420 NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA. [no. 27. 



Acanthis linaria holbcelli (Brehm). Holboell Redpoll. 



A female collected at Herschel Island, July 16, 1894, by Frank 

 Russell, and recorded by him under the name Acanthis linaria " has 

 been identified by Mr. Ridgway as holbcelli. The bird was collected 

 with a nest and three eggs. 



Spinus pinus (Wils.). Pine Siskin. 



The pine siskin is rather common over the southern part of the 

 Athabaska region, and occurs in smaller numbers north to the region 

 of Great Slave Lake. In 1901 we observed it but once, noting a 

 small flock near Vermilion Creek, 42 miles north of Edmonton, on 

 September 3. 



In 1903 my brother and Cary observed small numbers of siskins 

 at Fort Providence, July 0, 7, and 8; near the mouth of Nahanni 

 River, July 11; and near Willow Lake River, 20 miles south of Fort 

 Wrigley, July 19, noting five on the latter occasion. On their return 

 trip they found the bird common on the Athabaska above Fort Mc- 

 Murray. At the latter place they saw three, taking one specimen on 

 August 11. A large flock, apparently migrating, was seen at Boiler 

 Rapid on August 17, and other flocks were observed almost daily 

 between that point and Athabaska Landing, August 18 to 31. The 

 birds were abundant near Athabaska Landing, September 5 to 15, 

 and in a grove of Banksian pines 50 miles south of that point, Sep- 

 tember 23. 



J. Alden Loring reported the pine siskin as common near Banff, 

 Alberta, during the last week of August, 1894, and in the mountains 

 near Jasper House and Henry House, in the autumn of 1895. 



Macoun gives it as common on Methye Portage [in 1888], on the 

 authority of J. M. Macoun; and as having been observed in the foot- 

 hills of the Rocky Mountains north to Edmonton in 1S'.>7. and be- 

 tween there and Peace River Landing in the summer of 1903, by 

 Spreadborough. 6 



Plectrophenax nivalis (Linn.). Snowflake. 



This Arctic species, usually called snowbird in the north, breeds 

 in great numbers in certain parts of the Barren Grounds and on the 

 islands of the Arctic Sea. With the appearance of snow it begins to 

 move southward in large flocks, lingering in favorable feeding places 

 until well into the winter, but ultimately entirely withdrawing from 

 the region north of Athabaska Lake at least. It is one of the earli- 

 est arrivals in spring, but on account of the Arctic character of its 

 chosen breeding grounds, which are not ready for occupancy until 



"Kxpl. in Far North, p. 266, 1898. 



'Tat. Canadian Birds, Pari III. p. 446, 1904. 



