Vol. XXX VII 



1919 



Taverner, Birds of Red Deer River, Alia. 11 



clay banks in the immediate vicinity but have not done so for a number 

 of years past. He further remarked that they are usually seen migrating 

 high overhead and seldom come down into the river. Another Geological 

 Survey party whom we met making a similar trip to ours under Dr. J. A. 

 Allen of Edmonton, met two broods below Ross's Ranch. Between Camps 

 7 and 8 and 8 and 9 we met with nearly full grown families. When first 

 seen they made for the shore along which they ran, trying to hide in the 

 scanty bushes or in rock crevices. When routed out of these places or 

 when they failed to find satisfactory concealment, they again took to the 

 water and as none, not even the adults, could fly, they swam vigorously 

 ahead of us, diving when we came too close. The female adult of one of 

 these broods swam on ahead of us for several miles until the river widened 

 enough to enable her to pass. The last seen of her she was paddling vigor- 

 ously against the current endeavoring to rejoin her lost family, which were, 

 by the way, sufficiently developed to be in little need of her care. Two 

 specimens were taken, a nearly grown gosling and an adult female, July 

 17 and 18. 



33. Olor columbianus (?). Swan. — Both Mr. Krieger and Mr. 

 Brock at Camp 1 informed us that swans were occasionally seen passing 

 over but know of none being taken. Horsbrough repeats reports of occa- 

 sional flocks near Alix and Haunted Lakes in April. 



34.* Botaurus lentiginosus. American Bittern. — Mr. Brock 

 near Camp 1, gave us a clear description of the Bittern in his neighborhood 

 but it did not seem to be as common as would be expected amongst the 

 numerous sloughs on the uplands and we did not note it until Young took a 

 specimen August 22 at Camp 11 on the Little Sandhill Creek in the heart 

 of the desert-like country. Horsbrough records nests at Buffalo Lake. 



35. Ardea herodias. Great Blue Heron. — Between Camps 3 and 

 4 and 9 and 10 single individuals were seen and followed from bend to 

 bend for several miles before they circled back over the low bends and 

 were lost. Young reports individuals in the vicinity of Camp 11, Little 

 Sandhill Creek, August 14 and September 3. Horsbrough records only 

 occasional birds and cites a couple of specimens. 



36. Grus mexicana or canadensis. Crane. — Inquiries about Camp 

 1 brought forth reports that a few years ago three cranes, " exceedingly 

 good eating," were killed in the neighborhood, but our informants were not 

 otherwise familiar with the species. Probably this refers either to the 

 Sandhill or the Little Brown Crane which should migrate through this 

 section. Horsbrough mentions seeing a crane of undetermined species 

 May 4 at Alix. 



37.* Porzana Carolina. Sora Rail. — Several Soras were seen in 

 sloughs in the vicinity of Camp 1. Doubtless if we had worked adjoining 

 ponds they would have been found throughout the country. Young took 

 one near Camp 11 in a slough on the upper prairies near the Little Sand- 

 hill Creek. 



38. Fulica americana. American Coot. — Not seen by us, but 

 Horsbrough records it as the commonest breeding bird on Buffalo Lake. 



