^^^igiO^'^^] Ferry, Summer Birds of Saskatchewan. 185 



BIRDS OBSERVED IN SASKATCHEWAN DURING THE 

 SmiMER OF 1909. 



BY JOHN F. FERRY. 



Plates X-XII. 



The following notes Avere made at two principal points in Sas- 

 katchewan, Prince Albert and Quill Lake, from May 20 to August 

 11, with an interruption from July 16 to 30. 



The time spent at Prince Albert extended from May 26 to June 7; 

 at Quill Lake, from June 9 to August 11, with the interruption 

 from July 16 to 30 as above noted. Scattering observations were 

 made at other localities as subsequently noted. 



Prince Albert is slightly south of the center of the Province of 

 Saskatchewan, while Quill Lake is 98 miles to the southeastward 

 on the Canadian Northern Railroad. 



Prince Albert, except near the Saskatchewan River, is situated 

 in a slightly rolling semi-prairie country, containing many ponds 

 and sloughs, and scattered thickets of poplar abound. It is a 

 picturesque region and is thronged with breeding ducks. An 

 interesting muskeg country lies to the south, but unfortunately we 

 were not able to visit it. We located at a comfortable farm house 

 about eight miles southeast of the town. 



Quill Lake is surrounded by unbroken prairie. Poplar thickets 

 or "bluffs" as they are locally termed, are a characteristic feature 

 of the landscape. Toward the southern end of the lake they almost 

 entirely disappear, while around the northern edge, they run together 

 to such an extent that the term continuous woodland might be used 

 to describe a large portion of the area they co\er. Quill Lake 

 actually consists of three portions, locally known as Big Quill, 

 Middle Quill, and Little Quill. Big Quill is about eighteen miles 

 long and five to thirteen miles wide; Middle Quill is four miles 

 long by two wide; while Little Quill is fifteen miles long by seven 

 wide. The northern and eastern sides of Big Quill are very shallow 

 and the bottom is muddy. Boating is impossible in such places, 

 and the investigator must rely on his waders. Big Quill is dotted 



