52 



The Canadian Field-Natttralist. 



[Vol. XXV. 



A solitaiy bird of large size, snowy wthite- 

 ness, cannine coloriug on the head and 

 black primaries, wm noted at 10 a.m., Oc- 

 tober 15. It was flying south-eastward 

 at the rat^. of about twenty-five miles 

 an hour. 



10. Sandhill Crane {Grus mexicayia) . 

 Flocks observed on September 18, 24, 

 25 and 27. The flock of September 25 

 was composed of 168 individuals. 



11. Wilson Snipe (Gallinago delicata). 

 Several times observed during the month 

 of September. 



12. Pectoral Sandpiper {Pisohia ma- 

 culafa). One specimen collected in a 

 grasisy slough a few miles soutli of t^e 

 Saskatchewan. 



13. Baird's Sandpiper (Pisohia hair- 

 di). A specimen of this interesting little 

 arctic sandpiper was collected in a grassy 

 slough margin near "the Ridge" on Sep- 

 tember 1. 



14. Lesser Yellow-legs (Totanus fla- 

 vipes). Large flocks observed on various 

 sloughs. One collected at Laurier Lake 

 Septiember 1. Very common on muddy 

 slough margins in the vicinity of "The 

 Ridge". 



15. Killdeer Plover (Oxyechus voci- 

 ferus). Common during September. 



16. Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umhellus). 

 Common about Laurier, Wliitney, and 

 Raft Lakes. To my surprise several in- 

 dividuals were seen frequenting isolated 

 "bluffs" of small aspenis; on ffie open 

 range. These had wandered from the 

 thicker continuous woods on the Vermil- 

 ion river. 



17. Sharp-tailed Grouse (PedicBcetes 

 phasianellus) . Very common. During 

 latter August and all of September, while 

 Che young were reaching tJieir maturity, 

 they were commonly found on tihe open 

 prairie or grain fields. After the snow 

 fall of 0('tober 7 and 8, whic^ perma- 

 nently remained, with thermometer in 

 early November ivt 25-30 de^^ees below 

 zero, the birds tof)k up their winter 

 quarters in good thick bluffs protected 

 from cold windisi by contiguous hills. 

 Thefie eievatiorw', near their hibernal 

 abodes, I am told, serve as their dancing 

 grounds during tihe spring, summer and 

 earlv fall. 



18. Turkey Buzzard (Cathartes aura). 

 The only note t^t I find in my journal 

 referring to this species Is under date 

 of October 3, and reads: "A solitary 

 buzzard sailed maje^rtically towards the 

 south this afternoon at a height of about 

 1000 feet. This is the only one of the 

 species observed since arriving a Islay 

 on August 27." 



19. Marsh Hawk (Circus hudsonicus). 

 Frequently observed during September. 



20. American Goshawk (Astur atri- 

 capillus) A large gray Hiawk flying over 

 an area of snow-covered grain stooks 

 on November 12, was identified as of 

 this species. 



21. Swainson's Hawk (Biiteo swain- 

 soni). An adult specimen of this bird 

 in dark plumage was collected on Sep- 

 tember 5. Previous to reading more care- 

 fully Mr. Taverner's Birds of the Red 

 Deer River, Alta., I felt aissured that 

 Swainson's Hawk was the only large 

 hawk that I had been seeing. His fine 

 series of skins however proved that dif- 

 ferentiating "on tihe wing" between this 

 and the Red-Tail is a doubtful proceed- 

 ing. My journal reads througihout to 

 the plenitude of Swainson's, some of 

 whicA may have been horealis, deSipite the 

 specimen coUectied on September 5, as a 

 guide to the detection of the former. 



22. Pigeon Hawk (Falco columhar- 

 ious). Two individuals of this beautiful 

 little hawk were noted during early Sep- 

 tember. 



23. Sparrow Hawk (Falco sparverius). 

 Not uncommon during September. 



24. Great Horned Owl (Bubo virgi- 

 nianns). Reported as a resident in the 

 heavier woods along streams. During 

 late fall both sub-species pallescens and 

 suharticvs would likely be found. 



25. Snowy Owl (Nyctea nyctea). An 

 individual of lihis comparatively rare 

 arctic bird was collected on October 10, 

 following the snow-storm of the 7 and 8; 

 when first seen it was sitting uprig^it on 

 a snow-covered stiook, and with difficulty 

 could it be determined whether it was 

 really a bird or a turret of i.s;now fa.^h- 

 ioned by the wind. It was rather wary 

 wlien approached, but flew only short 

 disliances after taking to wing. 



