1908.] BIKDS. 489 



Peace River Landing in June, 1903. On the authority of J. M. 

 Macoun, he states that [in 1888] it was abundant along the trail be- 

 tween Edmonton and Athabaska Landing, but was rather rare on 

 the Athabaska, and was common up the Clearwater and between 

 Methye Portage and Isle a la Crosse." 



J. Alden Loring reported seeing large flocks at Banff, Alberta, 

 August 25 to September 1, 1894, and took two specimens there on 

 August 28. 



Spizella pallida (Swains.). Clay-colored Sparrow. 



This species, originally described from the Saskatchewan, ranges 

 northward to Great Slave Lake, as was first ascertained by Kenni- 

 cott, occup3 7 ing mainly prairie-like tracts and brushy clearings. 



In 1903 we first observed the clay-colored sparrow 20 miles north 

 of Edmonton, May 12. noting some half a dozen individuals and 

 collecting a male in song. As we traveled northward toward Atha- 

 baska Landing we found the species common to the northward of 

 Sturgeon River on May 13, and observed one near Sandy ('reek, 

 May 14. We next observed the species on June 22 and 2.") at Fort 

 Resolution, where we saw several individuals in the shrubby field 

 to the rear of the post buildings, and collected adults of both sexes. 



This bird was first recorded from the Mackenzie Valley by Ross, 

 who gave it as occurring north to Fort Resolution. 6 A specimen 

 taken at that post by Kennicott, June 18, 18G0, and another taken at 

 the same place by Lockhart, June i>, 1863, " with nest and four eggs." 

 are in the National Museum. A specimen, together with eggs, is cata- 

 logued as having been received from Strachan Jones, from Lessor 

 Slave Lake, in 1868, but the skin at least has disappeared. Macoun 

 says, on the authority of Spreadborough : c 



First seen at Edmonton, Alta., May 31st [1897]; found a number of nests, 

 all on the ground at the roots of a little clump of willows; none of the nests 

 were more than four inches above the ground, and were made of dry grass 

 lined with horse hair: eggs from two to five in a set; * * common in 



all the open country from Lesser Slave Lake to Peace River Landing, Lat. 

 r.i; 15' in June. 1903; common from Fdnionton to Pembina River in June. 1898. 



He records also specimens taken at Fdnionton in May, 18 ( .>7, and 

 Peace River Landing in .June. L903, and egos taken at Fdnionton, 

 May 31 and June 1, 1897. Russell has recorded two alleged specimens 

 from Fort Rae, d but they prove on examination to have been incor- 

 rectly identified. 



Cat. Canadian Birds, Pari 111, p. 492, 1904. 

 ''Nat. Hist. Lev., II (second ser. I , p. 282, 1862. 

 c Cat. Canadian Birds, Pari Ml. pp. 495, t:>7, 1904. 

 '' Fxpl. in Far North, p. 267, 1898. 



