CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 189 
Nelson, in his Birds of Alaska, says that a few skins of this species 
were brought to him from Anvik and Nulato, both on the lower 
Yukon, and their occurrence here involves their occurrence on the 
upper Yukon. Fannin, Spreadborough and Brooks record it as 
being tolerably common in British Columbia. 
BREEDING NoTEs.—We have very little actual knowledge of 
the breeding habits of this bird other than that it is solitary in 
its habits and has a tendency to take to trees when in proximity 
to its nest. Hutchins found the nest on the shores of Hudson 
bay; and according to Richardson their eggs were deposited on 
the beach and no nest formed. This tallies exactly with the con- 
ditions under which its nest was found near Castleton, Vermont, 
by Mr. J. Richardson, in May, 1878. In the latter case the single 
egg was placed in a small depression in the ground, without any 
attempt at a nest. Knowing as we do now that this bird nests 
usually, if not always, in trees and bushes the above references 
must be considered doubtful. 
In July, 1881, the writer, when leading an exploring expedition 
up the Red Deer river, which empties in tothe head of Lake Win- 
nepegosis, came upon a pair of these birds on a point of bare rocks 
which jutted into the stream, and shot one. On the report of the 
gun, a young bird—still in the down—jumped up and ran, but 
was soon caught. On July 6th, 1896, while collecting plants in a 
swamp near Prince Albert, on the Saskatchewan, he saw a bird of 
this species sitting on a small birch, but could neither raise the 
other bird nor find the nest. The next day he visited the same place 
and found two birds sitting on trees, but failed to find the nest. 
On July 19th, 1895, I came across a pair near Calgary, Alberta, 
which undoubtedly had young in the grass; one bird kept flying 
within a few yards of me as long as I stayed in a certain locality. 
I also observed this species in summer at Buffalo lake, Alta. It 
was also seen at Manitoba House, Man., at the end of June, 1895. 
(Dippe.) What seems to be the first clear breeding record of this 
species for Ottawa and its immediate vicinity was made by Mr. 
Edward White, who last July saw the tiny and downy young of 
this species two or three days from the egg, together with their 
agitated parents. This was on the Ottawa river about ten miles 
from Ottawa. (Rev. G. Eijrig.) Iam also satisfied that it breeds 
