534 THE BIRDS OF MANITOBA THOMPSON. 



tude 62° and Lake Superior ; at Cumberland House March 24 (Richard 

 son). Qn'Appelle: Occasional; does not breed; April 30 (Guernsey). 



The country west of the Ouinipique Lake lias dry islands or liills with marshy bot- 

 toms full of wood and meadows. On the east side is a fine flat country full of woods 

 until they come to the bottom of the mountains which are betwixt this and tbe 

 upper lake. On a lake on that side, betwixt this lake and Lake Du Bois, are tbe 

 Migechichilinious, or Eagle-eyed Indians; these, he says, are not called so from their 

 having a sharp sight, but upon account of many eagles, which breed in islands of that 

 lake. (Dobbs, p. 35.) 



On an island near the mouth of the Wacerhen River. * * * We found a pair 

 of White-headed Eagles engaged in fishing, and as we came suddenly upon them 

 after rounding a point, one of them dropped a fine whitefish he had just caught, 

 which was immediately seized and appropriated l)y our men fo- their own breakfast. 



On Septembers, near Cathead Lake, Winnipeg, the party was reduced to great 

 straits for provisions, when one chanced to shoot an old bald eagle. By eating nearly 

 every portion of the animal, except the feathsrs, we managed to make him serve for 

 two or three meals.) Hind. 1858). 



Rare. On the 21st of March, 1885, Mr. T. A. Newman, of Portage la Prairie, showed 

 me the wings of three of these birds that he had bought from an Indian, who said 

 he had shot them south of the Assiniboine River. Mr. Newman also told me he had 

 a year or two before shot one in full plumage on Lake Manitoba. 



On the 25th of October, 1886, I saw a splendid bird in full plumage flying south- 

 ward just over the trees on the bank of the Red River. (Nash, in MSS.) 



117. Falco rusticolus obsoletus Black Gyrfalcon. 



Probably Mauitaban in winter. Has been taken in Minnesota a few 

 times as a rare winter visitant ; a specimen examined by Mr. Kidgway 

 (Cooke). The inference from Hearne's narrative is that he also took 

 this bird at Cumberland House, and if so it was probably of the same 

 variety as those taken in Minnesota. Mr. Nash also reports seeing a 

 supposed specimen fly orer Portage la Prairie. This bird seems to 

 follow tbe Willow Ptarmigan in winter; hence we would expect to find 

 their southern ranges coincide. 



They, like the other large species of hawks, prey much on the white grouse or 

 partridge, and also on the American Hare, usually called here rabbits. They are 

 always found to frequent those parts where partridges are plentiful, and are detested 

 by the sportsmen, as they generally drive all the game olf the ground near theii 

 tents; but, in return, they often drive thither fresh flocks of some hundreds. Not- 

 withstanding this, they so frequently balk those who are employed on hunting serv- 

 ice that the governors generally give a leward of a quart of brandy for each of 

 their heads. Their flesh is always eaten by the Indians, and sometimes by the En- 

 glish ; but it is always black, hard, and tough, and sometimes has a bitter taste. 



The Indians are fond of taming these birds, and frequently keep them the whole 

 summer ; but as the winter approaches they generally take flight and provide for 

 themselves. When at Cumberland House I had one of then], of which my people 

 were remarkably fond, and as it never wanted for food would in all probability have 

 remained with us all the winter, had it not been killed by an Indian who did not 

 know it to be tame. (Hearue.) 



The following from Hutchins seems to refer to this species : 



It appears in these parts in the month of May, builds a nest with small sticks, 

 feathers, and down, the two last plucked from its breast and lines the nest. It 



