CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. 1 47 



€dly breeds in large numbers, although it seems to be a rare 

 migrant in Manitoba. Dr. Coues found this bird in numbers in a 

 pool near the base of the Rocky Mountains, not far from the In- 

 ternational Boundary, on August i6th, 1874, and thought it might 

 breed there. It was very abundant at Indian Head, Assa., in 1892. 

 Spreadborough says it was first seen there May 15th, but by May 

 25th to 30th there were thousands at Deep Lake, yet on June 3rd 

 they were all gone. On June 3rd, 1895, specimens were shot at 

 Thirty-mile Spring, and on June 6th others at Twelve-mile Lake, 

 near Wood Mountain, Assa. They seemed to be breeding. Rich- 

 ardson, Ross and Macfarlane agree in saying that this species 

 occurs in immense numbers in the breeding season both in the 

 wooded country and Barren Grounds and extends right up to the 

 Arctic Coast. Nelson and Turner both say that this is a very 

 common species in Alaska, breeding throughout most of the coun- 

 try, but especially along the marshy northern coast. In British 

 Columbia it is a common migrant, and Mr. Fannin has taken it in 

 July on Burrard Inlet, so it is probable that a few pairs breed there. 



Breeding Notes. — This species arrives at St. Michael, Alaska, 

 about May 25th. Its food consists entirely of aquatic worms, 

 slugs, larvae and flies. It breeds in June. The nest is placed 

 among the grasses and consists of a lot of grass-blades arranged 

 with little care. Four or five eggs, of greenish ground, thickly 

 bloched with dark, are laid. The young are able to fly by the 

 first of August. {Turner.) The usual number of eggs is four, 

 which vary considerably in exact colouration. The ground- 

 colour in the very large series before me, obtained in the vicinity 

 of St. Michael, shades by every degree from greenish-clay colour 

 to warm, buffy, olive-brown. The spots and markings are very 

 irregular in size and shape, but are usually larger about the large 

 end of the egg. {Nelson.) The nest, like that of the Red Phala- 

 rope, is a slight depression in the ground, lined with a few dry 

 leaves and grasses, and is almost invariably situated on the 

 margin of small pools or sheets of water. Upwards of seventy 

 nests were secured, the number of eggs being always four. {Mac- 

 farlane.) 



MUSEUM specimens. 



Nine in number ; one taken on Unimak Island, Behring Sea, 

 August6th, i89i,by Mr.J.M.Macoun; three at Indian Head, Assa., 

 one at Twelve-mile Lake, Wood Mountain, Assa., three at Banff 

 lOj^ 



