IMS.] BIRDS. 297 



Erisir-atura jamaicensis (Gmel.). Ruddy Duck, 



This is one of the rarest of the ducks in the Athabaska region, and 

 has not been detected to the northward of Great Slave' Lake. We did 

 not observe it during our trips through the country. In (he museum 

 of the Hudson's Bay Company at Fort Simpson are three specimens 

 taken some years ago at Fort Providence. 



This species was first recorded from the region by Ross, who lists 

 it as occurring north to Great Slave Lake, and as rare." Baird, 

 Brewer, and Ridgway state that it was found breeding near Fort 

 Resolution by Kennicott in June, and at the same place by Lockhart, 

 who took its eggs in July. 6 A male collected June 5, 1860, by Kenni- 

 cott is now in the National Museum, and the bird catalogue records a 

 specimen from Fort Rae. Macoun, on the authority of Dippie, says 

 that it breeds on Buffalo Lake, Burnt Lake, and many other lakes in 

 Alberta.' 



Chen hyperborea (Pall.). Lesser Snow Goose. 



The snow geese, universally called in the north ' white wavies,' 

 pass through the region now under review in great numbers in spring 

 and fall, while migrating to and from their summer homes on the 

 shores and islands of the Arctic Sea. Since their breeding grounds 

 are not ready for occupancy until well into the summer, their spring 

 movement northward is correspondingly late in comparison with the 

 Canada goose, which breeds at lower latitudes." 2 During their semi- 

 annual visits they are much sought after by the inhabitants, and, 

 being killed with comparative ease, are procured in great numbers, 

 to be frozen or salted for future use. The beauty of the birds and 

 their importance as food to northern travelers have caused them to 

 be frequently mentioned in narratives of Arctic journeys. 



The valleys of the Athabaska and the Mackenzie lie in the path of 

 migration of great numbers of snow geese of both the eastern and 

 western forms. The rivers themselves, however, are seldom followed 

 by the birds, except for short distances, since their general courses 

 trend somewhat toward the west, while the lines of flight of the 

 geese are usually nearly due north and south. Flocks of snow geese, 

 leaving in spring the marshes at the delta of the Peace and Atha- 

 baska, a favorite stopping place, strike nearly <\uo northward over 

 the rocky hills, probably not again alighting until several hundred 



<» Nat. Hist. Rev., H (second ser.), p. 288, 1862. 



6 Water Birds N. A.. II. L08, 1884. 



cCat. Canadian Birds, Part I. ]>. 113, 1900. 



* According to Uoss. the three forms of snow geese pass through the Great 

 Slave Lake region in the following order: Firsl the lesser snow goose; then 

 Chen rossi, and lastly the form now known as nivalis, Nat. Hist. Rev., II 

 (second ser.), p, 286, 1SG2. 



