CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. ']'] 



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 to 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 a common summer resident in the 

 Rocky mountains, as an old bird with her young brood was seen 

 at Waterton lake, lat. 49°, in July, 1895, a"*^ '" 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 lUecillewaet, B.C., 

 May 20th, 1890; also found breeding in small ponds Tete 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. 



Breeding 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 water in 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 i6th 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.) 



