mainland. (Nelson.) An adult male was taken at
Sitka, Alaska, on August 18th and several others including juveniles
seen on August 21st; they were in low brush along the shores of a
secluded bay where they possibly breed. (Grinneil.) We found
this the most abundant bird at Glacier, June 5-10, frequenting the
alder thickets from the valley as far as they extended up the hills;
I saw a yellow warbler I thought of this species on White pass sum-
mit, June 12th; pileolated warblers were common at Log Cabin,
Bennett, and Cariboo Crossing, and I am confident I heard them
singing at Lake Marsh; adult males from Glacier resemble normal

43 Ye

676 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

pileolata closely, but have the back rather more green; those from
the Yukon valley, while having the orange forehead and lower
parts of this form, have the duller green back of pusilla. (Bushop.)
The pileolated warbler is undoubtedly the commonest species of
warbler found in the Kenai region, Alaska. (Figgins.) Taken at
Muller bay, Seldovia and Sheep creek, Alaska. (Anderson.)

685b. Golden Pileolated Warbler.
Wilsonia pusilla chryseola Ridgway, 1902.

Mount Lehman near New Westminster, B.C. (Ridgway.) Mixed
with pileolata on Vancouver island, one taken May 1, 1893. (Spread-
borough.) Some of the references under pileolata should probably
go here.

686. Canadian Warbler.
Wilsonta canadensis (LINN.) COUES. 1880,

Fairly common summer resident in Kings county, N.S. (H. F.
Tufts.) Audubon, Vol. II., p. 15, reports it as breeding in Labrador.
(Packard.) A not uncommon summer migrant in Newfoundland.
(Reeks.) Rather common about Tignish, Prince Edward island,
but not met with elsewhere. (Dwight.) An occasional summer
resident at St. John, N.B. (Chamberlain.) A tolerably common
summer resident, frequenting moist woods and shrubbery, at Scotch
Lake, York county, N.B. (W.H. Moore.) Occurring occasionally
in the valley of the Restigouche river, N.B. (Brittain & Cox.)

An infrequent visitor in eastern Quebec, taken at Beauport.
(Dionne.) A scarce summer resident around Montreal; observed
from May 20th to September 2nd; a few breed. (Wintle.) A
moderately common summer resident around Ottawa. (Ottawa
Naturalist, Vol. V.) Frequently met with about Kingston, Ont.;
a few remain to breed in the district. (Rev. C. J. Young.) A com-
mon summer resident in Parry Sound and Muskoka districts. (J. H.
Fleming.) Common everywhere in Algonquin park, Ont. in thick
woods, usually seen near the ground; one individual seen at Moose
Factory, James bay, June 11th, 1896. (Spreadborough.) Common
during migration at Toronto, Ont., but less so during the summer.
(J. Hughes-Samuel.) A fairly common breeder in suitable swampy

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 677

thickets around London, Ont. (W. E. Saunders.) Common sum-
mer resident at Guelph, Ont.; arrives about May 11th, leaves about
August 28th. (A. B. Klugh.)

A summer resident of wooded hillsides in Manitoba, but its habits
are not very well known; has been found more frequently to the
north of Manitoba. (E. T. Seton.) A rare summer resident at
Aweme, Manitoba; arrives about May 2oth and leaves about last
of August. (Criddle.) A common migrant and tolerably common
breeding species under favourable conditions in Manitoba. (Atkin-
son.) A single specimen of this bird was killed in June at Cumber-
land House; it was in a dense thicket of alder, perched near the
ground. (Richardson.) One specimen secured at Grand Rapids and
another at Chemawawin, Saskatchewan river. (Nuttong.) One
specimen taken at Moose Factory, James Bay, by Mr. Walter Hay-
don, in the summer of 1881. (E. A. Preble.) Not observed any-
where west of Manitoba except at Edmonton, Alta., where a few
were observed and one taken May 2gth, 1897. (Spreadborough.)

BREEDING Notes.—June 12th, 1902, I found this bird nesting at
Rice lake, Ont.; nest in a cavity of a fallen tree root in deep woods.
(W. Raine.) Nests near Ottawa and at Lake Nominingue, 100 miles
north of Ottawa, in June and July; it is built on the ground in the
woods, and made of dried leaves, lined with fine grass, strips of bark
and hairs; the walls are thin for a nest made of leaves. (Garneau.)

On the 28th of May, when passing the “‘old root” of a fallen tree
I discovered the newly made nest of a small bird, which at first I
thought might be that of a mourning warbler, whose scolding notes
I heard near by; on the 5th June, when I thought the set of eggs
would be deposited I revisited the place; on the nest sat the mother
bird, and there she remained until I almost touched her with my
hand, then she flushed out, making some attempts to draw off my
attention, and uttered a few sharp ‘‘chips”’ and I saw at once that
she was a Canadian warbler; the nest then contained five eggs, and
incubation had begun; the nest was placed in a cavity among the
rocks, only a few inches above the more level earth, and was com-
posed of dry leaves, strips of bark, and other fine vegetable fibres,
and lined with some long horse hair; when placed side by side with
that of M. varia previously described, I made this comparison of
the nests and their sets of eggs, after the latter are blown; the nests—

678 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

in composition and size— are very much alike; both are rather
loosely put together, but there is quite a distinguishing difference
in the eggs; those of M. varia are actually the largest, and more
globular in form, and the ground colour more of a chalky whiteness,
and the spotting more of a brownish hue; with a general tendency
to form a wreath about the larger end, and be distributed over the
surface, even to the smaller point; the eggs of the Canadian warbler
have a clear white hue, with a beautiful rosy blush, and the colour-
ing which clouds the whole of the larger end of each egg, has more
of an orange tinge than either reddish or brown, the dotting on the
surface is more separated, and the approach to the smaller point
more devoid of dotting than are those M. varia, but in all the speci-
mens the variations are so numerous that it is difficult to describe
them; this species is very local in its distribution, being generally
found to frequent the borders of swampy woodlands, having much
the same habitat as the water-thrush and M. varia, but here it is
more abundant than either of the other species, and seems more
disposed to explore the underwood of the higher hardwood lands
and nests on more level ground; altogether about a score of the nests
of this species have come under my observation in my woodland
rambles in the vicinity in the past twenty years ; and, as in the
case of the water-thrush, black-and-white warblers, and severaj
other species, several of these nests were in cavities previously pre-
pared for them. (W. L. Kells.)

CCLIX. SETOPHAGA. Swatnson. 1827.
687. American Redstart.
Setophaga ruticilla (LINN.) SWAINS. 1827.

A poor skin was shown Mr. A. Halkett at Port Burwell by the
factor of the station showing that this species occasionally reaches
the north of Labrador. (Rev. G. Eijrig.) A specimen was taken at
Rupert House, September 3rd, 1860, by Mr. James McKenzie.
(Packard.) Common all along Moose river to James bay. On June
gth, found a nest with two eggs in a white birch about four feet from
the ground. Nest composed of fine bark lined with the down of
some plant. (Spreadborough.) A summer migrant but rare in the
north of Newfoundland. (Reeks.) An abundant summer resident

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 679

in Nova Scotia. (Downs; Tufts.) Common at Baddeck and Mar-
garee, Cape Breton island, N.S., July, 1898; in woods along Rustico
bay, Prince Edward island, June, 1888. (Macoun.) An abundant
summer resident on Prince Edward island. (Dwight.) A common
summer resident in New Brunswick. (Chamberlain.) Tolerably
common resident of Scotch Lake, York county, N.B. (W. H. Moore.)
An abundant summer resident on the Magdalen islands. (Buishop.)
Not uncommon at Ellis and Fox bays, Anticosti, and others at
Mingan, on the north shore of the St. Lawrence. (Brewster.)
Common in the Restigouche valley, N.B. (Brittain & Cox.)

A rather common summer resident in eastern Quebec; taken at
Beauport. (Dionne.) An abundant summer resident around Mont-
real. Breeds in the city and in Mount Royal park. Observed from
May 11th to August 29th. (Wintle.) Common summer resident
around Ottawa. (Ottawa Naturalist, Vol. V.) A common warbler
around Lansdowne, Leeds county, Ont. I have found the nest in
the crotch of a maple sapling or other tree from six to twenty feet
from the ground. They are also common on the Magdalen islands
where J observed them in June, 1897. (Rev. C. J. Young.) One of
the most common summer residents in Parry Sound and Muskoka
districts. (J. H. Fleming.) Common in thickets along streams and
around lakes in Algonquin park, Ont., 1900. (Spreadborough.)
Abundant around Toronto, Ont., breeds. (J. Hughes-Samuel; J. H.
Fleming.) Common as a migrant at Guelph, Ont. A few pairs
breed. Arrives about May 12th, and leaves about September ist.
(A. B. Klugh.) An abundant spring migrant at Penetanguishene,
Ont. (A. F. Young.)

Very abundant at Pembina where it breeds. Not observed any
further west along the 49th parallel. (Coues.) A common summer
resident in Manitoba. It seems to be abundant in all the wooded
parts of the province. Took a nest on Duck mountain, June 8th,
1884. It was placed in a low fork of asapling. (E.T. Seton.) A
common summer resident at Aweme, Manitoba; arrives about May
15th, leaves about September 16th. (Criddle.) An abundant breed-
ing species all over Manitoba and observed by me as far west as
Saskatoon, Sask. (Atkinson.) A few were seen at Maple creek,
Sask. Probably a common migrant. Four males and one female
were seen at Medicine Hat, Sask., May 17th, 1894, they never became

680 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

common; common at Old Wives creek, Sask., May, 1895; it was
evidently breeding at 12-Mile lake, near Wood mountain, Sask.,
June 6th, 1895; a few individuals were seen at Waterton lake in
July, 1895; common in thick woods from the head of Lesser Slave
lake to Peace River Landing, in lat. 56° 15’, in June, 1903; first seen
at Edmonton, Alta., May 29th, 1897, common by June Ist, soon
commenced nesting along the river and smaller streams; common in
willow thickets from Edmonton to Athabaska pass in June, 1898;
one observed at Crow Nest lake, Rocky mountains, July 28th, 1897,
and breeding at Banff, Rocky mountains, in July, 1891; a few seen at
Revelstoke, B.C., in May, 1890; in June they were found nesting
in low thickets on small poplar trees at Deer Park and Pass creek,
near Robson on the Columbia river; one observed at Rossland, B.C.,
in 1902; one seen at Osoyoos lake, June, 1905. (Spreadborough.)
One pair seen at Lac La Biche river, 30 miles below Athabaska
Landing, Alta. In June and July, 1889, it was abundant at Kam-
loops and along the North Thompson river, B.C.; rather rare at
Enderby near Sicamous, B.C. (J. M. Macoun.)

This beautiful bird is found in summer as far north as lat. 58°.
It frequents moist shady places in the Northwest Territories, flitting
about among the moss-grown stems of the tall willows that skirt
every marsh in these quarters. (Richardson.) North to Fort
Good Hope on the Mackenzie river; common. (Ross.) British
Columbia. (Lord.) Common summer resident in the interior;
breeds. (Streator.) Found throughout the province, but nowhere
common. (Fannin.) Well represented all over the interior of
British Columbia. (Rhoads.) Regularly east of, and accidentally
west of, the Coast range in British Columbia. Breeding through-
out the Cariboo district of British Columbia. (Brooks.)

BREEDING NoTEes.—In June and July nests with eggs are found
around Ottawa and Lake Nominingue, 100 miles north of it, in
bushes and trees from four to twenty feet high; they are made
of flexible bark, ornamented on the outside with the white bark
of the birch, and are often lined with a few feathers or hairs, Nests
2.50 x 2.50 and 2x 1.50. (Garneau.) Builds an elegant nest in
upright crotch from 5 to 25 feet from the ground; nest is composed
of plant down and vegetable fibre and bark strips, lined with fine
grass, rootlets and a little hair; eggs 4, white, thickly sprinkled over

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS, 681

and spotted with brown, lilac and purplish. (G. R. White.) They
nest in June, building in upright crotches in bushes 10-20 feet up;
white birches seem to be the favorite tree for their nests, probably
on account of the position of the limbs; the nest is firmly constructed
of strips of bark, grasses and plant down, lined with hair; eggs 3 or 4.
(W. H. Moore.) This is one of the commonest warblers in Leeds
county, Ont.; I have frequently seen the nest placed in some crotch
of a small tree from five to twenty feet from the ground; the eggs
are laid the first week in June. (Rev. C. J. Young.)

Many nests of this species in past years have come under my
observation; but it is only of those noted the present season that
I purpose here to speak; on May 22nd I noticed a female redstart
flying from a partly composed nest, the site of which was in the
fork of a small maple sapling, and at an elevation of about eight
feet from the ground; the nest could be easily seen, when the sear-
cher’s gaze was directed to it, at a distance of four rods; the woods
around it were rather open, and the leaves of the sapling were a
yard or more above it; eight days after I found that this nest con-
tained four of the warbler’s own eggs and one of a cowbird, all of
which were fresh; of all the warblers, the nest of this species is
about the neatest and most firmly put together, the bird evidently
emitting a good deal of saliva upon the material of which the nest is
composed when she is placing the fragments in position; all this
work, as well as that of incubation, appears to be done by the female,
though it is probable that her more beautifully plumaged consort
occasionally supplies her with food as she incubates her eggs; and
he certainly largely assists in feeding the young and in trying to
defend them if exposed to danger; if the first efforts of this bird to
propagate its species are successful, it does not nest more than once
in the season, otherwise it will nest a second time; the materials of
which the greater part of the nest of the redstart is composed is a
kind of fibre gathered from decaying timber and the seed pods of
various kinds of vines, and it is usually lined with animal hair; I
have never known the set of eggs to exceed four in number, and
generally the second set contains only three, with the addition
mostly of a cowbird’s; the eggs are of a whitish ground hue, marked
towards the larger end with a wealth of spotting of a flesh-coloured
hue, and smaller dots of the same hue scattered over the surface;
another bird of this species was noticed building her nest at a much

682 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

higher elevation deeper in the wood, and even in a more exposed
position; but a few days after the nest was completed it wholly
disappeared, and I suspected that an olive-sided fly-catcher that
had made her nest on an overhanging branch, a few rods off, was
the author of that. Other nests were observed, but there was
nothing specially noteworthy about them. (W. L. Kells.)

Famity L. MOTACILLIDA. Wacraits.
CCLX. MOTACILLA. Linngus. 1758.
694. White Wagtail.
Motacilla alba LINN. 1758.

One sent from the southern inspectorate of Greenland in 1849;
another obtained by Dr. Walker at Godhavn in August, 1857.
(Arct. Man.) Four individuals of this species were seen by Alexander
Brown and James Lyell (of the Hudson Bay Company), August 29th,
1883, at Hunting bay, four miles south of Fort Chimo. These
persons described the birds accurately and declared they were the
two parents and two young of the year. (Packard.)

695. Swinhoe Wagtail.
Motacilla ocularis SWINH. 1860.

This bird is of doubtful occurrence in Alaska and is admitted on
the capture of a single specimen in “Northwest America’ by Capt.
Kellett and Lieut. Wood; I obtained a fine male adult on June 23rd,
1881, in Plover bay, on the east coast of Siberia. (Nelson.) At
Attu island, Alaska, I was looking out of my window on the morning
of May 14th, 1881, watching the vessel which was to take me to
Unalaska island enter the harbour; I saw a bird just beneath the
window on the ground, not more than seven feet from my eyes, and
which I believe to be this species. I failed, however, to procure it
and hence there is an element of doubt in the identification. (Turner.)
On the morning of August 28th the Robert Kerry, on which I was a
passenger, was hindered from proceeding by a gale and low water
on the bar, and was made fast to the bank at the Aphoon mouth of
the Yukon. As I came on deck I saw half a dozen white wagtails
fly about the vessel and settle in the grass close by. While I returnep

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 683

for my gun they left, but a thorough acquaintance with Motacilla
alba in Egypt, where it is abundant during the winter, leaves me no
doubt that these birds were wagtails. (Bzshop.)

CCLXI. BUDYTES Cuvier. 1817.
696. Alaskan Yellow Wagtail.
Budytes flavus alascensis RIDGWAY. 1904.

The yellow wagtail of eastern Siberia extending across Behring
sea into that portion of Alaska in the region of Behring strait, is
one of the handsomest among its several related forms. The first
specimens were obtained in the vicinity of St. Michael where it was
found abundant during the summers of 1866 and 1867. In Alaska
I found this bird along the coast as far south as the Yukon mouth,
where it arrived May 28th, 1879, but was extremely rare. St.
Michael, on Norton sound, appears to be the centre of its abundance
on our coast, and thence north it becomes rarer until at Kotzebue
sound it is, as at the Yukon mouth, very rare. (Nelson.) This
bird arrives about June 12th and is very shy. Few females come
with the earliest visitants, yet but few days elapse before mating
begins. (Turner.) One adult male and two others were obtained
July 11th, 1898, at Point Barrow, Alaska. (Wutmer Stone.)

CCLXII. ANTHUS BEcustTeIn. 1807.
697. American Pipit.
Anthus pensilvanicus (LATH.) THIENEM. 1849.

The first specimens of this species were seen in Cumberland gulf,
May 30th, 1879. In the autumn they leave for the south about the
beginning of September. At Annanactook harbour, the nest was
always placed deep in a rock crevice, so far in, in fact, that I could
not secure any of the nests that I found. On the Greenland coast,
especially in the vicinity of habitations, they build in a tussock
much like a sparrow, but there the ravens are not so numerous or
destructive to birds and eggs as in Cumberland sound. The species
is generally distributed on both sides of Cumberland sound, and the
west shore of Davis strait to lat. 68° N., at least, but nowhere very
abundant. (Kumilten.) Supposed to breed in Greenland not further

684 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

south than lat. 67°, but unquestionably does so in the northern parts
of the North American continent. (Arct. Man.) One of the most
abundant birds in northeastern Labrador. Characteristic, with the
horned lark, of the most barren and wind-swept hill-tops. Breeds
very commonly. (Bigelow.) Abundant throughout Labrador.
Nests and eggs were obtained at Fort Chimo where it breeds plenti-
fully. (Packard.) Common in 1904 from Cape Henrietta Maria on
James bay south to Missinabi in August; autumn migration.
Common on the high rocky islands in James bay and on all the high
barren hills between Richmond gulf and Ungava bay; June 18th,
1896, found a nest, with five eggs, beneath over-hanging rock, com-
posed of dry grass. (Spreadborough.) Common along the shores of
Hudson bay. (A. P.Low.) Two males were taken at Chateau bay,
Labrador, July 14th, 1891. (Norton.) A common summer migrant
in Newfoundland. (Reeks.) A common migrant in and around
Halifax, N.S. (Downs.) Common migrant in Nova Scotia. (H. F.
Tujts.) Seen in numbers on Sable island, N.S., September, 19th,
1902; one seen, May 12th, 1905; several seen September 26th, 1906,
and about two dozen, September 15th, 1907. (J. Boutelier.) Occurs
in spring and fall at Grand Manan, N.B. (Chamberlain.) A com-
mon spring and autumn resident at Scotch Lake, York county,
N.B. (W.H. Moore.) A common but transient visitant at Mont-
real: Observed both in spring and autumn. Flocks larger in the
fall migrations. (Wuintle.) Occasionally common around Quebec in
spring and fall. Taken at Beauport. (Dzonne.)

An abundant migrant at Ottawa. (Ottawa Naturalist, Vol. V.)
I have seen a few of these birds in Leeds county, Ont., in the month
of October. (Rev. C. J. Young.) Reported as common, in the
autumn, at Beaumaris, by Mr. Taverner. Mr. Kay saw some at Port
Sydney on August 15th, 1890. They occur regularly in Muskoka,
and were common at Sand lake in October, 1900. (J. H. Fleming.)
Usually quite abundant along the shores of Toronto bay in the fall,
but passing through so quickly in the spring as to be often over-
looked. Those I have seen in spring have been here during the first
week in May. (J. Hughes-Samuel.) A passing migrant at Guelph,
Ont. (A. B. Klugh.) Rather common, July 24th to 30th, 1901, on
the rocky hills at Fort Churchill where a pair was taken. A large
flock was seen on lower Hayes river as we were ascending it, August
29th. (E. A. Preble.)

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 685

Along the 49th parallel this species is a bird of passage, but the
second season they were found in August about Chief mountain lake,
and no doubt those observed were bred in immediate vicinity as at
that time the full migration had not commenced. (Cowes.) An
abundant spring and fall migrant in Manitoba. (E. T. Seton; Atkin-
son.) A common spring and fall migrant at Aweme, Manitoba.
(Criddle.) This bird was observed in small flocks on the plains of
the Saskatchewan in the spring of 1827, feeding on the larve of
small insects. (Richardson.) North to Fort Simpson on the Mac-
kenzie river; not common. (Ross.) I have reason to believe that
this bird is among those that resort to the Anderson to breed, but
no nests were found. (Macfarlane.) First seen, July 24th, on north
shore of Great Slave lake about W. long. 110°, probably nesting;
thence northward to Clinton-Golden lake. Very abundant in
migration at Fort Reliance in mid-September. (E. T. Seton.) A
small stream of these birds kept passing Medicine Hat, Sask., from
April 16th to May 3rd, 1894, when the last ones disappeared; found
with their young more than half grown on Sheep mountain, close
to Chief mountain, on the 49th parallel, at an altitude of 7,500 feet,
July 30th, 1895; first saw a flock of about twenty at Edmonton,
Alta., April 27th, 1897, they continued to be common to May roth,
when all disappeared; only one observed in the Athabaska pass on
September 29th, 1898; common on the mountains above timber
line south of Calgary in July and in the Crow Nest pass in August;
frequent in spring at Banff, Rocky mountains, found on the moun-
tains around Devil lake, in August, 1891; common after April roth,
1890, on the flats by the Columbia river; later in the same year
they were found on the mountains near the head of Bow river; they
evidently breed on all the mountains above timber line; seen in
large flocks at Trail near the 49th parallel, May 8th, 1902; seen in
flocks at Penticton, B.C., April, 1903; found breeding on nearly
all the mountains of the Coast and Gold ranges, B.C., near the 49th
parallel, where there was grass, at an altitute of about 5,000 feet;
very abundant on the shore of Sumas lake in the fall of 1901; first
seen on Vancouver island on April 16th, 1893, they were common
on ploughed fields by the 24th, last seen going north, May 7th; quite
common at Clayoquot sound, Vancouver island, in September
1907. (Spreadborough.) A single specimen was heard singing on
Avalanche Mt., Glacier, B.C. June 24, 1906. (W. E. Saunders.)

686 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

Found on the summit of Mount Finlayson near Victoria on May
17th, 1887, where they doubtless breed. (Macoun.)

Shot east of Coast range. (Lord.) Large flocks were found
about the meadows of the coast district during the fall migration.
(Streator.) East and west of Coast range, abundant; found through-
out some winters on Vancouver island. (Fannin.) Common mi-
grant through the Fraser valley at Chilliwack; breeds above the
timber line on the Coast range. (Brooks.) Province of British
Columbia at large; breeding sparsely on the plateaus and mesas
of the interior up to 4,000 feet. (Rhoads.) Very common at Sumas
lake, Lulu island and Matasqui prairie, B.C., in September, 1894.
(E. F. G. White.) <A bird thought to be this species was seen on a
snow field in the mountains of Moresby island, Queen Charlotte
islands, B.C., on June 23rd, 1900; comparatively few pipits were
seen around Cook inlet, Alaska; one specimen was taken at Tyonek,
September 18th. (Osgood.) This species arrives at Unalaska early
in May and by the 19th had eggs on the hillsides. They seem to
breed along the whole coast of northern Alaska and on many of the
islands in Behring sea. (Nelson.) This species occurs throughout
the territory of Alaska, including the Aleutian islands. It is found
in the greatest abundance in the interior of the mainland, especially
at Fort Yukon; it rarely visits St. Michael except in the fall. (Tur-
ner.) A pair seen on a grassy tide-flat beyond Indian river at Sitka.
Alaska, on June 1oth and the female secured; from the condition
of the ovaries, I judged that it would have laid eggs within a week.
(Grinnell.) During the autumn this bird was seen in all suitable
localities (on the Kenai peninsula, Alaska) from timber line to
an altitude of 4,000 feet. I did not observe it during the summer
although I was in a good locality for it. (Figgins). Taken at
Herendeen bay and Muller bay, Alaska in May and June, 1903,
(Anderson.)

BREEDING Notes.—I have sets taken by F. F. Payne at Cape
Prince of Wales, Hudson strait, in June, 1888; also sets taken at
Hamilton inlet, Labrador, June 30th, 1895, by Lambert Dicks, as
well as sets taken at Nachvak, Labrador, June 15th, 1897; the
Rev. I. O. Stringer found a nest and five eggs at Peel river, near
the mouth of the Mackenzie river, June 25th, 1900, this was built
of dried grass on the ground. (W. Raine.)

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 687

A male taken at Skagway, June 3rd, was probably a belated
migrant; on the heights above Glacier, Osgood saw several, June
5th, and we found them common at Summit, June 11-13; a female
taken, June 13th, was laying, and a fresh but empty nest I found the
same day I attributed to this species, no other being near; the nest
was loosely formed of fine dry grass in a hollow in the deep moss
which covered the almost perpendicular side of a boulder lying on
a hill high above Summit, only a small hole for entrance showing
in the moss. We often saw the song-flight at Summit; launching
himself with a sharp preliminary ‘‘chip’”’ from one of the granite
boulders that abound there, the male would rise rapidly to a height
of a hundred feet or more, uttering a sweet, clear song; after poising
high in air and repeating this song for several minutes the singer
would slowly float toward earth and alight 100 yards from where
he started, soon to repeat the same performance; we found a pair
on the heights above Bennett, June 17th, and a few, possibly mem-
bers of one family, at Circle, August 15-20. (Bishop.)

698. Meadow Pipit.
Anthus pratensis (LINN.) BECHST. 1807.

Received in Copenhagen by Dr. Paulsen from Greenland in 1845.
(Arct. Man.)

699. Red-throated Pipit.
Anthus cervinus (PALL.) Keys & Bias. 1840.

A specimen of this bird was obtained in Greenland in 1845 and
makes the second record. (Turner.) This species was accredited
to the Aleutian islands in 1853; and Dall records a specimen which
was obtained at St. Michael during the Russian telegraph expedition.
(Nelson.)

700. Sprague Pipit.
Anthus spragueti (AUD.) BAIRD. 1864.

Found breeding in great numbers on the prairie near Turtle moun-
tain and Mouse (Souris) river. (Cowes.) A common summer
resident on the elevated prairies in the south and west of Manitoba
in 1882. In 1892 I failed to see or hear a single individual in the

688 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

country. They appear to have totally disappeared. This is un-
questionably owing to the breaking up of the virgin prairie. (EF. T.
Seton.) A common summer resident at Aweme, Manitoba; arrives
about April 23rd and leaves about the middle of September. (Criddie.)
Heard numerous individuals singing in the east end of the Cypress
hills and saw one the last week in June, 1894. Undoubtedly breed-
ing at this time. (Spreadborough.) Numerous from Touchwood
hills, Sask., west to Ribstone creek, Alta., in all the dry, treeless
districts. (Atkinson.) Entirely overlooked in S. W. Saskatchewan
in 1905, probably because we did not know where and how to
look for it or realize the difficulty of seeing it or hearing it. It
was really fairly common on the prairies in 1906, frequently heard
and less frequently seen. (A.C. Bent.) Fairly common in northern
Alberta where I listened with much pleasure to their interesting
but rather monotonous song, delivered at so great an altitude that
the bird was scarcely visible among the clouds. (W.E.Sauniers.)

BREEDING Nortes.—I did not see the bird in the immediate
vicinity of the Red river, and do not think I should have over-
looked it had any individuals been breeding about Pembina, where
I was every day in the field for more than a month collecting very
assiduously. Passing the low range of the Pembina mountains,
however, I at once entered the prairie region, where it was breeding
in great numbers, in company with Baird’s and the chestnut-collared
buntings. The first one I shot, July 14th, was a bird of the year,
already full grown and on wing, and as I found scarcely fledged
young at least a month later I judge that, like the Eremophila, the
bird raises two broods a year. Travelling westward to and beyond
the second crossing of the Mouse river, no day passed that I did
not see numbers of the birds; and at some of our camps, notably
that at the first crossing of the Mouse river, they were so numerous
that the air seemed full of them; young ones were caught by the
hand in camp, and many might have been shot without stirring
from my tent, as they hovered overhead on tremulous wings, utter-
ing continuously their sharp querulous cry. They continued
abundant through the greater part of September, in which month
the renewal of the plumage is completed, and some still remained on
the ground till October. Exactly when they migrate, however, and
where they go to, or when they return, are equally unknown to me—
not the least singular point in the bird’s history is the success with

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 689

which it has eluded observation during the winter months. (Cowes.)
Breeds throughout southern Saskatchewan, but rarer in Manitoba.
During my several expeditions to northwest Canada I have found
over half a dozen nests of this bird. At Crescent lake, Sask., June.
15th, 1902, I found a nest containing four eggs, built in the grass on
the prairie. On May 25th, rgo1, a set of five eggs was collected for
me by Mr. Hugh Richarsdon in the Qu’ Appelle valley, Saskatchewan,
and he took another set of five eggs on May 28th at the same place,
both nests were made of dried grass and built on the ground. I
have another set of four eggs taken at Pasqua, southwestern Sas-
katchewan, May 26th, 1893. The eggs of this bird are very rare in
collections. They are something like eggs of the prairie horned lark
but are smaller. Some have a pale buff ground, others greyish-
white ground, minutely speckled with buff and purplish grey. The
eggs can easily be told from small prairie horned lark’s eggs by the
fine dark brown hair lines at the largest end of the eggs. I never
saw these hair lines on eggs of the horned lark, although they are
often found on eggs of the American pipit and European meadow
pipit. This bird is called the Missouri skylark by the settlers as it
has the same habit as the European skylark of soaring high up in
the air until it becomes a mere speck in the sky and it never ceases
singing from the time it begins to ascend until it reaches the earth
again. It is a smaller bird than the European skylark and con-
sequently its voice is not so powerful. I have often heard both
‘species sing and must say Sprague’s pipit is not in it with the Euro-
pean skylark, in spite of what has been said to the contrary by
American ornithologists. (W. Raine.)

Famity LI. CINCLID:. Diprpers.
CCLXII. CINCLUS Bortuansen. 1797.
701. American Dipper.
Cinclus mexicanus untcolor (BONAP.) RIDGWAY. 1904.

Observed one on Elbow river, southwest of Calgary, July rs5th,
1897; common in Michell creek, west of Crow Nest pass, August 7th,
1897. (Spreadborough.) I met with this bird in numbers around
Chief Mountain lake, but was too late for its eggs, as the young were
already on the wing. (Coues.) A very common species in all the

44

690 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

mountain streams from Banff through the Rocky mountains to the
Selkirks and Gold range. Its habit of living beside and behind
waterfalls and small cascades adds a great deal of interest to a study
of its habits; one nest found in the Kicking Horse valley was placed
on a ledge behind a small waterfall and contained young birds on
August 13th, 1885; at a distance it looked like a large mass of wet
moss, but on examination it proved to be a nest shaped like an oven.
(Macoun.) Very common in the rocky creeks west of the Columbia
river on the 49th parallel in the summer of 1902; taken in Eagle
river in the Gold range, B.C., on April 5th, 1890; common on the
Elk river, B.C., May, 1904; one seen on Whipsaw creek and one on
Skagit river, B.C., July 15th, 1905; one seen on a small stream at
5,000 feet altitude, July 25th, 1905; a few were seen in the little
stream below Spence Bridge, B.C., in May, 1889, and a few at the
head of the North arm of Burrard inlet, B.C., in April, 1889; quite
common on the Chilliwack river and the streams flowing into it in
the summer of 1901; one seen near Goldstream, Vancouver island,
June 2nd, 1893; also saw one on Sooke river, on September 5th,
where I heard it singing for the first time, I have heard it said they
were good singers and so they are; their song resembles that of the
cat-bird very much, in fact so much so that if I had not seen the
bird sitting on a stone I should have put it down for that bird;
they seem to do most of their singing in the fall and winter. (Spread-
borough.) On July 16th, 1887, a nest of this species was found on
the stringer of a bridge over a stream emptying into Cameron lake,
at the base of Mount Arrowsmith, Vancouver island; it was built of
moss and quite large, but very compact in the centre, but with the
dome over it; owing to its position in a rapid torrent the eggs or
young were not seen as we looked through a chink at the nest; as
we camped at the bridge we had the bird under observation for two
days. (Macoun.)

Three specimens of this bird were procured by Mr. Drummond
near the sources of the Athabaska river, on the eastern declivity of
the Rocky mountains, between latitude 54° and 56°. (Richardson.)
The only specimen seen was shot at Ducks, B.C. (Streator.) To be
found in nearly every mountain stream throughout British Columbia.
(Fannin.) Very common along all the rivers in British Columbia.
(Lord.) Resident at Chilliwack, but not common; common at Lake
Okanagan, B.C., sings all winter; in the Cariboo district of British

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 691

Columbia it is found in the neighbourhood of running water all
winter. (Brooks.) Associated in British Columbia with all dashing
streams from the mountains to the sea. (Rhoads.) Common up
Seymour creek, B.C. (E. F. G. White.) A dipper was seen and
heard several times along a stream emptying into West arm of
Cumshewa inlet, Queen Charlotte islands, 1899; several were seen in
the mountains near Hope, Cook inlet, Alaska, and a specimen was
taken there September 3rd, 1899. (Osgood.) Throughout Alaska,
wherever clear, swift-running streams afford suitable locations, this
bird is found. It winters in the neighbourhood of St. Michael, and
specimens have been brought to me in midwinter when the tempera-
ture was at least 40° below zero. It seems to be very little affected
by the extreme cold of our winters. (Nelson.) This species was
obtained from several localities; it inhabits rocky creeks flowing
from the mountains; it is not common but it is a permanent resident
and breeds here. (Turner.) We collected a female and a set of
four fresh eggs at the falls at Glacier above Skagway, Alaska, June
8th, 1898; a single ouzel seen further down the river, June roth, was
probably the mate of the one taken. Osgood also took one at Un-
alaska, October 5th. (Bzishop.)

BREEDING Nore.—Breeds near Banff, Rocky mountains, making
a large nest of moss witha side entrance, which it usually builds close
to a cascade, either in a tree-root or on a ledge of rock. The nest is
covered with moss and kept green by the falling spray from the
mountain stream. (W. Razne.)

Famity LI. TROGLODYTIDAS. Wrens, THRASHERS ETC.

CCLXIV. MIMUS Bote. 1826.
703. Mocking Bird.
Mimus polyglottos polyglottos (LINN.) BoNap. 1838.

In MclIlwraith’s ‘‘ Birds of Ontario,’ page 388, there is an inter-
esting account of the nesting of this species in East Hamilton, Ont.,
in 1883. Mr. Eastwood observed the male early in the season, but
the female kept so close that she was seen only once. It was hoped
that this pair, or some of their family, would return the following
spring to visit their old friends in Ontario, but if they did so they

44%

692 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

have not been observed. In the “ Birds of Western Ontario,” men-
tion is made of one specimen being taken by Mr. Sandys, at Chatham,
Ont., in 1860, which is all we know of the mocking bird in western
Ontario at present.

The following records of the occurrence of this bird in Canada are
given by Dr. J. Dwight, Jr., in The Auk, Vol. XIII, p. 344: 1. One
specimen seen but not captured at Strathroy, Ont., July 1st, 1880.
2. The Chatham record, as given by Mr. MclIlwraith. 3. The
Hamilton record, as given by the same. 4. A bird was wounded
and caught alive at Truro, N.S., July rst, 1889. It showed no signs
of being an escaped cage bird. 5. This is a young bird taken in the
fall of 1894 on Sable island, N.S. It must have reached there owing
to a severe storm.

A young male in juvenile plumage was captured on Sable island,
N.S., September 5th, 1902, hopping about a woodpile. (J. Boute-
lier.) A specimen was picked up on Haymarket square, St. John,
N.B., by a seven year old boy, Ronald Singer, and through Mrs.
M. V. Lawrence, brought tome. (A. G. Leavitt.) I took a male on
May 2oth, 1906, at Point Pelee, Essex county, Ontario. The bird
was found near an old orchard on the west side about five miles from
the end of the point. In both birds the sexual organs were well
developed. Mr. B. H. Swales and Mr. P. A. Taverner were with me
when both birds were shot. (J. H. Fleming.)

CCLXV. GALEOSCOPTES. Capanis. 1850.
704. Catbird.

Galeoscoptes carolinensis (LINN.) CaB. 1850.

A rather common summer resident at Halifax, N.S. (Downs.)
Common summer resident in Nova Scotia. (H. F. Tufts.) Several
seen, May 16th, 1906, on Sable island, N.S., and one, September 15th,
1907. (J. Boutelrer.) Apparently rare on Prince Edward island; a
few specimens were seen in July, 1888, at Stewart’s mill. (Macoun.)
A rare and irregular summer resident at St. John, N.B. (Chamber-
lain.) Summer resident along St. John River, N.B., and tolerably
common. (W.H. Moore.)

Common summer resident at Montreal. Breeds in the city and
on Mount Royal park. Nests with eggs found from May 29th to

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 693

July 19th. (Wintle.) A common summer resident in eastern
Quebec. Taken at St. Foy. (Dionne.) A common summer resi-
dent around Ottawa. (Ottawa Naturalist, Vol. V.) Very common
everywhere in eastern Ontario; sometimes remaining until the end
of September. (Rev. C. J. Young.) Regular summer resident at
Toronto, Ont. An abundant summer resident in Parry Sound and
Muskoka districts; breeding usually on the edge of the forest or in
gardens of the settlers. (J. H. Fleming.) Very common summer
resident at Guelph, Ont. Arrives about May roth and leaves about
September 25th. (A. B. Klugh.) A very common summer resident
at Penetanguishene, Ont.; breeds very frequently in wild rose bushes
in meadow-lands. (A. F. Young.)

The catbird was found to be one of the common birds of the Red
River region, where it was breeding in June in situations similar to
those it selects in the east. I traced it westward to Turtle moun-
tain, on the 4gth parallel, but did not find it in the Rocky moun-
tains. (Coues.) An abundant summer resident of low thickets in
Manitoba, especially tothe north. (£.7T.Seton.) Common summer
resident at Aweme, Manitoba; arrives about May 17th and leaves
about September 18th. (Criddle.) Breeding from Manitoba west
to Edmonton, Alta. (Atkinson.) Fairly common in the timber and
underbrush along creeks in southwestern Saskatchewan. (A. C.
Bent.) This is a very common summer resident at Indian Head,
Sask. ; it was first seen June 2nd, 1892, and became common in a few
days; breeds in great numbers; first seen at Medicine Hat, Sask., on
May 17th, 1894; common by the 20th; abundant in all thickets at
Medicine Hat, Crane lake, along Swift Current creek, and on the east
end of the Cypress hills, in June, 1894; this bird was common wher-
ever there was brush in Wood mountain and on Rocky creek to the
Boundary; four nests were found on Frenchman river, two in willow
thickets and two in wolf-willow (Eleagnus argentea) ; it was a common
species in all the ravines in the Cypress hills and in Milk river valley,
and wherever there was brush in southern Alberta; first seen at
Edmonton, Alta., May 25th, 1897, heard a number of them singing
next day; they soon became common and began to breed; common
from Edmonton north to the McLeod river, in June, 1898; heard in
the bushes at Deer Park, Columbia river, B.C., June 6th, 1890; later
in the month they were found breeding in the valley of Pass creek,
near Robson; quite common at Trail and Cascade, and in low bushes

694 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

along small streams near the 49th parallel in the summer of 1902;
a common species at,Kamloops and Spence Bridge, B.C., building in
the thickets along the Thompson river, in June, 1889; only one in-
dividual seen at Chilliwack, B.C., in June, 1901, and one in the Chil-
liwack valley in 1906. (Spreadborough.) Uncommon at Prince
Albert, Sask., several times heard in the thickets but only once seen.
(Coubeaux.) This species was not observed further north than lati-
tude 54°. It was abundant around Carlton, on the Saskatchewan,
and bred in the willow thickets. (Richardson.) Very common
summer resident of the interior of British Columbia, reaching the
coast in reduced numbers. (Sireator.) Common east and west of
the Coast range; rare on Vancouver Island; summer resident.
(Fannin.) Not abundant anywhere, but very local in its distribu-
tion in British Columbia. (Rhoads.) Tolerably common summer
resident at Chilliwack, B.C.; and breeding as far north up the Fraser
river as Soda creek, B.C. (Brooks.)

BREEDING Notes.—Nests, in bushes, vines and trees of every kind;
never high up; made of branches, dry leaves, bits of paper, bark and
grasses; always lined with black rootlets. At Ottawa, the catbird
begins to lay in the latter part of May. (Garneau.) Nest, built in
a tree at Ottawa, from five to twenty feet from the ground ; composed
of twigs, leaves, bark, rootlets and bits of twine, lined with black
rootlets. Eggs, four to five, dark bluish-green. (G. R. White.)
Breeds in June, at Scotch Lake, N.B.; the nest is a roughly con-
structed affair of weed-stalks, grasses and other material, lined with
rootlets and resembles a bunch of drift stuff lodged ina bush. The
female keeps good watch over the nest and the male sings at some
distance away to attract enemies to himself. (W.H. Moore.) This
species builds its nest on the prairies in the densest thickets and is
difficult to find; nests in willows and Eleagnus argentea. The base
consists of leaves of thistles and Artemisia, then of bark of dead
willow, lined on the inside with small black root fibres; three nests
of the same character were taken on Frenchman river, Sask., June
2end, 1895. (Macoun.)

CCLXVI. TOXOSTOMA. Wacter. 1831.
705. Brown Thrasher.
Toxostoma rufum (LINN.) CaB. 1847.

A common summer resident around Montreal; observed in the
spring of the year, April 30th, and a nest found on the spur of Mount

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 695

Royal, containing three eggs, May 24th, 1890; not observed in the
autumn, and think it must be an early migrant in the fall. (Wuntie.)
A moderately common summer resident around Ottawa. (Ottawa
Naturalist, Vol. V.) Common in suitable places in eastern Ontario.
A common breeding bird on Wolfe island, near Kingston, Ont. (Rev.
C. J. Young.) Regular summer resident at Toronto, Ont. Mr. Kay
records one from Port Sydney, Muskoka, taken on May 7th, 1890;
I am sure it occurs at Emsdale, Parry Sound, but have not been able
to take one. (J. H. Fleming.) An uncommon summer resident at
Guelph, Ont. (A. B. Klugh.) A common summer resident in
southwestern Ontario, but noted sparingly in the north; nests are
usually made on the ground, often in a brush heap and sometimes
in shrubs. Eggs, three or four; rarely five; two broods are often
raised in aseason near London, Ont. (W.E.Saunders.) A common
summer resident at Penetanguishene, Ont.; have found their nests
situated very near the ground in rose bushes. (A. F. Young.)

Observed at Pembina, which appears to be near the northern
limit of the distribution of this species; a nest containing four eggs
was found at Pembina late in June. (Cowes.) A common summer
resident of partly open country, more especially in the southern sec-
tions of Manitoba. (E. T. Seton.) A common summer resident at
Aweme, Manitoba; arrives about May 1oth and leaves about the
middle of September. (Criddle.) A regularly breeding, but not
common species in Manitoba and the west, being most abundant
along the heavier wooded river courses; noted west to Touchwood
hills, Sask., in 1906. (Atkinson.) Uncommon in the timber belts
of southwestern Saskatchewan in 1906. (A.C. Bent.) First seen
at Medicine Hat., Sask., May 12th, 1894; later they came in numbers
and by May 22nd, were very common; in bushes in the creek and
river valleys, May 30th; found a nest with four fresh eggs under a
log in a heap of dry brush; nest composed of sticks, lined with dry
grass; other nests were taken low down in the brush in close thickets ;
one pair was seen late in June in brush along Swift Current creek, in
the east end of Cypress hills; observed in thickets at Old Wives
creek, at Wood mountain and in the Milk river valley and on Milk -
river ridge, in southern Alberta, in 1895; observed one individual at
Moose mountain, almost at timber line, about forty miles southwest
of Calgary, July rst, 1897; several seen further south on July 15th,
near the source of Elbow river. (Spreadborough.) This species was

696 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

only seen at Carlton House, on the banks of the Saskatchewan,
where it breeds. (Richardson.)

BREEDING Nores.—A nest built in a small fir six feet from the
ground and containing two young birds and three hatched eggs, dis-
covered near Ottawa, on June 7th, 1903. It was a large nest of
branches, ten inches in diameter, and lined with bark, grass and
leaves. (Garneau.) A nest found near Beechwood cemetery,
Ottawa, was built in a brier patch; the nest was a large bulky struc-
ture of twigs, weed-stalks, dead leaves, strips of bark and fibrous
roots, lined with fine grass; it contained four greenish white eggs
marked with reddish-brown dots. (G. R. White.)

CCLXVII. SALPINCTES Caszanis. 1847.

706. Rock Wren.
Salpinctes obsoletus obsoletus (Say) CAB. 1847.

One male of this species was seen in the east end of the Cypress
hills, Sask., June 26th, 1894; it was also taken at Calgary, Alta., in
August, 1885; a pair of these birds was noticed on June 14th, 1895,
in the “bad lands,” on Rocky creek, south of Wood mountain; the
species was common along Milk river, and breeding in numbers at
Castellated rocks, Alta., in July, 1895; saw one individual at Prairie
creek, northwest of Edmonton, Alta., June 29th, 1898; rather
common along the railway at Spence Bridge, B.C., in May, 1889; it
was evidently breeding; common and breeding on rocky hillsides at
Osoyoos lake, B.C., in June, 1905. (Spreadborough.) Migrant on
Vancouver island and at Sumas. (Lord.) Rather common about
Ashcroft; breeds. (Streator.) Common east of the Coast range;
one specimen taken by me at Burrard inlet, in 1884. (Fannin.)
Only once seen and shot, in November, 1889, at Chilliwack, BC.
(Brooks.) Found about Ashcroft and northward to CAche creek,
B.C.: also at Kamloops, where one was nesting in a “section” house,
ten feet from the railroad tracks. (Rhoads.)

CCLKXVITI. THRYOTHORUS Viemtor. 1816.

718. Carolina Wren.

Thryothorus ludovcianus ludovicianus (LATH.) BONAP. 1838.

One specimen of this species lived for a month or two in the winter
of 1890-91 in the town of Forest, Ont., and was eventually shot in

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 697

February, 1891, by Mr. Montague Smith, of that place, and is now
in the possession of Mr. S$. H. Smith, of Strathroy, Ont. One speci-
men taken in a ravine near St. Thomas, Ont., by Mr. O. J. Stevenson,
September, 1905, where it had lived for some time in the previous
winter at least. I went to see this bird on April 25th, 1905. (W.E.
Saunders.) Four specimens were taken on September 5th and 6th
in a thicket on the east shore of Pelee point, Essex co., Ont., all
young birds. The presence of these fledglings constitutes the first
breeding record for Canada. (N. B. Klugh, in The Auk, Vol. XXIII,

p. 105.)
CCLXIX. THRYOMANES “Scrater. 1862.

719. Bewick Wren.
Thryomanes bewrckit bewrckin (AUD.) OBER. 1808.

Only one specimen recorded, taken by myself on December 13th,
1898, in a swampy area full of brush and fallen trees, with a few
shrubs, near Appin, Ont. There was scarcely a foot of light snow
on the ground, and the day was clear but not very cold. The bird
was feeding and working along through upturned roots and piles of
brush. (W. E. Saunders.)

719e. Seattle Wren.
Thryomanes bewicku calophonus OBERHOLSER. 1898.

Rather rare at Agassiz, B.C., in May, 1889; seen at Chilliwack and
Huntingdon, B.C., in the summer of 1901; a summer resident on
Vancouver island; found breeding on April 22nd, 1893; I believe a
few stay all winter, as I have observed them in midwinter near
Victoria. (Spreadborough.) Migrant on Vancouver island and at
Sumas. (Lord.) More common on the coast than in the interior.
(Streator.) A summer resident, chiefly west of the Coast range;
breeds in Beacon hill park, Victoria, Vancouver island. (Fannin.)
Abundant resident at Chilliwack. (Brooks.) Abundant in southern
British Columbia, west of the Coast range. (Rhoads.) Pacific
slope, from Oregon north to southern Vancouver island, the valley
Of Fraser river and slightly further along the mainland coast.
(Oberholser.)

698 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
CCLXX. TROGLODYTES Viemt.or. 1807.

721. House Wren.
Troglodytes aédon aédon OBER. 1904.

One specimen taken on Sable island, N.S., May 4th, 1902; one seen
May 24th, 1906, and another September 29th; one seen October 15th,
1907. (Jj. Boutelier.) A scarce summer resident around Montreal;
seen feeding their young within the city in 1890 and 1891. (Wanile.)
Rare in eastern Quebec. I captured a female of this species in
Quebec city in the spring of 1880. (Dionne.) An abundant summer
resident around Ottawa. (Ottawa Naturalist, Vol. V.) Common in
eastern Ontario. I have seen this bird frequently in Leeds county,
but nowhere so common as in central and northern Frontenac; there
it is quite numerous and sometimes makes its nest in a hole in a
fence-rail. (Rev. C. J. Young.) Common migrant at Toronto, and
fairly common summer resident. Common summer resident in
Parry Sound and Muskoka districts; breeds in hollow fence-posts,
stumps and under the roofs of houses. (J. H. Fleming.) Common
along the Parry Sound railway in Algonquin park, Ont;. nesting in
hollow stumps. (Spreadborough.) Common in town and country
around London, Ont. Average date of arrival in twenty-two years,
May ist. Average date of departure in nine years, October 8th.
Snakeskins are generally a feature in the lining of country nests.
(W. E. Saunders.) Common summer resident at Guelph, Ont.
(A. B. Klugh.) An abundant summer resident at Penetanguishene,
Ont. (A. F. Young.)

BREEDING Notes.—This bird nests in holes everywhere they
exist. Nests have been found in fence-posts, trees, stumps and
buildings. The entry is filled up with twigs and the nest made of
bark, rootlets and grass, lined with feathers and hair. From four
to seven eggs are in the set, which is laid in May, June or July, at
Ottawa and at Lake Nominingue, 100 miles north of it. (Garneau.)
Breeding commonly in the vicinity of Toronto. A pair have several
times built their nest in a paint can that was hung up on a nail ina
shed at Kew Beach, Toronto. (W. Raine.) Builds at Ottawa in
trees, boxes or old hats nailed up on the side of a shed or barn. The
nest is composed of twigs, leaves and hair, lined with feathers. Eggs:
seven to eight; white, thickly spotted with reddish-brown. (G. R.
Whate.) Occupied an old robin’s nest at Kingfmere, Que., 1909.
(J. M. Macoun.)

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 699

7214. Western House Wren.

Troglodytes aédon Parkmanii (Aup.) A O. U. List. 1886.

Observed as far west on the 49th parallel as the confines of the
Missouri coteau. The westernmost specimens, as well as those from
the immediate valley of the Red river appear to be typical aédon.
On the Red river, in June, the species was breeding very abundantly
in the neighbourhood of the fort and town of Pembina. (Coues.)
An abundant summer resident in partly wooded localities. Although
this bird usually nests in a hollow stump, it is not averse to a different
situation, provided only that it be a hole, and deep enough and
narrow enough to exclude any but the owner. If the hole chance
to be in the least a loose fit, his first care is to blockade the doorway
with the largest twigs he can carry until he has reduced it to his own
idea of snugness, and I learned to accept it as the infallible door-
plate of a wren’s homestead, when a bundle of twigs was seen pro-
jecting from a cranny in some decrepit looking stump, hollow rail or
a knot-hole in an outhouse. (E. T. Seton.) A common summer
resident at Aweme, Manitoba; arrives about September 2oth.
(Criddle.) Everywhere abundant in Manitoba and breeding as far
west as Edmonton, Alta. (Atkinson.) Very abundant along the
creeks in southwestern Saskatchewan. Nests in nearly every avail-
able hollow in box elders. (A.C. Bent.) One specimen of this wren
was procured by Mr. Drummond at the foot of the Rocky mountains,
but no others were seen by any of us to the eastward. (Richardson.)
Frequently seen at Prince Albert, Sask., in summer. (Coubeaux.)
First seen at Medicine Hat, Sask., May 15th, 1894; common by the
20th; abundant at Crane lake, Skull creek and east end of Cypress
hills in June, breeding in holes in poplar trees and an occasional
telegraph pole at Crane lake; this species was found breeding in holes
in trees at Old Wives lakes, Sask., and at Wood mountain, in June,
1895; later, another nest was taken in a hole in a clay bank along
Frenchman river, Sask.; not rare in the wooded ravines on the
south side of the Cypress hills; a nest was taken built in a barn
swallow’s nest on Sucker creek, which is the source of Frenchman
river; it was common on Spur creek, Milk river, Milk river ridge,
St. Mary river and Lee creek, southern Alberta; common from the
mouth of Lesser Slave river to Peace River Landing; breeding in
holes in trees and in the sandstone cliffs and cut banks of Peace river,

700 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

latitude 56° 15’ in June, 1903; observed from Edmonton to Atha-
baska pass in June, 1898; first seen at Edmonton, Alta., May 6th,
1897; on June 8th, found a nest with seven eggs in a hole in a birch
stub about six feet from the ground, nest built of sticks and lined
with feathers; eggs quite fresh; on the 11th took another nest in a
poplar stub about four feet from the ground; nest same as before;
common south of Calgary in the foothills in June and July; rare at
Banff, Rocky mountains, and breeding in holes in trees in June, 1891;
shot at Revelstoke, B.C., May 3rd, 1890; a few pairs were breeding
at Robson, B.C.; a nest was taken out of a holiow tree on Pass creek,
700 feet above the Columbia river, June 2oth, 1890; observed a few
at Trail, on the Columbia river, near the 49th parallel; breeding in
holes in houses and trees in the summer of 1892; occasionally seen
at Kamloops, B.C., in June, 1889; rather common at Heney, Ham-
mond and Agassiz, along the Fraser river, B.C., in May, 1889; they
were around the barns and houses like the house wren; common at
Chilliwack, B.C., in the spring of 1901, and at Douglas, B.C., May 2nd,
1906; first seen on Vancouver island, April 27th, 1893; it is a toler-
ably common summer resident throughout the island, in May the
woods everywhere were vocal with its song. (Spreadborough.)
Rather common in British Columbia. (Lord.) Common summer
resident everywhere; breeds. (Streator.) A summer resident east
and west of the Coast range. (Fannin.) Common summer resident
at Chilliwack. (Brooks.) I never found this wren above the 2,000
feet limit. It is not as abundant or evenly distributed in the in-
terior as coast-wise. (Rhoads.)

BREEDING Notes.—Quite common throughout the prairie region,
breeding in holes in trees or in clay banks of rivers. At Walsh’s
ranch, Old Wives creek, Sask., they were nesting in holes in ash-
leaved maple. At Wood Mountain post, Sask., nests were taken
in clay banks; on June 21st, 1895, a nest was taken on Frenchman
river, Sask., in a clay bank. On the outside it was built of willow
twigs and roots and within lined with large feathers and hair. (Ma-
coun.)

CCLXXI. OLBIORCHILUS Osernorser. 1902.
722. Winter Wren,
Olbtorchilus Mwemalis hiemalis (VIEILL.) OBERH. 1902.

Audubon, Vol. II., p. 129, found this species in southern Labrador,
July 2oth, 1833. (Packard.) A common and abundant resident

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 7OI

throughout the year in Newfoundland. (Reeks.) Not very common
at Halifax; a few breed in Nova Scotia. (Downs.) Uncommon in
Nova Scotia. (H. F. Tufts.) Hunter river, Prince Edward island,
July 2nd, 1888. (Macoun.) Tolerably common in damp woods
along brooks, or sometimes in more open localities in Prince Edward
island. (Dwight.) A common summer resident at St. John, N.B.
(Chamberlain.) Common summer resident at Scotch Lake, York
county, N.B. (W. H. Moore.) Locally abundant in the Resti-
gouche valley, N.B. (Brittain & Cox.) Tolerably common on the
Magdalen islands. (Bishop.) Not rare at Lake Mistassini, northern
Quebec. (J. M. Macoun.) A common but transient visitant
around Montreal; observed in both spring and autumn. (Wintle.)
Common in many parts of eastern Quebec. Taken at Charlesbourg.
(Dionne.)

A moderately common summer resident around Ottawa. (Ottawa
Naturalist, Vol. V.) Not uncommon in Leeds county, Ont. There
is a large woodland tract south of Lansdowne, Ont., and not far from
the St. Lawrence, where they are quite common and breed; I found
a nest in 1883, early in May, and have heard several singing there
together in April; I noticed one specimen on the Magdalen islands.
(Rev. C. J. Young.) Common migrant at Toronto, Ont.; rare winter
resident ; very rare summer resident; breeds. A common species and
breeds in Parry Sound and Muskoka districts, Ont. (J. H. Fleming.)
Common from Missinabi, Ont., to Moose Factory; none seen further
north; common everywhere in thick dark woods in Algonquin park,
Ont. (Spreadborough.) On March 17th, 1894, a male of this species
was taken at Toronto, and I have every reason to think that he had
wintered there. (J. Hughes-Samuel.) An uncommon summer resi-
dent in the deep cedar swamps around London, Ont. Much less
numerous than formerly. (W. E. Saunders.) Common summer
resident at Guelph, Ont.; arrives about April 4th and leaves about
October 6th. (A. B. Klugh.)

Summer resident in the thick woods in eastern Manitoba; has been
seen as far west as Portage la Prairie. (FE. T. Seton.) <A rare
summer visitor at Aweme, Manitoba. (Criddle.) A regular but not
common migrant about Portage la Prairie, Man., but not noticed
elsewhere. (Atkinson.)

BREEDING NotTes.—This species breeds in June at Scotch Lake,
N.B. The nest is well hidden in upturned roots of overturned trees.

702 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADa.

Eight eggs are generally laid. (W.H. Moore.) In the woods near
Lake Nominingue, about 100 miles north of Ottawa, two nests were
found imbedded in green moss on the ground, and another on the
side of a fallen tree. The entrances were about an inch in diameter
and the interiors were empty spheres lined with a few grasses.
(Garneau.) I have found this species breeding at Long Branch,
west of Toronto, at Rice lake and near Port Hope and at Waterloo,
Ont.; a favorite nesting place is im the root of some fallen tree; it
lays six to seven eggs, finely spotted at the largest end with dark
brown. (W. Raine.) There were a few years ago some large woods
in the front of the township of Lansdowne, Ont.; a creek ran through
them, and here the winter wren was quite common and bred; I once
found its nest, which was built in a cavity of a stump, about a foot
from the ground; it was early in May before the bird laid her eggs,
but at that time the nest was really completed, being a large globular
ball of moss with a small hole near the top. (Rev. C. J. Young.)

This season, I saw one on January 23rd (1894) in a wood-
land dell, which it frequents during the summer, and near
where I had found two nests. On March 30th, I again heard it in
the same place, and from that date they became more common.
Toward the centre of our sugar bush, and not far from the ‘‘camp
fire,” the ground is rather low, and here most of the larger timber
was uprooted by that terrible windstorm of April 2oth, 1893; having
noticed the winter wrens frequently during April, in this bush, I
expected that they were going to nest here again, and a search on
May 2nd, was rewarded with the discovery of a nearly completed
nest in one of the highest roots. I think it was four days later that
I again visited it, when it contained four eggs; on the oth, I flushed
the bird from her nest, which I carefully removed from its place in
the soil and fine roots, and found the number of eggs to be six, which
were apparently pure white, but if held up to a strong light, after
being blown, the minute markings, with which the larger part of the
surface is dotted, became visible; the site of the nest was about six
feet above the ground, or rather water, which filled the space out of
which the root had been torn; the nest resembled a round ball of
moss with an entrance hole on the outer side; it measured over
twelve inches in circumference; the exterior was almost wholly com-
posed of a species of moss, common on the lower parts of trees and
logs in low grounds; around the entrance are a number of the stalks
of hemlock leaves, while the inside is nearly lined with fine vegetable

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 703

matter, hair and feathers. This set was completed on the 8th of
May and is the earliest date I have ever taken their eggs. Of the
seven nests collected in this vicinity four contained six eggs each,
and three five; all of these were built in the upturned roots of fallen
trees, which is evidently their favourite nesting place, though it
certainly builds in other situations. (Wm. L. Kells.)

722a. Western Winter Wren.

Olbtorchtlus hvemalis pacificus (BAIRD) OBERH. 1902.

Common in thick spruce woods from Lesser Slave lake to Peace
River Landing, latitude 56° 15’, in June, 1903; observed one on
Moose mountain, southwest of Calgary, June 30th, 1897, another
observed in Crow Nest pass, July 28th, 1897; first seen at Revelstoke,
on the Columbia, April roth, 1890, later they became more common
and nested in the thick woods; quite common in thick woods at
Trail on the 49th parallel in the summer of 1902; three specimens
seen at Penticton, B.C., in April, 1903; common in the woods around
Burrard inlet and Agassiz, on the Fraser river, B.C., April, 1889;
common at Fernie, B.C., in 1904; seen near Midway, B.C., April,
1905, and common between the Skagit river and Chilliwack lake and
along the Hope trail in July of the same year; common at Douglas,
B.C., where I found a nest in the roots of an upturned tree; abundant
along the Chilliwack river, in the mountains near the 49th parallel;
also observed a few at Huntingdon, B.C., nearer the coast in 1901;
a common resident throughout Vancouver island, preferring thick
woods. (Spreadborough.) Rather common, British Columbia. (Lord.)
Confined principally to the coast region; breeds. (Streator.) A
resident chiefly of the coast; abundant. (Fannin.) Common resid-
ent at Chilliwack. Tolerably common throughout the winter at
Lake Okanagan, B.C. (Brooks.) Abundant on the coast of British
Columbia. Two moulting birds from Selkirk mountains near Nelson,
B.C., are even darker than skins from Puget sound. (Rhoads.)
From Sitka, Bischoff sent four specimens during his collecting there,
and others have been collected at Kadiak. (Nelson.) Tolerably
common in the more open forests at Sitka, Alaska, where there is
much recently fallen timber. Especially numerous on St. Lazaria
island where their clear sprightly songs constantly uttered, seemed
scarcely in accord with the harsh cries of the thousands of sea-fowl.
(Grinnell.) We noticed a few at Glacier above Skagway, Alaska,.

7904 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

June 4th to 1cth, and I took a male there, June 6th. (Bishop).
Very common on all the Queen Charlotte islands, it is practically
the only bird to be found in the deep forest away from the sea-shore.
On the occasions when we attempted to penetrate the labyrinth of
undergrowth towards the interior of the islands, we were always
greeted, even in the darkest places, by the tiny wren’s bright bubbling
song or scolding chatter. It is always in motion and utterly regard-
less of the weather. During continuous rains while we were camped
at the head of Cumshewa inlet, a wren would appear every few hours
near the front of the tent and, after scolding us for a while, move on
through the wet brush cheerfully and oblivious of the descending
rain. I flushed a bird from an empty nest in the upturned roots of
a large fallen cedar, June 15th. I visited this nest frequetly and
flushed the bird from it each time, but up to June 28th it still con-
tained no eggs. Four specimens only were collected, two adults and
one young from Cumshewa inlet and one young from Skidegate.
These do not differ from specimens from the adjacent mainland of
British Columbia and from Puget sound near the type locality of
Anorthura h. pacificus. (Osgood.) Common at Stanley park, Sey-
mour creek, Mission City and Chilliwack, B.C., in 1894. (E. F. G.
White.)

7226. Kadiak Wren,
Olbtorchilus hiemalis hellert (OQsGooD) OBERH. 1902.
Kadiak island, Alaska, resident. (Rzdgway.)
723. Alaskan Wren.

Olbiorchilus alascensis (BAIRD) OBERH. 1902.

The type of this wren was obtained by Mr. Dall at St. George
island, Alaska, and is a young bird. It is an abundant resident on
the Near islands; it is found throughout the Aleutian islands and
is a resident wherever found. (Nelson.) This pleasing little bird is
found in abundance on all the Aleutian chain proper; it was also
observed at Kadiak island, Unga island, and on the mainland at
Belkoosky; it never goes to the interior of even a small sized island,
but remains strictly among the cliffs, bluffs, and other high places
forming the seasides of the islands. (Turner.) Not uncommon on
St. George island in Behring sea, Alaska; a number of specimens
were taken in June, 1897. (J. M. Macoun.)

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 705

723. 1. Attu Wren.
Olbiorchilus meligerus OBERHOLSER. 1902.

Attu island, Aleutian islands, Alaska, June 4th, 1894. Range,
the westernmost islands of the American group. (Oberholser in The
Auk, Vol. XVII., 1900.)

CCLXXII. CISTOTHORUS Cazanis. 1850.
724. Short-billed Marsh Wren.
Cistothorus stellaris (LICHT.) CAB. 1850.

A male of this species was seen at London, Ont., in 1898, and
several old nests were found but no females were seen. A colony
was discovered and a specimen taken near the base of Point Pelee,
May 14th, 1905. It was inhabiting a long-grass marsh. (W. E.
Saunders.) I have two specimens of this bird taken by Mr. C. W.
Nash at Toronto. (J. H. Fleming.) On August 29th, 1891, I found
and secured an adult female of this species in an old field north of
Toronto, the bird was a long distance from any marsh or water; on
June 7th, 1895, I captured an adult male in a wet meadow east of
Toronto; there were no rushes near this place, but the grass was
very rank. (C. W. Nash in The Auk, Vol. XIII., p. 347.) A male
was taken in a wet meadow at Norway House, June 20th; from its
actions it probably had a nest in the vicinity, but despite a careful
search none was found. (E£. A. Preble.)

I found the birds to be rather plentiful along the Red river, in low
oozy ground, overgrown with scrub willows, and also in the reedy
sloughs of the prairie. They were undoubtedly breeding here,
though no nests were secured. My specimens were secured at Pem-
bina in June. (Cowes.) A summer resident of erratic distribution
in Manitoba; soon after the 1st of May, every little sedgy pool and
slough in the Assiniboine valley, from Carberry to Pelly, is vocal
with the merry chatter of this bird. The nest is a globular structure,
and judging by the one or two cases I have observed is generally
placed in a grass tuft; if there is any difference I think the short-
billed selects a drier situation for his home than the long-billed
marsh wren. (E. T. Seton.) A tolerably common summer resident
at Aweme, Manitoba. Arrives about the last of April. (Criddle.)
A few specimens seen at lakes ten miles south’of Indian Head, Sask.,
in May, 1892. (Spreadborough.)

45

706 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA,
CCLXXII. TELMATODYTES Cazanis. 1850.
725. Long-billed Marsh Wren.
Telmatodytes palustris palustris (WILSON) CouES. 1868.

One procured at Godthaab, Greenland, in May, 1823. (Arct.
Man.) The first specimen taken in the province of New Brunswick
was near St. John, October 3rd, 1895. Nothing more was noted of
this species until September 23rd, 1900, when two were heard at
Mud lake, 15 miles east of Scotch Lake. (W. H. Moore.) A scarce
summer resident at Montreal. The late Mr. Caulfield observed this
species, May 24th, in some reeds around a pond at Céte St. Paul,
and Mr. W. W. Dunlop has seen them on Nun island, above the
Victoria bridge. I found a pair nesting in the bullrushes and rank
herbage at the mouth of Laprairie. (Wunile.)

A common summer resident around Ottawa. (Ottawa Naturalist,
Vol. V.) One of the commonest birds in eastern Ontario about the
St. Lawrence below Kingston. Sometimes remaining until the
middle of September. (Rev. C. J. Young.) Common summer
resident at Toronto, Ont. (J. H. Fleming.)

BREEDING NoTEs.—Builds a large bulky nest in reeds in marshes
around Ottawa. The nest is made of tops of grasses and reeds
worked into a ball with a hole in one side, lined with fine grass.
Eggs, 6 to 8, of a rich dark chocolate or so spotted with chocolate
as to make the ground colour appear to be chocolate. (G. R. White.)
Breeds abundantly in the marsh behind my house at Kew Beach,
Toronto. (W. Raine.) On June 6th, 1903, I visited the Lake
Francis marshes near Summertown, Ont., where I found many nests
of the long-billed marsh wren. The globular nests were everywhere,
and resembled those of the field mouse but were very strongly woven
with rushes with a lining of feathery down from the bullrushes. The
entrance was a small round hole in the side, which, in the first nest,
I did not really find, but later I observed that it invariably opened
out between the rushes to which the nest was fastened. The nesting
sites were chiefly in clumps of last year’s rushes, when they were
composed of dead material. Many birds, however, fastened their
nests to the long rank grasses which covered the marshes where the
water was only a few inches deep. In the latter choice, green grasses
were used in building, the wrens thus blending the colour of their

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 7O7

homes with that of the immediate surroundings. Often three or
more nests appeared to be the property of one pair of birds, those
occupied being several yards apart. The surplus nests are probably
built with the purpose of discouraging enemies, or possibly having
cause to fear rising of water. the birds are not satisfied with their
first attempts.

One nest that I found contained four eggs of a pure glossy white
without a sign of coloration. They were slightly malformed and
almost globular in shape, measuring: .58 x .53; .58X.52; .59 X .543
.57 X .53, averaging .58 x .53, whilst an average specimen of the normal
egg measures .66 x .49. (L. M. Terrill.) In the Ottawa Naturalist,
Vol. XVIIL., p. 120, the Rev. G. Eifrig describes the nests found by
him at Lake Doré, Renfrew county, Ont.

725a. California Wren.

Telmadotytes palustris paludicola (BAIRD) RipGw. 1877.

Rather common in Burnaby lake about three miles from New
Westminster, B.C., in April, 1889. There were many nests, both
old and new, built securely to bullrushes (Scirpus lacustris) standing
in the water. All the nests were oven-shaped and evidently the
lake was the home of a large colony; in the summer of 1901 two
individuals were seen in a peat bog at Huntingdon, B.C., on the
49th parallel. (Spreadborough.) Recorded from Chilliwack by
Ridgway.

725c. Western Marsh Wren.

Telmatodytes palustris plestus (OBERHOLSER). 1903.

First seen at Penticton, Lake Okanagan, B.C., April 23rd, 1903,
breeding in the district but not common; common in the marshes
near Midway, B.C., May 1st, 1905, building nests at that date.
(Spreadborough.) Found in the interior of British Columbia, only
breeding about the muddy margins of mountain lakes. (Streator.)
I have found this bird only east of the Coast range where it was very
abundant around the lakes along the Cariboo road. (Fannin.) A
few stay all winter at Lake Okanagan, B.C. (Brooks.) Breeding
over the lake country east of the Coast range; I found it abundant
at Lac la Hache, B.C.; it must range much farther north than this,
probably to Stewart lake, lat. 54°. (Rhoads.)

4574

708 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

725d. Prairie Marsh Wren.

Telmatodytes palustris tacus RIDGWAY. 1903. -

Great Plains and prairie districts north to South Edmonton, Alta.,
and probably east to Manitoba. (Ridgway.) A common resident of
marshes in eastern Manitoba. Mr. Hunter has noticed it from
Selkirk to Souris, particularly at Shoal lake, north of Winnipeg,
where they appear to be very common. I have never seen it at
Carberry nor on the upper Assiniboine. (E. T..Seton.) A tolerably
common summer resident at Aweme, Manitoba. (Criddle.) Abun-
dant and breeding in all marshes of any size in Manitoba and west
to Little Manitou lake in 1906. (Atkinson.) Three specimens of
this species were secured at Chemawawin near the Grand Forks
of the Saskatchewan. (Nutivng.) Apparently a rare spring migrant
at Indian Head, Sask. Only one individual seen June 5th,
1892. Observed a number of individuals in a reedy pond at
Edmonton, Alta., May 1oth, 1897, 1 think that they arrived much
earlier; common in tall rushes around all the ponds and lakes,
May 13th, on May 27th examined about 30 nests and obtained only
one egg, on June roth found three nests, one with young and
two with eggs nearly fresh, nests fastened to the rushes (Scirpus
lacustris), out inthe water and made of grass; found’a pair breeding at
Peace River Landing, lat. 56° 15’, July 1st, 1903. (Spreadborough.)

Mr. ‘Drummond killed specimens of this wren on the eastern
declivity of the Rocky mountains on the 55th parallel. (Richard-
son.) This species was not observed till we reached the Rocky moun-
tains when a few were seen on marshy ground near Chief Moun-
tain (Waterton) lake. (Cowes.) I place this record here where
it evidently belongs.

The specimens, of this variety in our museum are from Edmonton
and? Peace River Landing. There may be some doubt about the
Manitoba and Rocky mountain references above but without seeing
the specimens this seems to be the proper place to put them.

Famity LITT. CERTHIIDA. Creepers.

CCLXXIV. CERTHIA Linnaus. 1758.
726.2 Brown Creeper.
Certhia famtliarts americana (BONAP.) RipGw. 1874.

Apparently a summer migrant in Newfoundland; but may not
migrate. (Reeks.) A rather common resident at Halifax, N.S.

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 709

(Downs.) Uncommon resident in Kings county, N.S., though chiefly
insummer. (H. F. Tufts.) Saw one, October 25th, 1905, on Sable
island, N.S. (J. Boutelier.) A rather rare summer resident at St.
John, N.B. (Chamberiain.) A scarce permanent resident at Scotch
Lake, York county, N.B. (W. H. Moore.) A common transient
visitant around Montreal; observed nearly all the year; a few
possibly breed and winter there. (Wdnile.) This bird is frequently
met with in eastern Quebec; taken at Beauport. (Dzonne.)

A common winter migrant around Ottawa. (Ottawa Naturalist,
Vol. V.) I have frequently noticed this bird in the fall and early
spring, though but seldom in the summer; neither have I observed
it breeding in eastern Ontario, though it probably does. (Rev. C. J.
Young.) A very common resident in Parry Sound and Muskoka
districts. Common migrant at Toronto, possibly a rare summer
resident. (J. H. Fleming.) Not very common in Algonquin park,
Ont.; have not seenitsnest. (Spreadborough.) A common migrant,
but a rare summer resident around London, Ont. (W. E. Saunders.)
Common resident at Guelph, Ont.; more abundant in autumn,
winter and spring than in summer. (A. B. Klugh.) A common
resident at Penetanguishene, Ont. (A. F. Young.) A very rare
summer resident of woodlands in eastern Manitoba. (E. T. Seton.)
Common in Manitoba as a migrant but not noted breeding. (Atkin-
Son.)

BREEDING NoTEs.—Have taken several nests at Ottawa, always
in deserted woodpecker’s holes. The nests are made of grasses and
lichens, lined with hair and feathers; eggs 6, white with sparingly
distributed reddish brown dots. (G. R. White.) Breeds in Welland
county, Ont., where Mr. Reinecke has taken its nest and eggs; it is
more plentiful in Muskoka and in northern Ontario, where it makes
its nest of twigs in a decayed tree-stub under the loose bark and lays
5 to 6 white eggs, heavily spotted with reddish brown, chiefly at the
largest end. (W. Raine.) On July 14th, 1903, I saw many brown
creepers in a swamp and going to a likely looking balsam stub and
striking it, there was a great commotion at its base and several young
creepers fluttered away in different directions. I found that I had
broken off a large piece of bark about two feet from the base of the.
stub, thus disclosing the nest, which was fastened to the loose bark
with threads of spider’s silk. It was a very deep structure though
necessarily much flattened (as the bark was only about three inches

710 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

from the trunk at its widest) in the shape of an elongated one-sided
wedge. It was composed of dead lichen-covered twigs of spruce,
balsam and tamarac, thrown together in a very loose mass with a
lining of shreds of the inner bark of balsam. Its outside depth
measured eight inches, the diameter parallel with the trunk five, and
the other diameter two and one-half. The bark and trunk formed
the boundaries of the nest cavity, which was perfectly flat. (L. M.
Terrill.)

7266. Rocky Mountain Creeper.
Certhia familiaris montana Ripcw. 1882.

Quite rare at Revelstoke, B.C., only two seen up to May 4th, 1890;
occasionally heard in the thick woods during May; saw one near
Midway, B.C., April 22nd, 1905, and one at Meyers creek, a little
further west, a few days later. (Spreadborough.) Rare in British
Columbia. A male creeper from Nelson, B.C., appears to be montana.
(Rhoads.) Rather common in winter at Lake Okanagan, associating
with chickadees. Tolerably common in winter in the Cariboo dis-
trict of British Columbia. (Brooks.) One female taken at Seldovia,
Alaska. (Anderson.) One adult female taken at Hope, Alaska,
August 31st, 1900; a few individuals were seen at Tyonek inlet,
Alaska. (Osgood.)

726c, California Creeper.

Certhia familiaris zelotes OSGOOD. 1901.

Saw three individuals on October 25th, 1901, at Chilliwack, B.C.,
in company with a number of Canada nuthatches; one individual
seen at Agassiz, B.C., on May 16th, 1889; one shot at Comox, Van-
couver island, May 2nd, 1887, and a few seen at Victoria later in
the month. (Spreadborough.) Not uncommon on the coast; only
one seen in the interior. The single specimen taken at Ducks, a bird
of the year, is perhaps referable to montana. (Streator.) East and
west of Coast range; common on Vancouver island. (Fannin.)
Tolerably common resident at Chilliwack. (Brooks.) Neither rare
nor common on the coast of British Columbia. (Rhoads.)

729d. Tawny Creeper.
Certhia familiaris occidentalis RipGway. 1882.

Seen only in the tall timber along Indian river, Sitka, Alaska,
where I secured six specimens and saw several others. (Grinnell.)

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 7II

One specimen was taken and several others were seen in Cumshewa
inlet, Queen Charlotte islands, B.C., June 20th, 1900. (Osgood.)
Common on Vancouver island. (Fannin.)

Famiry LIV. PARIDA#. NourtHatcues AnD TITs.
CCLXXV. SITTA Linnaeus. 1758.
727. White-breasted Nuthatch.
Sitta carolinensis carolinensis LATH. 1790.

Common on Anticosti; Audubon saw one in Labrador. (Packard.)
Common along the Humber river, Newfoundland, 1899. (Lowis H.
Porter.) Rather common summer resident at Halifax, N.S. (Downs.)
Uncommon summer resident in Kings county, N.S., sometimes seen
in winter. (H. F. Tufts.) One individual taken on Sable island,
N.S., September 29th, 1902; a few specimens seen, August 4th, 1907.
(J. Boutelier.) Cove Head, Prince Edward island, July 4th, 1888.
(Macoun.) Common in spring and summer but not seen in winter
at St. John, N.B. (Chamberlain.) A tolerably permanent resident
at Scotch Lake, York county, N.B. (W.H. Moore.) It is seen in
the woods of eastern Quebec, but near the city I have never seen a
single individual. Taken at St. Vallier, Bellechasse county, Que.
(Dionne.) A permanent resident at Montreal. Common spring and
fall migrant, but a scarce summer and winter resident. (Wunile.)

A common resident at Ottawa. (Ottawa Naturalist, Vol. V.) A
common bird in eastern Ontario. Have observed it all through
the winter as well as in summer at Lansdowne. It breeds com-
monly in Leeds county, though as the nest is usually made in a hole
of a tree, often a maple, high up, it is not often discovered. (Rev.
C. J. Young.) Winter and fall resident at Toronto, Ont.; no summer
records except from July 10th to 21st, 1892. A common resident
in Parry Sound and Muskoka districts; I found a nest on 24th May,
1893, at Emsdale; it was in a natural hollow in a large maple, and
about 30 feet from the ground; the six eggs were laid on the rotten
wood and surrounded by a few of the bird’s feathers. (J. H. Flem-
ing.) Common resident at Guelph, Ont. (A. B. Klugh.) Nests
have been taken at Sherkston, Welland county, by Mr. Edward
Reinecke. Here it lays from seven to eight eggs in a hole in a
decayed tree-stub. One nest was in an ash tree fifty feet from the

712 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

ground. (W. Raine.) A common resident at Penetanguishene,
Ont. (A. F. Young.) An adult female taken at Fort Churchill
many years ago is recorded by Clarke. (E. A. Preble.)

727a. Slender-billed Nuthatch.

Sitta carolinensis aculeata (Cass). RipGway. 1874.

One specimen taken on Sumas prairie, B.C., October roth, 1894.
(E. F. G. White.) We have not seen Mr. White’s specimens but
they are probably this variety. Ridgway cites a Vancouver island
station.

727c. Rocky Mountain Nuthatch.
Sita carolinensis Nelsont MEARNS. 1902.

Somewhat rare; summer resident of woodlands; its distribution
seems to be much the same as that of the oak (Q. macrocarpa.)
(E. T. Seton.) One observed in the Crow Nest pass, Rocky moun-
tains, July 29th, 1897; not common at Revelstoke, B.C.; a few
were seen in a piece of green timber near the railway station on
May 12th, 1890; rather common at Deer park and Robson on the
Columbia river; breeding in both localities; four seen at Cascade,
B.C., June, 1902; not uncommon in mountain woods at Spence
Bridge, B.C., May, 1889; only observed two specimens at Penticton,
B.C., April, 1903; common at Elko, B.C. in coniferous woods, May
20th, 1904; observed a few near Midway, B.C., and a few breeding
at Sidley in April, 1905. (Spreadborough.) Rather common at
Lake Okanagan, B. C., in winter, associating with chickadees; in
summer confined to the region of Pinus ponderosa in B.C. (Brooks.)
British Columbia. (Lord.) Very common in the interior; breeds.
(Streator.) Common east of coast range; I found them very abun-
dant on the wooded hills above Cornwallis. (Fannin.) Abounds in
the wooded hills of the interior of British Columbia. (Rhoads.) An
abundant resident in Manitoba, and observed in 1906 along the
G. T. P. railway west to Edmonton, Alta. (Atkinson.) Fairly com-
mon in late autumn at Aweme, Man. (Criddle.)

728. Red-breasted Nuthatch.
Sitta canadensis LINN. 1766.

Audubon, Vol. IV., p. 179, states that he saw one in Labrador,
which had probably been driven there by a storm. (Packard.)

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 713

Common on Moose river from Missinabi, Ont., to Moose Factory,
James bay. (Spreadborough.) Perhaps a permanent resident in New-
foundland. (Reeks.) One seen on the Humber river, Newfound-
land, August 18th, 1899. (Louts H. Porter.)

A fairly common resident at Halifax, N.S.; associated with the
chickadees. (Downs.) Five single specimens were seen on Sable
island in July and August, 1899. There were no signs of nesting
and in no case were two seen together on any part of the island.
The one located at the main station entered the houses and caught
flies in the windows and twice it perched on the writer’s head and
sprung at the flies in the window from that perch; besides catching
flies it would hunt up and down the telephone poles and on the fence
posts and boards for other food; not uncommon at Baddeck and
Margaree, Cape Breton island, July, 1898; a few were noticed in
spruce trees at Brackley point, Prince Edward island, 26th June,
1888. (Macoun.) One seen on July 14th and another September
8th, 1902, on Sable island, N.S.; one seen May 16th, 1904; numbers
seen after a gale, November 5th, 1906; seen January 20th, 1907,
and all through the following autumn. (J. Boutelier.) I had
about given up seeing this species at all when I came upon several
at Souris, Prince Edward island, probably a family. (Dwzght.)
Usually an uncommon resident at St. John, N.B. (Chamberlain.)
A common permanent resident at Scotch Lake, York county, N.B.
(W. H. Moore.) Quite common in the Restigouche valley, N.B.;
young just beginning to fly in July. (Brittain & Cox.) A tolerably
common summer resident on the Magdalen islands. (Bishop.) A
permanent and common resident in eastern Quebec. Taken at
Beauport. (Dionne.) A common transient visitant at Montreal;
probably a few breed and winter there. (Wunile.)

A common resident at Ottawa. (Ottawa Naturalist, Vol. V.) In
the years 1887 and 1888 this bird appeared to be unusually common
in Renfrew county, Ont. In the former year I met with four nests.
Two of these were in partly decayed poplar trees; one about 10 feet
and the other about 30 feet from the ground. The eggs are laid the
second week in May at latest, as on 21st of that month I found the
young just hatched. A peculiarity of the nest hole is that the
orifice is smeared with rosin from the neighbouring spruce or pine
trees, catried by the bird. I did not notice any nests in the pine
or spruce themselves. About Lansdowne, Leeds co., the bird is

714 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

uncommon even in late spring. (Rev. J.C. Ycung,) Resident at
Toronto, Ont., between Sept. 2 and May 13. A common breeding
resident in Parry Sound and Muskoka districts. (J. H. Fleming.)
Abundant everywhere in Algonquin park, Ont., in summer. (Spread-
borough.) A common migrant iu southern Ontario. Two speci-
mens were noted near Wiarton in North Bruce, Ont., on June roth,
1889, which were probably breeding. (W.E. Saunders.) A passing
migrant at Guelph, Ont. (A. B. Klugh.) A common resident at
Penetanguishene, Ont., throughout the year. (A. F. Young.)
Heard at Echimamish and a few seen on an island in Knee lake,
Keewatin, July 5, 1901. (E. A. Preble.)

A very rare summer resident in Manitoba especially in the Red
river valley. (E. T. Seton.) Very abundant in the fall migration
at Aweme, Manitoba. (Criddle.) A common migrant in Manitoba,
nesting in some localities. Noted breeding in 1906 at Hamiota,
Birtle and Fort Ellice, Man., and at Saskatoon, Sask. (Atkinson.)
Heard twice in a tangled thicket at the summit of the Cypress hills,
July 26, by Bishop. (A. C. Bent.) One shot at Medicine Hat,
Sask., in May, 1904; a few seen on Lee creek, near Cardston, Alta.,
in July, 1895; not common in the Peace river country, very few
seen during the season of 1903; tolerably common in the spruce
woods at Edmonton, Alta., June 12th, 1897, found a nest in a hole
in a live poplar about 16 feet from the ground, the young were in
the nest; common from Edmonton to Athabaska pass in June,
1898; not uncommon in the foothills south to Crow Nest pass; com-
mon and breeding in the woods at Banff, Rocky mountains, in the
summer of 1891; a common summer resident at Revelstoke, B.C.;
and at Deer Park, and Robson, on the Columbia river, where they
were breeding in the thick woods; summer resident near the
International Boundary between Trail and Cascade, B.C., in
1902; common both in the valley and on the hills at Penticton,
south of Lake Okanagan, B.C., in April, 1903, nesting quite
early in April; common at Elko, B.C.; common at Midway,
B.C., and on the mountains between the Skagit river and Chilli-
wack lake; observed at Douglas, B.C., in April, 1906; common
in the coniferous woods at Kamloops, Spence Bridge, Agassiz
and Hastings, :B.C., in 1889; observed a few all summer in
the woods all along the Chilliwack river and lake, in the Fraser
valley in 1901; a common resident throughout Vancouver island.
(Spreadborough.) Not rare between Athabaska Landing and Lesser

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 715

Slave river; first seen May 29th; not rare on the Clearwater river
up to Methye portage. (J. M. Macoun.) British Columbia.
(Lord.) Common on the coast and in the interior. (Streator.)
Common east and west of Coast range; winters on Vancouver island.
(Fannin.) Tolerably common resident from the valley at Chilli-
wack to timber line on Coast range. Common around Lake Oka-
nagan, B.C., in winter, associating with chickadees. Rather com-
mon in winter in the Cariboo district of B.C. (Brooks.)

Two specimens were taken in Cumshewa inlet, Queen Charlotte
islands, B.C., June 18th and June 22nd respectively. No others
were seen during our stay. (Osgood.) I took a male at Skagway,
Alaska, May 31st, and another at Log Cabin, June zoth, and heard
one on an island at the junction of the Lewes and Pelly rivers, near
Fort Selkirk, Yukon district, July 26th. This species has not here-
tofore been noted in the Yukon valley. (Bishop.)

BREEDING NoTEes.—The eggs of this species are laid by May
toth, at Scotch Lake, York co., N.B., in a hole excavated in a dead
tree, preferably a spruce or fir. The nest is generally about four
inches below the entrance, and is composed of bark, fibre, fur and
a few feathers. The cavity is about three inches in diameter and
is sometimes made with great labour. On one occasion a pair
were found digging a cavity, March 26th, and at that date could
get half the size of the bird into the hole. Knots were struck
about two inches down and late in April they had to give up their
site and find a new place. Before leaving they had collected quite
a coating of balsam about the entrance, perhaps for the purpose of
keeping out large ants or mice. Both male and female work at
nest making. The number of eggs is six, each of which is set in a
light depression in the nest lining. (W. H. Moore.) In June,
1893, I found this bird nesting at Rush lake, Sask. There are no
trees at Rush lake, so the bird laid its eggs in a hole in a beam on
the stable-roof. (W. Raine.) Last summer I found a nest of the
red-breasted nuthatch. It was dug in a rotten stump five feet
from the ground, and contained young birds almost able to fly.
Around the entrance to the nest was a ring of pine or balsam gum,
and as I saw the young birds picking at it I inferred it was an insect
trap. I also found three nests of the chickadee, and each was lined
with the hair of Lepus americana. (A. Kay in Trans. Can.
Inst., Vol. ITI., 3rd Series.) I took a nest, May 26, 1903, seven

716 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

feet from the ground in a rotten birch at Kenora. (W. E.
Saunders.)

730. Pygmy Nuthatch.
Sitta pygmea pygmea VIG. 1839.

British Columbia. (Lord.) Found only at Ducks where it was
as common as the others. (Streator.) I have only found this bird
east of the Coast range. (Fannin.) Rather common at Lake
Okanagan, B.C. in winter. Confined to the regions of Pinus pond-
ervosain B.C.,in summer. (Brooks.) Only found, and that sparingly,
at Vernon near Lake Okanagan, B.C. (Rhoads.) Common on the
hill-sides in the scattered timber at Penticton, Lake Okanagan, B.C.;
it builds its nest in holes in trees anywhere from 6 to 40 feet from the
ground; they have a remarkable way of caulking up the holes and
seams in the trees around their nest with hair; they sometimes work
Io or 12 days making the nest; on April 15th, 1903, found a pair
building their nest; chopped the same out May 1st and found six
eggs; the bird covered them with feathers on leaving the nest so I
suppose she had not finished laying. A pair building a nest in a hole
in a tree in the town of Midway, B.C., April, 1905 and one seen at
Sidley. (Spreadborough.)

CCLXXVI. PENTHESTES ReEIcHENBACH. 1850.
735. Chickadee.

Penthestes atricapiulus atricapillus (LINN.) Ripcw. 1904.

Locally common in timbered parts of northeastern Labrador.
(Bigelow.) I am informed by credible persons long resident in
the country, that two species of chickadees occur at Northwest
river, at the head of Hamilton inlet. (Packard.) Common and
resident throughout the year on Newfoundland. (Reeks.) Most
abundant along the Humber river, Newfoundland, 1899. (Louis
H. Porter.)

Abundant resident at Halifax, N.S. (Downs.) Common in
Nova Scotia. (H. F. Tufts.) Common at Baddeck and Margaree,
Cape Breton island, N.S., July, 1898; quite common in woods at
Brackley beach, Prince Edward island, June, 1888. (Macoun.)
Occasionally, small roving families were encountered on Prince

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 717

Edward island, so that it is a fairly common species. (Dwight.)
An abundant resident throughout the year at St. John, N.B. (Cham-
berlain.) An abundant and permanent resident at Scotch Lake,
York county, N.B. (W.H. Moore.) Not uncommon in the Resti-
gouche valley, N.B. (Brittain & Cox.)

Quite common at Lake Mistassini, northern Quebec. (J. M.
Macoun.) A common and permanent resident, but most common
in spring and autumn. (Dionne.) A common winter visitant;
observed from September 17th to April 25th. (Wintle.) A com-
mon resident at Ottawa. (Ottawa Naturalist, Vol. V.) very
common species in eastern Ontario; about Lansdowne, Ont., I
met with the nest in May containing six eggs. (Rev. C. J. Young.)
Common resident at Toronto, Ont., breeds. An abundant breeding
resident in Parry Sound and Muskoka districts, Ont. (J. H. Flem-
amg.) Common everywhere in Algonquin park, Ont., in summer;
saw a pair making a nest in a rotten stump, June 18th, 1900; another
pair was seen building a nest in a hole in a birch tree on July 15th;
they appear to work only early in the morning at building their
nest. Common from Missinabi, Ont. to Moose Factory, James bay.
(Spreadborough.) Resident the year round at London, Ont., but
less common in summer than at other seasons. (W. E. Saunders.)
Very common resident at Guelph, Ont. (A. B. Klugh.) An abun-
dant resident at Penetanguishene, Ont. (A. F. Young.) Has been
taken at Moose Factory, James bay, on two occasions. (E. A.
Preble.)

BREEDING NoTEs.—This species nests at Scotch Lake, N.B., from
April to August. Sometimes it uses an old woodpecker’s nest,
lining it with dark fibres, fur and a few feathers. From five to eight
eggs are laid. (W. H. Moore.) Nest built in a tree or stump, at
Ottawa, lined with hair, fine grass, moss and feathers. Eggs, six
to eight, white, speckled and spotted with reddish-brown, chiefly
towards the larger end. (G. R. White.) Nests in marshy thickets
around Ottawa. On April 18th, 1903, a pair of birds was seen dig-
ging a hole in a fence post and on the 8th June, 1903, a nest with
six young was discovered in a small stump. The opening, 18 inches
from the ground, was one inch in diameter; the nest was a mixture
of short hairs, green moss and feathers, and was at a depth of six
inches in the stump. (Garneau.) A common resident in Ontario;
it breeds in a hole of a stump excavated usually by the bird itself

718 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

about the middle of May, I have seen fresh eggs on the 15th of the
month. In its habit of excavating a hole for itself it resembles the
European marsh titmouse, the only one of the titmice that does so.
In its note, and otherwise, it closely resembles this species (Parus
palustris). Though during spring and summer it is a bird of the
woods, in cold winter weather it approaches the homes and out-
buildings; the present winter (1904) this was especially the case.
(Rev. C. J. Young.) Specimens collected by Streator, Fannin and
Spreadborough in central British Columbia are said by Ridgway to
be this species.

7350. Long-tailed Chickadee.

Penthestes atricapillus septentrionalts (HARRIS) RIDGW. 1904.

One taken at the Lower Echimamish, June 24th, r901. (E. A.
Preble.) A specimen of this form was procured at Chief Mountain
lake, Rocky mountains, on August 28th, 1874. (Coues.) Resident
in Manitoba in wooded sections. The Manitoba bird is not strictly
septentrionalis but is nearer to’ that form than to atricapillus. (E.
T. Seton.) A common breeding resident at Aweme, Manitoba.
(Criddle.) Abundant resident in all the wooded districts of Mani-
toba and noted west as far as Edmonton in 1906. (Atkinson.)
Tolerably common in the Cypress hills and the upper part of Maple
creek, Sask. (Beshop.) Only one individual was seen in a three
months’ residence at Indian Head, Sask., in the spring of 1892; two
were seen in a willow thicket in the east end of the Cypress hills,
June 27th, 1894; common from Lesser Slave lake to Peace River
Landing, lat. 56° 15’, in June, 1903; tolerably common at Edmon-
ton, Alta. by April 17th; May 25th found a nest in a poplar stub
about seven feet from the ground, the nest containing eight young;
common from Edmonton to Athabaska pass in June, 1898; observed
a number on Elbow river and at Crow Nest lake, July 31st, 1897;
common and breeding in the mountain woods at Banff, Rocky moun-
tains, in the summer of 1891; shot at Revelstoke, B.C., on April oth,
1890, fairly common during April and May; in June it was common
at Deer Park, on the Columbia river; a nest containing four eggs

was taken at Robson on June 24th, 1890, it was on an old tree
hanging over the water of Pass creek; observed about a dozen at

Penticton, B.C., in April, 1903 ; several seen in the Kootenay valley
near Elko, B.C., in 1904, and several south of Hope, B.C., in 1905.

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 719

(Spreadborough.) A common and permanent resident around
Prince Albert, Sask. (Couwbeaux.) One specimen taken at the
Grand rapids of the Saskatchewan. (Nutting.) Not rare at Atha-
baska Landing and up ‘the river to Lesser Slave river; common at
Fort McMurray, lat. 56° 40’, but rare up the Clearwater river to
Methye portage, seemingly displacing P. hudsonicus; common be-
tween Methye lake and Isle 4 la Crosse. (J. M. Macoun.) <Accord-
ing to the dimensions given, the male bird seen at Carlton House by
Richardson belongs to this species. Length 54 inches, length of
tail 2% inches. (Macoun.) Abundant along Great Slave river to
the delta. (E. T. Seton.) North to Fort Simpson on the Mackenzie
river. (Ross.) Common throughout the valleys of the interior.
(Streator.) I found this bird very common’ on the wooded hills
east of the Coast range, especially in the neighbourhood of Corn-
wallis. (Fannin.) Abundant nearly everywhere around Lake
Okanagan, B.C., in winter. A common species in winter in the
Cariboo district of British Columbia. (Brooks.) Abounds in the
inter-mountainous regions of British Columbia up to 3,000 feet.
(Rhoads.) Turnagain arm and Tyanook, Cook inlet, Alaska.
(Osgood.) Sheep creek, Alaska. (Anderson.) It is probable that
all the above references from central British Columbia should go to
atricapiulus as forming part of the so called western ‘‘colony.”’

735b. Oregon Chickadee.
Penthestes atricapillus occidentalis (BAIRD) RipGw. 1904.

Not uncommon in the woods at Agassiz, and Hastings, B.C., in
April and May, 1889; common at Chilliwack, B.C., also along the
river to the head of Chilliwack lake, in July, 1901; several seen at
Douglas, B.C.,in 1906. (Spreadborough.) British Columbia. (Lord.)
Common in the coast reigon. (Sireator.) A common resident west
of Coast range. (Fannin.) Abundant resident at Chilliwack.
(Rhoads.)

735c. Yukon Chickadee.

Penthestes atricapillus turnert (RIDGW.) RIDGWAY. 1904.
Alaska west and north of Cook inlet. (Ridgway.) This species
ranges through the Yukon district; during a warm period of winter
these birds were occasionally seen at St. Michael. They retire to

720 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

the interior in May and are not seen on the coast in the summer
months. (Turner.) Throughout the wooded regions of Alaska,
from the moist, heavily-wooded coast in the Sitkan and Kadiak
regions north throughout the entire Yukon ‘and adjoining country
this bird is a common resident. (Nelson.) We took this species
at Bennett, June roth, west shore of Lake Bennett, June 24th,
Cariboo Crossing June 26th, Lake Marsh, July 7th, and Lake Le-
barge July 15th, but did not notice it again until we reached the
lower Yukon, although chickadees were heard several times whose
specific identity was not determined. Thirty miles below Holy
Cross Mission I took two, August 25th, and at the Aphoon mouth I
saw a small flock August 28th. Young able to fly were taken July
7th. One taken, August 25th, had completed the moult into first
winter plumage, while an adult taken the same day was in fresh
plumage. (Bishop.) On the 26th October, 1898, I was hunting in
the willow bottoms along the Hunt river north of our winter quarters
on Kotzebue sound, Alaska, when I met with this species for the
first time. (Grinnell.) One adult male taken at Muller bay, Alaska.
(Anderson.)

738. Mountain Chickadee.

Penthestes gambelr (RIDGW). RIDGWAY. 1904.

A common summer resident at Banff, Rocky mountains, in 1891;
three shot on the mountains at Deer Park, Columbia river, B.C.;
observed two on a mountain north of the Little Miette river, Atha-
baska pass, Rocky mountains, 1898; a common summer resident at
Robson, B.C.; young full-grown and fledged by June 26th, 1890;
abundant at Spence Bridge, B.C., in May, 1889; common on Sophie
mountain at 4,400 feet altitude, on the International Boundary,
B.C., in 1902; observed about a dozen at Penticton, B.C., in April,
1903; common at Elko, B.C., in May, 1904, a pair building a nest in
a hole in a live larch about fourteen feet from the ground, May gth,
1904. (Spreadborough.) British Columbia. (Lord.) Abundant
about the mountains of the interior; breeds. (Streator.) Wooded
hills east of Coast range and in Rocky mountain district. (Fannin.)
I never secured this species but am confident I saw it on the Coast
range, B.C.; rather common around Lake Okanagan, B.C., in winter ;
observed occasionally at Quesnel, in the Cariboo district of B.C., in
winter. (Brooks.) Found in the interior mountains of British

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. Jel

Columbia, but not in the Rockies. (Rhoads.) Rather common in
spring at Golden, on the Columbia river; also in the Selkirk moun-
tains, B.C. (E. F. G. White.)

739. Alaskan Chickadee.
Penthestes cinctus alascensis (PRAZAK.) RIDGWAY. 1904.

On June rst, 1864, a nest of this species containing seven eggs
was found near Fort Anderson in a hole in a spruce stump at a
height of six feet from the ground. This was the first discovery of
the nest of this bird on the American continent. It was composed
of a moderate quantity of hare or rabbit fur, intermixed with a
sprinkling of dried moss. (Macfarlane.) The habitat of this bird
includes, as far as known, the spruce forests in northeastern Siberia,
extending across a very similar region in the northern half of Alaska
and reaching the Anderson river on the east. (Nelson.) Several
specimens of Parus were obtained from various localities in the
Yukon district. They were referred to the species cinctus. Later
examinations show that these are identical with P. obtectus, Cab.
(Turner.)

740. Hudsonian Chickadee.
Penthestes hudsonicus hudsonicus (FoRST.) RIDGWAY. 1904.

From the shores of Hudson bay, northwestward to Alaska (north
and west of Cook inlet), as far as the valley of the Kowak river.
(Ridgway.) Abundant everywhere in the wooded tracts. Young
were obtained, July roth, 1882, at Davis inlet, and early in August at
Fort Chimo. (Packard.) Observed a number about fifteen miles
inland from Richmond gulf, July 6th, 1896; next observed at George
tiver, September 18th, where they were common. (Spreadborough.)
A moderately common winter migrant at Ottawa; early fall records
are October 31st, 1883, and October 20th, 1889. (Ottawa Naturalist,
Vol. V.) Mr. Kay saw a pair at Port Sydney, Muskoka, in Novem-
ber, 1892; one record from Richmond hill, thirteen miles north of
Toronto, Ont. (J. H. Fleming.) I watched for a considerable time
at close range a specimen of this bird near London, Ont., January
27th, 1907. It was feeding with a mixed lot of chickadees and red-
polls. (W.£E. Saunders.) We first met this species on the Echima-
mish river, June 24th. We noted it again at Robinson portage,

46

722 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

three days later, and found it common at Oxford House, where we
secured a male, July 3rd. We saw several on an island in Knee lake,
July 5th, and a number at York Factory, July 13th, collecting two
on the latter date. On our return we saw several on Hill river,
September 3rd. (E. A. Preble.)

Found only in the north and east of Manitoba among the great
coniferous forests; permanent resident. (E£. T. Seton.) Two speci-
mens of this species were secured at Grand rapids of the Saskatch-
ewan. (Nutting.) First noticed at Sulphur springs, on the Clear-
water river, about latitude 56° 30’; very common from there to
Methye portage and across the portage, and from Methye lake to
Isle Ala Crosse. (J. M. Macoun.) North to Fort Simpson, on the
Mackenzie river, not common. (Ross.) This bird has been found
throughout the wooded portion of Alaska from its southern coast-
line at Fort Kenai north through the Kuskoquim and Yukon river
regions to the northern tree-limit, well within the Arctic circle.
(Nelson.) A number of specimens of this species was obtained from
Fort Yukon, Nulato, and several from St. Michael. It visits the
coast only during the winter. It is a constant resident of the
wooded districts and in some localities is quite abundant. (Turner.)
Very common at Tyonek, but rarely seen at Hope; two specimens
were taken at Fort Kenai by Bischoff. Cook inlet specimens do not
seem to differ from those of the Yukon and Kowak valleys. I am
also unable to find any appreciable differences between them and
three birds recently collected by E. A. Preble near the type locality
of hudsonicus. Consequently, I do not agree that the specimens at
present available warrant the recognition of Parus hudsonicus evura.
From a rather hasty examination of the material in the National
Museum, there seems to be an average difference in the length of the
tail between the Alaska birds and the birds from the extreme north-
eastern United States. The birds from the west side of Hudson bay,
however, are intermediate and apparently nearer to the Alaska birds.
In other words, as far as present material goes, there are just as good
grounds for the recognition of Parus hudsonicus littoralis Bryant,
1863, from Nova Scotia, as for P. h. evura Coues, 1884, from Alaska.
(Osgood.)

We took the Yukon chickadee at Cariboo Crossing, June 27th;
Lake Tagish, June 30th; Lake Marsh, July 5th, and Lake Lebarge,
July 14th; and after reaching Thirty-mile river, July 19th, found it

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 723

regularly distributed in families or large flocks, all the way to Fort
Yukon, fifteen miles above which I saw a flock, August 21st. At St.
Michael, I took a young female in first winter plumage, September
2oth. Young able to fly were taken, July 5th, and moulting birds,
August 13th. We took adults in full moult, June 27th, and one in
which the moult was almost completed, July 24th. (Bishop.) At
our winter camp,on the Kowak, Kotzebue sound, Alaska, this
species was common up to September. After that date and up to
the first of April, but one or two at a time were seen and then only
at long intervals. Early in September, groups of four to seven were
noted nearly every day in the spruces around the cabin. Those
chickadees observed during the winter were all in the dense willow
thickets alorfg Hunt river. By the first of May, the chickadees.
were back again roving through the woods in pairs. Old wood-
pecker holes were selected as nesting sites, and I spotted nests in
process of construction by the 15th May, but through various mis-
haps I failed to secure any eggs. (Grinnell.)

BREEDING Notes.—On July 22nd of this year (1903), whilst:
tramping through a large cedar swamp, I became interested in tha.
actions of a Hudsonian chickadee. I watched it for some time
searching for insects, when suddenly it disappeared behind a small
cedar with a larva in its bill. I did not expect to find a nest, as the
top of the tree was green, but, on going around on the other side,
perceived a small almost circular hole with jagged edges, about.
twelve feet from the ground. On rapping the treee, the bird left and
became very much excited, nervously flitting back and forth from
the nest. Cutting away a portion of the wood, I found the nest to
contain young a few days old, six of them, I think. The spot
chosen for the nest-site was the best that could be found in the
swamp, situated, as it was, on a small spruce knoll near by an ice
cold spring which fed a small brook. The tree, as I mentioned, was:
still green at the top, but from the nest cavity down was decayed
and hollow at the core. Returning some time after this, to give the
young a chance to vacate, I found the nest to be about ten inches
below the entrance hole, which was two inches in diameter. It was
composed of particles of moss, lichens and strips of soft inner bark
of the cedar, felted together with rabbit’s and deer’s hair. (L. M..
Terrill.)

46%

724 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

740a, Acadian Chickadee.
Penthestes hudsonicus littoralis (BRYANT) RIDGW. 1904.

Southeastern British provinces (southern Labrador, Quebec, New
Brunswick, Nova Scotia, etc.) (Ridgway.) Breeds; is common,
and does not migrate from Newfoundland. (Reeks.) A rather
common resident at Halifax, N.S. (Downs.) Not uncommon at
Baddeck and Margaree, Cape Breton island, July, 1898; common in
spruce trees at Brackley Point, Prince Edward island, June 26th,
1888. (Macoun.) Tolerably common on Prince Edward island.
(Dwight.) This seems to be the commonest chickadee on the Mag-
dalen islands; I met with it frequently there in June, 1897, and
found two nests containing young the middle of that ‘month. The
nest was built in a small spruce stump about two feet down, the hole
being entered from the top. In one case the nest rested on the
ground, the stump being not more than eighteen inches high. I
never saw this bird in Ontario. (Rev. C. J. Young.) Met with at
all seasons at St. John, N.B. (Chamberlain.) A common per-
manent resident at Scotch Lake, York county, N.B. (W. H.
Moore.) Not uncommon in the Restigouche valley, N.B. (Brit-
tain & Cox.) Common on the Magdalen islands. (Bishop.) Not
so common as the black-capped chickadee. It breeds in the northern
part of Quebec province; taken at Beauport. (Dionne.) A rare
winter visitant at Montreal. Mr. Kuetzing has found this species
in Hochelaga woods from November 1st to December 7th. (Wzntle.)
The Quebec citations should, perhaps, go under hudsonicus.

BREEDING NoTES.—One nest of this species found at Scotch Lake,
N.B., was in a fir stub about fifteen feet from the ground; the hole
was lined with hair and fur. Eggs, six; hatched June 1st; June 28th,

found a nest of six young birds ready to leave the nest. (W. H.
Moore.)

740b. Columbian Chickadee.

Penthestes hudsonicus columbianus (RHOADS) RIDGW. 1904.

Shot one on May 7th, 1897, at Edmonton, Alta., the only one
seen; one seen at Bear creek, Peace river, lat. 56°, August 5th,
1903; common in spruce woods along the Athabaska river at Jasper
House, Alta., in June,1898. (Spreadborough.) One specimmen of

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 725

this species was shot on the summit of Toad mountain, near Nelson
B.C., at an altitude of 6,700 feet in July, 1890, and one in Eagle
pass, near Revelstoke, B.C.; two specimens were taken on Moose
mountain, near the source of Elbow river, and two others observed
at the source of Fish creek, Rocky mountains in July, 1897. (Spread-
borough.) Four specimens of Parus from the central Rocky moun-
tains near Field, B.C., taken in a deep forest at an elevation of 5,000
feet differ so materially from Parus hudsonicus that it seems proper
to separate them. (Rhoads.) Rathcr common at Lake Okanagan,
B.C., in winter. I also took this species on the divide between
Nicola and Okanagan valleys, the most westerly point I have
observed it. Abundant in the heavy spruce timber and on high
elevations, in winter, in Cariboo district, B.C. (Brooks.) Rocky
mountains, from Liard river south into Montana. (Rhoads in The
Auk, Vol X., p. 331.) An adult male was taken at Homer in June,
and two specimens on September 12th, 1901, in 1st winter plumage.
Not common but seen at all places visited on the Kenai timber belt
in Alaska. It was usually found in the dead spruce groves of the
more open country. (Figgins.) Three adults and three juvenals taken
at Seldovia, Alaska, July 3rd to 28th; two in winter plumage,
August 19th and October 7th, at Sheep creek and Moose camp.
(Anderson.)

741. Chestnut-backed Chickadee.

Penthestes rufescens rujescens (TowNS.) Ripcw. 1904.

Very common in the woods at Hastings, Burrard inlet, B.C., in
April, 1899; none were seen at Agassiz, about 50 miles up the
Fraser river in May; an abundant resident on Vancouver island,
nesting, April.16th, 1893; on May 5th found a nest in a hole in a
dead tree; nest made of moss, lined with feathers; saw several in
the bushes on the beach at Douglas, B.C., April 17th, 1906, and
several along the Chilliwack river; common at Clayoquot, Van-
couver island, September and October, 1907. (Spreadborough.)
From about lat. 60°, on the southeastern coast of Alaska, south
into California this titmouse is abundant and breeds throughout
the greater part of its range. (Nelson.) British Columbia. (Lord.)
Common in the coast region; breeds. (Séreator.) A common fesi-
dent west of the Coast range; breeds close to Victoria. (Fannin.)
Tolerably common resident at Chilliwack; not uncommon around

726 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

Lake Okanagan, B.C., in winter. (Brooks.) Very common on the
coast and islands of British Columbia, but not found east of the
Coast range. (Rhoads.) Very common at English bay, Vancouver,
August 8th, 1894. (E. F. G. White.) Common everywhere, especi-
ally in the younger firs at the heads of the bays and inlets. First
young, fully fledged, taken June 26th, near Sitka, Alaska. (Grin-
nell.) Abundant on Queen Charlotte islands, B.C. Seven specimens
taken by us. (Osgood.) We found a few at Haines and Skagway,
Alaska, and I took one and heard another at Glacier, June 5th.
A female taken at Skagway, June 3rd, had finished laying. (Bishop.)
A very complete account of the origin and distribution of this
species by Joseph Grinnell was published in The Auk, Vol. XXI,

Pp. 364 et seq.
CCLXXVII. PSALTRIPARUS Bonaparte. 1850.
743, Puget Sound Busbh-tit.

Psaltriparus minimus saturatus RIDGWAY. 1904.

I shot two specimens out of a considerable number on 25th Novem-
ber, 1899, but could not find any the next day at the same place, nor
have I ever seen them before, though I have looked out for them.
(Brooks.) This last reference is presumably to the Fraser river
valley. (Macoun.)

Famity LV. SYLVIIDAH. Warsters, KINGLETS, ETC.
CCLXXVITI. ACANTHOPNEUSTE Brastus. 1858.

Acanthopneuste borealis kennicottt (BAIRD RIDGW. 1904.

Western Alaska (St. Michael, Nushagak, Alloknagik river, Kowak
river, etc.) (Ridgway.) The original record of this bird in America
was based on the capture of a single specimen at St. Michael, on
August 16th, 1866, by the naturalist of the Western Union Telegraph
expedition. During the summer of 1877, on July 26th and arst, I
obtained two specimens on each of the days mentioned, as they
were searching the old board fences surrounding the houses at
St. Michael. A few others were obtained later and they were
seen the next year. (Nelson.) Two were discovered flitting rapidly
among the foliage of some birches a hundred yards back from the
Kowak river Kotzebue sound, near our winter cabin. Their be-

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 727

haviour closely resembled that of the ruby-crowned kinglet. I saw
Kennicott’s willow warbler but once again, on the 14th of June,
1899, in the Kowak delta. I was following close around the margin
of a small lake, when I found myself within twenty feet of a single
individual which I at once recognized as of the same species taken
the previous fall. The bird was close to the ground searching
among some willow bushes and stunted spruces. (Grinnell.)

CCLXXIX. REGULUS. Cuvier. 1799.
748. Golden-crowned Kinglet.

Regulus satrapa satrapa LicHT. 1823.

Fairly common in patches of spruce on the northeastern coast of
Labrador, as far north as Aillik. (Bigelow.) Audubon, Vol. IL.,
p- 165, found them feeding their young in August. (Packard.) A
common resident in Nova Scotia. (Downs; Tujts.) A small flock
was seen on Sable island, N.S., on October 2nd, 1902; one seen Sept.
30th, 1905 and several Oct. 7th; one, Sept. 29th, 1906 and two, June
18th, 1907. (J. Boutelier.) Common in the woods at Brackley point,
Prince Edward island, July 17th, 1888. (Macoun.) Infrequently
observed on Prince Edward island. Young were on the wing by the
last of June; not uncommon at Baddeck, Cape Breton island, in
June, 1887. (Dwight.) Rather common, most abundant in the
fall and winter, but it breeds in New Brunswick. (Chamberlain.)
A common and permanent resident at Scotch Lake, York county,
N.B.; the young are about with the parents in late June. (W. H.
Moore.)

A common but transient visitor at Montreal in spring and autumn.
(Wintle.) A common spring and autumn migrant in eastern Que-
bec. (Dionne.) A not common migrant at Ottawa. (Ottawa Naturalist,
Vol. V.) One of the commonest birds among pine and hemlock trees
in the early spring; I see numbers every year; I observed them
breeding on the Magdalen islands, in June, 1897, among the spruce,
but could not find the nest; I never saw any in Ontario after the
1st of May. (Rev. C. J. Young.) Abundant migrant at Toronto,
Ont., irregular winter resident. An abundant winter resident; on
two occasions I have met with birds in May, that from their actions
must have been nesting. (/. H. Fleming.) Not at all unusual to
see a small party of these little fellows sunning themselves on the

728 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

warm side of a cedar or spruce hedge during the coldest winter
months around Toronto. (J. Hughes-Samuel.) A winter resident
at Guelph, Ont. (A. B. Klugh.) Has been found two or three
times near London, Ont., in late May, but no actual proof of breeding
is yet reported. An abundant migrant, remaining through mild
winters. (W. E. Saunders.) One seen on the lower Echimamish,
June 24th, 1901. (E. A. Preble.)

A very rare migrant; but may breed in Manitoba. They are very
uncertain in their movements. (FE. T. Seton.) A rare migrant at
Aweme, Manitoba. (Criddle.) A regular but not common migrant
about the eastern half of Manitoba. (Atkinson.) Common in spruce
woods from Jasper House to the summit of the Rocky mountains,
in June, 1898; breed at Banff, Rocky mountains, but not so com-
mon as the ruby-crowned kinglet; common at Revelstoke, B.C., in
1890, up to April 20th, when all disappeared; breeding in the woods
at Robson, B.C.; young shot, June roth, 1890; common on Sophie
mountain, on the International Boundary, B.C., at an altitude of
4,400 feet in 1902. (Spreadborough.) Seen near Grand Rapids of
the Saskatchewan, but none were secured. (Nutiing.) Common
in the mountains southwest of Calgary, also in Crow Nest pass, July
28th, 1897. (Spreadborough.)

BREEDING NoTeEs.—A set of seven eggs in my collection was taken
at Cartwright, Labrador, June 15th, 1895. The nest was suspended
from a branch of a spruce tree, 15 feet from the ground. (W. Raine.)

748a. Western Golden-crowned Kinglet.
Regulus satrapa olivaceous BairD. 1864.

Frequent in woods at Hastings, Burrard inlet, B.C., in April, 1889.
Saw a few at the foot of Chilliwack lake, B.C., July, 1901; common
at Huntingdon, B.C., on the International Boundary in September
of the same year; common on the Hope trail at head of Skagit river,
B.C.; one seen at Douglas, B.C., May 14th, 1906 and breeding at
Chilliwack lake, July 13th; a common resident on Vancouver island.
(Spreadborough.) Very plentiful on Vancouver island and in British
Columbia. (Lord.) Very common spring and fall migrant; a few
remain to breed. (Streator.) Abundant throughout the district
west of the Cascades. (Fannin.) Common winter resident, breeds

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 729

on the mountains; common throughout the winter at Lake Okan-
agan, B.C.; a few of these delicate little birds remain in Cariboo
district, B.C., throughout the coldest weather. (Brooks.) I find no
colour difference between the east and west of the Coast range.
(Rhoads.) Common on the Queen Charlotte islands, B.C.; an adult
male was taken at Cumshewa inlet, June 2oth, 1899. Moderately
common at Cook inlet, Alaska. (Osgood.) Tolerably common at
Glacier above Skagway, Alaska; often heard but seldom seen and
hard to procure; a female that I took on June roth had the last egg
ready for the shell. (Bishop.) A male and female were taken at
Homer, Kenai peninsula, Alaska, September 26th, 1901, and a male
at Sheep creek, on August 18th. (Fuiggins.) The Alaska records
of this species are limited to the southeastern coast where it has
been obtained at Sitka and Kadiak. (Nelson.) Common every-
where, particularly in the dense fir thickets along streams at Sitka,
Alaska. On June 22nd, I observed the first young. (Grinnell.)

749. Ruby-crowned Kinglet.

Regulus calendula calendula (LINN.) LicuT. 1823.

One sent from Nenortalik, Greenland, in 1859. (Arct. Man.)
Common in the southern portions of Labrador; Coues obtained a
specimen in August at Rigolet; and Stearns shot a single specimen
at Old Fort island, October 11th, 1881. (Packard.) Common at
Moose Factory, June 9th, 1896; observed at Fort George, June 20th;
common at Richmond gulf, July rst. None seen inland. (Spread-
borough.) Common at Baddeck, Cape Bretonisland. (F. H. Allen.)
Uncommon at Halifax, N.S. (Downs.) Uncommon in Nova Scotia.
(H. F. Tujts.) A small flock was seen on Sable island, N.S., on
October 3rd, 1902; one seen May 4th, 1907. (J. Boutelter.) In pine
woods, Brackley point, Prince Edward island, July, 1888. (Macoun.)
An uncommon summer resident at St. John, N.B. (Chamberlain.)
A rare summer migrant at Scotch Lake, York county, N.B. (W.
H. Moore.) Common at Lake Mistassini, 1885, where it breeds.
(J. M. Macoun.) Taken at York Factory, Hudson bay. (Dr. R.
Bell.) Taken at Fort Churchill, Hudson bay. (Wright.) One
female seen at Fox bay, Anticosti. (Brewster.) More common than
the preceding in eastern Quebec. Taken at Beauport. (Dzonne.)
A common but transient visitant in spring and autumn at Montreal.
(Wintle.)

730 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

A common migrant at Ottawa. (Ottawa Naturalist, Vol. V.)
Abundant migrant at Toronto, Ont. A common resident in autumn
and winter in Parry Sound and Muskoka districts. (J. H. Flem-
ing.) From Missinabi, Ont. to Point Comfort on the east coast of
James bay. Common during migration at Guelph, Ont. (A. B.
Klugh.) I saw one at Norway House, June 17th, and took a speci-
men on the Echimamish, June 24th. It was common at Oxford
House, June 30th to July 4th. One was observed as we ascended
Hill river, September 1st. (E. A. Preble.)

This species was observed on Mouse (Souris) river, in September
during the autumnal migration, frequenting the dense undergrowth
in the river bottom in company with warblers. (Cowes.) Un-
common migrant throughout Manitoba generally. (Atkinson.) A
tolerably common migrant in spring and autumn in Manitoba.
(E. T. Seton.) Common at Aweme, Manitoba, in spring and fall;
probably breeds; arrives about April 25th, and leaves October 4th.
(Criddle.) Only three specimens were found at Medicine Hat,
Sask., in April and May, 1894; common in spruce woods from the
mouth of Lesser Slave river to Peace River Landing, lat. 56° 15’,
June, 1903; first seen at Edmonton, Alta., May 4th, 1897; tolerably
common in the spruce woods and breeding without doubt; common
in the spruce woods of the foothills from Edmonton to Crow Nest
pass in July and August; quite common at Banff, evidently breeding
early as there were young birds in May, 1891; a common species in
April, 1890, at Revelstoke, B.C., but all seemed to be migrants;
quite common on Sophie mountain on the International Boundary,
B.C., at an altitude of 4,400 feet in 1902; common at Fernie, Elko,
Midway and Sidley, B.C., and along the trail between Princeton and
the Skagit river; quite common in the early part of April, 1889,
at Hastings, Burrard inlet; shot on the mountains at Spence Bridge,
B.C., late in May, 1889; very abundant at Huntingdon, B.C., on the
International Boundary in September, 1901, and at Douglas, April
17th, 1906; apparently a summer resident on Vancouver island,
seen first on April 18th when they were in large numbers in conifers
with chickadees; first seen at Penticton, B.C., April 13th, 1903,
abundant everywhere by the 20th and remained so until May ist;
common at Lake Ste. Anne, north of Edmonton, and from thence
along the trail to the Athabaska pass in June, 1898; common at
Fernie and Elko, B.C., in May, 1904. (Spreadborough.) Very

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 731

common at the south end of Methye portage. (J. M. Macoun.)
North to Fort Resolution on the Mackenzie river; rare. (Ross.)
There is no doubt but this bird is to be met with during the summer
season on the Anderson river, but we found no nests. (Macfarlane.)

Seen only east of the Coast range. (Lord.) Found only in the
coast region during autumnal migration. (Streator.) Abundant
in the district west of the Coast range. (Fannin.) Common
winter visitant at Chilliwack; breeds on the mountains. (Brooks.)
Numerous on the coast of British Columbia in spring. Breeding
in the interior. (Rhoads.)

This handsome species has been secured from various portions
of the territory. The various Alaskan records include Fort Yukon,
Nulato, Anvik, in the north, with Sitka and Fort Kenai on the
southeastern coast. (Nelson.) Specimens of this bird were
obtained from Fort Yukon, where it is common, breeding there.
At Nushagak, on Bristol bay, I saw a single specimen of this bird
flitting amongst the willows which skirt the river. (Turner.) On
the 23rd August, I shot one specimen and saw two others in a
willow copse bordering the Kowak, a couple of miles above our
winter camp. I did not see the species again until June 1oth, in
Kowak delta, Kotzebue sound, Alaska. (Grinnell.)

BREEDING Notres.—I have a beautiful nest containing eleven
eggs that was taken at Dartmouth, Nova Scotia on June rst, 1898;
this nest was suspended from the branch of a black spruce tree, 20
feet from the ground; besides this one I have four others taken at
the same place and all alike in structure; the nests were round
balls of green moss well lined with feathers and were suspended
from the branches of spruce trees. (W. Raine.) Breeding near 150-
Mile House, B.C.; on the 11th June I found a nest in a small spruce
not four feet high; the nest was close to the stem and about two
feet from the ground; it was a very deep cup, almost a vertical
cylinder; the sitting bird must have been entirely concealed; it
contained five eggs, a sixth imperfect one was sticking in the found-
ation of the nest; it had evidently been pushed through the lining
and a fresh floor built over it; the owners were raising a great outcry
over the intrusion of a wandering brood of ‘‘whiskey jacks’; two
grouse feathers were carefully put over the entrance to the nest,
which made me think that it had been rifled by the jays and the
lining pulled out. (Brooks.)

732 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.
7494. Sitka Ruby-crowned Kinglet,
Regulus calendula grinnellt PALMER. 1897.

This kinglet was not very common, and I only observed it along
Indian river, at Sitka, Alaska, in tall firs; I saw them in pairs on
two occasions, but I secured no young. This kinglet doubtless
breeds, though not in abundance; three adult males were secured.
(Grinnell.) At Skagway, Alaska, I heard a Sitkan kinglet singing
May 31st, and at Haines took a male and heard another singing
June ist. At Glacier I took a male, June 6th, and during our stay
heard two or three others singing. While the Log Cabin bird is
normal calendula, the Haines and Glacier birds have the more olive
back and darker sides of crown of grinnellt. (Btshop.)

CCLXXX. POLIOPTILA ScraTer. 1851.
751. Blue-gray Guatcatcher.
Polioptila cerulea cerulea (LINN.) SCLATER. 1855.

An accidental visitant at Montreal. Mr. Kuetzing saw one exam-
ple of this species in Mr. Craig’s collection, shot on the island of
Montreal a number of years ago, but Mr. Craig says he does not
remember having it in his possession. (Wunile.) Casual at Ottawa;
one was shot by Mr. G. R. White, previous to 1881. (Ottawa Natur-
alist, Vol. V.) Three records at Toronto, Ont.; a male, May gth,
1885, in Mr. Ernest Seton’s collection; a female taken May 5th, 1891,
by Mr. O. Spanner and a female taken May 1oth, 1900, by Mr. C.
W. Nash. (J. H. Fleming). A not uncommon summer resident of
Ontario, west and south from London. (W. E. Saunders.)

Famity LV. TURDIDA. TurusuHes, SoLirarres, Etc.
CCLXXXI. MYADESTES Swarnson.
754. Townsend Solitaire.
Myadestes townsendt (AupD.) CaB. 1847.

Observed at the Elbow river near Calgary, June 21st, 1897, com-
mon in the Rocky mountains south to Crow Nest pass in July, 1897;
a common species at Banff, breeding on mountains high up; seen

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 733

everywhere in the mountains around the Athabaska pass, 1898;
quite common at Revelstoke, B.C., from the 16th to the 2oth April,
1890; they sat around on stumps and caught flies or flew down at
anything they might see; in June they were seen at Deer Park,
Arrow lake, at an elevation of 2,000 feet, and doubtless breeding:
observed on nearly all the mountains on the International Boundary
in British Columbia; only seen in the Okanagan valley, B.C., in the
early part of April, 1903; all disappeared about the 15th; heard
singing everywhere in the woods at Elko, B.C., from the snow to
the level of the railway, May, 1904; common at Midway on the flat
jn early spring and, later on the hills, in 1905; saw several in the same
year at Whipsaw creek, June 22nd, and between the Skagit river
and Chilliwack lake; saw one on the beach at Douglas, B.C., April,
17th, 1906; one seen on Deer ridge, south slope of Mount Cheam,
B.C., August 1oth, 1901; two seen near the summit of Mount
Benson, Nanaimo, Vancouver island, July roth, 1893, the birds had
a nest in the side of the bank close to the rocky summit. (Spread-
borough.)

Very rare, only shot once in the Columbia valley. (Lord.) A
tare bird though I have taken it both east and west of the Coast
range, and have taken it at Ladners, in the lower Fraser valley, in
January. (Fannin.) Rare migrant in the valley at Chilliwack;
breeds on the mountain tops; tolerably common in winter at Lake
Okanagan, B.C.; sings throughout the winter; feeds on fruit during
the cold weather. (Brooks.) I secured an individual on Vancouver
island in May. They were met with at high altitudes both east and
west of the Coast range, Selkirk and Rockies, as far north as the
52nd parallel, increasing in abundance eastwardly. (Rhoads.) On
the heights above Bennett I took an adult male, June 17th; on the
hot noon of June 26th, while seated on the summit of a hill some
1,500 feet above Cariboo Crossing, I heard the most beautiful bird-
song that has ever delighted my ears. It seemed to combine the
strength of the robin, the joyousness and soaring quality of the
bobolink, and the sweetness and purity of the wood thrush. Start-
ing low and apparently far away, it gained in intensity and volume
until it filled the air, and I looked for the singer just above my head.
I finally traced the song to a Townsend solitaire that was seated on
a dead tree about 150 yards away, pouring forth this volume of
melody without leaving its perch. The singer came close enough
later to make its identification certain.

734 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

Osgood and Maddren saw one at Lake Lebarge, July 14th. Os-
good took an adult at Miles cafion, July 11th, another at the Semenow
hills, July 2oth, a young one in the spotted plumage, 20 miles below
the Selwyn river, July 29th, and another young, 30 miles above the
White river, July 30th. I saw an adult near the Selwyn river,
July 29th, and took a moulting adult near Sixty-mile creek, August
ist. Mr. Cantwell found this species in the Yukon valley. (Bishop.)

BREEDING Notes.—This bird breeds at Banff, Rocky mountains.
On June oth, 1893, we found its nest and four eggs. The nest was
built on a bank side, and we caught the bird as she flew off the nest.
Other nests were taken at Banff, 1893, and these also were placed
on the side of the bank. (W. Raine.)

CCLXXXII. HYLOCICHLA Barrp. 1864.
755. Wood Thrush.

Hylocichla mustelina (GMEL.) RipGw. 1880.

Accidental visitant at Montreal. This thrush is said to occur
in the Eastern Townships, but I have never met with it in this.
district yet. Have seen one specimen taken at Roxton falls, Que.
(Wintle.) A rare summer resident around Ottawa. (Ottawa
Naturalist, Vol. V.) I have seen a few of these birds in Leeds county,
Ont., but they are not common. A few breed as I have met with
a nest from which the young had flown, that evidently belonged
to this species; and another on a limb of a hemlock about eight
feet from the ground in Frontenac county, in June, 1902. (Rev. C.
J. Young.) Regular migrant at Toronto, Ont.; rare summer resi-
dent, breeds. I have one taken at Emsdale, Parry Sound district, on
May 17th, 1897; in September, 1898, near the narrows of Lake
Joseph, I came across a flock feeding on choke-cherries. I counted
seventeen and there were more in the flock. Dr. Brodie says
they were common in June at Port Sydney, Muskoka. (J. H.
Fleming.) Common during migrations; breeds in limited num-
bers at Guelph, Ont. Arrives about May roth and leaves about
September 11th. (A. B. Klugh.) A common resident and breed-
ing at Penetanguishene, Ont., I once found a nest in a hardwood
undergrowth, placed in the forks of a beech about seven feet from
the ground. (A. F. Young.)

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 735
756. Wilson Thrush.

Hylcoichla fuscescens fuscescens (STEPH.) RrpGw. 1880.

A summer migrant in Newfoundland. (Reeks.) One seen
September 14th, 1899, on the Humber river, Newfoundland. (Louis
H. Porter.) Not very common in Nova Scotia; seen only inland;
breeds at Stewiacke. (Downs.) Uncommon summer resident in
Nova Scotia. (H. F. Tufts.) Rare in woods at Brackley point,
Prince Edward island, July 4th, 1888; also on Cape Breton island
in 1898. (Macoun.) ‘A summer resident in the neighbourhood of
St. John, N.B. (Chamberlain.) A tolerably common summer
resident along the St. John river, Scotch Lake, York county, N.B.
(W.H. Moore.) Common summer resident on the Magdalen islands.
(Bishop.) One pair breeding at Ellis bay, Anticosti, July 24th.
(Brewster.)

Common summer resident at Montreal; breeds in Mount Royal
park; nests with eggs found from May 31st to June 27th. (Wuntle.)
This is a common summer resident in eastern Quebec. Taken at
Beauport (Dionne.) A common summer resident around Ottawa.
(Ottawa Naturalist Vol. V.) A very common bird, breeding in
numbers in eastern, Ontario. (Rev. C. J. Young.) Abundant
migrant at Toronto, Ont.; common resident, breeds. An abundant
summer resident in Parry Sound and Muskoka districts. (J. H.
Fleming.) Not uncommon in Algonquin park, Ont., in summer of
1900; saw one at Missinabi, Ont. in 1904. (Spreadborough.) Very
common summer resident at Guelph, Ont. Arrives about May 8th,
leaves about September roth. (A. B. Klugh.) Summer resident
and breeding at Pcnetanguishene, Ont. (A. F. Young.)

BREEDING Notes’—Breeds in numbers in woods around Ottawa.
The nest is made of dried leaves mixed with grass, bark or branches,

and is placed near a tree on a bed of leaves, in a low bush or some-
times on a stump. Four eggs are usually laid in May or June.

(Garneau.) Nest on the ground or in a low bush, composed of
withered leaves, grass stems, weed stalks, and bark strips, com-
pactly woven inside but with no special lining. Eggs 4 or 5, greenish-
blue with no markings. (G. R. White.) The nest is placed on or
near the ground, in bushes, at Scotch Lake, York county, N.B., and
is composed of grasses, leaves, etc., lined with rootlets. Eggs 3 or 4.
(W.H. Moore.)

736 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

756a. Willow Thrush.
Hylocichla fuscescens salicicola RipGw. 1882.

Only one specimen known, taken by myself.at Ottawa, Sept. rgth,
1898. It seems probable that this bird may be regularly taken in
Ontario from Sept 1st to 25th as it appears to have a breeding
ground to the north of us, but has been overlooked in the past on
account of its similarity to Wilson’s thrush. (W. E. Saunders.) I
have one specimen from the McIlwraith collection, taken at Hamilton,
Ont., May 16th, 1895. (J. H. Fleming.) The characteristic ‘‘veery”’
call-note and song were heard several times, and the singer was seen
once as we floated down Red river between Winnipeg and West
Selkirk, June 14th. None were taken but specimens from the region
seem referable to the western form. (E. A. Preble.) Unlike the
other species of this genus this form does not appear to extend west-
ward beyond the valley of Red river; at any rate it was only ob-
served in the vicinity of Pembina. Here it was found breeding in
abundance during the month of June. A nest was found on the gth
June, containing four fresh eggs of a uniform bluish-green colour.
It was placed upon a small heap of decayed leaves which had been
caught on the footstalks of a bush a few inches from the ground, and
composed of weed-stems, grasses and fibrous bark-strips, woven to-
gether, and mixed with withered leaves. The walls were thick,
giving a bulky, irregular, and rather slovenly appearance. (Coues.)
An abundant summer resident of thickets in Manitoba. (EF. T.
Seton.) A tolerably common breeding summer resident at Aweme,
Manitoba; arrives about May 15th and leaves about the rst of Sep-
tember. (Criddle.)

An abundant breeding species in wooded districts throughout
Manitoba and equally numerous along the line of the G. T. P. Ry. west
to Edmonton, Alta., in 1906. (Atkinson.) Common along creeks
in S.W. Saskatchewan in 1906. (A.C. Bent.) This species seems
to be a spring migrant at Indian Head, Sask.; it was first observed
May 19th, 1892, and soon became common but disappeared about
the end of May; this was a common species at Old Wives creek,
Sask., and wherever there was brush at Wood mountain and west to
Frenchman river and the ravines in the southern part of the Cypress
hills; common along Milk river, St. Mary river and Lee creek, Card-
ston, Alberta; common on the International Boundary between

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. LaF

Trail and Cascade, B.C., in the summer of 1902, found a nest on
June 14th in a low bush not more than two feet from the ground,
made of dry grass, weeds and dirt, lined with fine dry grass; two
eggs were quite fresh; at Crane lake, Sask., June 11th, 1894, this
species was common along Skull creek where a number of nests
were taken; it was also common in the east end of the Cypress hills,
among the brush along the sources of Swift Current creek; only one
pair seen at Banff in the summer of 1891; quite common at Revel-
stoke, B.C. on May 30th, 1890, in a day or two they became scarce;
first seen at Edmonton, Alta., May 11th, 1897, June 11th, found a
nest on the ground, containing two eggs; nest composed of weeds,
leaves and dirt, lined with dry grass, eggs blue; common from
Lesser Slave river to Peace River Landing, lat. 56° 15,’ in June, 1903;
observed from Edmonton to Athabaska passin June, 1898. (Spread-
borough.)

This bird makes its appearance on the banks of the Saskatchewan
in the month of May, but whether it breeds there or goes further
north I am unable to say. (Richardson.). Not uncommon around
Prince Albert, Sask.: I once found its nest with four unspotted
blueeggs. (Coubeaux.) Commoninthe interior. (Streator.) Com-
mon east of the Coast range; a summer resident. (Fannin.) In
all visited localities of the interior; breeding at Lac la Hache, B.C.
This extends Mr. Streator’s nesting record of the species 150 miles
further north. (Rhoads.)

757. Grey-cheeked Thrush.
Hylocichla alicie alicie (BAIRD) RIpGW. 1880.

Apparently common on the northeastern coast of Labrador as
far north as Aillik. (Bigelow.) Rare in Ungava. Common in
southeastern and southern portions of Labrador. Breeds wherever
found in summer. Nest and eggs procured at Fort Chimo, June
28th, 1884. (Packard.) One specimen obtained in June, 1845, at
Amarglik, near Godthaab, Greenland, and named Turdus minor by
Professor Reinhart, is referred to this species as Mr. Turner finds
this species to extend furthest north in Labrador. (Macoun.) One
taken and others seen on the Magdalen islands. (Bishop.) Taken
at Fort Churchill, Hudson bay. (Wright.) I have not shot a
specimen of this bird in the Montreal district yet, but have noticed

47

738 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

some large thrushes which I have been uanble to identify as I could
not shoot them with my cane gun. (Wunile.) Regular migrant at
Toronto, Ont.; rare in spring, not uncommon in fall. (J. H. Flem-
ing.) One taken at the mouth of Hannah river, James bay. (Spread-
borough.) Not met with until we reached York Factory, where a
female and two young just from the nest were taken in a dense
willow thicket, July 13th. The young bird may be described as
follows: Back and head dark olive-brown, each feather tipped with
dusky and with a longitudinal spot of brown; rump and upper tail
coverts, brownish spotted with rusty; lower parts white, slightly
tinged on breast and sides with buffy, each feather tipped with a
dusky bar, those on breast heavily marked, the marking decreasing
in size posteriorly; throat almost unmarked; cheeks greyish, spotted
with dusky; wings and tail olive-brown, the wing quills lighter on
outer edges. I again met with the species, July 25th at Fort Chur-
chill, where I saw several in stunted spruce woods. (E. A. Preble.)
Migrant at Carberry, Manitoba; and reported common at Winni-
peg by Hine. (£. T. Seton.) One specimen of this species was
secured at Indian Head, Sask., on May 23rd, 1892; there may have
been many others, but all were believed to be Wilson’s thrush,
which was common at the time. Taken at Old Wives creek, Sask.,
May 30th, 1895. (Spreadborough.) Abundant migrant and com-
mon breeder at Aweme, Man. (Criddle.) Common migrant all
over Manitoba ; breeds occasionally about Winnipeg, Portage la
Prairie, Birtle and Fort Ellice, Man., and observed breeding in 1906
at Ribstone creek and Battle river, Alta. (Atkinson.) Thrushes
were numerous in the Maple creek, Sask., timber, June 8th, 1906.
Only one specimen of alicig and one of bicknellt were collected, so
we cannot tell which is the commoner. (A. C. Bent.) Abundant
and apparently nesting from Kahdinouay island, middle of Great
Slave lake to the north shore about w. long. 112°, Not seen further
north or east. (E. T. Seton.)

North to Yukon river; only found west of Rocky mountains.
(Ross.) This thrush is very abundant in the Anderson river region,
not only wherever trees are to be had for nesting purposes, but also
in situations where none exist. More than 200 specimens were
taken at Fort Anderson and sent to the Smithsonian Institution.
The greatest number were built on trees or in the usual manner
but some few of them were placed on the ground. One nest was

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 739

also taken on the banks of the Wilmot-Horton river. (Macfarlane.)
This species is common throughout all the northern portion of Alaska
wherever willow and alder thickets afford a shelter. (Nelson.)
This species is not common at St. Michael, and very likely breeds
there but I never found their eggs. (Turner.) An adult male
found dead on the ice near Point Tangent, Alaska, May 27th, 1898,
and a male secured, June roth, 1898, at Point Barrow. (Witmer
Stone.) One adult specimen was taken at Sheep creek, Kenai pen-
insula, Alaska, July 5h, 1901. (Feggins.) This thrush was a com-
mon summer resident from Cape Blosson eastward to the head of
Kowak river Kotzebue sound, Alaska. (Grinnell.)

BREEDING Notes.—I have nests with sets taken in the Mac-
kenzie delta by the Rev. I. O. Stringer and Mr. Young. Mr. Stringer
found a nest with three eggs, 60 miles north of Point Separation,
Mackenzie river, on June 12th, 1896. This nest was in a birch tree
two feet from the ground. The nest is a deep cup-shaped structure
of dry grass and mud. I have another nest and eggs that was built
three feet from the ground in a willow growing on the banks of Peel
tiver. This was taken 23rd June, 1898. Another nest and three
eggs were found by Mr. Stringer at the terminus of the Cariboo hills,
Mackenzie delta, June 15th, 1897. (W. Razne.)

757a. Bicknell Thrush.

Hylocichla ahicie bicknella RipGw. 1882.

One specimen only known to be taken, by Mr. Robert Elliott,
Bryanston, Ont., September 19th, 1898. (W. E. Saunders.) Mr.
Ridgway has recognized one bird from Toronto and two from Hamil-
ton as intermediate in size between this form and alicie but near
bicknellt in colour. (J. H. Fleming.) One specimen taken from
a large flock of thrushes near Maple creek, Sask., June 8th, 1906.
(A.C. Bent.) See Mr. Bent’s note under aliciw.

BREEDING NoTes.—Some observations on the breeding habits of
Bicknell’s Thrush were made at Seal island, Yarmouth county, N.S.,
during a few days spent there in the early part of June, 1907. A
dense growth of stunted firs and spruces, mossy, damp and gloomy
covers the island. Here the thrushes spend the summer and rear
their young. Three nests were discovered on this trip, from each
of which three eggs were taken. Of these nests two were situated

47%

740 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

in small firs, about fifteen feet up and close to the trunk, mid moss
covered twigs. The other nest was some twenty-five feet from the
ground in the dense matted branches of a dwarf spruce. They were
all about alike, fairly compact and well made, the materials used in -
their construction, consisting of dried grasses, bits of decayed wood,
twigs and green moss, the whole being lined with very fine dried
grasses. The fullcomplementof eggs seems to number three. These are
of adeep greenish blue colour, finely spotted and blotched with reddish
brown, chiefly about the larger end, though one egg had all the
markings about the smaller end. The birds are retiring and sus-
picious, while nesting, showing none of the ‘give away’’ weaknesses
of most nesting birds. Thus a female, on the way to her nest with a
beak load of building material, happened to stop near where I stood.
Instantly she saw me, and after a moment, dropped her load and
silently disappeared in the woods. They displayed no signs of
alarm upon their nests being approached, usually quietly retiring,
if they had been in evidence at all. Males, singing in the vicinity of
their sitting mates, would become quiet and sneak away at the
slightest sound from my approach. The thrushes have two natural
enemies to take into account, when locating a nesting site. Firstly,
the nest must be concealed from the numerous crows and ravens,
whose sharp eyes are ever searching the upper portions of the trees.
Next to be considered are the half-wild cats which infest the island

and which of course work from the ground. In consequence !the
nest is usually well concealed in the most dense part of the tree, and

is difficult to find. (H. F Tufts.)

758, Russet-backed Thrush.

Hylocichla ustulata ustulata (NUTT.) Ripcw. 1880.

Abundant at Agassiz, B.C., after May roth, 1889; very common
at Spence Bridge and Kamloops, ! .C., breeding in bushes along
the Thompson river; common at Chilliwack and along the river
to the head of Chilliwack lake; only one observed at Huntingdon
on the International Boundary in the autumn of 1901; common at
Elko, B.C. in 1904, and from Princeton to the Skagit river, B.C.;
first seen at Victoria, Vancouver island, May 5th, 1893, and common
by the 12th; an abundant summer resident, found at Nanaimo,

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 741

Comox, Sooke and Stubb island in September. (Spreadborough.) At
present this bird is known only from the coast of the southeastern
portion of the territory where Bischoff obtained several specimens,
- in the vicinity of Sitka. Nelson.) Tolerably common along Indian
river, Sitka, Alaska, and on some of the small islands in the bay. No
young were obtained but they certainly breed. (Grimnell.) Abund-
ant summer visitant at Chilliwack. (Brooks.) Very common in the
coast region; breeds. (Streator.) A common summer resident west
of the Coast range; I have found it as far north as Dease lake in
Cassiar. (Fannin.) Abundant in British Columbia, coastwise.
(Rhoads.) Common on Queen Charlotte islands, B.C. Eight
specimens were taken in various parts of the islands. It was very
abundant at Clew on the north side of Cumshewa inlet but was not
seen at all at our camp at the head of the inlet where we found H. a.
verecunda. (Osgood.)

758a, Olive-backed Thrush,
Hylocichla ustulata swatnsonii (CaB.) Ripcw. 1880.

Specimens were obtained, June 13th and in July, 1860, at Rupert
House by Drexler. (Packard.) Common on the Moose river and
observed as far north as Fort George, James bay, in June, 18096.
(Spreadborough.) A tolerably common summer migrant in New-
foundland. (Reeks.) Not as common as the hermit thrush at
Halifax, N.S. (Downs.) Rather common and local summer resi-
dent in Nova Scotia. (H. F. Tujts.) Taken at Cove Head road,
Prince Edward island, July 5th, 1888; at numerous points at Cape
Breton island, 1898. (Macoun.) Very abundant on Prince Edward
island, almost equalling in numbers the hermit thrush. (Dwight.)
Asummer resident, breeding in abundance at St. John, N.B. (Cham-
berlain.) Breeds on the Magdalen islands, but is not common.
(Bishop.) Generally distributed but not so common in the Gulf
of St. Lawrence as in northern New England. (Brewster.) A
scarce and transient visitant at Montreal. I have observed only
three examples of this thrush on the island of Montreal. I believe
Mr. Dunlop found a nest with eggs of this species, a number of years
ago, on the island of Montreal. (Wunile.) This species is common
enough in eastern Quebec in summer. (Dzonne.)

A rare summer migrant at Ottawa. (Ottawa Naturalist, Vol. V.)
I have only noticed this bird once in eastern Ontario. I picked

742 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

up a dead bird by the roadside near Lansdowne about the end of
April, 1898. (Rev. C. J. Young.) Common migrant at Toronto,
Ont. A common summer resident in Parry Sound and Muskoka
districts. (J. H. Fleming.) Abundant everywhere in Algonquin
park, Ont. in the summer of 1900; common at Missinabi, Ont.,
the first week in June, 1904. (Spreadborough.) A passing migrant
at Guelph, Ont. (A.B. Klugh.) The song of this species was heard
at Bull Head point, Lake Winnipeg, on the morning of June 16th.
The birds were rather common at Norway House, and were seen or
heard daily between there and Oxford House. They were common
at Oxford House and a specimen was taken at that point; while
descending the streams between Oxford House and York Factory
we found them abundant; every wooded islet in the lakes seemed to
be the home of a pair, and wherever we camped we heard their
songs, which began soon after midnight; a nest found in a bush
overhanging Jack river, between Knee and Swampy lakes, July 6th,
contained eggs on the point of hatching. At York Factory, where
we took two specimens, the species was apparently less abundant,
and beyond that point we did not meet with it. Baird recorded a
specimen collected at Moose Factory in July, 1860, by Drexler.
(E. A. Preble.) Abundant and breeding in wooded districts
of Manitoba generally and noted in 1906, as far west as
Battleford, Alta. (Atkinson.) After giving a number of references
regarding the occurrence of this bird in Manitoba, Mr. E. T. Seton
says he is disposed to question them all. Yet he speaks of
its occurrence at Carberry, Manitoba, and apparently breeding;
while not giving an opinion I may say that both this form and the
gray-cheeked thrush were taken in the spring of 1892 at Indian Head,
Sask., first seen on May 16th, 1894, at Medicine Hat, Sask.; the
next day they were abundant and in a day or two there were only
a few stragglers left, a few remained to breed as they were seen
later; a few were observed at Old Wives creek, Sask., in the latter
part of May, 1895; abundant from the mouth of Lesser Slave river
to Peace River Landing, June ,1903; first seen at Edmonton, Alta.,
May 8th, 1897; afterwards it became common and nests and eggs
were taken; common from Edmonton to the Athabaska pass, in
June, 1898; common in the foothills south of Calgary to Crow Nest
pass; this was a common summer resident at Banff, Rocky moun-
tains, in 1891; a few seen at Deer Park, Columbia river, and breeding
in numbers at Robson late in June, 1890; first seen at Elko, B.C.,
May 14th, 1904; common by the aist. (Spreadborough.)

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 743

Not uncommon at Prince Albert, Sask.; breeding in the vicinity.
(Coubeaux.) One specimen secured at Grand rapids of the Sas-
katchewan. (Nutting.) Eastgate shot a juvenal in a thicket of
poplars on the summit of the Cypress hills, July 27, 1906. (A. C.
Bent.) This thrush arrives on the banks of the Saskatchewan in
May and during the summer haunts the alder thickets and dense
willow groves that skirt the marshes. (Richardson.) North to
Lapierre House, on the Mackenzie river; abundant. (Ross.) A
common breeding bird from Clinton, B.C., to Quesnel. (Brooks.)
Southern mainland, east of Coast range, B.C. (Fannin.) A
female and young male in nesting plumage were shot at Nelson, B.C. ,
where they were fairly abundant. (Rhoads.) On the coast of
Behring sea, where the grey-cheeked thrush is abundant, this species
is very rare or does not occur at all. In the interior, however, it
appears to increase in numbers as the distance from the sea-coast
increases. (Nelson.) A single specimen was obtained from Fort
Yukon, Alaska; it is apparently not common in any district of
Alaska. (Turner.) This is the common thrush of the Yukon basin,
occuring everywhere from Log Cabin to Circle, perhaps in largest
numbers at Cariboo Crossing and Lake Marsh. Fifteen miles above
Fort Yukon I took one and saw others, August 21st. We saw many
nests, usually 6 to 10 feet from the ground in thick growths of
* young spruces, but none contained eggs. A nest containing four
young just hatched, which I found at Cariboo Crossing, June 25th,
was about eight feet from the ground in a thicket of small spruces,
The nest resembled that of H. u. swainsom. At Miles cafion
July 11th, we saw young able to fly. Osgood took young in
spotted plumage, July 31st, but those taken August 20th had
assumed first winter plumage. They were usually silent by day,
but sang frequently during the short nights. At Cariboo Cross-
ing, the last day of June, their song could be heard constantly
from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m., one taking up the strain as another stopped,
The song is much superior to that of Hylocichla aonalaschike and
almost equal to that of H. juscescens. It has whispered notes like
that of H. mustelinus. By the middle of July the song season was
practically over though we heard one of the birds singing, July
23rd. When the nights became really dark in August, I often
heard the call-note of this bird near our camp between 2 and 3
am.. (Bishop.) An adult male from Sheep creek, Kenai penin-

744 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

sula, July 5th, 1901, extends the breeding range of this form.
Several seen on Kenai during the summer. A nest containing two
fresh eggs was found the latter part of June. (Figgins.)

BREEDING NoTEes.—At Edmonton, Alta., on May 31st, 1897, I
found what I took to be an olive-back’s nest. It was built upon
the top of a willow stump that had been chopped off about six-
teen inches from the ground. I saw the bird leave the nest and
tried to get a shot, but she was too wary. I shot a male near the
nest at the time. The nest was composed of weeds lined with
dry grass, eggs four, blue and quite fresh. June 11th found an-
other nest and four eggs in the fork of a willow about four feet
from the ground; nest composed of weeds and dirt, lined with dry
grass; eggs light-blue with brownish spots. (Spreadborough.) At
Lake Nominingue, about 100 miles north of Ottawa, this thrush
takes the place of Wilson’s thrush. On July 1st, 1901, a nest with
two young birds was found in a maple tree, six feet from the
ground. It was made of grass and green moss and lined with
dry leaves and rootlets; nest 4 by 3 and 2.60 x 2. (Garneau.) A
nest found June 16th, 1902, at Scotch Lake, York co., N.B., had
four fresh eggs. Nest composed of twigs and moss, lined with
skeleton leaves, 30 feet up in a tall spruce, and eight feet out on
the limb. (W. H. Moore.)

759. Kadiak Hermit Thrush.
Hylocichla guttata guttata (PALLAS) BREWSTER. 1902.

Two male birds in fresh fall plumage were taken at Hope, Cook
inlet, August 26th and 29th respectively; these are verv olivaceous
on the upper parts and agree with a bird taken at Circle City,
Alaska, August 18th, 1899. |The above specimens are considered
verecunda by Mr. Osgood.) Two specimens were taken at Hope
and Tyonek, Cook inlet, Alaska, September 7th and 14th res-
pectively. These are in fresh fall plumage and are somewhat more
olivaceous than fall birds from Kadiak. (Osgood.) Mr. Osgood
considers the latter true aonalaschke and cites Kadiak island as the
home of the type. (Macoun.)

We heard several singing at Skagway, and Osgood took one at
Haines, June 2nd, 1899. At Glacier they were tolerably common,

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 745

and we secured several, but they were very shy, keeping in the
thickets during the day and singing several hours in the evening
from the topmost spray of some spruce well up on the mountain
side. Several thrushes nests in small spruces six or eight feet
from the ground were empty, for which condition the abundant
ted squirrels were probably responsible. At Log Cabin and Ben-
net we heard a few singing and at Cariboo Crossing, B.C. lat. 60°,
Osgood took one, June 27th. (Brshop.)

759a. Audubon Hermit Thrush.
Hylocichla guttata auduboni (BAIRD) BREWSTER. 1902.

This species was not observed during the survey until the close
of the second season, when specimens were taken in the Rocky
mountains near Chief Mountain lake, under circumstances that
left no doubt of its breeding in the vicinity. (Cowes.) Common
summer resident in thick woods on Sophie mountain at an altitude
of 4,400 feet, on the International Boundary, B.C., in 1902; in
July, 1897, this form was found in the Rocky mountains, south of
Calgary; and in August in Crow Nest pass; rather rare at Elko,
B.C., in May, 1904. Taken at Canmore, Rocky Mountains, May
28th, 1891; one seen at Elko, May roth, 1904, not rare near
Nelson, B.C., in 1890;common on the mountains between Skagit
river and Chilliwack lake in 1905: July 15th, found a nest ina
balsam tree about 5 feet from the ground with four young nearly
ready to fly; nest rather bulky, made of moss. (Spreadborough.)
Many, perhaps most of the references above should go to H. G.
(Esquotensis.)—

759a. Hermit Thrush.
Hylocichla guttata pallasti (CaB.) HOWE. 1901.

Observed only twice, July 4th and 24th, 1896, both times in the
interior of the peninsula of Labrador; rare. (Spreadborough.). A
male taken at Chateau bay, eastern Labrador, July 14th, 1891.
(Norton.) A common visitor in Newfoundland. (Reeks.) An
abundant summer resident at Halifax, NS. (Downs.) Abundant
summer resident in Nova Scotia. H.F. Tufts. One individual was
seen after a gale on October 23rd, 1902, on Sable island, N.S.;

746 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

in numbers, May 25, 1904; two seen, Oct. 22, 1905 and many, May
24, 1906; in number after a heavy gale, Nov. 5th, 1906; a few seen,
Oct. 24 and several, Nov. 1,1907. (J. Boutelier.) Apparently
common in woods at Brackley point, Prince Edward island, July,
1888; not rare on Cape Breton island, 1898. (Macoun.) Breeds
abundantly about St. John, N.B. (Chamberlain.) Breeding abun-
dantly at Scotch Lake, York county, N.B. (W. H. Moore.) Ob-
served everywhere in the Restigouche valley, N.B. (Brittain & Cox.)
Slightly more abundant than the olive-backed thrush on Prince
Edward island. (Dwight.) Common; breeding on most of the
Magdalen islands. (Bishop.) On Anticosti and everywhere on the
north shore of the St. Lawrence this is an abundant species.
(Brewster.) Not rare at Lake Mistassini, Que.; breeding in June,
1885. (J. M. Macoun.) Common summer resident on Montreal
island. Breeds in the city of Montreal and in Mount Royal park.
This is the most common thrush here. Found a nest of this
thrush on a grassy bank in a small wood at St. Bruno, containing
four incubated eggs, May 24th, 1885. (Wznile.) Common in certain
places in eastern Quebec in summer. (Dzonne.)

A common summer resident around Ottawa. (Ottawa Naturalist,
Vol. V.) J heard this bird frequently on the Magdalen islands.
Have found it breeding near Lansdowne, Ont., as well as on Wolfe
Island, near Kingston, Ont. (Rev. C. J. Young.) A common
summer resident in Parry Sound and Muskoka districts. I took a
nest on May 17th, 1897, which was built among dead leaves at the
base of a dead ironwood sapling and contained four eggs. (J. H.
Fleming.) A passing migrant at Guelph, Ont. (A. B. Klugh.) One
seen on Moose river between Moose Factory and Missinabi late in
September, 1904. (Spreadborough.)

A common summer resident of woodlands in Manitoba. (E. T.
Seton.) A common migrant generally throughout Manitoba,
breeding in suitable localities. (Atkinson.) Rare at Aweme, Man.
(Criddle.) First seen at Medicine Hat, Sask., May 11th, 1894, and
last seen on the 15th, a rare migrant; a common summer resident
at Banff, Rocky mountains in 1891; observed a few in thick woods
near White Mud river, lat. 56° 30’, in June, 1903; first seen at
Edmonton, Alta, May 3rd, 1897, last seen May toth, all were
migrants; one shot in Eagle pass, west of Revelstoke, B.C., May

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 947

oth, 1890. (Spreadborough.) North to Fort Simpson on the Mac-
kenzie river. (Ross.) Abundant at the Grand rapids of the Sas-
katchewan. (Nutting.) First noted between Edmonton and Atha-
baska Landing, May 22nd, 1888; common between that place and
Lesser Slave river; very common down the Athabaska to Fort
McMurray, lat. 56° 40’; common up the Clearwater river and on
Methye portage and by Methye lake to Isle 4 la Crosse. (J. M.
Macoun.)

That pallasit and not auduboni breeds in the region around Lake
La Hache, B.C., is attested by the skins in the collection. At least
two points are established by skins in the collection—uist, the
breeding of aonalaschkae in the Rocky mountains of British Col-
umbia; 2nd, the breeding of pallasit west of the Rockies and south
of the 52nd parallel. (Rhoads.) This was the form of hermit
thrush occurring at Quesnel in northern British Columbia. A skin
from 150-Mile House seems closer to the typical form. (Brooks.)
About 15 miles below Little Salmon river, Yukon district, July
22nd, we secured a pair whose nest, containing four well-grown
young, Osgood had found the evening before. Far from selecting
the secluded nesting site usual with this species, this pair had placed
their nest between two small bunches of flowers on an open hillside
just above a small piece of burnt poplar woodland, and exposed to
the full glare of the sun. (Bishop.)

BREEDING NoTes.—Breeds from May to July at Scotch Lake,
N.B. The nest is placed on or near the ground and is composed
of leaves, grass, bark and roots. Eggs three. (W.H. Moore.) A
nest found on Kettle island in the Ottawa river near Ottawa was
built on the ground in a low shady spot. It was built of withered
leaves, weed stalks and bark strips, lined with fine grass; eggs four,
of a uniform greenish blue colour. (G. R. White.) I have noticed
many individuals in the township of Clarendon in North Frontenac,
Ont., during the past season (1903) and have seen eggs that were
taken near Trout lake in a spruce and cedar swamp. The eggs are
lighter in colour and somewhat larger than those of Wilson’s thrush,
and are readily distinguished by the practised eye. (Rev. C. J.
Young.)

748 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

759. Dwarf Hermit Thrush.
Hylocichla guttata nana (AUD.) BREWSTER. 1902.

Occasionally seen in the thick brush at Hastings, Burrard inlet,
in April, 1889; seen on nearly all the mountains at an altitude of
5,000 feet at Chilliwack lake, B.C., in July, 1901; first seen on
April 21st, 1893, at Victoria, Vancouver island, after this date they
became common, but most of them left early in May. Some reside
all year, as I saw them in January, 1890. Not common at Clayoquot
sound, Vancouver island in September and October, 1997. (Spread-
borough.) British Columbia. (Lord.) Found only during the autumn
migration, and then in the coast region. (Streator.) West of the coast
region; near the coast. (Fannin.) Summer resident on mountain tops
near Chilliwack. (Brooks.) On the coast of British Columbia in
migrations. Probably breeds in the Coast range and mountains
of Vancouver island. I was surprised to again meet with this
species at Field, where I saw many and secured three birds. One
of these in spotted nesting plumage proves that the summer
habitat of the dwarf thrush is far more extended than formerly
supposed. (Rhoads.) Not uncommon at Vancouver City, Lulu
island and Sea island, B.C., in the spring of 1894. (E.F.G.White.)

Very common everywhere at Sitka, Alaska, especially on the
small wooded islands; at low tide they were frequently to be seen
feeding among the kelp and rockweed along the shore. (Grinnell)
Specimens of this bird are in the National Museum collection from
various points along the timbered coast of southeastern Alaska,
including Cook inlet, Sitka, Kadiak and Chugatchik bay. (Nelson.)
Rather rare on Queen Charlotte islands. Two adult females were
taken at the head of Cumshewa inlet, and one male on Prevost
island, June, 1900. (Osgood.)

CCLKXXXIT. TURDUS. Linnaeus. 1758.

760. Red-winged Thrush.
Turdus uvacus LINN. 1758.

One sent to Dr. Paulsen in 1845, and another shot at Frederik-
shaab, Greenland, October 30th, 1845. (Arct. Man.)

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 749
CCLXXXIV. PLANESTICUS. Bonaparte. 1854.

761. American Robin.
Planesticus migratorius migratortus (LINN.) SWAINS. 1827.

An adult male shot near Kornuk in the Godthaab Fjord, Green-
land, in 1865. (Arct. Man.) Locally common on the northeastern
coast of Labrador. Large flocks seen at Port Manvers on Septem-
ber 6th, apparently from the north. (Bigelow.) Abundant through-
out the country. Breeding plentifully at Fort Chimo, Ungava.
(Packard.) Common throughout the whole trip from Moose Fac-
tory to Fort Chimo, Ungava. (Spreadborough.) Two specimens,
a male and a female were taken at Northwest river, Labrador,
July 28th, 1891. (Norton.) A very common summer resident in
Newfoundland. (Reeks.) One seen August 31st, 1899, on the
Humber river, Newfoundland; said to be common. (Louis H.
Porter.) One of the commonest birds in Nova Scotia. A few
remain all winter. (Downs.) A single individual was seen on
Sable island, N.S. on March 28th, May 8th, and October 24th,
1902; two seen March 20, 1904; seen in numbers April 12, 1905 and
several, Nov. 12; seven or eight seen April 5, 1906, and numbers
after a heavy gale Nov. 5; in 1907 many robins were seen, March 1,
April r1 and Oct. 24. (Jumes Boutelier.) Quite common at Brack-
ley point, Prince Edward island, 1888; common on Cape Breton
island, 1898. (Macoun.) Very abundant in the more open parts
of Prince Edward island. (Dwight.) Very abundant in New
Brunswick. A few remaining all winter. (Chamberlain.) A com-
mon sttmmer resident at Scotch Lake, York co., N.B. (W. H.
Moore.) Very common in the Restigouche valley, N.B. (Brittain
& Cox.) Abundant on the Magdalen islands; breeding everywhere.
(Bishop.) Common everywhere on all the islands and shores of the
Gulf of St. Lawrence, but generally near habitations. (Brewster.)
Common at Lake Mistassini, Que. (J. M. Macoun.)

An abundant summer resident around Montreal. Breeds in the
city and in Mount Royal park. Nests with eggs found from May
18th to July 24th. Usually observed here from March 24th to
November 8th. (Winile.) This is one of the most common
birds in eastern Quebec in summer. (Dzonne.) An abundant
summer resident around Ottawa. (Ottawa Naturalist, Vol.7V.)

750 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

Very common everywhere in eastern Ontario. (Rev. C. J. Young.)
Common about the settlements in Parry Sound and Muskoka dis-
tricts. A few have wintered at Gravenhurst. (J. H. Fleming.)
Abundant in the Algonquin park, Ont.; three nests in sight of the
buildings at Cache lake, 1900; common from Missinabi to Point
Comfort, James bay. (Spreadborough.) Abundant in the vicinity
of London, Ont. The crop of wild berries has much to do with
the occasional notes of the occurrence of this species in winter;
that a few winter in some years is certain. While they nest usually
in trees, I found one on the projecting end of a rail of a snake-
fence and have seen numbers on buildings; and once saw one build-
ing a nest in a brush-heap. (W. E. Saunders.) An abundant
summer resident at Guelph, Ont. Arrives about March 8th, and
leaves about November 12th. (A. B. Klugh.) Found throughout
the region traversed, but seldom seen elsewhere than in the vicinity
of the posts, where, however, they were very common. Many
old and young were seen at Fort Churchill during the latter part
of July. On our return trip we noted the species on Hayes river,
August 3oth, Steel river, August 31st, Hill river, Sept. 4th and
between Oxford and Windy lakes, Sept. 12th. (E. A. Preble.)
Common at York Factory, Hudson bay. (Dr. R. Bell.) Fort
Churchill, Hudson bay. (Wright.)

Found in abundance at Pembina where it was breeding in the
wooded river-bottom. In this latitude, the eggs are generally laid
during the middle and latter part of June, and I scarcely think
that more than one brood is reared annually. It extends from
Pembina to the Rocky mountains on the 49th parallel. (Cowes.)
A common resident in half-open woods and around dwellings through-
out Manitoba. (E. T. Seton.) An abundant summer resident at
Aweme, Manitoba; arrives about April roth and leaves towards
the end of October. (Criddie.) An abundant summer resident at
Indian Head, Sask., first seen April 13th, 1892, and became com-
mon by the 18th of the same month; in 1895 this species was found
scattered over the whole of southern Saskatchewan and Alberta
wherever there was brush; it is essentially a bird of civilization and
is constantly found in the neighbourhood of trading posts and
lonely settlers. (Macoun.) A very abundant summer visitor at
Prince Albert, Sask.; breeding throughout the country. (Cou-
beaux.) Very abundant at Grand rapids of the Saskatchewan,

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 751

though none were seen at Chemawawin. (Nutting.) Very abund-
ant between Edmonton and Athabaska Landing; more plentiful at
the latter place than anywhere else; only one pair seen between
Athabaska Landing and Lesser Slave river; none down the Atha-
baska to Fort McMurray, there very common; none up the Clear-
water to Methye portage, but common there; seen here and there
where there are clearings from Methye lake to Isle A la Crosse.
(J. M. Macoun.) Quite common at Edmonton, Alta., first seen
April 16th, by May 6th many were building nests and early in
June eggs were hatched; common in the foothills to the Inter-
national Boundary; quite common from the mouth of Lesser Slave
river to Peace River Landing, lat. 56° 15’, in June, 1903. (Spread-
borough.) This species appeared at Carlton House on April 22nd,
1827, in lat. 53’; the same season it reached Fort Chipweyan in
lat. 58° on May 7th and Fort Franklin in lat. 65° on the 20th of
the same month. (Richardson.) North to Lapierre House, on the
Mackenzie river; abundant. (Ross.) This is a common bird both
at Fort Anderson and on the banks of the Swan and Wilmot-Horton
rivers in the Barren Grounds. (Macfarlane.) Rare migrant at
Chilliwack. (Brooks.) One or two of the citations above should
perhaps go to propinqua. An examination of our specimens shows
that while Indian Head and Edmonton specimens are typical migra-
torva the specimens taken in S.W. Saskatchewan are propinqua.

Throughout the entire wooded portion of Alaska this bird is
found more or less numerous during summer, and along the tree-
less coast of Behring sea and Kotzebue sound it appears merely
as a straggler in the migrations. (Nelson.) This species is quite
common at Fort Yukon, where it breeds. (Turner.) One indi-
vidual seen on St. Paul island, Alaska, in October, 1872. (Ellzott.)
The miners that we met at Hope and Sunrise, Cook inlet, Alaska,
reported that the “regular eastern robin,’ had often been seen
there. We did not observe it ourselves in the month of August,
the time of our stay at these points. (Osgood.) Tolerably com-
mon at Haines and Skagway, but not at Glacier. At Haines I
took a female and four well-incubated eggs, June 2nd. Robins
were common at Log Cabin, June 15th, and were found regularly
but in gradually decreasing numbers until August 1st, when the
last was noted near Sixty-mile creek. A flock seen July 29th,
showed that the southern migration had commenced. We found

752 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

an empty nest 30 miles below Dawson and heard that the birds
bred near Fort Yukon. Although robins were by no means com-
mon at Cariboo Crossing, I found, on June 25th, 13 empty nests,
most of them evidently built that year and four empty nests of the
Alma thrush, in a small patch of spruces. The red squirrels which
lived in a hollow tree near by probably knew of the location of
most of these nests. Osgood took a well grown young robin here
on June 26th. (Bishop.) One juvenal taken at Sheep creek,
Alaska, Aug. 30, 1903. (Anderson.)

BREEDING Notes.—This species nests at Scotch Lake, N.B.,
from April to August. Four broods have been hatched in one
nest in one season. The nest always has earth in its composition
and is lined with leaves of grass; eggs three to five; I have known
the birds to move the eggs from one nest to another when the first
place had become too public. The period of incubation is ten or
eleven days and the young stay in the nest fourteen days. (W. H.
Moore.) Nests are placed on stumps and fences, in sheds and
around buildings and in trees almost from the ground to 50 feet up
in large trees. The nest is made of grass with a bed of mud and a
lining of grass. Eggs taken at Ottawa in April, May, June and
July. (Garneau.) Nest very bulky, composed of vegetable matter,
leaves, moss, stems and weeds, grass, hair and wool; inside is a
neat cup of mud lined with fine vegetable matter; eggs five, of a rich
greenish blue colour. No markings or spots. (G. R. White.)

761. Western Robin.
Planestictus migratorius propinquus (RipGw.) RipDGw. 1907.

Common in the Maple creek, Sask., timber in 1906. (A. C.
Bent.) A common summer resident throughout the whole district
of Medicine Hat, Crane lake, Swift Current creek and Cypress hills,
Sask. This form was first seen at Banff, Rocky mountains where
it was in some numbers; at Revelstoke, B.C., it arrived on April
toth, 1890, and soon became common; it bred in large numbers at
Revelstoke, Deer Park, and Robson on the Columbia river, but
curiously it was very wild and difficult to shoot; common on the
International Boundary between Trail and Cascade in 1902; found
a nest on a fence overhung with brush near Trail; abundant every-
where in the Okanagan valley, B.C., in April, 1903; very abundant

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 753

at Elko, B.C., building nests, May 15, 1904; common at Midway,
B.C., in 1905 and building nests by April 20; common on the Skagit
summit in July at 6,000 feet altitude; abundant in all parts of the
interior of British Columbia, but especially so at Spence Bridge;
builds a different nest from the eastern one; abundant at Chilli-
wack, Hastings and Huntingdon in the Fraser river valley in 1901;
a very abundant species in all parts of Vancouver island, only par-
tially migratory, many building by the middle of April. (Spread-
borough.)

British Columbia. (Lord.) Very common everywhere; breeds.
(Streator.) Abundant throughout the province; partially migra-
tory; a number winter on Vancouver island. (Fannin.) Abundant
resident at Chilliwack. (Brooks.) Uniformly abundant every-
where in British Columbia. (Rhoads.) A few adults were observed
throughout the summer among the more open parts three or four
miles inland from Sitka, along the Indian river. Several large
flocks of juvenals appeared on July 25th and afterwards were
common. (Grinnell.) Common on the Queen Charlotte islands.
Its time of arrival at Massett, from 1891 to 1898, ranged from
February 20th to March 16th. (Osgood.)

CCLXXXV. IXOREUS Bonaprarre. 1854.
763. Varied Thrush.
Ixoreus nevius (GMEL.) RICHMOND, 1902.

This speeies reached Revelstoke, B.C., by April 9th, 1890; for
a few days it was common in the thick woods, but soon left the
river bottom for the mountains; in June it was found on the moun-
tains at Deer Park and was seen at Robson on June 24th at an
altitude of 4,200 feet; observed a few near Rossland and on Sophie
mountain, B.C., along the International Boundary in 1902; common
in all the thick woods along the Elk river, B.C., above Elko, breeding
in May, 1904; common in thick woods at Midway, B.C., in
1905, and common along the Hope trail and by the Skagit river;
shot at Burrard inlet, April 8th, 1889, quite common in the woods
at this time, but very retiring, usually sings at night; one
specimen seen at Chilliwack, June 8th, 1901, after this date
they were common along Chilliwack river up to the lake, breeding

48

754 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

in the mountain woods; abundant on Vancouver island as a
resident; they leave the low grounds about the middle of May
and return about the middle of September; breeding on Mount
Benson, near Nanaimo, at an altitude of 3,000 feet in July,
1893. (Spreadborough.) This bird was discovered at Nootka
sound on Capt. Cook’s third voyage. (Richardson.) British
Columbia. (Lord.) Very common at Seymour creek, Stanley
park and Lulu island, B.C. (£. F. G. White.) Common spring and
fall migrant; found breeding on Mount Lehmen. (Séreator.) Com-
mon west of Coast range; partly migratory. (Fannin.) Common
resident at Chilliwack. (Brooks.) Abundant on the coast of
British Columbia, but by no means confined thereto, being found at
high altitudes on all the mountains of the interior to the Rocky
mountain summits. (Rhoads.) Tolerably common in the deeper
woods at Sitka, Alaska; first young, scarcely feathered, taken July
and. (Grinnell.) Occasionally seen or heard at Massett, Queen
Charlotte islands. Seen at Massett by Rev. Mr. Keen. Not abun-
dant at Cook Inlet, Alaska. Occasional individuals were seen and
heard. (Osgood.) Two specimens were noted at Homer, Kenaj
peninsula, Alaska, on September 17th, 1901. (Figgins.) One
adult male and two females taken at Seldovia, Alaska. (Anderson.)
The varied thrush proved to be an abundant summer resident of the
Kowak valley, Kotzebue sound, and was observed in every tract of
spruces visited. In the fall of 1898 it remained common until the
last of August. (Grinnell.)

One specimen was procured at Fort Franklin, lat. 654°, in May,
1826. It was the only one observed. (Richardson.) According
to my own observations this bird is a regular and not rare summer
resident in all congenial portions of northern Alaska, even within
the Arctic Circle and undoubtedly extends its ranges as far north as
the common robin. (Nelson.) One specimen of this species was
obtained at Fort Yukon, Alaska, September 4th, 1876. It is not
plentiful at any time. A second specimen was brought to me at
St. Michael on May 27th, 1877, killed by a native. It is only a
casual visitor to the coast. (Turner.)

BREEDING Notes.—I have a nest and four eggs that were taken
by Rev. Mr. Stringer in the east channel of the Mackenzie river,
40 miles from its mouth. The nest was found, June 5th, 1895, in

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 755

a spruce tree, 15 feet from the ground. The nest is made of goose
grass and is six inches in diameter and three inches deep. The
eggs are a paler blue than a robin’s, and are spotted with brown.
(W. Raine.) For a full account of the nesting habits of this species,
see Pacific Coast Fauna of the Cooper Ornithological Club for Nov-
ember 14th, 1900.

CCLXXVI. CYANOSYLVIA Brexum. 1828.
764. Red-spotted Bluethroat.
Cyanosyluia suecia (LINN.) BREHM. 1828.

On the sth June, 1851, Dr. Adams found a flock of seven of these
handsome birds feeding about some willows in the vicinity of St,
Michael. They were very shy and he succeeded in obtaining a
single specimen. (Nelson.) I met with this species in the vicinity
of Cape Blossom, Kotzebue sound, Alaska, on July 3rd, 1899. The
locality was the side of a ravine between two hills of the first range,
about a mile back from the mission. This hillside was of a gentle
slope, and was clothed with thick patches of dwarf willows, one to
two feet in height. That this species was breeding at Cape Blossom,
I have no doubt, but time did not permit as the Penelope arrived
and I had to leave; I procured two specimens however. (Grinnell.)

CCLXXVIT. SAXICOLA BEcusTEIN. 1803. ;
765. Wheatear.
Saxicola enanthe enanthe (LINN.) BECHST. 1803.

During the Western Union Telegraph Expedition, Mr. Dall saw
several large flocks of these birds near Nulato, on May 23rd and
24th, 1868, and learned from the natives of their abundance upon
the stony hill-tops back from the river. At St. Michael, Norton
sound, I found them to occur in spring and fall rather irregularly
They were not very rare, and the natives informed me that they
were common upon the bare mountain tops in the interior, fre-
quenting the summer range of the reindeer. The wheatear was also
found at Port Clarence, in Behring strait, at the head of Kotzebue
sound, at Cape Lisburne, by Dr. Bean. (Nelson.) This bird is very
erratic in its occurrence in northern Alaska. Early in the spring

48%

756 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

migrations of 1882, we had these birds in comparative abundance
near the station for a few days, but none remained to breed, and in
the season of 1883, though a careful lookout was kept for them,
not one was noticed. Those seen appeared to be travelling towards
the northeast. (Murdoch.) Osgood saw two young wheatears at
Circle City, Alaska, August 19th, 1899 and secured one. At the
Aphoon mouth of the Yukon I shot one on August 27th, which fell
into the river and was carried away by the rapid current, but I saw
the white rump plainly. (Bishop.)

765a Greenland Wheatear.

x

fr Saxtcola enanthe leucorhoa (GMEL.) STEJN. 1901.

One male bird procured at Disco, Greenland, August 11th, 1891,
and one on July 16th, 1892, by the Parry Relief Expedition.
(Witmer Stone.) Nests near Nachvak, but I did not see the nest.
Nests have been taken by the Hudson bay officers. (Bigelow.)
One of the commonest land birds on Disco island, Greenland, and
around Disco bay, both on the islands and mainland. I showed
specimens to Eskimo from Nugumente and Frobisher straits, and
they instantly recognized them and said they had bred there but
not in plenty. (Kumlien.) Known to breed in Greenland from
the time of Otho Fabricus, and according to Holbeel, extending its
range to lat. 73° and even further. It strays also to the westward
and was observed by James Ross, May 2nd, 1830, in Felix harbour,
lat. 70°, long, 91° 53’ W.; obtained on Shannon island by the Ger-
man expedition. (Arct. Man.) Coues obtained a single individual
of this species at Henley harbour, Labrador, August 25th, 1860.
(Packard.) Breeds at Ivigtut, Greenland. (Hagerup.) One shot
by George Moses on Indian island, N.B., 1879. (Chamberlain.)
A female was taken at Beaumaris, Muskoka, Ont., on September
25th, 1894, by Mr. Taverner. It was among titlarks. The bird
was identified by Mr. Ridgway and is the first record for Ontario.
(J. H. Fleming.) At Chatham, Ont., in May, 1901, I saw a speci-
men in a case of mounted birds which was shot about 1889 near
Chatham. (W. E. Saunders.) I have before me three specimens
of the wheatear all of which were shot at Godbout on the north
shore of the St. Lawrence, near the point where the river widens
into the gulf, by Napoleon A. Comeau. Two others were seen,
making five individuals noted within thirteen months. Mr. Comeau

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 757

writes me that in the female shot on June gth, 1885, with her mate,
‘“‘the eggs were pretty well developed.’’ He adds, ‘‘I think there
can be no question now about the bird breeding on our coast.’’
(Dr. Merriam in The Auk, Vol. II., 305.) Since my notes recorded
by Dr. Merriam, I have secured additional specimens which throw
light on the occurrence of the species near Godbout. I shot a
young male, September 19th, 1885, and another specimen, Novem-
ber oth, 1886. None were observed in 1887 or 1888. On Septem-
ber 5th, 1889, while visiting the Caribou islands I saw five of these
birds together but having no gun was unable to secure specimens.
The next morning I saw one hopping around the door and was
informed that a pair had been noticed several times during the
month of August. (Nap. A. Comeau in The Auk, Vol. VII., 294.)
James Clark Ross recorded a specimen of enanthe obtained at
Felix harbour, Gulf of. Boothia, which is probably referable to the
race recently recognized by Stejneger. The British Museum cata-
logue records from Albany river an adult male enanthe, collected
by Barnston, which is also probably referable to the Greenland
race. If, as is probable, this bird inhabits the country to the north
of Hudson bay, its most natural route of migration would seem to
be along the borders of the bay, and it is not unlikely that it is a
regular breeder about the northern shores. (E. A. Preble.)

CCLXXXVIII. SIALIA Swarnson. 1827.
766. Bluebird.
Stalia stalts stalia (LINN.) HatpDEM. 1843.

An occasionally common summer migrant in Newfoundland.
(Reeks.) Uncommon in Nova Scotia, but seems to be commoner
than formerly. (Downs.) One shot at Paradise, Annapolis county,
N.S., June 14, 1905. (H. F. Tufts.) Apparently very rare in the
vicinity of St. John, N.B. (Chamberlain.) This species was
common at Scotch Lake, York county, N.B., up to about five years
ago. Since then it has only, and rarely, been observed during spring
and autumn migration. (W. H. Moore.)

An abundant summer resident on Montreal island. Breeds in
Mount Royal park. Nests with eggs found May 7th and 14th.
(Wintle.) This bird is more or less common in eastern Quebec.

758 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA.

Taken at Beauport. (Dionne.) A common summer resident
around Ottawa. (Ottawa Naturalist, Vol. V.) Still common in
eastern Ontario. Arriving this year (1901) third week in March.
(Rev. C. J. Young.) Rare in Algonquin park, Ont.; one pair nest-
ing at Cache lake in 1900; seen from Missinabi, Ont., to within a
short distance of Moose Factory, James bay in 1904. (Spread-
borough.) Abundant migrant and summer resident at Toronto,
Ont. Again becoming commoner in Parry Sound and Muskoka
districts; formerly it was one of the common birds. (J. H. Flem-
ing.) Passing over in considerable numbers in the early days of
March these beautiful and beneficial birds seem to think Toronto
and its environs no longer a safe summer residence, though the
teasons are not far to seek; on reaching us in the spring those few
that rest a while seem to find agreeable diet in the white grubs
which are found in considerable numbers in the flower heads of the
sumach bushes; from diligent enquiries made in the neighbourhood
of Whitney, Ont., I concluded that these birds reach open spots in
that district before there is much clear ground showing through the
snow. (j/. Hughes-Samuel.) Formerly abundant, but the disas-
trous “freeze” which extinguished the orange industry in northern
Florida in 1894-95, nearly annihilated these birds also, and in the
first nine months of 1895, I saw but four specimens; since then they
have been increasing rapidly and are now familiar objects once
more; they sometimes build in boxes and crevices around build-
ings, and a few sets of white eggs have been taken; one nest was
found in a swallow’s hole in the river bank in May, 1899, by W. A.
Balkwill. (W. E. Saunders.) A common summer resident at
Guelph, Ont.; arrives about March 1oth, and leaves about October
20th. (A. B. Klugh.) Very abundant at Penetanguishene, Ont.,
in the spring of 1903. (A. F. Young.) The U.S. National Museum
collection contains a specimen taken at Moose Factory, James bay,
in the summer of 1881, by Walton Haydon. (E. A. Preble.)

A rare summer resident in Manitoba; they breed about the large
towns; since I wrote as above it is gratifying to note that this
species instead of being very rare has become quite common (1892)
in the country along the Assiniboine, and nearly every grove of
oak of any extent is found to have a pair making their home in it
along with the purple martin. (E. T. Seton.) A rare and breed-
ing summer resident at Aweme, Manitoba. (Criddle.) A species

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 759

which cannot be called common in Manitoba*but which is increasing
freely in the eastern portions. (Atkinson.)

BREEDING Notes.—Nest built in a hole in a tree or fence post,
composed of vegetable matter very loosely put together, lined with
grass and a little hair; eggs four or five, pale blue; not marked.
(G. R. White.) This species breeds around Ottawa in April, May,
June and July, in a hole in a tree, a stump, a fence, or a telegraph
post; its nest is made of grass and feathers and contains from three
to six eggs. (Garneau.)

This species nests at Scotch Lake, N.B., in May and June; the
nest is built in hollow fence poles and this year (1902) one pair
built in a box put up for them in a grove in a pasture; five eggs
were laid and incubated in 18 days. The young feathered out in.
14 days and were in the nest 20 days after hatching; 30 days later
they had four more eggs and the female was sitting. (W. H.
Moore.)

767. California Bluebird.

Siala mexicana occidentalis (Towns.) Ripcw. 1894.

Common at Penticton, but always in pairs, breeding in holes in
trees in April, 1903; only saw one specimen at Trail, but observed
a number at Cascade, B.C., on the International Boundary, in
1902; observed two at Baynes lake, May 2nd, 1904, and two in the
Kootenay valley about a week later; several seen breeding at Mid-
way, April, 1905; a few observed at Lytton, B.C., April 17th, 1889;
in the woods at Hastings, Burrard inlet; observed eight specimens
at Chilliwack, B.C., October 24th, 1901, said to breed in the vici-
nity; saw four at Douglas, B.C., April 24th, 1906, and several breed-
ing at a later date; first seen at Victoria, Vancouver island, April
19th, 1893; found a nest near Victoria, May 23rd, and a nest with
young at Nanaimo, July roth. (Spreadborough.) Common on
Vancouver island and in British Columbia. (Lord.) Not very
common on the coast, but an abundant summer resident in the
interior. (Streator.) A common summer resident east and west
of the Coast range; more numerous on the coast. (Fannin.) Com-
mon summer resident ; remained in the Fraser valley until January.
(Brooks.) Not common anywhere, but less so in the district east
of the Coast range in British Columbia where it does not reach
beyond the transition zone. (Rhoads.)

760 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA,

768. Mountain Bluebird. |

Stalia ovctica. SWAINS. 1831.

On October roth, 1898, I received a fine male mountain bluebird
from E, H. Patterson of Brandon, Man. It had been collected
two days before about two miles west of that city, and was in com-
pany with another individual of the same species. (George E.
Atkinson.) A few individuals of this species were observed in the
Rocky mountains at Chief Mountain lake, but no specimens were
preserved. (Coues.) Tolerably common summer resident at
Aweme, Manitoba. It breeds in the more hilly country; arrives
about May 7th and leaves about October 15th. (Criddle.) First
seen at Medicine Hat, Sask., April 6th, 1894, after that a few were
seen every day until May 9th, when the last one disappeared, they
appeared to follow along the scattered timber in the valley of the
South Saskatchewan as they passed to the north; a pair were found
breeding June 15th, 1895, at Medicine Lodge, south of Wood moun-
tain, Sask., and another pair in a clay bank along Frenchman river
at Stony Creek crossing; they were also breeding in numbers along
Milk river, especially at Castellated rocks in July, 1895; observed a
few about the end of July, 1903, at Dunvegan, Peace river; ob-
served nesting at Lacombe, near Edmonton, Alta., June 18th,
1897; common at Calgary and southward in the foot-hills to Crow
Nest pass; common from the upper crossing of the Lob-stick river
to Camp river, B.C., west of the Athabaska pass; also seen in large
flocks at the Henry House, Athabaska pass, September 2nd, 1898,
last seen September 25th; quite common and breeding early at
Banff, Rocky mountains, it built its nest chiefly under the eaves of
houses at Banff; shot at Revelstoke, B.C., April roth, 1890; quite
common along the mountain slopes; breeding in Eagle pass near
Revelstoke in May, 1890; numbers of young birds were seen in the
trees along Pass creek at Robson, B.C., June 20th, 1890, the birds
had nested in the cliffs about 700 feet above the water; common
on the International Boundary between Trail and Cascade, B.C.,
breeding in holes in houses and trees; abundant at Penticton,
south of Lake Okanagan, B.C., in April, 1903; they were in flocks
of from ten to fifty; abundant in open places around Fernie and
Elko, B.C., in April and May, 1904; common at Midway, B.C.,
April 10, 1905, a pair building a nest in an empty house on the 15th;

CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 761

saw a number on the 2nd summit west of the Skagit, young and
old in August at an altitude of 6,000 feet.(Spreadborough.) Local
and not uncommon and breeding in suitable places at Prince Albert,
Sask. (Coubeaux.) Only one specimen of this beautiful bird was
shot at Fort Franklin in July, 1825. It is merely a summer visitor
to the Northwest Territories. (Richardson.) A pair nested in the
Canadian Pacific storeroom at Donald, B.C., in May, 1894. (E. F.
G. White.) Seen only east of the Coast range. (Lord.) I found
one or two pairs of this species breeding in the mountains at Ash-
croft, B.C. (Streator.) A summer resident east of the Coast range.
(Fannin.) Common in migration at Chilliwack. (Brooks.) Abund-
ant in northern and western interior portions of British Columbia.
(Rhoads.) This species is recorded by Hartlaub from Dejah,
southeastern Alaska, April 2oth and 21st; as it was seen on these
two days only and at this point it cannot be at all common in the
territory. (Nelson.)

BREEDING NoTEes.—Found nesting in a hole in a clay butte at
Medicine Lodge, south of Wood mountain, June 14th, 1895. The
nest was wholly composed of the outer bark of the old stems of
Bigelovia graveolens, a composite plant that grew in profusion
near the site of the nest. It contained seven light blue eggs. An-
other nest taken under the same conditions along Frenchman
river, Sask., on June 21st, was built of the outer bark of sage brush
(Artemisia cana) and contained the same number of eggs. (Macoun.)

' INDEX

PAGE,
ACADIAN SHARP-TAILED FINCH,........ 507
Chickadee......
Acanthis....

- hornemannii

linaria holbeellii
linaria rostrata.......... 0... eee
Acanthopneuste............. 0.2 eee 726
borealis kennicotti,............5.5 726
ACCIPIEY ss cssie es cavee wamesles RES S 6 244
atricapillus.........
atricapillus striatulus.
Sgepe ts ‘
velox...

damacensis.

fuscicollis, 173
maculata
minutilla,
&chmophor
occidentali
Egialitis
ubia..
hiaticula
meloda,
meloda cireum
mongola,
nivosa....
semipalmata.
4istrelata..
fisheri..
hasitata. .
Agelaius...............
pheeniceus caurinus,............+.
pheeniceus fortis...........-.-.++- 429
pheeniceus neutralis..........-.... 432
pheeniceus pheeniceus............. 428
Docc esas Bunce Gatos esa a sa 90
BDONSA iyit is wneud codoiess Be maa Ie BONS, 90
Alnsea Barn Swallow............+-- 574
Spruce Grouse...........-0-0es0ee 218
Chickadee... ........2.sceeeereeee 721
Horned Owl..........-. ccc eee eee 309
DAY G9 scnscarece: scavar nieve anttallanare seiueptneetubseisae 410
TA OT BSPUN ya ise yee ata avec sanssev eur’ abeyrase 486
Pine Grosbeak..........200seeeee 450
Hpree- toed Woodpecker........... 336
WW Tenn’. sadvi fencer eens cannncrchieverteutitvine inion 704
Yellow "Woapgtail. cesses scaaece tiieetoe sue ave 683
Yellow Warbler...............505 627
PA ext asap sicae cits ve oy pare suse sass Sonsictanle x 390
OT VONSISS c:5 ssavere ising x Wsoa Sraaanece Saas 390
Alaudid wesc iccecies sine tyes waianes Saws 390
Albatross, Black-footed.............. 60
Short-tailed.. 60

Yellow-nosed..
Albatrosses.....

NCI 5545. cad cts Gee iew a reies sieane

Alder Flycatcher..........0000 eee 384

Aleutian Leucosticte.........--.0005 464
SADA PIPEM. wisinsigngs versa eran
Song SPAT OW gia: icect caries cans ona naeas ad

Ptarmigan........
Allied E earwaten.:
Alpine Three-toed Woodpecker. auspices 337
American Avocet, 161

Crow...
Dipper
Eared Grebe.

Herring Guil.
Long-eared Owl
Magpie..

Merganser 73
Osprey...... 286
Oyster-catche 214
Pipit 683
Reds: 678
Robin 749
Rough-legged Haw! 261
Scaup Duck....... 94
SCOOP ees ecscoss ny eais -. 113
Sparrow Hawk......... .. 284
Three-toed Woodpecker. .. 334
Mult uresis cc sc ssce renee ween 289
White-fronted Goose...
White Pelican.........
Widge0n: + :2s06s 2s vaxeaseeeess o5
Woodeock..
Ammodramus..
henglowi..is cx iias canaes taxkers ae
lecontei...
MIOISONA, boric: attain as Word iste he SRA BER 506
nelsoni subvirgatus.............5. 507
Pir Vel id Biase: inesias sosga's ister a eas ana es TEN 585
Ampelis.....

cedrorum ..
garrulus...
AMES ie5 cise crests aoe sreeaievncee soe te
obscura

Anatide oo 0.002 00%

albifrons

albifrons gambeli................ 123

FD ALB s 6p 53 1 igus 00s Soviener arecenoe ag tore 125
ATIBETOB a sic.e:5: aise: sis rershaseera wuslererg casa ate 73
Anthony’ Vireo «sc esies vee nies oe eens 608

INDEX.
PAGE. PAGE,

Anthus.c. ccs ncc ccs od hewee ss aes 683 Marilassce wire weaie.e SiS ohe 94
COYVINUS... 1. ee cece cece reece errs red vallisneria,.... 6... cece eee eee 92

ensilvanicus.......-+++e++005 aes
Pratendia ices aj cvisbeat nue aiea: oat lgpeae TOE 687 Bairp SANDPIPER,......++ Gaba se . 174
Spraguei......-.-6++ DG cael Sub ta ofa Rese 687 AT LOW xc ess erdias xe San e's ois 502

Antrostomus.........00eeeenee sees 352 Bald Eagle.. +s. 269
carolineDsis........-++eeeereeee . 352 Baldpatess sic aces ce stees 6-eas vee 84
VOCHETUS.. 60.0.0 cece eee cere wees 352 Baltimore Oriole...............0005 435

ADpbriza.... 2. eee eee ee eee eee eens 211 Band-tailed Pigeon..........-.0-56% 235
VIPBat aie sve nese « weaeeinie Bor verees wea 211 Bank Swallow..........-. abse 3 somspalaus 580

Apbhrizid@vecec os sg cee sees ees 211 Barn Owls.......-0eeeeee weed Rites 288

AQUIB. oi cess db naaon ey caiman oes 265 Swallow .0iciwses cee w arts seems
CHrySaectOS.... see eee eee eens 265 Barnacle Goose.... 0... sce ee cree cease 131

Archibuteo.........0: cece eee enee Barred Owls is e:ccseyrs dice yacesaw aon sie
ferrugineus.. ae Barrow Golden-eye............-.+05
PRADO UBia sex ce Cem aiey cod ewe ie RED aot Bartealan esse raevss evsaaweee eas
lagopus sancti-johannis........... lon gicaudanien wisi ss eegwies seca

Arctic Horned Owl...........-- 307, 309 Bartramian Sandpiper..

i eat or arautnigees ethartaiGrav's & Rye Reka id a 55 Batchelder Woodpecker... on
Three-toed Woodpecker... Bay-breasted Warbler. .
Towheeisicaiaty ss edad ee seams as 554 Bean Goose........ 0.0 seeeeeceeeee

Arctonetta, Belted Kingfisher...............055
fischeri Piping Plover..........+seeeesee

Ardeas ss 2c 2 ceva nd seeses assess Bewick Wren..........00cseeeeeeee
cinerea Bicknell THEUsh s 5. sxcs 6 gsoe gh ws 56 Ho
herodias Big Black-head...........eeeseeeee
herodias fannini Bird, Cherry......0-2- e+e eeeeeeeee

Apdeidiess ne og uesniaroiicnn owes s Mock NE. sere desiate ag emg ee See

Ardetta...c.... ec cece ene eeeeeeee ee 137 | Oven......... see eee
OXIS: cca eek Galiauesduivee Meegae Red billed Tropic......

TEOXENA. 2. eee eee eee eee ee ee ee eee LOG J OUTIL... eee eee en eee

APONATIB cic se cet eee Ree eee HS Yellow-biiled Tropic
UNCELDLEB ses eis. i se lev eee 6: es sor sriatene.ay anshOvese 212 ird, Man o’War............02 0-0 73
melanocephala..........0.+0eeeee 213 Birds, Diving....... 1
MOPiNnella.. wvs see ose heen ne ewes 212 Gallinaceous....... 05... e eee eee ee 215

Ackansas Kingbird...............4- 371 Man-07= Wares s s6 asce ian srasiyinig oe oo 73

Arquatella..... 6... e eee cece eee 169 Of Pree wes és igdeew ne 8 a Raaidle ss geass 239
COWCSL. siscscses Pena e Paha e o4 RRs 170 Perchin ges 3 6 ieces es dewany ee doe 366
TLATIGLOL Ais. sd Sy eee FG SSIS Aaa 169 Shore..... 157
Ptilocnemis,..........+ 2 eee eee eee 171 Tropic 67

BEBO sg iaceyts ciaceviia shaver revavederacowa Speie Gyr enuse tat 288 Bittern, American.............0000e 136
accipitrinus...... 0.6... eee eee ee 290 ory Least 138
magellanicus algistus:............ 309 LTE aval ceste 137
magellanicus heterocnemis... .. 309 Bittern gsi) vacant gas eae sa diss mae ee - 136
magellanicus eeeph nia 309 Black and White Warbler........... 608
magellanicus saturatus.. 309 Black-bellied Plover.............005 202
magellanicus virginianus. 308 Black-billed Cuckoo.............4.+5 320
magellanicus wapacuth 309 Blackbird, Brewers ¥
wilsonianus. 288 Red-winged..

Astragalinus. 474 Rusty..... 438
tristis....... 474 White-winged 563
tristis pallidus.. 476 Yellow-headed. 426
tristis salicaman: 477 . 423

Asyndesmus. 345 130
torquatus, 345 648

Attu Wren..... 705 64

Audubon Caracar: 286 363
Hermit Thrush 745 144
Warbler..... 636 k 79

Auk, Great. 28 Black-footed Albatros: 60
Grey-head 20 Black Guillemot... 21

ACOs sive voorcte ea auscunye save 28 Gyrfalcon.... 275
geet ie a3 Rattan 's Vise 27 Black-head, B: 94
S555 La eaNA Re RRR Sw, 14 Black-headed 560

yvonne CasSities 6 cciist ae ese oss eens 18 BY is ic cnasiaushieve sed ve 406
Crested...) csucshecassiaise sence 18 Black Merlin.. 282
Co ee ee fee rere 19 Oyster-catche 214
Paroquet......... see cece eee eaee 18 Black- ae Warble 645
BRhinoceros,.....-- +--+ eee eeeeeee 17 ee Bil ocean 153
Whiskered...........ceseeeeeeee 19 ar a iid 60

358

‘Bipce-tailen Godwit.. 185

Black Tertisis cnc. e a a 58

g Black-throated Blue Warbl 628
americana. 91 Gray Warbler.......... 649
COURT Sia 0 v9 exaed veGeR ei ad Baw Rs . 97 Green Warbler........ 649

INDEX. lll
PAGE, PAGE.
TEIN aceite ed Gertie Gd eee 12 borealia krideriecccisaecneaeesaen 252
Black Turnstone......... 213 lineatus..... 254
Black-vented Shearwater. 63 lineatus elegans 255
Black Vulture 241 platypterus . 259
Blue-bill 96 swainsoni . 256
Bluebird.. 757 Butorides. 143
Californ! 759 virescens. . 143
Mountain 760 Buzzard, Turkeyoe ecuwionpsisk tacts « 239
Blue Goose.....- ssc cece eee - 121
Blue-gray Banisatdiss ae Baas ENTIN 732 Capanis WooppPECKER.............45 328
Blue Grosbeak.......... 0.000.050 08 560 Cabot Terti.cccvs cores evawrass cay 52
Blue Vay sess neienar cna rere’ 404 Cackling Goose......... Fa aR 128
Blue-throat, Red-spotted........... 755 Calamospizaisnesc-05 900 eho dd oe 563
Blue-winged Teal...............005 86 melanocoryS,.........0e creer eee 563
Bobolink... ... ot aon 423, Calaveras Warbler................. 614
Bob-white Quail................045 215 GBC RTI, oss fainis ny Bind estinctiermidin ai somyanden 484
Bohemian Waxwing..............05 585 lappoOnicuB.:...... ec cee ca cee ese 484
Bonaparte Gull...............0.00- 48 lapponicus alascensis............. 486
Bonasa...... OPDACUB I Favs inves ucgaritre:chesayatead isa eriuaane 489
umbellus.... ictus. .
umbellus sabini..... 0... cee 223 Calidris,
umbellus togata............2-065 220 arenaria
umbellus umbelloides,............ 222 California Brown Pelican............ 73
BOtaaDUsersorcsercararscteeins ashunles acevicass 136 Bluebird.
Tentigitiosusss:sis-9:d.00 is esvacescd genie 136 Creeper nes, sdcvta ested mda tancenyt
BrachyramM pus, vcies co ccaswwsa wes 20 TOW.
DLeVITOSETIS sca crm aware ero ws emu 21 Cuchk 008 xisiciivc-simaaenewnid simeciecs
TAAL MOTAbUBiie iis ce cceie ee warns eas Guillemot
Brandt Cormorant..............505 Ws ereisnac a ascend veneoatanian s\iorancHesomerenst
Bat, eleva ia sak eee vane dep vnctan ge staccrei re hms Partridge
aise evan sae hatiagen BERLE RANA ap ties Pigmy Owl..
White-bellied i svcusun cave ns stated degra: inin Purple Finohs,q cceccseneeeasnnsiawes
BraDtSecus casas ew2ss Seow srem sae ne SHTIUKE) ces a ptetaraie eraveterssan merce ti ele alee
bemiclessccvs peace os eeOaaes wns Viultureigsces inane ctnanca wean acne
bernicla glaucogastra. POW eve ciinwrae asda ses
canadensis........... Calliope Hummingbird...
canadensis a naa Camptolaimus..........
canadensis minima............... labradorniusis visas piney eencwnaee
canadensis positleritnlis Canachites.....
WSUGOD BIS cst esiinic weds wesspt ees els canadensis
DIZ TICADB 0:0. 0100 ae ocurred e dete ORE canadensis canace................
Brewer Blackbird.............--..5 canadensis osgoodi..............-
Sparrow............. PARE MIMIL sy. cot -cosoeieossneanrsnwrarens tle eke
Bristle-thighed Curlew een GOO SC a siecsnysaucssuavadstaina nou itseane
British Sa ipsoed Owl siieass eis SOON N68 BY as cars ace sicdane csnapniai seseisiunaanienasenahe
Broad-winged Hawk............... 259 elas Ruffed Grouse
Bronzed Grackle... Fes sascha SGA cus ieaseilene 443 Spruce Grouse..............20005
Brown Creeper...........000ee eens 708 BT DOD asielas descr secewisdetevattveptnccauaehagdcs
Peli cattis ic: 5eosctecicase anatien carreras axes seas 72 Canvas-back Duck...............-.
"Thrashers siscsaai. si veacaoesactain ee ele 694 Cape May Warbler.................
Brdmnich Murre..........00.00 2005 25 Caprimulgide.... 0.2.0... cee eae
Bubo,, os. cece ce ee a tee eee ee 302 Caracara, Audubon.................
virginianus,............02-+0.05+ 302 Card nal inaio naauievacueteayveniinaduanytes
virginianus arcticus.............. 307 Cardinalis..
virginianus saturatus...........-. 307 cardinalis..
virginianus subarcticus........... 304 Carduelis. .
BubODIAE, wco,c cs 0smn srsreiareav sera mans 288 elegans
Bud yteSije ws wivrecaanryeean seas wats 683 Carolina Raila... cise ioctdowca ses aneuescn a
flavus alascensis...........-..... 683 Wirenaiivad savsniastsrneyaes versa mnecsa
Buff-breasted Sandpiper............ 195 Carpodacus....-.... eee e eee neers
Buflle-heads: sesyaciswe cee syemyavers cieinees 101 cassini........
Buffon, Skuascss05 covaas ein egorws 32 purpureus.
Bullfinch, Cassin............-00e eee 453 purpureus californicus. .
Bullock Oriole.........00002+-0eeee 437 CASALCA: sine tse eos ciaearna cow ever
Bulweria.....¢c: 038 enracs waraoew as CASALCA,. sein sini aaiawiere emaaeatt aig
bulweri........c2aieaseneaes ane 64 Caspian: Tertisicrs cic cicaguicawacnes care
Bulwer Petrel........6...+-00e0ee) 64 Cassin Auklet... ciccrvcccnn eee nes
Bunting, Indigo............-.-+005 561 MCD: as anicess! games pth ary eeaaede ne cous
563 Purple Finehiic cee. iaecensaees
VErEQ. cece eee eee ee ents
Burgomaster. 35 Cat bird guests cisincia map me norms Aane
Burrowing Owl coe Aaa gE 317 Catharista
Bush-tit, Puget Sound,............- 726 UrUbUes-eneewirea laa aazaceeis
SBSUt GO isccipnevintscesun ot isers vaveanegnd teadeotel ey so OO 251 Cathartes
@ ree Iss ee iciceris evs sheared eadtaennne eh aaees 251 OUPA sscda aire oc sates SUE hot SESS AS
borealis calurus..-...---+s+eseeee 253 Cathartide.

iv

INDEX.
PAGE,
Cedar Waking ss siccccnvenag ex tanner 589 SUGURHS us ios t tsaska ee yceeea<
Centrocercus........ 60sec eee eens 233 langula............+.

Ceophleeus..

pileatus abieticola............-++- 341
Cepphusarcia.s asain dy csinaiie cece oes 21
COLUDMD Ais ais eva deans 4 A Hy isdeucieua svoreonsspane 23
TVS esek co times Geile a Pa aT © 21
MANAG. sc eevee a eww sce e Fcc a 23
Cerorhineaisss csciiiic crates a seman 17
monocerata....... ec e eee eee eee 17
Cert ie soicie sss snes 2 diag ona sree costae 708
familiaris americana.............. 708

familiaris montana...

dominicus fulvus..........-...... 205
CharitOnett ay. i. siis ee cueg eo Hives tse 101
AIDC o,f 5n ise oe Sessiotese ioe ahs etied a ada 101
Chat, Long-tailed................4- 672
Yellow-breasted..............05+ 671
Chaulelasmus.............. 02000008
BULCDOLUB i ia cicisiess is cuseaations a evureta sn <)h
OTs seaxeca-ayaren syst bance @ aug aera ate
ceerulescens.
hyperborea..
hyperborea nivalis.............45 121
POS a2 veers 5 ely y cs caeats Gd aS 122
Cherry Birdcicis cc iviinn eg aees ae 589
Chestaut-paaked Chickadee! 2211111! 725
Chestnut-collared Longspur......... 489
Chestnut-sided’ Warbler............ 640
PEO Bhi via ace san hme iee ® teed 716
Aeadian...
Alas
Chestnae backed
Column blatiag sic scene a eee nw es 7
udsonian.
Long-tailed sia: escdsscsis aa snessiara g weenie 718
Mountain aise s:ce cee ss csicie a wasnt 720
Oregon.. 719
Vukotian ssoisis og 083 719
Chicken,’ Mothe Carey 65
Chimney Swift... 358
Chipping Sparro 522
Chondestes.. 508
grammacus, 508
grammacus s' 509
Chordeiles,........... 354
virginianue.... 354
Seeapas henr 357
ginianus sennett 357
Chuek-Wills-Widow 352
Cinclide......... 689
Cinclus........... 689
_Mexicanus unicolor.. 689
Cinnamon Solitary Sandpipe: 191
1 LOR Les eich cig taser cca a: Sooderitens 87
GCACUB seies.ccapseso/eieranes o duarave . 242
hudsonius........0....eeeeeee eee 242
Cistothorus........... 00. c cece eee 705

clangula americana
islandica...........-

Clarke Nutcraker...........-...005
Clay-coloured Sparrow.............. 526
Cliff Swallowis 15.2 sseursieis ec scaineneis a 08 568
COCOY ReBsexi c00-2 cos iened Fore ec5e ss yt 319
Coccyzus..... 6... eee eee cence eens 319

americaDus......--.. 0... e eee eee 319

americanus occidentalis,.......... 320

erythrophthalmus,............... 320
Colaptes

Columb:
Col ambian Chickadee...

Sharp-tailed Grouse. .
Columbide.
Colymbus.
auritus.
holbcellii 2
nigricollis oplitormiens. eyelets eis ye towed 6
Common Guillemot...............55 24
Skua
Tern
Compsothlypis
aMericana usnee........--+---+-+ 622
Connecticut Warbler............+4 664
Cooper Hawk.......-2..0:ese ce euee 247
Coot, American...........00e ee eeee 156
European Lah iemeeibuls va ta ae sibiane ie Retoteihys. 155
‘SOA va-« saqnauscrcrs qeiins © ate Sbatereces 117
(CO0tBsacwes 28 cearnaas elaystis eg ee 149
Cormorant, Brandt..............005 69
Double-crested.............00 ee 68
PelagiCs cian te Sed pee ae hese A 69
Red-faced......... 0. cece eee cease 70
Single-crested........... gage 68
Violet-green..........-.- 70
White-crested........... 69
Cormorants........-..-4++ 67
Corn Crake...........+.04. 154
COrvid Ge ace isa ies: sic ix eres 401
COLVUB Ys .cciee.6. 5 ae mieuhs ae 414
brachyrhynchus......... 417
brachyrhynchus hesperis.. «+. 420
CAUTINUS 00 353.5- coewes a cas vee 421
corax principalis,................ 414
Cory Least Bittern..............+-- 138
Coturniculus. ............e eee eeee 503
savannarum bimaculatus.......... 503
savannarum passerinus........... 503
COW DIT Cisse’. s.cse choos: argscnsngiara a nie ares esa 425
Crake, Coptics cies 5 denaiee sccmeiee 3 i 154
Spottedscnicaa wy swine a's span eacones o's 151
Crane, | Little Browiless.i34.¢ ose G9 © 146
Hil’ ess ba ewes ba aint & 88 146
Sandhill. seis Sy diapsy cases atanepamnrardsniane 147
WAGON ee cccnuen yes nen ae nee 145
DIAG tie ca mansind Sani s Av pean aa Rey
Creeper, Brown..
Rocky Mountain................. 710
Tawny
Creepers
Grestad Auklet
yeatcher
Crex.
erex,.

PAGE,
White-winged. 460
Crow, American, 417
California...... 420
Northwest.............00065 421
Crowsvos « ssmse cecaila oeayinna one Bs 401
Crymophilus) o4 ¢ ssacs caves anova as 157
c Sarees REGS PEGA LEU ATS Be
FYDCORAUX ss sais 6 Sees ewe gaan
ACACICAR c0% 4a gree | Gs EHTS 298
acadica scotaea,........... ceca ee 300
tengmalmi richardsoni............ 297
Cuckoo, Black-billed............+.. 320
California,
Kamchatkan
Yellow-billed,
Cuckoos.
Cuculide..
Cuiculuasy ii:s icity 2 tustiens.¢ 3. pases etalon
canorus telephonus............+.+ 323
Cuneate-tailed Gull............0000- 49
Curlew, Bristle-thighed............. 201
HOSKIN OG sia Se 03-6 sian ids sane os WER 200
Hudsonianes 3.260 s cyan wens 199
Long-billed.. 0.0.0.0... 00sec eens 198
Sandpiper... os. s cnc e cannes devas 179
Cyanocephalusy ise cicicg er cae mimes eas 423
eyanocephalus...........00e seen 423,
Cyanovittar. crxs ss eess si pans a9 rene 404
CVIStAtA sie sous cc eas Lead wade 404
Stellérices b25.5 5 ote Ge hae ge See 406
stelleri annectens.............605 406
stelleri carlotte.........0....00005 407
CYANOSDIZE ices 5 a sncsie we: Beuiade tn DES 561
BMNOEDG oo icie: yi avloess. ewig db Meee ae 562
CY BNE vies aeseiasa re syaac apse dyetidig S DORE 561
Cyanosylvia..... 6. eee eee 755
BUCCI A ies Oe pevses io x sua veverd: soanantioe Aa 755
Cyclorrhynchus,............-.++005 18
psittaculus............0 cee ee eee 18
Cypseloides............e cece ee eeee 358
niger boresliges..s ics: s cawee es one 358
Dt eee er 7
Dafila. . . 89
BCUGB So osis actors ea aneaiand a aie Sa dict 89
Dakota Song Sparrow.........--+++ 541
Dark-bodied Shearwater...........+ 63
Dendragapus.............000 eee
ODSCULUSL ss. ecisrsigs-a yyig earaaa ea sae
obscurus fuliginosus.............-
obscurus richardsonii.
Dendrocygna.
fulva.......
Dendroica, ss; 2523 = evant y tees 623

sestiva rubiginosa...........+++05
auduboni auduboni.
blackburnie.... . tena ee esse eens

maculosa.
nigrescens,
occidentalis.

Desert Horned Lark.
arrow Hawk. .
Dickcissel

Deen Pree eat terre eee
Diver, Great Northern..............
Diving Birds, 0.5.50 35: os eyenereiers # says
Dolichonyx. .
oryzivorus. .
Dotterel..
Double-crested Cormorant.......... 68
Dove, Mourning................-4. 237
Dovekles.a..ienen nceeeenn rarer oc iiha 2:

Long-billediiics cis sccice eo sien ae ees
Downy Woodpecker...............5
Dryobates «i 600 x v3 seb «aes onset 324

pubescens gairdneri.

pubescens homorous.

pubescens medianus..............
pubescens nelsoni................
VillOSUBs. s¢ 5 dsee59 < oisieie « warns 4 gts 324
villosus harrisii.....-.....-...005 327
villosus hyloscopus..........-..05 328
villosus leucomelas............+05 325
villosus picoideus.............+-. 328
Duck, coaeryliion Scaupinr.é 3 ena soa 94
Canvas-back
PO Van shania da ctr ocaes 2 ae
Harlequin.
awk.....
Labrador.
Lesser Scaup.......-. 0.00. e eee 96
ten GAMO 5 s2.cc0s esi ssitive Ra sviesene:® sroaauy 102
stoyb: ble. wansheneclivan) enedaeaa acc oc ntebaeiena eau 106
Reliegeed Baek sieves: trac tnessins dm seen 81
Ring-necked..............0.0.05- 9
UGA YL se. sales @ scausnthsseuegenepsnd x oehaute 118
SPIT sein naiestine ninmcsheaeiunsas seaye 101
Stelletiw ses fused wrciasois ewideneurn oes 107
Wood sors 6 sis tee wee niowitees iasaueye ted execs 90
DU eS este aety 2-2 stipe in aussie le Oh Sicatevaiie pce 73
NPs: 2,90 os chews deuacenaye ord oAieken oe Sais 177
Dusky Grouse..........-.0 00s ee eee 216
Horned Lark.............00-020- 401
Horned Owl..............005 307, 309
Dwarf Hermit Thrush.............. 748
HAGUE; Bald ieccscaga-csimesds aawias Saas
Golden sis: sges.cssaia i: serscthe- 2 eee Rane uonciaans
Gray Seas x. eiscsc easiest acer
A BlOR: sisie s- dcseicleiesn seared anes «aN
Beto pistes ss is sissies, ia atine ceeras wale
migratorius
Egret, American.................05 141
PT OGU occ a. essere eat aigeies ese Bag lonene: aceaens 142
eandidissima..............0ee eee 142
Eider, American,.................4 109
Greenland .icji566 5 osteo oes nee Pont
IDB ies .o.4 Gis @ FatR SORE. Bw
Northernias «cess » saan « sagests oes
PA ClhiGs waiver sicarsn 9 sealers wa sus see" se scens
Spectacled. .
Hlanoidesa: s swaaaayapas so etiam
forficatus..s csssi eiwdi sy ca aes ves
Emperor Goose.............-020005 181
Empidonaxs: ¢ sca: ses aes accent tac 381
difficilis difficilis................. 382
flaviventris,.......-.--.00e-eseee 381
hammondins< 26:3 cones doseage ee 389
MiniMUSs: « osiss ss fees 4 ASS ee 386

trailli alnorum eeSjceaene 384

383
390
179
181
ee 179
cogcigaehoceeeie aes 118
dhsy SgessedT dad'es aug as > Sreticegs 118
clavde Rey pac tunes oases 179
fOrrugiMeayise ic ss 8 vas ee eee 179
Eskimo Curlew............2-.5-065 200
Budromias. cis... sas asa neercse neds 202
TNO TIDE MAS 55 1a469y'sce24.ins essctinns occas 202
Bupha gusiiec. ic itscew scsgasecote en cusnergesiens 438
CATOLNUB ys cos oi cores ae siete wise dja atas 438
cyanocephalus,...............-08 441
European Blue Heron,............- 141
(COObh cccensterocis het eG ORGS 155
TAD Hig oi05 co: sce Sots saves ek spstaeve Pehreaeouet 466
Oyster-catcher............-...008 214
TAT ie oya i fa iy posi se aoa OL ans evens apeontaso- 163
Teale capicci ona tre aie ti evvs & a nated 85
Wid eeon ss vise cduia dees eaveles ict We 83
Woodeoek isis cia scnasec a acca ee 162
Enrynorhynohue. eri aks Gla BAU anc sh dea Hone 179
PYMMBUS.. 0... eee eee eee eee 179
Evening Grosbeak Oe YP yee as 445
Evermann Ptarmigan.............. 228
BAL COs 6055628 SOEs EBS DA SOLA SHS 271
columbarius,..........000-eeeaee 279
columbarius suckleyi............- 282
Ho) ATIGUIB 2 sso dtrsie eo. anceuensni acstavaiere.d aha 271
MOU. oie yes anne. poueing ove e 283
MCKICADUG: 5442 heave es ees Ri RK 276
peregrinus ATAU UTD isa 95 5 a oc eras ane 277
peregrinus pealei................. 279
WICHATASODL csi cis: ore wd a x ener es 282
TUsticoluss:sj. 32-06 secesig sete Ha 273
rusticolus gyrfalco............... 273
rusticolus obsoletus.............- 275
sparverius ache ne earapat eta Sy 284
sparverius plalena............... 285
tinnunculus
Faleon, Peale sss i:te:c eis steisrena(oassaveseed Shea 279
Prairie......
Falconide,
BiB) CONS, sca.ccsoes iva: 5 son suaveiee-p yamiee ace WO
Ferruginous Rough-legged Hawk.... 263
Field Sparrow.............00-0 cee 528
Finch, Acadian Sharp-tailed......... 507
California Purples ies osc cerca eeacie 455
Cassin, Purples. isicaoiig sacnapiie's oo 456
PUPDIE. sisi hig ssydsie Ss emus se rama 453
PiDChes. «oy sisnes. 6 igen dav aiseues d aes 445
Fisher Petrel....0 2.20... 222 2.202 64
Flicker, Hybr: 351

Northern...
Northwestern.
Red-shafted

Flycatcher, ‘Alde
Crested.......
Green-crested.
| set Sameer aie

PAGE,
Forbush Sparrow............-..005 545
Fork-tailed Gull 49
Petrel....... 65
Forster Tern. 52
Fox Sparrow............. .. 547
Franklin Grouse............020ee08 219
Rosy Gul 47
Fratercula

£3 (ca

pai ere eee ee
rin, 2.
Fulica.

Rodger

Fulvous Tree-duck..

GADWELD aes 2 3 pest be toate ee Sees 82
Gairdner Woodpecker.............+ 330
Galeoscoptes......---660ee eee eeeee 692

caroliensis.......... 0000s ee eee 692
Gallinaceous Birds............-.005 215
Gallinw ois siiisis ca see vad Oe Es o-banee 215
Gallina gos 6 & iicaaeis en bland an ena 163

eli Cat Ba sca toner oe) torsiap ine ae Dera 163

gallinago

MAJOM ss « 6 paces. paw sluia wypee nies
Calne.
cdma Florida

Burple sie sgnatardcsca esr aiagh i SSG SS
Gallinules.

Gambel Sparrow.........--..2-0005 512
Gann tiie. cisions ewe Pe 2 wie bles 67
GaMnetss:. iio sciee etnies wees sae 67
Gav itis cae iiceawis naar smwe s BaKerers oye 9

adamsi 11

arcticus, 12

imber. 9

lumme. 13

pacificus. 13
GAVE 2 nets so Ssitavienade Sen SS 9
GOES Cotes oie! epcnedhd Bae Gules ea geetengalee Eee 73
Gelochelidon...............-000005 51

OUIEA es Wocintnad awnings dnseciok nave 51
Geothly la sieiccci eee ciécoiscace aa maiinend ae wie 668,

trichas arizela..................- 670

trichas brachidactyla............. 668,
Glauci Gaeta sss o-ccje-slseie saninans ae 4% 318

PMOM Bites sree ccayaesih 2 datas Gels 318

gnoma californicum.............- 318
Glaucous Gull..............2-.-008 35
Glaucous-winged Gull.............. 38
SEY TO ici angaeds toenees x -. 185
Gnatecatcher, Blue-grey...........- 732
Goatsuckers.......0..-.00 cece eee 352
Godwit, Black-tailed............... 185

MGSONIA MS 6525's isos scars ar gierartoarn tg 3/8 184
Bares aera actatsunets mcm eita aeeurg wee 183

na erpue ala Hngdheiaik oa AGIA we a ae 184

@uae Bape ain hb aS ARE gar Ga a a 265

POV hices.0s s acide) ah BaenR oo6 BF 203
Golden-crowned Kinglet............ 727

Sparrow.

MAF UIBD « eyeiseays cpa secayer ein seen

INDEX. Vil

PAGE. PAGE,

Golden-eye, American.............. 98 Canadian Spruce...............008 219
Barrow ire 6 004 5.6 65H ORE Rk 100 Columbian Sharp-tailed.,......... 232
Golden-winged Warbler............. 612 Dus lipisrctes-eieas a vaca a manestints ate 216
Golden Pileolated warbler.......... 676 Franklin....... sito Sin cmt eat 219
Goldfinch sia. sscce-s 3. semi tA Hiasie senes 474 Gray Ruffed........2¢cceseeeeees 222
PO OCI 68 5 Rw wetied emia 474 Hudsonian Spruce.......... saves 213

BIC... e cece e cere teen nena eee 476 Northern Sharp-tailed............ 230

Willow... 6.0... cece eee eee 477 Oregon Ruffed............2.00005 223
Goosander...... 5.00. cee esse eee 73 Pinnated scniijersceyaaeacten eras 229
Goose, American White-fronted...... 123 Prairie Sharp-tailed Sie aue Heelys Rawats 232

PEED AGIOS isi serie discon ca wi ansiaidedern asin 131 Ric pardeon, eraser cats isu FoMtactste ei 217

ROAM cis as sessartessalsaten gars jasc neaaode aes teal Ruffed..

Bete ag te Rete ean Hee nee ih NST Aa Hanes on aved ey

CICILY Bia: asic. es poe ee ai we salle ae eo oem ooty
Canada, Gruide
Emperor,..... GIus: cans ce apaas Hien boom Sere
Greater Snow, id Rsmiedketriges dey aus eant oe eae 121 americana,

PAU CBN a esescaces 5-4 sie-catees eaten eea y HET 127 canadensis

Laughing. . i 123 mexic:

Lesser Sno’ 119 Guillemot, Black.

Ross Snow 122 CBFO PNB sy. sescetiigah tc tha rece sends 24

‘Solan... 67 OMIM OM. 6275 t6-p sassieBiyn abet auiaeesrac’ 24

White-cheeke: 128 Horned-billed.......,........4.. 17

White-fronted. .. 123 andt.. 23
Goshawk, Amigricm 248 Pigeon. 23

Western...... 250 Thick-bi 25
Grackle, Bronzed. . 443 Western. 23
Grasshopper Sparrow.. ah avs Seen 503 Western T) 26
Gray-backwuss.2 cxeng ee exas one wees 168 Guiraca............. 560
Gray Canada Jay.................. 413 cerulea, 560

Gyrialconecsn: < s2ce03 2 ceed a ceees % 273 Gull, Bonaparte. . 48

Kang bird sc cees sarin oho hee 8 e300 4 271 California,............... ~. 44

PUGET, GOOUGE 2g es amir win HHH 222 Cuneate-tailed,.................. 49

WER TUARIES cio ic ostcdurih gaannine 4 usage DOR 268 Fork-tailed...............-02.005 49
Gray-crowned Leucosticte........... 465 Franklin Rosy............+...005 47
Grab Ais ccs re: suchass ie ereearete ing Serbo 28 Gl ame OUSeesscisieidsdees doresuetlivded athe vaes 35

Black-backed Gull..............+ 40 Glaucous-winged................. 38

Ble! HOLTON sce: ciccssens Ginn. ovese aia Great Black-backed.............. 40

Gra VOW beeen cedibaacneetil accsenneaians 295 eermannis wisi icacdais ceews eave es 46

Horned Owl Herring. sjavei-ssnchate sears comets 4l

Northern Diver Icelan: 38
Greater Redpoll................005 473 Ivory. 33

Shearwater............0.0ee eens 62 Kittiwake, 34

SNIPC ss nisi cise ad haere a a eae ed 165 Kumlien. 39

Snow Goose........-.0.00 0c eee 121 aa 46

Vellowslogs.vvcicvsis is ease ws warns as 185 RatG les ie.cpascaanexnnrs wn aroaaes- xtveecegon apa 49
Grebe, ‘American Earedas scsi cowaes 6 Mew... 46

(3) |cfo2) | ERE eee ene one 2 Nelson. 40

OTM Osi iscs s: heevsrare ears ng tre Pesta 4 Point Barrow Glaucous. 36
Bled = billed e science ierarayn sige vbciateras “a Ring-bille 44
Red-necked..........0:00eeee ees 2 OBB: cease wis: atecoutiia araraistee stafeung lecten 49
Western si s.2 sands ncaun casing a « 1 e 49

Grebesns ciaer ocr csa nermeaentaasr ad 1 Short-billed 45
Green-crested Hhreatehien 383, Siberian... .. Al
Green Heron.. 143 Slat y-backed 41

Sandpiper 192 ega... 43
Greenland Eide: 108 Western... 41

Redpoll.. 467 Western Glaucous. 36

Wheatear.. 756 White-headed.... 46
Green-winged Teal 85 White-winged 38
Grey Duck....... 82 Gull-billed Tern 51
Grey-heekd Thrus 737 Gulls......... 33
Grey-headed Auk...........-.-.005 20 Gymnogyps...........-..6- .. 239
Grinnell Water Thrush..........--- 661 califormianus.................00, 239
Grosbeak, Alaskan Pine..........-.. 450 Gy rfaleOns ciasis.c Sith edeartiodis Paidisioae ves 273

Black-headed MBL ON sist sac haath sens slocSatsalvsiy igten 275

TUG pisveeince evetes ace ieseiatsyg nib auentig ee QTY a satirecie iene sat sib vathg seeaa ade ean 273
BEVeMAN Go ease sue autvereuerere ake tenors Shan SWE 1b Gees asee-t:dse aatece see sevens Se pauiniairaies 271
Kadiak Pine....

ADO i asesoiat es caey a avid Guava lolsbavestieve.caiean RBIA s asis Ses gs pele acd dioce nuded Readavereeiaa 557
Rocky Mountain Pine............ 450 ludoviciana..............0 ee eee 557
Rose-breasted......... Reeieutereayneus 557 melanocephala,.............+...5 560
Western Evening R sdee avnitumavesa tol ienaye 447 Hematopodid@.................0048 214

GQrOUBG ii isso suicciia srccssa are seetinae ed eee 215 Hematopus.
Alaska Spruce..........6.000 0405 218 bachMmani,................
Canadian Ruffed.............0005 220 ostralegus.

49

palliatus.......
Hairy Woodpecke’
Halizetus.

us alascanus,
Flycatcher

Rough- Saori
ne pois
Swainso

Mell-diver.n scsi. ci eeese seqeas

Helminthophila...
celata celata..,.
celata lutescens,.............0005 617
chrysoptera
PCTEZTINA... 1... ccs ee eee eee eee
rubricapilla gutturalis............ 614
rubricapilla rubricapilla,.......... 612

Hlelodrom aye cise eae wees date marek oe Cees 188
ochropus...
solitarius...

Henslow Sparrow...........ee ee eee 503
Hepburn Leucosticte.............05 466
Hermit Thrush

Warblers cssie sevens inci echoes

egretta..........5
TE TO dION OSs e'5 is peso essginte ss cassava
Heron, Black-crowned Night........ 144
European Blue ie state: escort ae eacareteve 141
Great: Blues 0 sicieieisid wis wise 6 ereverete 5 139
Green

Snow:

Follow-orowaed Nigh tyiesis <2 iszapons 144
MHSLONS #553. 25 Sigre ies oramunlew gated 135, 136
Herring Gull... 20.2 caecs<o saaiens 41
Hesperiphona...............00000 445

WESDCTEME so ianra ener ss ieenK ss 445

vespertina Montana.............. 447
Heteractitis.................20000- 193

incanus.. . 193
Hirundinide 566
Hirundo...... 571

erythrogaste 571

crysis saleeohnes
Histrionicus. .

histrionicus. 105
Hoary Redpoll 467
Holbell Grebe. 2

WRed polls «a iauors 2 ¥en csilsneuateng ces . 472

Warbler.....
Hoover Warbler
Horned Grebe

Lark. 391
Owls. 288
Puffin....... 16
Horned-billed G 17
House Sparrow. 456
Wrepiiseas vanes 698
Hoyt Horned Lark. 401
Hudsonian Chickad 721
199

184

218

365

363

Calliope...... . 365
Ruby-throated...... -» 361
RRUPOUS se fe sie se & cites 8 6 ae feretaionw ahs 364
Hummingbirds. ss. <erseesavcxaurae 361
Hutchin Goose.........-.00eeeeeee 127
Hybrid Flicker.............--0000e 351
Hydrochelidon......... Bless Be hieioee 58
leucoptera... 2... cece e eee eens 59
nigra surinamensis..........-2.-5 58
Hiylocichla. . vicici ic vcciecne ats aie nae 734
alicia alicia... 0.2... e eee eee 737
alicie bicknelli,....... o fav tose wrshe x ane 739
fuscescens fuscescens............+ 735
fuscescens salicicola............- . 736
guttata auduboni................ 745

guttata guttata,
guttata nana...
guttata pallasi.
guttata sequoiensis.

mustelina.........

ustulata swainsoni..

ustulata ustulata...............+-

TBIDID Wiese 5 ops tai aise adasaeis is wie wees
Ibis, Glossy.

White faced GLOSSY. vies 3.6 2 acdc sede 136
TDISOS s,s s.os-aFs05 oc tgmiie ceo eee aee's a4
Iceland Gull..

Ueteria. cave specie ea xeealsend fone
virens longicauda

virens Virens...........-.0.00005 671
Icteride
Icterus.

bullocki.

galbula.

spurius.

Indigo Bun 561
Ionornis.... 154

martinica... 154
Ipswich Sparro 496
Iridoprocne. 575

bicolor. . 575

thalassina le 579
Ivory G 33
Ixoreus.... 793

TOV ose d Sea Sere KEENE HS 793

VACK-SNIPE i0sic0 0 ciionsee bakinnite a Rae 172
Jaeger, Long-tailed................- 3
‘arasitic.......-.0. Bade 2: evetesnapenae 31

POMARINGs fhi4.5sGeckeaestaeuiye 30
Jaegers........... asarabars sever vienpaee ines 29
Jay, Alaskan... .... ccc cee cece ene 410

piel headed........... eiseeisi ame e gs 406

Danas aN sa td Coc Ween oe Sa at acaceavtaetae saa ak 404

neces Re ia. hs tapes Hee oo Wateetgete a 3 aes 407

Gray Canadacciies sis es cauinevedees 413

Debrader.. <> ceases eA eeiewies 2 24 412

Qube Charlotte
Rocky Mountain.

Os
oregonus sbufeldti.. .

Kaprax Fox SParRroW.iwi ss s.¢is-0-5 551
Permit THis. s.indaes tnea cee 744
TLOUGOBUICESS. csscjeie Siecsies ee ‘edanees aban 465
Pine Grosbeak................005
Song Sparrow... 2... sec ee aes

Hernahatken Cuckoo..
Kenai Song Sparrow

White-tailed Ptarmigan........... 229
Kennicott Screech Owl............. 301
Kentucky Warbler................- 663
WORE) os ccss os tascoarscanins ata, # antandtanns Gea 284
Killdeer Plover...............0e00e 205
King Riders sisciccc « sissia gna sictriaens oon 111

LI sic tags a 0 atacand arb ASD Gare gem We 149
Ring bird oysisa-tarsvoaca seein, corte © ces 367

Eraaneee: = ptaiheiera etinve is Hatiaieg Caterers
Kingfisher, Belted
Kingfishers..

Kinglet, Golden-crowned.. 23 6e oar

Ruby-crowned.................0.

Sitka Ruby-crowned..
Western Golden-crowned.

Kingletesss: sai eens ao aeWisa-S cent
Kirtland Warbler..................
Kite, Swallow-tailed................
Kittiwake Gull..............-..005
PO CUIC oo: asosiess scan teed ri aeesend 9 obs eave
Red-legged............... 000 eee
Kittlitz eres daanevvd bynes
WR NOG saris -wictnaraye wei rentivese, dysusiele dante a
rider awh iscce: seas isne go suncana toe aleite' 252
Mumlion Gulliy cst tens scanners imesa' 39
LABRADOR DUCK eas cies be scenic s tears
Horned Owlisesscwa as seaee caeacs
Vesta snows scents wins s vous
Savanna Sparrow
DB QO DUB cc oid ses 0 sheeans e siesta s ations. 223
OVEPMANDL ie ie cscs ew etal eee 228
TR QODUSse weceusse 5 degcte wa tRvenis ie 9 adeses 12 223
lagopus alleni..................0+ 225
CUCUTUS; sass vies eae boas s 228
leucurus peninsularis............. 229
TUDCSEPS sects 4. diss @ esas & Stes « 225
rupestris atkhensis............... 227
rupestris nelsoni.........--.-.005 227
rupestris reinhardi............... 226
rupestris townsendi.............. 227
gee rlenahaustuee fay age ustarensaapeas eacuushegns 228
73
592
592
592
ludovicianus excubitoride: 597
ludovicianus gambeli ‘ 598,

or oa migran
Lanivireo. .
flavifrons...

49%

1x

PAGE,

solitarius cassiNi............060005 607

solitarius solitarius. .
Lapland Longspur.......

perp 0 OWlsas + cemne nd nate @ Beas BS

Oride........
Lark Bunting..........0.0se00e8
Desert Horned..
Dusky Horned..
Orne” seus ss citicey sid stcasa phy io seus seyagal ake 3

Ober entcer Horned.

Pallid Horned............00seee
Prairie Horned.............-0 005
SDAEPOWA sis: nacden a sueaana d suntunca kate’
Streaked Horned...............5
estern Meadow........-.--.++:
Larks...... hassalarenc ae ck Ghat aa avs Seer de Teale
Taruiss.cissas 2 siartis 2 separa g ar oer s cave ae
IB i acai sides: av ven a hs Oise ca a
argentatus...... 26 cee eee ee eens
BUTIC Bins ace esate iso sstcene we Gestion can
DaTrOVIANUBs:écis viscose wei we wacdiend
brachyrhynchus...............65
CalifOrmicus..... 60. ses ccs e eee eees
GADUSsi5 2 A ax saiew Heeab GS onde sts we ac anel
delawarensis........-....000es0ee
franklinlvswocisieie wageas ve wyts. $ Hears 47
glaucescens........ 00.0. e sence 38
PAUCUS ss 30 5.0.5'9 PIES Gs DoH 6 REE 35
i 46
39
38
40
MMINUCUS. 2.2) ec 4 Sees Shas A ates 49
DESONL aire. dis o Siege eS Ss FSR 40
occidentalis......-... 00.00 eee eee 41
philadelphia.............00..2005 48
schistisagus..........6.. 005 ee aee 4)
USF Dini gar nsxigua do depois Ba quayebe aah eransses 43
Laughing Goose............2.0-055 123
GHA yr oo sichese Suh vaauinustie eadoustlt ol buenigis 46
Lazuli Bunting.................04- 562
Leach Petrel........... 0c cee ee eee
Teast Auklet ocoss rears ae siecrh ie cunaie
Bittern......
Flycatcher.
Samad piperiicsciecsecassce sonatas 175
POr Mss xc ssc aun a3 57
Leconte Sparrow. 504
Lesser Scaup Duck...+..-....-.00 05 96
Snow Goose,..... 2. cece eevee eee 119
Yellow-legs.. 0065 semsiow x eee 186
Leucosticte, Aleutian............... 464
Gray-crowned........0. sce ceeeee 465
OPOULD 03:8 pained yes ao ee oe 466
Kadiak. ows 2 omnraaiguges APeRS Ss 465
Leucostictes: sss cness sean eerenias 464
TUCONUCD cia cai 4 SET A REE S OO 464
MOK Bs occ Shame e ReE A AES 465
tephrocotis....... 0.6.0... essen 465
tephrocotis littoralis.............. 466

INDEX.

Peg Grane cinerea caurina
cinerea insi,
cinerea juddi....
Long. Beir Curlew... 02:20 eeeeeee 198 cinerea capensis, re
Dowitcher.........-.++++ corre 166 cinerea melodia,............+505- 53)
Marah Wret.. .ccck cavers sn vaaces s 706 cinerea montana,
Longipennes..........-.0000eeeeees 29 cinerea Morphna.......+--2eeeee 540
Longspur, Alaskan,.........+...++- 486 cinerea rufina......... 2. eee eee eee
Chestnut-collared............2005 489 georgiana........
Tim COME a os:s, 5 c5sis eee step sien ws yonisoene aoe 543
lincolni striata..............00005 545
ith.. Merpansertsieit sisi aie ict eve av i esesaineiens « 73
Long-tailed Chativetcaccdad saden [a 672 AMETICANUS.......- ese eee eee eee 73
Chickadee, .4i 016s ksearann cae csss 718 serrator.........4 bativadbewucay pares 75
Dueck Gis siigisis sc ee wen einiGh SSaBN RR ee 102 Merganser...
JRO BOT Scie Ste sais ig 8 sea tesartie tape stand ere aC 32 American
Tigue Coed SUinG ss ioe suskieles @aceenie e's 177 Hooded wees senor. ostsios'e es samags
Long-winged Swimmers,...........- 29 Red-breasted
DOOR eii0 5 sceiciersy Bes ¥ Rea ho ee 9 Merlin, <iisi6i-¢ iets cae snes egeatan ed
Black-throated...........-eeeeee 12 Black.......
ECLELG siapaysi srs: bs patalow x Br enttersps (OB Snes 13 Richardson.
Red-throated...... 0.0.0.0 ce sere 13 Mew Gull.....
he A aupariies emeeiatabs ois a) Hauslioy ab ce Soa 11 Micropalama 3
Loons............ (eee een eee 9 himiantopus. snc. 6 screed ad eee nee 167
Lophodytes. . ere area ws 16 Micropodide............ cece eee eee 358
cuculiatus... asei tase conn xi esis areata ibeayeses 76 suerant Shrike yess sess ats oo caeasanes 595
Lophortyx..... 6c. eee cece eee neces 216 Mims. veecs gan s qanaen ws saates 691
CaRPOrMewe yen picye par ore cara a 216 Dolyalories polyglottos........... 691
Louisiana Tanager...............-. 564 Mniotilta...... 06... cece cece eee 608
Water-Thrush...........0.. sees 663 VATE aks ot siiawh b4) Aniinen os Aha ESS 608
LoXiaes ge auaen sje ag ar Ries e8 457 Mniotiltide.....-o022 s ssediad ose eee 608
curvirostra Minor.............44- 457 Mocking Bird........-.0 eee eee 691
leucoptera......-.. 6. eee eee eee 460 Molothrus..........-. 00+ eee eee eee 425
TAN ae sessed Beach se Magnani eGov ee’ 14 UOT Sc ieeete ue oh sueinuaniten’ cng baja leks Se sabe anya 425
CO big ol ok: ht: See eae nen meee te ee ee Pe 14 Mongolian PlOV ET Kis scene sonwynies 210
Lutescent Warbler............+.... 617 Motacillass, cc, sons steutoaid-ad canine 682
Bilt ee eee 682
MaAcrarRLaNge ScREECH OWL.......... 302 OCU TAB spasa a's ary ia a: « caeces savah aoc a. 682
Macrochires............000seeeeeee 352 Motacillidsee.. 1.1... 0. c eee eee eee 682
Macrorhamphus...............0005 166 Mother Carey Chicken.............- 65
BrISCUS.. oe eee eee eee eee eee 166 Mountain Bluebird..............+-. 760
scolopaceus...... 2... ee eee ee eee 166 Chickadee..cciaacivcisssvraaass 720
Magnolia Warbler................4 637 Plover......
Magpie, American.................. 401 Partridge
MARION. «oes oc c5e rig ee tame oH OK 401 Some SpParrOW ero simwai ee vewce be 540
Mallard. oo: scien co rains co emneians 73 Mourning Dove...........-..eeeees 237
Mandt Guillemot. ngage (23 "Wiatbler: «sincere cayAien bacesmmeens
Man-o’War Birds. 73 Mud-hen...
Manx Shearwater 63 Milian. <p ogress cudawaann cea acest
Marbled Godwit 183 Brunnich
Murrelet. Pallasisc wcaags eascaie ee 1 aiewee e's
Mareca. 83 Murrelet, Ancient.
americana, 84 Kittlitz Bd to-at tp See fo alae
penelope. . 83 Marbled... ooo ieee.
Marsh Harrier. 242 Mir TSB ine o-sceyarivos id Rag acoagale SAS HEADS
awk...... 242 MuyptivOrtne nas cae cen ad oe tow ees wn
Peri: 4 ssi 51 forficata
Martin, Purple. . 566 Myadestes.........000ceeeeeeeenee
McCown Longspur. 491 townsendi
McKay Sno ake 484 Myiarchus............
Meadow Lark. . CPUMIEUS ese soe a eve
Myiochanes

richardsoni...

Viretis..s.s6,6.8 ¢ 855 378
Myrtle Warbler...... 630
SIO 5 iol seo ate acd, dyer Et dwe ae des tsar tose 300 Nasuvitte WarBLER....... 612
asio kennicotti.. Nelson Downy Woodpecker 331
asio macfarlanei. . 40
M me Saturatus.......... 0.20.00 0 227
ClANEL POS Lis ise 5 esa sia- cw adyyaie Go dese wie 4:
erythrocephalus. . 343 Be
Meleagris........... 85
Hospi silvestris. 85
Melospiza...... ee al cs hra Sa auelehe 354
CINETEA. cece cee en eee enes 357

INDEX. x1
PAGE,
Westerns ice wsuscsieiagesediacadedvariene goa . 357
Northern Eider. . 108
Flicker 346
Hairy Woodpecker. 325
Parula Warbler... . 622 Vesper Sparro
Phalarope.. 158 Oreortyx.
oa Woodpecke 341 pictus... 215
(iaeessmaagine ss. 9) toon. fe 414 Oriole, Baltimore 435
Hedtbreasted Sapsucker 340 Bullock....... 437
Sharp-tailed Grouse 230 Orchard 434
hrikess si seen weave 592 Oriolesiss 2 sewers ncaa anaes - 423
Violet-green Swallo 579 Osprey, American.............05 .. 286
Yellow-throat....... 4 663 QvOCOTISys sere awieds s Piewe nee leel 390
Nowhwest Coast Heron.,... ». L41 A\PSSthiss sew c werd e teens 8 aeSs & 391
CROW ige% scx: erg’, Creu Mente 421 alpestris arcticola......--...+++0+ 393
Sawewhet Owls sxeesesiins garters 300 alpestris enthymia.............4+ 395
Northwestern Flicker............... 350 alpestris hoyti............0-++00 401
Redwing ccs overs se awe yeas 431 alpestris leucolama.............+. 399
Nucifragar.: sccexsavace + dena ee cen 422 alpestris merrilli.............0+-- 401
columbiana..............e se eeee 422 alpestris praticola................ 396
Numenius....... 00: e eee ese eneeeee 198 alpestris strigata.............+005 400
borealis: ose: o yace5 3 eae a aes 200 Oven Bind so cone scale. gyete sesamiae ecarses 656
hhudsonicus..... 0.6... c scence aee 199 Owl, American Barn............60 288
TON BITOStLIS, 2). 86 8 eG ec aaeteeus 2 hE 198 Alaskan Horned................% 309
pheopus,.. . American Hawk.............++-+ 313
tahitiensis. American Long-eared............. 288
Nutcracker, Clarke.. Arctic Horned..............5 307, 309
Nuthatch, Pygmy... Barred ce. it.o ve slp eines ah aibnierioverticbanectias 293
Red-breasted.........6-00 eee enee British Columbia Horned......... 309
Rocky Mountain. Burrowin Gig. 6 ic2b0 etaemeen mene aes
Slender-billed.............00-e4e 712 California Pigmy..
hite-breasted.........0.0.00006 711 Dusky Horned.....
Niuthatehess was dacced 6 canes wisiswerrnyes 711 Great Gray..... 0. cece eee ee eee
Nuttall Sparrow...........0000 cease 514 Great Horned...............
Nuttallornisi. s.cacic sine vee ees 376 LAW Rios gowns oRiortaus ae wee eam Be
DO PEAS asics cig whines Head ea ORB. Kennicott Screech
Ny cteaiss cciccs gacaiie tevin ve amie es Lab pedier HO rmed visi casine cece es
mycted...... eee eee eee eee eee eee BIO | Lapp..............
Nycticorax. Macfarlane Screech.
nycticorax N&VIUS.........6.6- 66 144 Northwest Saw-whet
VIOLACCUB ss eccsiee a we see wie RANS we 144 Pig M vision cents ons emilee ee name
Puget Sound Sereech............. 302
OBERHOLSER HorNeED LaRK.......... 395 Richardsonss cisis se eaes cosers see 297
Oveaniteds .o2 oiene e eegies wretiowcaw Saw-whet..
oceanicus..... Screechivs sce44 vv nnts eneews & esa
Oceanodroma, Short-eared
furcata....... DOW Stic sess ieee ae as)
leucorhoa..... Spotted
Ochthodromus. estern Horned.
wilsonius.. .. Owls, Barn.
Oidemia...... FORT isseuse-stsnnicnaciace santana oreaatesiceer
americana... Oxyechus.. .
deglandi.... vocifera.
fusca... pee teen nee teen ete e ee eee Oyster-catcher, American
FICHE arcuate a oncucl ps iat adamicrons isles susuchay’s
Olb BU LOPCAD ys sieciee wsuernieew/acoura a doseeace 214
Oyster-catchers...........20200 eee 214
hiemalis hiemalis................+ 700
hiemalis pacificus...............- 703 Paciric Coast YELLOW THROAT...... 670
MELIZETUSs<sc0:s «einstein mete 705 Pacific Widetiiecoccsiica< sence wane 110
Old sQUa Ws «ssccciacn,cohmens etc’ Seale 102 ulmar........-60. 6
Olive-backed Thrush............... TAL God wits js ciscis wa atotienncrgauiste a meshes
Olive-sided Flycatcher.............. 376 Golden Plover
OV ois a. ancridie aectaushgie e ehoinlen o wsas aes aree 132 FRCL WAKE: ois en iicard eacirervacr ern acc-aie a
DUGCINATOR 6 6:5 53 egestcnie wastes Siew ewe 134 OOD... ....
columbianus. avs Papophilay ss ccccc sa insisvn asin waa
CY MMUBs 6 eign s g-son thane gs wget a edwin PLD Bios aux shame. gf an daps gg mined wernnT ore
ODOLOTN Sesis deine scxeesronarnng eeenns Pale Goldfinch.
BGiiSecs-2 cemas yavets eowinee tare" Pallas Murre
fOLM OBB. sewers 4 dsewe c cea a sae Pallid Horned Lark.............046 393
philadelphia. Palm Warbler............5.-000 08 . 654
TONMMIEL: & ie cis tap eas 4S hes ETSI Y PaludicOle jects spawn arated wee « 145
Orange-crowned Warbler............ 615 Pandion ss..cswex 4 exces $e ad eae Tas 286
Orchard Oriole. ..........--0.00005 434 haliaétus carolinensis............. 286
Oregon Chickadee.. Parasitic Jeger.....6 6... cece eee . 81

PAGE.
Parsee. s caay ecto iala enanimate teehee sean TEL
Paroquet Auklet..........002.eeeee 18
Parnidge, ‘Cablornisy: wisyele ge sexsr aura ws pie
“Partridge, ” Ruffed Grouse. ree 220
Partrid ges: s s/s167i)5 4 a vests oo 16818 TR 215
Passenger Pigeon...........-...005 235
PASSOr oi 2 dense) eyasetes, si panausneeds woieok ar ae 456
MOM ESb1CUG. 6 aoe 6 cee meen ee ede wee 456
Passerculus. ..........00. cece eens 496
PTINCOPS ois oe:a a. a, iesavere deca saa a 496
sandwichensis..............0.005 497
sandwichensis alaudinus.......... 499
sandwichensis labradoricus,....... 502
sandwichensis savanna............ 497
Passerella... ewe. . pisces ese ane eee 547
CBise.d Seige vie pes 4 rane a eae 547
iliaca annectens...........0060505 551
iliaca fuliginosa,............+.00 552
iliaca insularis,...........-...0+5 551
iliaca schistacea............200005 552
iliaca townsendi............-.00- 551
iliaca unalaschensis..,..........-+ 550
PASSOFOB viaii i's. anaiorsits ad ecrecieds wai babes eee 366
PASSOFINB ais op9se i: viersia ens. se ajyrals ae snseaia & 480
hyperborea.. wes ieccs evsasien covers 484
MIVA 5 60. scores a0 na errs 480
nivalis townsendi.............+05 483
Pavoncella......... Ban eR AG tac Wises fa 194
PUQDAK 5 sie ceiei stents SSiceee te Fees 194
Peale Falcon...........0. cece eee 279
Pectoral Sandpiper............+000+ 172
PeGicecetesin:s cscaavsceae Kavi chews ee 230
phasianellus,.............000 eee 230
phasianellus campestris.,.......... 232
phasianellus columbianus......... 232
Pelagic Cormorant.............0005 69
Pelecanid@y. os cc. eee sees ve ness 71
Pelecanusins vrais ssa eGu se geadees 71
Californicusys%6% sc iiss a sees a9 73
erythrorhynchos.. 71
PUBCUSs oi scs ichatne ecu aed skews ae 72
Pelican, American White............ 71
BrOWIG 5 isis, c-2cssar aces deadening Seas ce 2
oe Brown. . 7
Pelicans. . 71
Pelidna,. 177
alpina 177
alpina sakhalina 177
Penthestes......... 3 716
atricapillus atricapillu: 716
atricapillus occidentalis. 719
atricapillus septentrional 8. 718 |
atricapillus turneri....... 719 |
cinctus alascensis. 721 3
am beli....... 720 }
udsonicus colum bianus 724 |
hudsonicus hudsonicus.. 721
hudsonicus littoralis.............. 724
rufescens rufescengs,..........+-+- 725
Perching Birds.............-.+.005 366
POVISOLCUB, 5:55:65) sca5.sie. a: Seabw ses sian actnar seca 407
camadensis..........00 cece eee 407
canadensis capitalis.............. 410
canadensis fumifrons........ sere 410
canadensis nigricapillus........... 412
ODSCUPUSL: bcc55 6s ces ca vee eS BAX 413
obscurus griseus..........0-000ee 413,
Petrel, Black-capped..............5 64
BUN WOr osiccauce arenes: cistensie tes 005 ineieen ore 64
BISHOP esc isctuceare ecareneiees aa eeneis oes 64
Fork-tailed...........cces eee eeee 65
CD ay isan wen dinin Seace as 65
Stormy. Sa sein learn ast soe e seaaiencs We 65
MISO acs srestesse a ecoceravets wteemer ew sus 66
Petracheliden itlsnsns-a: dAvorbCeta a’ ibialiees wins 568

VUMIEP OBB, wise iid to-do oye 84k waive
Pewee, Western Wood
IW O0G wise 5 ssiarntiv in eH sorertis ter acs bain
PHSStOM a. + dscns stance e ariel tee ode adie fears
mthereuS... 1... ee eee eee reece
AMGTICANUG.: ies 02 cannes oe eeaan es
Phaéthontide,........... ReGURA Tas 67
Phalacrocoracid@...........+.00005 68
Phalacrocorax........0+:eeeeeeeee 68
carbo........-) Peiamediine seid egL Ieee 68
GilOp US tis is -a4.6 se syerarsea © dieonaiate goardan 68
dilophus cincinatus..............- 69
pelagicus........... cess cece eeane 69
pelagicus robustus............... 70
Penieillatus.. alae oped iota oie ive wie vee 38
Phalenoptiis Mind SHbiAaa ho GEaAY Se VSS 354
Nuttallii cca seems s yews tt ee 354
Phalarspe, Northern............005 158
Bg cae wick bee RE Eeabe ge bel 157
Wilson..... Retry porn en ee ee tree 160
Phal aropesy sie ics ese. s. srpcetiys eer saesecaetoe aac 157
Phalaropodide.......-... 0.20 e eee 157
Phalarpous.......-.20 cee eee e ences
lobatus. ..
Phasianide..
Phasianus..
torquatus.
Pheasant, Ring-necked............. 235
Eheasanté... Lectls et earn 6 Aiea S ATS 234
halos
cana;
Philade’ cba WATGO sg ss5:gdoi so: Suerier dade: dare 601
Philohela

americanus....... eis oy be ka
americanus dorsalis. .
americanus fasciatus
_arcticus..

Bi eon, Band-taile

on Ba 23
Hawk. 279
_Passen, 235
Pigeons... 235
Pigmy Owl..... 318
Pileolated Warbler 675
Pine Grosbeak.... 448
Siskin... . 477
Warbler 653
Pinicola. .. 448
enucleator alascensis. . 450
enucleator flammula.... 452
enucleator leucura............... 448
enucleator montana.............. 450
Pinnated Grouse..........--6-0-405 229
Pifion Jayeers icsauns cs taaris arcews 423
Re eee dedia Rtas ee Labtes Goo hes . 89
Pipilos cise a 29 ade te tiaatee epee 552
peyeizophakaliia, ajeieue wo eiptereces «.. 552
maculatus arcticus............... 554
maculatus megalonyx............ 555
maculatus oregonus.............. 555
Piping Plover............eeeeeeeee 208
Pipit, American, 60... sisesiaees cs 683
eadow......+ececc sees ueeeee 687
Red-throateduinauvs en ves ea ee i44 687
SPTALUC ne iecns ao Faewres 6 a Ge OS Bc 687

TUDTA.. cee eee
Planesticus....
migratorius migratorius, *
migratorius propinquus,.......
Plautus...

loves, Ac ‘Amerioan Golden.

Belted Pi TAB sins stoves
Black-bellied. .

bree atanaeeans
leer.
griseus. . ae
Mongolian: opisthomelas. . 63
M Bye puffinus... 63
ountain. tenuirostris....... 11... . 1.0... 6
Puget Sound Bush-tit.............. 726
Screech Owl.......02-cceensecnes 302
Purple ay RSPEI D (coef Scte tte ybe Giguasnugoa wl 453
Ee UT Oboe) o.3s avieasnba a du tasvayecsndunie 154
Martin... 00.0.0... ccc cee scene 566
DODO OIE cng ad inerdnr new wie masa 169
Pygmy Nuthatch...............025 716
orimieaS keith OW a cessed ari airspace aaasaete pee B18
si ccateanbdasadie peeone des. Dupmesmenee
cain a PIN Seeds rh aitaenes VLE so ay scedh nh cn ums put sens Raiseeciota Sa 3
Eales sursea where pmeT AWA A dl Br MoaaStin. occ veratewacenr acneuene srg 453
ODICODS ys .4 sie wets te REA GS YRS 7
gent Percas Glaucues Gill oe 36 Quan, Bos-wuirr...
Polioptilases seuss sina ene 38s 7 Queen Charlotte Jay...............
cerulea cerulea. Woodpecker..
Polyborus........- Querquedula.............00 0c e eee
cheriway.... CVANOPET Ams pie ceneecengarr ees 87
Polyaticta siesxs 63-044 cd: cocneeucee 6 107 GISCOT Sess aa nrec eure ueeee the 86
Btellericccrs iso LHe asides weer mececwauaine 107 Quiscalus......-.... 6. eee eters 443
Pomarine Jaeger..............00005 30 quiscula eeneus..............-4.. 443
Poocwtes... 0... cee eee e nec e restos
gramineus... RAYE BGA OKs 3550.60 sce dace dees Sepydarerdvend 2 153
gramineus affinis CATON ies. e ie sarorauacewnlastioesisordse 151
gramineus confinis. ADIN nc so sch eneetinecsaaccig deichscr cucu Sete 149
PO Or Wall ss jd:s anavavess ont veesisesnd acid aviv
POP ZENA 5. csatejseaierssesercus inns dvetansane 15
carolina. .
JAMAICENELS:< cwiecsinaeasewwiwasa LOS | ~— PRaMId ee waists aaedarmie nana eunstenes
NOVEDOFACEDSSwiesicwcsesercccese LOD | AVallusiecieiiaas camemaocavcsmmsmnee
oe ee elegans. .
Prairie Falcon,...............0.005 virginianus. -
LOM i cosucseice orev sara end sieve sever ee semlaane ade 229 RAPE OTES:. siiasene 166 or scantsd negeinlimanaidieaneyessie
Horned Lark. Raven, Northern..
Marsh Wren............ Razor-billed Auk..........0...00.. 27
Sharp-tailed Grouse Recurvirostra.. cece eveccansecece
E01 (:) ee americana..,..
Proy, Birds Of iiiwies sence inane eee Recurvirostride
Pribilof Sandpiper................. 171 Red-backed Saadnivets: ieaose ASS
Snowflakesisccossageesi cies sears 483, Red-bellied Hawk...........--..005
Procellaria 65 Wondpecker..«
pelagica....... a 65 Red-billed Tropic Bird.
PrOcelartleiiss dina de keds Gedo todns 61 REE DAR DS eis. wiccasish sxe verttccnn sis anaosvertansctse
TORN 250.0: wine kis Sie Hearerscmspoannnkont 566 Red-breasted Merganser
BUDS oa eh siarantesnt/ ser caudescaseualegaeesebeauase 566 Ride CH sass sda vaserQeoud ons atiessseaneuke
Prothonotary Warbler....11111.1 11. 611 PE iica scien donc oe cee ae dear emcee
Protonotaria..... 2... cee eee eee eee 611 Red-eyed: VALCO! wicciwscodomaseaniansrtes
citrea....... Red-faced Cormorant...............
Psaltriparus. Redheads, ate ivid i xicravegeu saivtavars wearers
minimus saturatus.............. - 726 Red-headed Woodpecker............ 343
Ptarmigan, Allen Red-legged Black Duck............. 81
Evermann Red-legged Kittiwake.............. 35
Red-naped Sapsucker..............- 340
Red-necked Grebe................. 2
Red Phalarope.............2.0000. 157

Redpoll............ Sig Sree stesheumens 470

x1v INDEX.
PAGE,
Greater..........+-- 473
' Greenland,
oary.
TEC a nee as tmcnan ete wise eR
Red-shafted Flicker..........+0+00-+

Redstart, American...
Red-tailed Hawk....

ars ese LOOD saa oie, gos gistengrees eos

TNGCOWM Leis a vse xy

OG ceouthew nee ats
Ring Plover........
Ring-billed Gull............-...2..

-necked Duck...............45

brevirostris.

tridactyla..... : : ee Satna eh even de sacpava ee ated

Robin, American.

Rodger Fulmar.
Roseate Tern..

Rose-breasted Grosbeak. |

Ross Gull...........
Snowy Goose......

tridactyla pollicaris

Rough-legged Hawk................
Hough winged Sw Swallow.............

Royal Terns «esses so sn gcve waver 6

Sheldrake..
i uEnrOn ea:

Rufed Grouse, ‘“‘Partridge’’.........
Rufous Hummingbird... Ecard audible Stee
Russet-backed Thrush..............

Rusty or mere aint

Song Sparrow..........-.-...05-

Rynchopide.........
Rynchops...........

Saspine GULL.........
Sage Grouse.........
Salpinctes...........

obsoletus obsolet.us.

Red-spotted Bluet niles

ame saelons So avererwetayar ah essed in, SR e Toners
FRERUNUG sje scse ic deve 8 & dpecnisse ws mere
celendela calendula
calendula grinnelli...............
satrapa olivaceous........-......
satrapa satrapa...........eeee eee
Reinhardt Ptarmigan
Rhinoceros Auklet............+.645
Rhodostethia........... 0.00 eevee
TOSED ie) cic = gaeunain s eons a sureties ©

PAGE.
San Diego Redwing................ 432
Sand eérlingiis.s os55% 3.4 setieete tedinleses 181
Sandhill Crane............-....008. 147
“Sandhill” Crane................. - 146
Sandy er Aleutian................ te
Bart FATA weieie sed Seta ease ays 194
Buff-breasted.........6..0.ece0ee 195
Cinnamon Solitary............... 191
Gurl We 2 iii nsiae sg sesisiaes, pe yiereea +. 179
Green, signee tmaaeas ouaieana cae
BS tosis eva omy Sa wamitieie Ox ewe S
Pectorals wiciis 2 ssyosasso gtaiogs on te
Pribilotir.,scocsys .5:d:atesis cadeeuebs Bo cess
PUR DI Oshs fi coe eus itis sera ssetarsie ereca tors
Red-backed..0. 66006 neeneer eres
Semipalmated................005
Sharp-tailed............
Solitary: .... 2. sases secu
Spoon-bill..............
peered bees sa Hes banGe ae aoe UAE Beak
Thick. DUE ss sscstaeie sc edeacaseys. w neauleve
Western Semi jpalmated
While pedvrsscs as eae xe a duane 173
SANAPIPEr Biss os ec css wows cess dances 162
Sandwich Sparrow..........-....45 497
*Redenan orthern Red-breasted... 340
=DAD OO os satiegv ses ceeds sedges aveéage Ga 340
Williamson........... 000 cece eee 341
Yellow-bellied............... ees 338
Savanna Sparrow.......-.+eee eens 497
Saw-whet Owl.............000 0 eee 298
Saxleolas ce caccsee x tamawwe cows vee 755
cenanthe cenanthe................ 755
cenanthe leucorhoa............... 756
SMYVOVNIGs. oiossysis ih 4 egeen ow aH wave Doe oe
Phebe Rie RED ReNQn leh RR a oe
Say Phebe. eee
Scarlet Tanager..............000005
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher............ 366
Scolopacide.............. cece ees 162
SCOlO PAX ie o.sitnsce:S: ecerersueyaeicvaouaeod WoO

rusticola

White-w ged 114
Scotiaptex.. 295
nebulosa, 295
nebulosa japon 297
Screech Owl.... 300
Seattle Wren. 697
Sea Coot.... 117
Seiurus.. 656
auroca: 656
motacilla. 663
noveboracensis nota : 661
novebor novebor: 659
Selasphorus............. 364
Allene. ccc eee ees 364
TULSA AS is od iaraet we wet 364
Seripalmaiea Plover... 206
Sandpiper................ -. 179
Sennett Nighthawk................ 357
Setophaga......... 0.0... cee eee 678
PUT ACU as 2: fs) ceasevead ce eB e sense 678
Sliereaianed HAW efit tad wacacias 244
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper ... .......... 171
Shearwater, Allied................. 63
sekwvented ic. ok inwecaee eceeey 4 63
atk-bodied ices ccsweas ee aeaes a 63

np enlets eet ee ree 62
Dibatavayiug.a a auagetalbes gigi teen eit tocar 63
Slenderbilied., eS RRS NR iste dao 64

PAGE,
S00tyYss0eveaesanscerecass toms . 63
Shearwaters.......-.eseseeeveeeee » 61
Sheldrake, ain sae ens Te es . 73
Shore Birds....... Mev aeee Gee .. 157
Short-billed Gull..." sais p aes Se . 45
Marsh Wrath cyscc teense ciwen web 705
Short-eared Owl..........0 000 +. 290
Short-tailed Albatross.............- 60
Shovelle tec cccnavscecuessus oaneusaesennsb eons
Shrike, California................05 598
NET AN Cioissesz- vie tortense sy oenad-aus) cus yeaws eateve 595
NOTther De c.s ice a ocaosioee scduesp otiniansince 592
White-rumped,.............005 .. 597
SUPIKOS jag aie eaves acdentunn eda ushered ave 592
Shufeldt Junco......... cece eee eee 535
Shumagin Fox Sparrow............. 550
DIAN Gi sca tien adste eratwa,simguana eas 757
BICMORL: mer iia swan nawsae suman 760
mexicana occidentalis............ 759
sislie Alls... iccscaes ade aie oa curece Tor
SiberiamiGull, eoseunsssi a arson esac wyeeatacge 41
Simorhynchus..............-.00005 18
cristatellus... 18
PUSwhus se ccs cers sorccsters geese acouigcrore 19
PYEMBUS e506 sie cay aes axianswes ee ares 19
Single-crested Cormorant........... 68
Syskin, Piney ieee rns cweirs we paws secs 477
Sitka Ruby-crowned Kinglet.. vee 102
Sitta...... Ue aiedlawan anise is Bs aon LT
canadensis.........
carolinensis aculeata,
carolinensis carolinensis’.......... 711
ea oun ene Nelsons «2035 ascend « 712
PVEMES, 0) wp rend saad woe ROS 716
Simmer. BI BGK ae ges car piney h Sie Ak 60
SHIMMOL So oes er ssasiee 2h acorn e ray edoe B08 Se 60
Skua, Buffon
Common
Skuas......

Skylark.

Spa
Siaty-backed C aatesaduarav
Slender-billed Nu o ese eae

Shearwater..

Smith Bon gepursnscescy-ticenacacsseeianss
Snipe, Europead.............0-0008

Solitaire, -Townsend.............+4.
SOUUSIVES 6525.5 ae ORR RIKER TeewER

Sbentatitie Fuicned aasisaanal cog bu sueriniie seo ae encae
v-nigra.
Song Darrow
SOP ae, eee eee
Sooty Fox partons
Grouse.. a
Shearwater.
Song Sparrow
Sparrow, Aleutian Son,
Baird.icc cscs Mails Bosh ie Ack ars

XV

Pace

Brewe? acc ciox soasas stead a sea 528
Chipping............ Sead maiee O22
Clay-coloured..... ies t vars CHEB aN 526

Dakota Song
PIG Os cision asveiis cxcenctiserestese Were havea

pamkel ease sen luda sis aise opines Gs iestcpa

BIDS BOR sista ces: svenn tire wai atanereie nee f
Kadiak Song
Kenai Song.........
Labrador Savanna.

Mountain Song............ 0 eee ee
Nelson, ies once ye erie ey nso ens

Oregon eves
Rusty Song. .
DANA WICH ys scan Goea ae AER EA eRe

Shumagin Fox..
piste colated.-
Boo FOX. + cg.gh ene edareeses
Sooty Song... cis «6. aeway ewees eee
SWall Diy. oc5)3 ncciesn tra Subd See ees
tained Sas ecules obits RIE tc
Tree.. :
Vesp er.
Western CHIDPINB iiss esse eieceseceess
Western Grasshopper............+ 503
Western Lark..........2.-.00005 509
estern Savanna........+--..005 499
Western Tretascisainscennresanss 520
Western Vesper.........-++.e-005 494
White-crowned.........2...00005 511
White-throated..............000- 516
Vakutat: Poxsccc ses ceria varia’ 551
Vakutat Songs ws coscgeaurs acne 6 542
SPALTOWS. sissies eset sis darn acencn ne ee 445

8L
Spectacled Hider................005 107
SPO VG Os asa ccg ong ack wor savtaris- wand avase weve 317
cunicularia hypogwa.............. 317
SPHY TADICUSs a 65 sec egg e ccewewe we bre ersce
ruber notkensis.
thyroidcus
VATIUS yencr ere ssene aR?

inus.
Spirit Duck.»
Spiza..

ame Ticana..

reweri.. ..

WM ONCICOA hi: cies iss cmcaent die EWTN ew
monticola ochracea............... 520

xvi INDEX.
PAGE,
Sprague Pipit......... 684 Sylviide.....
Springtail........ 89 Symphemi:
Spurred Towhee 555 semipalma:
Squatarola.. 202 scmepalmats. inornata
squatarola 202 Syrnium,......e.cseecee
Starling.... 423 pecidientale caurinum
Steganopode: 67 varium,
Steganopus.. 160 Synthliboramphus. ..
tricolor.,... 160 antiquus......... ve
Stelgidopteryx 584
serri i 584 TANAGER, LOUISIANA......-.0.00000 ee 564
Steller Duck......... 0.0.02 eee ee eee 107 Scarlet......csccccrecettrrcects 565
DAY 5s ceteris e SSeS a lraiee wae ares 406 SUMMET. i seisiiaveieeirsvace cieieisine ee 566
Stellulasc sags vs vewrees soe wsieley ose 365 Tamagers......sssescecrsecccseaee . 564
¢ SRNODE css weve clas eee da Rhee Re 365 Panag TR soe iiss ik caves sce w ctereastere's 564
Stercorariide........... ec cee eee ee 29 Tatler, Wandering........... siren / 193
Stercorarius............. Shesdbdawee 30 Tawny Creeper.......... 4: wierareracd ste 710
longicaudus..............000ee0ee 32 Teal, Blue-winged...........-.+000- 86
Parasiticus........... ee ee eee eee 31 Cinna:
POMATINUS.... 2. eee eee eee 30
COL Gs 6 iiss eee re Hey Mie ide aloes AH sunt 51
MlOUbICA, is sis ses cisis woe sis Gets oF nee sini 57
antillarum...........-.-. eee eee 57 palustris iliacus............+-....
CHSDIB soja iia aielinappiersis: eateries a Soaseees 51 palustris paludicola.........-.... 707
oun al is sigs 6-5 foes See ab base bees gee Waar os 56 palustris palustris................ 706
fOVSEETT wa:s eas oe dase eae wee moe 52 palustris plesius.............-.06. 707
hirundovssiecs soccer se ssaes ie eee 52 Tennessee Warbler............-..55 618
MANN Gs... sets oioaaiee Leese 51 Tern, Aleutian............-...+.05 « 52
paradisea... 55 Arctic.......--- Seles stars soi Gus a6 55
sandvicensis acuflavida........... 52 Black. . 58
Stilt Sandpiper...........-.0.+-005 Cabot... 52
SET Ga i syecaigue o axessvertuneosCoreasiauare Se ae Caspian... 51
Stint, Long-toed..........+++ bese Common.. 52
OTS syiehensnes cc 3 svieins Rb Ve cialet ere artes Forster 52
ek Petr ely osccciays creo ieretacg ee arson Gull-billed 51
Streaked Horned Lark.. SB sao Noyes, Sieneas eh abate a ouaronan o 7508 57
Strigide--............ Marsh... 51
TAK vrais ccssnugisia s, kage reins eb Roseate. 56
pratincola, Royal.. $1
Sturnell ais jjeiesss cremains qyaresere siesnaed 432 White-winged Black sss: car ciueiacis tus 59
MARV Eveiwis deems us cesar e geass 432 TP OR NS jis 9 cisservie sg cooiecse w 4: selena lag.) 280 33
Magna-neglecta...........++000e: 433 Tetraonide...... cee ce eee erences » 215
Sturnus 423 eee : 61
vulgaris..;.......-.2eee eee eee ee 423 | — culminatus................. 61
a Thiek- Spilled Guillamét., iss 355 25
bassana. REGWIN Giese criceie ow dieusieds 4: a see08 429
Sulidz.. Sandpiper.......-..cceeee eee eee 171
Summer Tanager.........0.-e eee 566 Thrasher, Brown....
Sur h. Binds assess esis canes ee scessievine & dallas 211 FEAR BROT: a s.c:ieie 6 3 ace sn sists Hoe Pasian he oh
US EDU, asics, scecesie 0 eye aisha. s oe niovers 211 Thrush Audubon Hermit, ....... wee 745
Surf Scoter.........-.e. secre ences 117 Bicknell. ......0.cececccseevcees 739
AN TAI ess espeoos susie eaves sersesiietses in ase 313 Dwarf Hermit.................45 748
MANU aussaredoue gai ctisiasie cides syeiehs wraxennners 313 Golden-crowned...............+.. 656
ulula caparoch...........--2+eeee 313 Gray-cheeked.................565 737
Swainson Hawk............0.00006 256 Grinnell Water.............-..0- 661
Swallow, Alaskan Barn...... -. 574 Berimitvssdora 5 osvatea ceva bax ee 745
lank. vads sh eode 36 580 Kadiak Hermits. cisisaccasere ces 744
Barn..... 571 Louisiana Water..
CHF ecitcts is ees cts we 3 568 Olive-backed............... 2000s
Northern Violet, gree! 579 ed-winged............0cceeeeee
Rough-winged 584 Russet-backed........ an ehaithes feck eek 740
Tree.... 575 i
Swallows. 566
Swallow-tailed K: 242
Swamp Sparrow 545
Swan, fs pee See 134
Whistling... 133
Whooping. 132
Swift, Black 368 b
by Dlack.......- cece ewes eens 8 ewicki calophonu:
CHIMNEY. 65:55 soci nes ee sree we Hes 358 Thryothorus. 4 Gnas 696
VBUR cere nae dons eases gute 361 ludovicianus judo 696
Sw bBisrveg se vager ae rages spas 352, 358 711
Swimmers, Lamellirostral........... 73 667
Long-winged...............-...- 29 185
Totipalmate............. eee eeee 67 186
Tube-nosed oi. icece sowie ea sriesedns 60 185
Swinhoe Wagtail................0045 682 Totipalmate Swimmers.......------ 67

PAGE,

TOW HGS sastnyein wecstenortiae ent ec foes 552

Arctic........ Sexeaese ah W Seacoast 554

Oregon........ MevbuansiepesRlneceve-taee ee 555

SPURT OG: sipiacccesa« ieeseasisvaupceeinsiannwhanecs 555

Townsend Ptarmigan. Syeliniccnsgaatr aeeaie el 227

SOlitaire vi isessarracsue dad ree wvavaenve 732

rufum ‘

Trail Piyestehans bisects & Avskasertes a aeaaneae 383

Tree-duck, Fulvous..............0.5 132

519

575

168

168

361

361

363

361

698

698

aédon parkmani.............-.... 699

Troglodytide@........ cece eee ee nee 691

Tropic Birds. .........seeeeee renee 67

Tropic Bird, Red-billed............. 67

ellow-billed.......000.cccccceee 67

Trumpeter Swal..........-... 000 134
EY YD GCOS ao: sig: sciisrsvg eens vale seston aie

subruficollis. .

Turner Ptarmigan,
Turnstone,........

Ridden oa le
PETA SEON CS as csccs ices sitar ever inchs esol ok 211

Turkeys..........

tyrannus.

Tyrant Flycatchers.

t alee JM Ra TE Ow a ERT BT

Velvet Scoter........0 eee eeee eens 114
Vesper Sparrow......- esses eee 493,
Violet-green Cormorant............. 70
Vireo, Anthony............-.-. 000+ 608

Whit ieeyed
Yellow-green........ 000 ceev evens 601
Yellow-throated............+..55 604

XvVi1l

PAGE

huttoni obscurus................ - 608
noveboracensis noveboracensis..... 607

Vireonide....

Vireos, ane .. 598
Wireosyl vais. aise ais cee saaioce nea on tosevsa yess 598
flavoviridis flavoviridis........... 601
PV A esse gap aitesteedarecersnerseegsonn gag: apt, 4 603
gilva swainsoni................... 604
OLIV ACOD 6 sities o-ceateuieiauredinegus gavanvn® 598
philadelphica..............00-005 601
Virginia Rail ss sis cieacsinied caterer pre wick 149
Vulture, Black. ........... 0:0 ee eee 241
Valitornia. SAHRS KAS oe RATT ERTRR 239

Tatler.

Warten askan 627
Audubon........... 636
Bay-breasted. 642
Black and Seti te. 608
Blackburnian,........00eeer sree 648
Black-poll......0. cs seeeeee cere 645
Black-throated Blue.......-.----- 628
Black-throated Gray............. 649
Black-throated Green..........--- 649
Calaveras....... SRdoreuoet eaters
Canadian

ape May.
Ceruleatlssicic a seyieeievaie a ssaimiersseraveanere
Chestnut-sided.
Connecticut. .
Golden-winged.
Golden Pileolated................ 676
Heermiitissiascoscisie sesneveressemiar were teasans 652
Hooded .wrsseseia isispacnen sce esscowinancsavcas 672
TROOV SP sie cisissccca saan wateearsismidscat des ain8 634
Kentucky, oeisccwcccsncveniaaanansccca 663
Kirtland s...s sees eoeeen ceases 652
LAUES CON ties sig we ints ems ceavoneer tn ahs 617
MTOM csits.s tarot esas sew woe siberen Warped des 637
MOUrning sesso si eieerniivisis enearere 665
Myrtle......... 630
Nashville...... 612
Northern Parul; 622
Orange-prowned 615

Palm..

Warbling Vireo..

Water Thrush.............00. 000s

Waxwing, Bohemian............... 585
Cedar: écnieinentia tastes seems 589

RY WES ena 55k BEA ALONE IRD FOROS 585

Welch Ptarmigan inte nb Heat dine Mor Nac 228

Western Chipping Sparrow.......... 525
Tvening Grosbeak............... 447
Flycat chery wn sie.ecseiei ged encode ng 382
Oe. ee 36
Golden-crowned Kinglet.......... 728
Goshawk...0. 0a cence seen ewan 250
Grasshopper Sparrow............. 503
Grebe....... z
Guillemot. 23
Co | REO ae peer rere ern 41

XVill INCEX.
PAGE, PAGE
Horned Owl. 2 vcusas wxees oe vices 304 Alpine Three-toed.............. +» 337
House Wren..enn cas 4 eens es oean8 699 American Three-toed............ « 334
Lark Spanier eet eee 509 Arctic Three-toed...........0.005 332
Marsh Wren........--++-2-+eeees 707
Meadow Lark........+seeeeeeeee 433
Nighthawk.........00:e cece ee eee 357
Red-tailed Hawk..............4- 253,
RODD sia. piz sess wes oe stieas oS ans ai's es 752
Savanna Sparrow.........-eee eee 499
Semipalmated Sandpiper.......... 181
Thick-billed Guillemot............ 26 Nelson Downy....
Tree Sparrow.....-. eee e cece eee Northern Hairy.............00005
Vesper Sparrow. Northern Pileated.........-...0-. 341
Warbling Vireo... Queen Charlotte..........0..2 005 328
Wallets icc cated oa sakes e gated Red-bellied... 0.0.00... 0.00 eee eee 346
Winter Wrenii3 os cnasied of heneytin 6 Reed= headed i vie:eiiencvsis iat’ auton ave soa buese 343
Wood Pewee......--.2. eee ee eres White-headed............0.2 000. 332
Wheatear Woodpeckers.........++e0eee cece 324
Greenland... Wren, Alaskan.........0.ece eevee 704
Whim brel. PATE, danas ae acd o trctae 48M Gonben edie 2 ware 705
Whip-poor-will........... 00 eee eee Be wick scuccsticned ant suas eaten’ 697
Whiskered Auklet...............005 Californias): < sso easasian cas cane 707
Wistleriscts oo Sieg etek a chats aos a Beeroie CATON oiecs. a ick gaain eencens fs wens 696
Whistling Swan......... 0.00. e eee WB ein oy ines ook LEE E ORE 698
White-bellied Brant TRO vier egos 8 kimerca suenwen 704
White Gyrfalcon................005 Long-billed Marsh.............6-5 706
ORtall.act consi te case shane es Prairie Marshessiscis : ¢ aes s + eas 708
White-breasted Nuthatch........... 711 FROCK ssiocd eateries apo tnsies & 8 8 Leta 696
White-cheeked Goose..............4 128 ACE ts screech aetec ts es drier ee ee ORS 697
White-crested Cormorant........... 69 Short-billed Marsh,...........0., 705
White-crowned Sparrow............ 511 Western House............+-+00 699
White-eyed Vireo..... baie act Swedes 607 Western Marsh...........--00005 707
White-faced Glossy Ibis............. 186 estern Winter.............0005 703
White-fronted Goose.......... reeew 123 Witttet ian san teense averted anew 700
White-headed Gull’................ 46 Wrlinn isagera cr raeereunaas cn 691
Woodpecker.....-.. Ae Rigtincae iene 332 Wright Flycatcher............-.066 390
White-rumped Sandpiper........... 173 Wirynecks 2s edicts a4 ens ee neers 324
THRO sacs sens bw kaa alae 6 alee Teg a0 597
White-tailed Ptarmigan............. 228 XXANTHOCEPHALUS,. 0... 2s eee eee eee 426
White-throated Sparrow............ 516 xanthocephalug......isccisseveeas 426
White-winged Blackbird............ 563 OTA see gc ierd disease 2A SENOS eae STngS 49
Black Tertiis sie s:estines $0 wag Sa e00 9 SEOUL 50.5 oso: ecdeequsch in 6-6) Geuacnstoree sheers ©
IGrOBS Is o.a-issicoag dare seshid dbo eacerdis oe 460 PRETIODI CUS ¢ sic carivess oe: snaegpaceca es Bevesecsinnss 332
Goa acoceaseay tas 20h dua pun dd.d Siete tenes albolarvatus,......-+.0.+eeeeeeee 332
Scoter........... . 114
Whooping Crane.. 145 YaxutarT Fox SPARROW . 551
Swan.......... 132 Song Sparrow....... 542
Widgeon, America! 84 Yellow Palm Warbler 654
European. 83 Rail..... 152
Wild Turkey 234 Warbler............ 624
Willet..... 192 Yellow-bellied Flycatche: 381
Western......... 192 Sapsucker........ 338
illiamson Sapsucke 341 -Yellow-billed Cuckoo 319
Willow Goldfinch 477 Loon,...... ¢ il
Ptarmigan... . 223 Tropic Bird...... 67
Thrush... 736 Yellow-breasted Chat.... 671
Wilsonia. 672 Yellow-crowned Night Hero: 144
canadensis 676 Yellow-green Vireo......... 601
MOL Ab aes se psyicess siandee ies 6 secays nF seaave 672 Yellow-headed Black 426
pusilla chryseola,...........-..06 676 Yellow-legs, Greater 185
pusilla pileolata...............004 675 Lesser,.......... 186
pusilla pusilla................005 672 Yellow-nosed Albatross... careaven ae OL
Ugon- Petrelli sais sues sa sinars vase ware Yellow-throat, Northern............ 668
Pacific Coas tives y ¢ eects s sane s « 670
Yellow-throated Vireo.............. 604
Yukon Chickadee...............50. 719
Warbler. os sans 6s tere ea here 672 ZENAIDORA 5 posses d4 a ssecaies cos) asec 3 8 237
Iter Wreties «erees tad 44 cree 700 MACKOU TAs, wii3.0 sin aeentvaiimateaun nan 237
000. Ducks.: asaigs ss eeaGs 8 Sa ehieie 9 ZODOLLICHID sess cv ise ae sn eh vnematele ae 509
OWEGiia say Seta Gets Se Seas as Seonewer aia 6 378 albicollis
STO seis ist Gani 5a se duauscbes Wat aguidyiebie 734 COTOD AU. sisisic 6 tievesirsiens aw ee ssieice - 615
Warblers...... Se eee 608 leucOphry seins cicacisien ce aes 511
Weodeook, American............... tee jencopirys camel. ad oe lanai Ja 512
WTOP CANE 60. seen esa eviang oe ane aves leucophrys nuttalli............... 514
Woodpecker, Alaskan Three-toed.... 336 querula +. Wik <eaaerhes ena ss 509

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