VO 'i9oiP T ] Stansell, Birds of Central Alberta. 393 



37. Rallus virginianus. Virginia Rail. — Very rare; identified but 

 once. 



38. Porzana Carolina. Sora Rail. — Their call is heard during the 

 summer along nearly every slough and along the edge of every lake or 

 pond that affords them a nesting site. I have found them nesting in 

 bunches of grass growing in three feet of water, twenty yards from shore. 



39. Fulica americana. Coot. — Very common, constructing its nest of 

 rushes usually about six inches above the water in overflown meadows 

 and along the borders of lakes and ponds. 



40. Lobipes lobatus. Northern Phalarope. — I have seen but one 

 specimen, brought in by a taxidermist. 



41. Steganopus tricolor. Wilson's Phalarope. — Only one pair seen, 

 May 23, 1908. 



42. Philohela minor. Woodcock. — I had this species reported to 

 me both in the spring and fall of 1908, but did not observe them myself 

 until July 1, 1909, when I saw six or eight along the edge of a wet meadow. 



43. Gallinago delicata. Wilson's Snipe. — Very common. Their 

 nests are found in wet hay meadows and marshy lands, consisting of 

 merely a depression in the ground lined with a few grasses or without 

 lining. 



44. Totanus melanoleucus. Greater Yellow-legs. — Although not 

 abundant, this species is fairly common, nesting in very wet sloughs in 

 marshy lands. Observed young June 28, 1909. 



45. Totanus fiavipes. Yellow-legs. — Less abundant than the last 

 but seen quite often. 



46. Helodromas solitarius. Solitary Sandpiper. — Quite common 

 here, almost as numerous as the Spotted Sandpiper. Found a nest in 

 1908 up 35 feet in a white birch tree, containing three young and one addled 

 egg. The nest was a Robin's, probably two or three years old. 



47. Bartramia longicauda. Cpland Plover.— Very rare, only a few 

 pairs having been seen. 



48. Actitis macularia. Spotted Sandpiper. — Very common along 

 the edges of nearly every lake, usually in company with the Solitary 

 Sandpiper. 



49. Oxyechus vociferus. Kildeer. — Very common where there are 

 lakes and ponds. 



50. Bonasa umbellus umbelloides. Gray Ruffed Grouse. — Very 

 common in the heavily wooded portion. 



51. Bonasa umbellus togata. Canadian Ruffed Grouse. — Very 

 common; about as numerous as B. umbellus umbelloides. Saw several 

 broods of both species during the summer of 1909, when they were more 

 numerous than three years ago. Severe winters kill a great many of these 

 birds. They feed largely in winter on poplar buds and any berries that re- 

 main on the bushes during the winter; especially the high-bush cranberry. 



52. Pedioecetes phasianellus. Sharp-tailed Grouse. — Very rare; 

 seen but a few times and then only a few at a time. 



