424 Bent, Summer Birds of Southwestern Saskatcheivan. [oct* 



35. Grus mexicana. Sandhill Crane. — Only one crane, probably 

 this species, was seen from the train on May 28, 1905. 



This is one of the species that has probably been driven farther north 

 since the country became settled. Nothing could be learned of its occur- 

 rence here in the breeding season in recent years. 



36. Porzana Carolina. Sora. — Probably commoner than we supposed, 

 but restricted to the shallow sloughs or wet meadows, where we spent 

 very little time. We found a few pairs breeding in such places and saw 

 nests with eggs on June 24, 1906. 



37. Fulica americana. American Coot. — Common in all the sloughs. 

 A great many nests were found on various dates, as early as June 7, 1905, 

 and as late as June 24, 1906. No birds were taken. 



38. Phalaropus lobatus. Northern Phalarope. — Abundant mi- 

 grant. A few may breed. Seen migrating on May 29, 1905, in large 

 flocks with Sanderlings. One was seen at Hay Lake on June 15, 1905. 

 Two were taken at Big Stick Lake on June 14, 1906, which were in breeding 

 condition. 



Dr. Bishop saw a flock of 100 at Many Island Lake on July 13, 1906, 

 which was the beginning of the fall migration. He found them still more 

 abundant at Big Stick Lake on July 19, 1906. Nearly all of the birds 

 taken on these two dates were females. 



39. Steganopus tricolor. Wilson's Phalarope. — Very common on 

 the wet meadows about the lakes and sloughs and on the islands, where its 

 nest is concealed in the short grass. Nests were found on June 8 and 17, 

 1905, June 18, 21 and 24, and July 13, 1906, with eggs. Downy young, 

 recently hatched, were found on June 17, 1905. Large flocks of females 

 were seen flying about at Many Island Lake on June 18, 1906, accompanied 

 by a few Yellow-legs. 



The almost complete reversal of the domestic relation of the sexes in 

 this species is very interesting. The females are larger than the males and 

 much more brilliantly colored. Two females were frequently seen chasing 

 a single male and paying courtship to him. I observed a male building a 

 nest in which the female did not seem to be interested and, so far as I 

 could learn, the males performed all the duties of incubation and took 

 charge of the young. As soon as the eggs were laid the females gathered 

 into flocks and left the males to perform all the domestic duties. 



40. Recurvirostra americana. American Avocet. — Abundant about 

 all of the lakes and most of the small alkaline ponds. We found no large 

 breeding colonies, but saw many small scattered colonies, the largest of 

 which may have contained 15 or 20 pairs. The largest colony was on an 

 alkali mud flat at Hay Lake where the nests were mere hollows in the mud, 

 among the scattered tufts of short curly grass with which the flats were 

 scantily covered. Owing to their protective coloration, the eggs were 

 very difficult to see, even in such an open situation. A few isolated nests 

 were also found along the shores of the lakes and on the islands, notably at 

 Big Stick Lake. Four eggs was the usual number but two nests were 



