l82 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA. 



This bird nests on the open prairie and its nest is exceedingly 

 hard to find. The male flies towards any intruders and makes 

 the air resound with its cries. It is soon joined by other birds 

 from a considerable distance, who join in attracting attention by 

 their noise and actions. The young are easily found, as at least 

 one parent keeps in their vicinity. This species was found breed- 

 ing at Wood Mountain in June, 1895, and for 150 miles to the 

 west towards the Cypress Hills, upon which numbers were breed- 

 ing in 1894. In the summer of 1897 it was found in southern 

 Alberta, and was breeding, or rather caring for its young, west of 

 Fort McLeod, in the latter part of July. In June, 1889, it was 

 found breeding on the dry hills south of Kamloops, B.C. 



MUSEUM SPECIMENS. 



Four specimens. One taken at Fort McLeod, Alta., by Mr. 

 A. F. Grant, in 1888 ; the others by Mr. W. Spreadborough at 

 Crane Lake and Medicine Hat, Assa., May, 1894, and at Kam- 

 loops, B.C., June i6th, 1889. 



Three eggs taken by Mr. Raine near Rush Lake, Assa., June 

 1st, 1893, and a set taken by Col. Wyndham near Calgary, Alta. 



265. Hudsonian Curlew. 



Numenius hudsomcus Lath, i 790. 



Occasional in Greenland. Abundant in Newfoundland during 

 the migrations, but does not breed on this island. An uncommon 

 autumn visitor in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. Brewster 

 saw several large flocks of curlews, which he took to be this 

 species, at East Point, Anticosti, on July 7th. Said not to breed 

 on that island. It is a scarce migrant in Ouebec and rather mor e 

 co mmon in Ont ario, but is becoming scarcer according to Mcll- 

 wraith. This species is not mentioned by Seton-Thompson in his 

 Birds of Manitoba, nor has the writer seen it in any part of the 

 Northwest. It is occasionally seen on the coast of British 

 Columbia, but appears to be far from common, only two speci- 

 mens having been taken. Hudson Bay and westward along the 

 Arctic coast seem to be its summer haunt. It was common at 

 Fort Churchill in 1884, according to Dr. R. Bell ; and Heme says 

 it was common on the shores of the bay in his time. Macfarlane 

 says it is by no means rare on the Barren Grounds, but is more 



