VoL i9i9 XVI ] TAVERNER, Birds of Red Deer River, Alta. 15 



on the Little Sandhill we saw aggregations of a dozen to twenty a number 

 of times. Specimens taken at this camp August 20 and September 4. 

 Horsbrough does not mention the species about Alix or Red Deer. 



59.* Circus hudsonicus. MARSH HAWK. Occasional Marsh Hawks 

 were seen from Camps 1 to 4 but were not common. About fifteen miles 

 above Steveville a number of juveniles were seen, probably an original 

 family not yet separated. After I left Camp 11 Mr. Young reports that 

 Marsh Hawks became common. One day he saw a female carrying a 

 Flicker for about a mile and a quarter when she dropped it to two young. 

 On approaching and driving them away he found the Flicker still alive. 

 Specimens taken August 6 and 10. 



60.* Accipiter velox. SHARP-SHINNED HAWK. Not very common 

 as we descended the river, though Young says they were numerous after 

 the middle of September at Camp 11, on the Little Sandhill Creek, where he 

 observed them teasing Pigeon Hawks. We found a nest with five newly 

 hatched young near Camp 1, June 25. It was in a spruce tree about twelve 

 feet from the ground. These were taken, also several at Camp 11 on the 

 Little Sandhill, August 27 to September 7. We also have an October 

 specimen from Alix taken by Horsbrough, who also records nests at Red 

 Deer. 



61*. Astur atricapillus. AMERICAN GOSHAWK. Between Camps 5 

 and 6, July 11, we saw a Goshawk cross the river ahead of us. Another 

 was seen several times at Camp 8, near Rosedale Mines, and July 16 it? 

 nest containing three large downy young was found. It was about twenty 

 feet up in a cottonwood in a slightly open spot in the bush. One was seen 

 at Camp 11 on the Little Sandhill Creek, by Young, July 30. Besides the 

 adult female and young above noted we have October and November 

 specimens from Alix, taken by Horsbrough, and Mr. Edward Arnold in- 

 forms me he has a set of eggs collected near Red Deer. 



62.* Buteo borealis. RED-TAILED HAWK. The most abundant 

 Hawk on the river. It was seldom that one or more were not in sight and 

 its nests dotted the larger trees every quarter of a mile or so to near Steve- 

 ville. Near that village they grew fewer and finally disappeared and none 

 were seen a few miles below at Camp 1 1 on the Little Sandhill Creek, in 

 the midst of desert-like conditions. An accurate estimation of their 

 numbers was very difficult owing to the presence of Swainson's Hawks 

 from which it was usually most difficult to distinguish them except in 

 most characteristic plumages. They were not excessively wary and a 

 fine series of both adults and nestlings in various stages was obtained; 

 the young usually with at least one parent taken and sometimes both. 

 Of the birds seen there was a great variety of plumage and colorations, all 

 the way from solidly dark to very light, faded specimens. The dark 

 extremes were rather the least common and, either apparently or actually, 

 more wary, for in spite of serious endeavor we were unable to obtain them. 

 Several were shot, but falling off on a long slant they were lost in dense bush 

 and could not be found. There is therefore still some doubt as to the 



