CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. I4g 



MUSEUM SPECIMENS. 



Six fine specimens ; one taken in Alberta by Mr. J. B. Tyrrell, 

 two taken at Indian Head, Assa., two at Twelve-mile Lake, Assa., 

 and one at Edmonton, Alberta, by Mr. W. Spreadborough. 



Two sets of eggs taken at Twelve-mile Lake, near Wood Moun- 

 tain, Assa., June 6th, 1895. 



Family XX. RECURVIROSTEIDiE Avocets and Stilts. 



LXXXIV. RECURVIROSTRA Linn^us. 1758. 



225. American Avocet. 



Recurvirostra americana. Gmel. 1788. 



A single specimen of this bird was killed at St. John, N.B., 

 and is in Mr. Carnal's collection. {Chamberlain)) I am aware of 

 three individuals of this species having been taken at different 

 times at Rondeau, on the north shore of Lake Erie, but these 

 are all I have heard of in Ontario. {Mcllwraith.) 



Quite rare in eastern Manitoba, but common throughout the 

 prairie region — chiefly on the borders of brackish ponds, where it 

 breeds in great numbers. Its chief range is from the International 

 Boundary north to Lat. 54", but it has been taken as far north as 

 Fort Rae on Great Slave Lake. 



Breeding Notes. — The breeding range of this species, accord- 

 ing to my observation, is from Indian Head to within a few miles 

 of the Rocky Mountains. It was first seen at Deep Lake, Indian 

 Head, Assa., on May 14th, 1892 ; by June 3rd it was breedi^ in 

 numbers on a long point of land that ran far out into a small 

 lake in Township 16, Range 13. At various times after June 13th, 

 took numerous nests ; one was taken with two eggs, none with 

 more than four. The nest, in nearly every case, was a shallow 

 depression in the sand between three or four stones, and was 

 lined with a few pieces of grass. The chief nesting places are on 

 the borders of alkali ponds, and the nest is always near the water. 

 Breeding generally commences the last week in May, and the 

 young leave the nest as soon as hatched. {Spreadborough.) 



museum specimens. 



Eight fine specimens ; all taken at Indian Head, Assa., in the 

 spring of 1892 by Mr. W. Spreadborough. 



