CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 463 
the Nicola valley, B.C., in June, 1889, and on the plateau between 
the North Thompson and Bonaparte rivers; a few observed at 
Chilliwack, B.C., in the spring, and oneat the mouth of Tami Hy 
Creek, September 8th, 1901. In April and May, 1903, they were 
quite common at Penticton in southern British Columbia. 
(Spreadborough.) Very common in the interior; breeds. (S¢reator.) 
An abundant summer resident east of Coast Range, also on Van- 
couver Island. (/a@nnin.) Migrant; not common at Chilliwack. 
Specimens are very pale and may belong to affints. (Brooks.) 
BREEDING NotTes.—Several nests-were found at Pembina, con- 
taining eggs, about the middle of June. One of them also held 
two Molothrus eggs. The nests were built in open ground, quite 
deeply sunken so as to be flush with the surface, and more sub- 
stantial than those of many ground-builders, the walls being an 
inch or more thick at the brim. The cavity is small and deep in 
comparison with the whole nest. The usual materials are grasses 
and weed-stalks, the coarser material outside, the finer fibres 
within and at the bottom. The eggs, of which I have not found 
more than four, measure about o'80 by 0°55; they are grayish- 
white, heavily marked all over with spots, dashes and blotches of 
reddish-brown, and a sprinkling of fine dots of the same or darker 
brown. The female is a close sitter, not leaving the nest until 
nearly trodden upon, and then fluttering off as if crippled, to dis- 
tract attention from the nest to herself. (Coues.) This is a very 
common prairie species, breeding in all parts of Assiniboia and 
Alberta. A nest taken on 31st May, 1895, contained three fresh 
eggs. The nest was, on the sloping side of a coulée, placed 
on the ground under a tuft of grass. It was built chiefly of fine 
material, the base being leaves of grass, the coarser at the bot- 
tom. A few hairs were worked in at the last. Another nest 
identical in every way was taken Igth June, in aclump of Poften- 
tila gracilis at the edge of a ravine. (JZacoun.) 
MUSEUM SPECIMENS. 
Twenty-seven; one taken at Carberry, Man., by Mr. Thompson- 
Seton; four at Indian Head, Assa., in May, 1891, one at Old 
Wives’ Creek, Assa., May 27th, 1895, seven at Medicine Hat, 
Assa., May, 1894, two at Edmonton, Alta., May, 1897, six at Banff, 
Rocky Mountains, May, 1891, two at Kamloops, B.C., June 20th, 
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