330 THROUGH THE MACKENZIE BASIK" 



Mr. Nelson states that " this species arrives quite early 

 at the Yukon, often by the 10th of May. Towards the end 

 of the month it is plentiful and is beginning to breed." 



There are seven specimens, but no eggs, in the Ottavs^a 

 Museum ! They were taken at Indian Head and Banff by 

 Mr. W. Spreadborough. 



233. Stilt Sandpipee — Micropalama himantopus (Bonap.). 



About forty years ago this species was fairly abundant 

 along the shores of Franklin Bay, where a number of nests 

 with eggs and young birds were discovered. It appeared, 

 however, to be very rare in the interior, only one single nest 

 having been taken by us at Rendezvous Lake, on the border 

 of the rather sparsely wooded country lying to the eastward 

 of Fort Anderson. On one occasion we could not help 

 admiring the courage and ingenuity displayed by both par- 

 ents in protecting their young, which, for scientific purposes, 

 we endeavoured to secure, and which, on that particular 

 occasion, enabled them to save two of the latter from capture. 

 Mr. Ross obtained skins and eggs at Fort Simpson about 

 1861. Reports it as " very rare." 



It seems to be rare in Manitoba, as Mr. Thompson Seton 

 records only one positive capture; but Mr. Spreadborough 

 found it common at Indian Head in September, 1891. 

 Apparently absent in British Columbia and Alaska. The 

 Ottawa Museum Collection contains six skin specimens, but 

 no eggs! 



236. PuEPLE Sandpipee — Arquatella maritima Brunn. 



I do not remember having ever met an example of this spe- 

 cies on the Anderson, or indeed anywhere else in North- West- 

 ern Canada. Sir John Richardson many years ago stated that 

 it bred extensively on Melville Island and on the shores of 

 Hudson Bay. Not entered in Mr. Ross's List, nor does it 

 figure in Professor Macoun's Catalogue of Birds in the 

 Ottawa Museum ! 



