166 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA. 
number were seen and a few specimens taken at Twelve-mile Lake, 
near Wood Mountain, Assa. 
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. West- 
ward 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. 
One male taken at Ducks, near Kamloops, B.C., August 18th, 
1889, by Clark P. Streator. Not uncommon in the Lower Fraser 
valley. (Svooks.) 
BreepiInc Nores.—Occurs sparingly at the mouth of the 
Koksoak River, Ungava Bay, Labrador, and from its actions indi- 
cated breeding. Audubon Vol. V., 278, states that he found them 
dispersed in pairs and having nests early in June in Labrador. 
(Zurner.) Mr. Hutchins in 1770 writes as follows :—‘ This species 
arrives at Severn River (about 150 miles south east 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.” (Azchardson.) 
Fairly abundant in the Barren Grounds, but more so on the 
shores of Franklin Bay, where a number of specimens with eggs 
were procured. (Macfarlane.) 
MUSEUM SPECIMENS. 
Nine specimens. One, taken at Toronto, purchased with the 
Holman collection; two at Indian Head, Assa., in June, 1892; 
two at Thirty-mile Spring and two at Twelve-mile Lake, Wood 
Mountain, June 3rd and 6th, 1895; one at Crane Lake, Assa., June 
12th, 1894; and one at Banff, Rocky Mountains, in May, 1891, 
all by Mr. W. Spreadborough, 
247. Western Semipalmated Sandpiper. 
Ereunetes occidentalis LAwR. 1864. 
As soon as the snow disappears on the low ground about Norton 
Sound, Alaska, these little birds arrive on the shore of Behring 
—o 
