In North- We8t Canada. 27 



species, they were greatly appreciated, although for two weeks 

 afterwards I found them so common that I could have col- 

 lected hundreds of their eggs, had I wished. Many of the 

 nests contained young birds, as the grackle is one of the early 

 breeders ; they begin to lay in this district about the second 

 week in May, and eggs can be found up to the middle of June. 

 The eggs of the bronzed grackle are very handsome, and a 

 large series make a fine display, and they vary greatly in 

 colour ; some have a pale green or blue ground colour, with 

 irregular lines, dots, scrawls and blotches distributed over the 

 surface, others have an olive green ground, mottled with brown 

 of various shades, in some the ground is almost concealed by 

 the numerous markings. Their average size is 1.20x.80, and 

 from four to six eggs were found in each nest. I collected a 

 fine series, and carefully packing them I proceeded along the 

 far side of the ponds up the valley. Rose-bushes and honey- 

 suckle were in full bloom, and sent forth a delicious perfume. 

 The air smelt fresh and sweet, and the morning air was so 

 bracing, it was a pleasant change after being caged in a 

 railway train for nearly a week. Carolina crakes, American 

 widgeons and shovellers were numerous on the ponds, and 

 I began to wonder if I should be able to procure a boat to ex- 

 amine the numerous islands. I saw many nests of king birds, 

 and red-winged starlings in the bushes on the islands, but 

 could not reach them. My next find was a cat-bird's nest 

 and five eggs, and a robin's nest with eggs. A waxwing flew 

 from a tree close by, but I could not make out whether it was 

 the Bohemian waxwing, or only the cedar bird, as I soon lost 

 sight of it. I do jiot think the Bohemian waxwing is found so 

 far south in summer, although a native sportsman of Moose - 

 jaw afterwards informed me that he has shot this species in 

 the fall and winter, when they appear in flocks. They breed 

 in Alaska, and may do so further south. Thirty years ago, 

 the eggs of the Bohemian waxwing were unknown. The 

 late Mr. Wolley was the first to discover them in Lapland, in 

 1856. Duplicates from his collection were sold at twenty-five 

 dollars each. Eggs of this species are still rare in collections. 



