86 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA. 



taken from a nest of dry grass in a sedge tussock, on May 20th, at 

 Nulato. (Nelson.) 



This species was breeding in great numbers in willow thickets 

 and sparsely wooded ground around Edmonton, Alberta, in the 

 spring of 1897. The nests were hard to find as they were far away 

 from water. The first arrivals were about April 17th and by the 

 24th these birds were common. On May 25th found a nest in a 

 clump of willows about a quarter of a mile from water. Nest made 

 of grass lined with down. It contained nine eggs, quite fresh. 

 Another nest of the same character was found under a log, on June 

 ist, about 150 yards from water. This nest contained seven fresh 

 eggs. (Spreadborough.) Breeds sparingly on the Magdalen islands. 

 (Rev. C. J. Young.) 



L. QXJERQTJEDULA Stephens. 1824. 



140. Blue-winged Teal. 



Querquedula discors (Iann.) Stephens. 1824. 



This'is a rare bird in Newfoundland and in Nova Scotia, except 

 in the autumn migrations. Chamberlain says it is a common 

 summer resident near St. John, New Brunswick. It seems to be 

 moderately common in Quebec and Ontario during the migfra- 

 tions, and a few pairs are reported still to breed on the St. Clair 

 flats. Wintle says a few may probably breed near Montreal. 



Seton says it is very abundant in Manitoba, and our own ob- 

 servations show that it is so westward as well, but it becomes especi- 

 ally so in the mixed prairie and copse country north of lat. 5o°-S2°. 

 Richardson found it plentiful on the Saskatchewan, but not ex- 

 tending north of lat. 58°. Ross found it on the south side of Great 

 Slave lake, and Dr. Rae on Repulse bay. Nelson and Turner found 

 it very rare in Alaska, and Faimin says it is a very rare bird in British 

 Columbia. Brooks claims, however, that it is a common summer 

 resident in the lower Fraser valley, though a scarce breeder in the 

 neighbourhood of 150-mile House, Cariboo, B.C. Rhoads found it 

 breeding about several of the small lakes in the vicinity of Lac la 

 Hdche, B.C. 



Breeding Notes. — A pair occasionally remains to breed in the 

 St. Lawrence valley, but the greater number pass to the north. The 



