CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 161 
1894, and at Cypress lake and Sucker creek, Sask., June 30th, 1895. 
Found breeding in Saskatchewan by Bishop, Bent and Raine. 
Famity XX. RECURVIROSTRIDAS. Avocets anv STILTs. 
XC. RECURVIROSTRA Linne&us. 1758. 
225. American Avocet. 
Recurvirostra americana GMEL. 1788. 
A single specimen of this bird was killed at St. John, N.B., and 
is in Mr. Carnal’s collection. (Chamberlain.) {am aware of three 
individuals of this species having been taken at different times at 
Rondeau, on the north shore of Lake Erie, but these are all I have 
heard of in Ontario. (Mcllwraith.) Accidental migrant at Toronto, 
Ont. Two records. An adult male in gray plumage was taken 
September 19th, 1901. (J. H. Fleming.) 
Quite rare in eastern Manitoba, but common throughout the 
prairie region—chiefly on the borders of brackish ponds, where it 
breeds in great numbers. Its chief range is from the International 
Boundary north to lat. 54°, but it has been taken as far north as 
Fort Rae on Great Slave lake. 
BREEDING NotTes.—The breeding range of this species, accord- 
ing to my observation, is from Indian Head to within a few miles 
of the Rocky mountains. It was first seen at Deep lake, Indian 
Head, Sask., on May 14th, 1892; by June 3rd it was breeding in 
numbers on a long point of land that ran far out into a small lake 
in township 16, range 13. At various times after June 13th, took 
numerous nests; one was taken with two eggs, none with more than 
four. The nest, in nearly every case, was a shallow depression in 
the sand between three or four stones, and was lined with a few 
pieces of grass. The chief nesting places are on the borders of 
alkali ponds, and the nest is always near the water. Breeding 
generally commences the last week in May, and the young leave 
the nest as soon as hatched. (Spreadborough.) 
My observations confirm Spreadborough’s in every particular. 
Eggs and downy young taken near High river, Alta., June, 1906. 
(W. Saunders.) Found breeding on the shores of Crane lake, Hay 
lake and on Gull island in Big Stick lake, Sask. (A.C. Bent.) On 
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