April, 1922. 



The Canadian Field-Naturalist 



66 



W a T E R-T H R u S H . Seiurus noveboracensis 

 Common in swamp at Fitzgerald, June 1st to 

 5th. One on Willow river, July 9th. This is 

 probably the Grinnell Water-thrush. 



American Pipit. Anthus rubescens. Three 

 seen on Cap Mountain, Aug. 5th, two at Norman, 

 Aug. 14th, several, 15-20. One at Wrigley Har- 

 bour, Aug. 31st. 



Hudsonian Chickadee. Penlhestes hudsonicus. 

 Common back of Two Islands, June 16-28; on 

 Willow Lake River and along Mackenzie River 

 as far north as Wrigley, July 8-Aug. 7. 



Ruby-crowned Kinglet. Regulus calendula. 

 Two seen back of Two Islands, June 2nd. 



Hermit Thrush. Hylocichla guttata ■pallasii. 

 Characteristic song heard during days and more 

 rarely during evenings along Peace, Slave and 

 Mackenzie Rivers, May 20-July 8. (July 1-8 

 along Willow Lake River). This is probably the 

 Eastern Hermit thrush. 



Gray-cheeked Thrush. Hylocichla aliciae. 

 Notes made by this or the Olive-backed Thrush 

 heard every evening along Peace, Slave and Mac- 

 kenzie Rivers from May 20-July 18, when two 

 were seen near site of Old Fort Wrigley. 



American Robin. Planesticus migratorius. 

 Occasionally seen on Willow Lake River and 

 along Mackenzie River from the Willow to Fort 

 Norman, where it was common Aug. 18th. Heard 

 at Simpson, Aug. 29th. 



Mountain Bluebird. Sialia currucoides. An 

 entirely blue bird was seen on the top of the 

 Rocky-by-the-Riverside, Aug. 8th. 



MAMMALS. 



Moose. Alces americanus . One yearling seen 

 on Smith Creek* July 26th; numerous tracks in 

 mountains back of Smith Creek. Tracks common 

 in vicinity of Fort Wrigley. Reported common 

 up North Nahanni and Gravel rivers. Indians 

 make boats out of green moose hides on the Liard 

 and Gravel rivers and bring their families and furs 

 out in them. The largest boats require eight 

 skins. 



Wood Bison. Bison bison athabascae. Park 

 rangers at Fitzgerald report the buffalo of the 

 Smith reserve to be doing well. An accurate 

 estimate of their number is difficult to make, be- 

 cause of the muskeg and wooded nature of the 

 country. Major McKeand and party reported 

 seeing two bulls in a three-day return trip in 

 July, with pack horses from Fort Smith. The 

 timber wolves are reported to be taking calves. 



Hudson Bay Red Squirrel. Sciunis hudson- 

 icus. Common throughout the region. 



ley. 



♦About 12 miles above the present site of Fort Wrig- 



Chestnut-cheeked Vole. Microttts xantho- 

 gnathus. One taken on Willow River, July 23rd. 



Northwest Muskrat. Ondatra zibethica spa- 

 tulata. Common at mouth of Slave River and 

 one seen at Wrigley Harbour. 



Canadian Beaver. Castor canadensis. Re- 

 ported fairly common up North Nahanni River 

 in late June. Several seen near mouth of Root 

 River early in July. 



Macfarlane Varying Hare. Lepus ameri- 

 canus macfarlani. Several seen in snares at Fort 

 Fitzgerald, June 1-5. Fairly common in vicinity 

 of Fort Wrigley (New) and 15 miles above, where 

 one (apparently young) was seen in the talons of 

 a Red-tailed Hawk which circled to a considerable 

 height and then started to soar straight for its 

 destination. Common also at Fort Norman. 

 These hares appear to be on the increase. 



Canada Lynx. Lynx canadensis. One seen 

 by Dr. Hume's party up North Nahanni river in 

 June. 



Continental Arctic Fox. Vulpes lagopus 

 innuitus. A fair number were brought into Fort 

 Norman from the Gravel River and from Great 

 Bear Lake. One was trapped at Fort Norman 

 last winter. 



Black Bear. Ursus americanus. One seen 

 by our party 50 miles above Fort Norman, Aug. 

 10th. One seen at Bear Rock, Aug. 12th. Num- 

 erous tracks were seen in Franklin Mountains in 

 July. 



Polar Beiar. Thalarctos maritimus. A very 

 large skin was brought to Fort Norman from Great 

 Bear Lake, where it was probably obtained from 

 Coronation Gulf Eskimos. 



Canadian Otter. Lutra canadensis. One re- 

 ported by Hume's party on North Nahanni during 

 the latter part of June. 



Western Mink. Lutreola vison energumenos. 

 Reported as rather rare and difficult to trap. One 

 skeleton among martin skeletons at Two Island 

 Indian village. 



Alaska Marten. Mustela americana actuosa. 

 A fair number taken to Forts Simpson, Wrigley 

 and Norman by trappers. Judging by reports 

 and the skeletons seen at the Indian villages, this 

 is the most numerous fur-bearer in the district. 

 A glimpse of a marten was had by the author in 

 the bush about 10 miles above Fort Wrigley, 

 July 27th. 



FISHES. 



Whitefish. Corcgonus sp. These were the 

 commonest fish caught by the Indians in the 

 vicinity of FoTt Wrigley. 



Inconnu. Stenodus mackenzii. Very common, 

 up to three feet in length at Wrigley Harbour, 

 June 12th. 



