191 8.] Buffalo Lake, and Red Deer Districts. 489 



Tyrannus tyrannus. Kingbird. Not common. First 

 migrant of the year reported by Cook on 22 May, at 

 Buffalo Lake. 



Sayornis phcebe. Phcebe. Earliest appearance at Red 

 Deer 24 April. Common. 



Empidonax minimus. Least Fly- catcher. Common 

 everywhere. I discovered several nests at Sylvan Lake, 

 the first with eggs on 15 June. Earliest record at Buffalo 

 Lake was on 22 May, when a pair was seen by G. Cook. 



Pica pica hudsonia. Magpie. Three or four were seen near 

 Alix on 9 February, and a pair at Red Deer on 7 November. 

 The Magpie is apparently extending its range. 



Cyanocitta cristata cristata. Blue Jay. Soon after my 

 arrival in Red Deer 1 saw a Blue Jay close to the house, 

 about 10 October, 1915. On 5 April, 1916, I saw a pair in 

 the spruce-woods about a mile north of the town. A pair 

 nested in my friend Mr. F. C. White's garden, quite close to 

 his house. The young were successfully reared. 



Corvus brachyrhynchus hesperis. Western Crow. These 

 pests were observed as early as 20 March, but I saw none 

 myself till the 30fch, when one appeared near my house. At 

 Buffalo Lake they weie seen on the 27tli (Cook). 



Molothrus ater ater. Cowbird. Plentiful. First noted 

 on 16 April, near Alix. I found the Thick-billed Red- 

 winged Starling acting as host to this species on two 

 occasions. By 19 April they were numerous everywhere 

 in the district. In 1916 it was abundant in all districts. 

 At Sylvan Lake I found its eggs in nests of the Clay- 

 coloured Sparrow, Olive-backed Thrush, and Philadelphia 

 Vireo. 



Agelaius phceniceus fortis. Thick-billed Red-avinged 

 Blackbird. I shot a male of the Thick-billed Red-winged 

 Blackbird at Buffalo Lake on 5 January, 1915, in eclipse 

 plumage. It was feeding on the grain from the pig-troughs, 



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