86 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA. 
taken from a nest of dry grass in a sedge tussock, on May 20th, at 
Nulato. (Nelson.) 
This species was breeding in great numbers in willow thickets 
and sparsely wooded ground around Edmonton, Alberta, in the 
spring of 1897. The nests were hard to find as they were far away 
from water. The first arrivals were about April 17th and by the 
24th these birds were common. On May 25th found a nest in a 
clump of willows about a qusrter of a mile from water. Nest made 
of grass lined with down. It contained nine eggs, quite fresh. 
Another nest of the same character was found under a log, on June 
1st, about 150 yards from water. This nest contained seven fresh 
eggs. (Spreadborough.) Breeds sparingly on the Magdalen islands. 
(Rev. C. J. Young.) 
L. QUERQUEDULA STEpPHENs. 1824. 
140. Blue-winged Teal. 
Ouerquedula discors (LINN.) STEPHENS. 1824. 
This is a rare bird in Newfoundland and in Nova Scotia, except 
in the autumn migrations. Chamberlain says it is a common 
summer resident near St. John, New Brunswick. It seems to be 
moderately common in Quebec and Ontario during the migra- 
tions, and a few pairs are reported still to breed on the St. Clair 
flats. Wintle says a few may probably breed near Montreal. 
Seton says it is very abundant in Manitoba, and our own ob- 
servations show that it is so westward as well, but it becomes especi- 
ally so in the mixed prairie and copse country north of lat. 50°-52°. 
Richardson found it plentiful on the Saskatchewan, but not ex- 
tending north of lat. 58°. Ross found it on the south side of Great 
Slave lake, and Dr. Rae on Repulse bay. Nelson and Turner found 
it very rare in Alaska, and Fannin says it is a very rare bird in British 
Columbia. Brooks claims, however, that it is a common summer 
resident in the lower Fraser valley, though a scarce breeder in the 
neighbourhood of 150-mile House, Cariboo, B.C. Rhoads found it 
breeding about several of the small lakes in the vicinity of Lac la 
Hache, B.C. 
BREEDING Notes.—A pair occasionally remains to breed in the 
St. Lawrence valley, but the greater number pass to the north. The 
