178 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA. 



migrant in Quebec. The only point in Southern Ontario at which 

 I have heard of these birds being seen lately is on the Lake Erie 

 shore not far from Dunville, where Dr. Macallum is aware of at 

 least two pairs having raised their broods during the two past 

 summers — 1893-94. (Mcllwraitk.) 



This species is an abundant summer resident in the whole 

 prairie region extending from the Lake of the Woods to the 

 Rocky Mountains, and from the International Boundary to lat. 

 54° in the eastern part of the region, and northwesterly to far 

 north of the open prairie of the Peace River. According to 

 Fannin one specimen was taken at Comox, Vancouver Island, 

 August 28th, 1895, '^y ^^- W- ^- Anderson. Its occurrence in 

 Alaska is accounted for by its northwest extension on Peace 

 River. Only a few specimens taken at Fort Yukon are recorded 

 from Alaska. 



Breeding Notes. — For some years past I have seen a few pairs 

 of these birds every year in the neighbourhood of Kingston, Ont. 

 Favorite resorts are Simcoe Island and Amherst Island, Lake 

 Ontario, as well as eastward. A few sets of eggs are found 

 yearly in the month of May ; in June 1894 a pair hatched out a 

 brood in a pasture field near Lansdowne Station, on the Grand 

 Trunk Railway. A dry rough field is its favorite abode ; in this 

 respect it differs from other members of the family. It makes a 

 nest of withered grass which it partially conceals amidst the dry 

 growth of last year, and lays four eggs, resembling the wood- 

 cock's, but larger. {Rev. C.J. Young.) Its breeding centre is in 

 Western Manitoba and Eastern Assiniboia. This species is 

 quite rare in Western Assiniboia and Southern Alberta, and 

 prefers well grassed prairie to that with a thin sod and little 

 water. 



MUSEUM SPECIMENS. 



Five specimens ; one taken on Toronto Island by Mr. S. Her- 

 ring ; one at Nose Creek, Alberta, by Mr. J. B. Tyrrell ; one at 

 Indian Head, Assa, ; one at Medicine Hat, Assa. ; and one at 

 Edmonton, Alberta, by Mr. W. Spreadborough. Our collection 

 of eggs is not large. One set of four was obtained by Mr. J. B. 

 Tyrell in Northern Alberta, on July ist, 1886 ; another was taken 

 at Grenfel, Assa., by Mr. Lake in June, 1894. 



