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. 



Numenms longirostris WiLS. 18 14. 



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. {Dippie.) Fairly common at places visited by 

 us in western Saskatchewan and eastern Alberta, breeding in hollows 

 on the prairie. Downy young found June ist, 1905, and June nth 

 and 1 8th, 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 

 obser\^ed 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 



