CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. . l6l 



1894, and at Cypress lake and Sucker creek, Sask.. June 30th, 1895. 

 Found breeding in Saskatchewan by Bishop, Bent and Raine. 



Family XX. RECURVIROSTRID^. Avocets and Stilts. 



XC. RECURVI ROSTRA. Linn.^jus. 1758. 



225. American Avocet. 



Recurvirostra amcricana G.mel. 1788. 



A single specimen of this bird was killed at St. John, N.B., and 

 is in I\Ir. 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. (Mcllwraith.) Accidental migrant at Toronto, 

 Ont. Two records. An adult male in gray plumage was taken 

 September 19th, 1901. (/. 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 3rd 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 nests ; 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 

 a'lkali 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 



lake and on Gull island in Big Stick lake. Sask. (.4. C. Bent.) On 



II 



