CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 77 
reports that a male flew out of the woods on the 28th June, 1889, 
and alighted on Plover pond, and from this fact believes it breeds 
in southwestern Ontario; Mr. J. H. Fleming also records it as 
breeding in Muskoka and Parry Sound districts. 
Its centre of abundance seems ‘o be northern Manitoba and the 
districts towards the mouth of the Saskatchewan; here it finds 
dead trees and flooded ground, which seem to be its chief requisites 
when breeding. After pairing, the males come south and congre- 
gate on the lakes and ponds while the females are hatching. 
Many broods have been seen, but very few accompanied by more 
than one parent. Preble records it from the Churchill river, 15 
miles above Fort Churchill, and Bishop found young at Maple 
creek, Sask. It seems to be acommon summer resident in the 
Rocky mountains, as an old bird with her young brood was seen 
at Waterton lake, lat. 49°, in July, 1895, and in July, 1897 in Crow 
Nest pass, 30 miles farther to the north. Breeding at Banff, Rocky 
mountains, May, I8gI, and at the mouth of the Illecillewaet, B.C., 
May 20th, 1890; also found breeding in small ponds Téte Jaune 
Cache, B.C., by Spreadborough, in July, 1898. 
This species is common throughout British Columbia; and 
Fannin and Brooks say it is common on the Pacific coast and in 
Fraser River valley and winter’s on Okanagan lake. Only occa- 
sional in Alaska, where Dr. Bannister reported a flock at St. 
Michael in October, 1885, and shot one. 
BREEDING Notes.—A pair has built in an elm stub for years, at 
about thirty feet from the ground, at the mouth of Sharp creek, 
Bracebridge, Ont. The stub is on the bank of a stream. The old 
bird carries her young from the tree to the waterin her bill. At 
first the young are rather helpless and are very easy to catch, but 
in a few days they are well able to take care of themselves. A 
pair of these birds was seen on Moose river, between the Canadian 
Pacific Railway and James bay, June 5th, 1896; another pair was 
seen in the interior of Labrador on July 16th the same year. In 
1903 it was observed breeding from Missinabi river to Cape 
Henrietta Maria, Hudson bay. (Spreadborough.) Seen, and be- 
lieved to be breeding, at Reaburn, Manitoba, June 8th, 1893. 
(Dippie.) Breeding regularly on the wooded banks of the larger 
rivers throughout Manitoba. Nests in hollow trees. (George 
Atkinson.) 
