236 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA. 
last of all cut banks where they often make a bulky nest. In the 
summer of 1895 nests were taken in box elder (Vegundo aceroides) 
on Old Wives’ Creek. These were lined with the outer bark of 
dead trees of this species. Each nest contained only two eggs, 
both fresh, May 27th and June Ist. A nest was taken at the 
forks of the creek on June 2nd. This was under a cut bank about 
six feet below the summit. This nest was lined with green poplar 
twigs having young leaves. Later, nests were taken at Wood 
Mountain, Assa., in willow clumps and under banks, and 
towards the last of the month on the Cypress Hills in choke- 
cherry bushes. In the Milk River country the nests were chiefly 
under banks. (MJacoun.) 
In July, 1861, we discovered a nest of this species which was 
built on a spruce tree along Onion River, the principal tributary 
of the Lockhart. It contained two well-grown birds. Both 
parents were about and made a great ado in endeavouring to pro- 
tect their offspring. The male was shot. In June, 1865, another 
nest was found on the top crotch of a tall pine in a ravine some 
20 miles southeast of Fort Anderson, Lat. 68° 30’. In composi- 
tion it was similar to the nest of an Avchibuteo. The female was 
shot as she left the nest, which contained but one egg in a well 
developed stage. The male was not seen. (JMacfarlane.) 
This bird breeds commonly throughout Manitoba, Assiniboia 
and Alberta, seldom having eggs before the third week in May 
and is, therefore, a late breeder. Between June 5th and 13th, 
1901, I examined close upon thirty nests in northern Assiniboia. 
All these nests just contained three eggs each,no more or no less, 
showing that three eggs is the number laid. Incubation was 
advanced at this time but I did not find a single nest containing 
young. Some of the nests were built in fire-killed willows and so 
low that I could reach the eggs from the ground. A few nests 
were in poplars and built from 10 feet to 20 feet from the ground. 
I never found two pairs of birds occupying the same bluff, and the 
nests are usually a quarter of a mile from each other. This hawk 
has a habit of lining its nest with green poplar leaves and the eggs 
look very pretty lying on the green leaves. It is a most useful 
bird to the farmer, devouring an immense quantity of gophers 
and mice. (W. Raine.) 
MUSEUM SPECIMENS. 
Five ; one taken in the Moose Mountains, Assa., June, 1880, by 
the writer. Four others taken at Indian Head, Assa., one in 
a 
cae 
