178 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA. 
migrant in Quebec. 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 Dunville, where Dr. Macallum is aware of at 
least two pairs having raised their broods during the two past 
summers—1893-94. (Mcllwraith.) 
This species is an abundant summer resident in the whole 
prairie region extending from the Lake of the Woods to the 
Rocky Mountains, 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. 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 northwest extension on Peace 
River. Only a few specimens taken at Fort Yukon are recorded 
from Alaska. 
BREEDING Notes.— For some years past I have seen a few pairs 
of these birds every year in the neighbourhood of Kingston, Ont. 
Favorite resorts are Simcoe Island and Amherst 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 Railway. A dry rough field is its favorite 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 wood- 
cock’s, but larger. (Rev. C./. Young.) Its breeding centre is in 
Western Manitoba and Eastern Assiniboia. This species is 
quite rare in Western Assiniboia and Southern Alberta, and 
prefers well grassed prairie to that with a thin sod and little 
water. 
MUSEUM SPECIMENS. 
Five specimens ; one taken on Toronto Island by Mr. S. Her- 
fing ; one at Nose Creek,,Alberta, by Mri. Bl yrrell one at 
Indian Head, Assa,; one at Medicine Hat, Assa.; and one at 
Edmonton, Alberta, by Mr. W. Spreadborough. Our collection 
of eggs is not large. One set of four was obtained by Mr. J. B. 
Tyrell in Northern Alberta, on July Ist, 1886; another was taken 
at Grenfel, Assa., by Mr. Lake in June, 1894. 
