368 APPENDIX G 



Oidemia perspicUlata (Linn.). Surf Scoter. 



The surf scoter was observed almost daily along the Atha- 

 baska, between Athabaska Landing and the mouth of the river. 

 May 15 to June 4, and a few were noted near the mouth of Peace 

 River on June 5. It was observed also on Slave River, below 

 Fort Smith, on July 4, and on the Buffalo River Portage on 

 July 6. During our voyage along the northern shore of Great 

 Slave Lake it was observed in numbers nearly every day, July 

 18 to 25. It was not observed in the lake country to the north- 

 eastward, and was next noted near Fort Reliance on September 

 16 on the return trip. During the next few days, while we were 

 paddling westward along the northern shore of Great Slave Lake, 

 we saw it in numbers almost daily. We noted it also near the 

 mouth of Peace River on October 8, and on the lower Athabaska 

 on October 10. 



Chen hyperboreus nivalis (Forster). Greater Snow Goose. 



The snow goose is a common migrant through the Athabaska 

 Lake region in spring, but had already passed northward at the 

 time of our northward journey. We did not note this species, 

 therefore, until we reached the delta of the Slave, near Fort 

 Resolution, on September 25, when we noted a number. It was 

 next observed on the lower Athabaska on October 10, 11, and 13. 

 After leaving the Athabaska delta, which is a favourite gathering 

 place for the species, we saw none for several days, but during 

 the forenoon of October 16 we saw upward of 300 flocks passing 

 southward, high in the air. This marked the final exodus of 

 the flocks, which had lingered in the Athabaska delta until 

 warned of the approach of winter by a severe northern storm. 

 During the night we heard the migrating bands on several oc- 

 casions. A few late stragglers were seen on the Athabaska, near 

 Fort McMurray, on October 17, and a single one, probably a 

 crippled bird, near Mountain Rapid on October 18. 



In the store-houses at Fort Chipewyan, which we visited on 

 October 9, we saw large numbers of geese, which had been shot 

 during the fall migration and had been salted for winter use. 



