CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 223 
‘ 
with a few dry sticks, probably to strengthenit. There is aninner 
lining of feathers few and far between to form a bed for the eggs, 
which are from four to six in number, of a dull white with the 
faintest shade of green and soiled, but no decided spots on them. 
The nest is built on the ground, or at the base of a low bush near a 
marsh, about the middle of May. (G. R. White.) Besides in the 
large marshes and the small ones, this bird will even breed in an 
uncultivated field at times, and is, if anything, more common 
than formerly. Nest on the ground, among shrubs, generally in 
a swampy place. Eggs four or five, white, rapidly soiled. (W. 
E. Saunders.) 
This is a well-distributed summer resident in the counties of 
Renfrew, Leeds and Lanark in Eastern Ontario. It arrives in 
the early part of April and does not leave until October. I have 
found its nest, on several occasions, in marshy places. Once ina 
small marsh, Township of Escott, Leeds Co., near a public road. 
This was on the 22nd May, 1893. The nest contained five eggs 
almost as much spotted as those of the Red-shouldered Hawk. 
The nest was built on the end of an old log that was partly cov- 
ered with moss and other growth and surrounded by rushes. It 
was formed of sticks, and grass stalks were used for lining. This 
species breeds every year at the head of Wolfe Island and lower 
down the St. Lawrence. Its eggs are seldom laid before May 
18th in Eastern Ontario. (Rev. C. J. Young.) Breeds in abund- 
ance on the prairies, but prefers bushy places for nesting in. Its 
nest is built, on the ground, of sticks and lined with coarse grass. 
Mr. Spreadborough found two nests near Medicine Hat in May, 
1894. Both were located amongst a low growth of snow-berry 
(Symphoricarpus racemosus) and contained four eggs. (MWacoun.) 
I have found this bird breeding throughout Manitoba, Assini- 
boia and Alberta. It makes its nest on the ground, consisting of 
a heap of marsh hay, and lays from 5 to 7 eggs. I took a set of 
mmcecsiat Crescent Lake, Assa.,.on, June 5th; 1901. I have 
another set of 7 eggs taken in northern Alberta, May 24th, 1808. 
(W. Raine.) 
In June, 1865, an Eskimo snared a female bird on her nest in a 
willow bush along the lower Anderson River, about Lat. 68° 30’. 
It contained five eggs. In June, 1866, a nest composed of twigs 
and grasses, &c., was found in a similar position; there were six 
eggs in this nest. (Vacfarlane.) 
