CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. IO7 



the western shores of Davis Strait ; breeds abundantly on the 

 Parry Islands. (Arct. Man.) Abundant on the Atlantic coast of 

 Labrador, where it is reported to breed ; nest and eggs found 

 near Mingan. (Packard.) Common along the coast of New- 

 foundland and a rare winter visitant along the coasts of Nova 

 Scotia and New Brunswick. One specimen taken on Lake Mis- 

 tassini in May 1885, by Mr. J. M. Macoun. Arrives in Prince of 

 Wales Sound, Hudson Strait, about May 5th and begins to breed 

 as soon as the ice is off the small islands. (Payne.) A single 

 specimen taken in James Bay, June, 18^6, by Mr. A. P. Low. 



Occasional specimens, of young birds chiefly, are taken on 

 Lake Ontario and Lake Erie. (Mcllwraitk.) An adult male of 

 this species was taken near Toronto, Ont., in November, 1895, by 

 Mr. C. W. Nash. 



Occasionally noted in the interior of Alaska, where Dall found 

 a dead specimen. During the months of July and August it 

 was found in large numbers near the ice-fringed coast of Alaska 

 from Icy Cape to Point Barrow and thence eastward. It is 

 also common in Behring Strait and on St. Lawrence Island and 

 to the northwest of the strait. (Ne/son.) This is by all 

 means the most abundant bird at Point Barrow. They appear 

 early in spring at a distance from shore and pass steadily and 

 swiftly past Cape Smythe to the northeast, following the coast. 

 It is probable that they turn east after passing the point, as they 

 return from the east in the autumn. (Murdoch.) An immature 

 male was shot at Calgary, Alberta, on November 4th, 1894 ; it was 

 in company with another described as very white. (Dippie.) 



Breeding Notes. — This species breeds sparingly at St. Michael. 

 I never obtained its nest, but saw the birds under circumstances 

 that cause me to assert that it breeds there. (Turner.) 



At Point Barrow the majority of this species are paired by the 

 middle of May, and the flocks are made up of pairs flying alter- 

 nately. Early in June straggling pairs and small parties settle 

 about the tundra pools and breed sparingly in the neighborhood 

 of the station. (Murdoch) 



This species is tolerably common in Franklin Bay, where fully 

 200 eggs were procured between 1862-1865. The nest is similar 

 to that of the Pacific Eider and when not disturbed the female lays 

 from four to six eggs. In colour they are generally of a light 

 shade of olive-gray, and some are of a grayish-green. (Macfarlane.) 



